Opinion was strongly divided in the city. Almost without exception, the older citizens deprecated resistance. The walls, indeed, were strong, and the position formidable. The king had no artillery3 worth speaking of, and the walls, manned by brave men, might well, for a definite time, resist assault; but the stores of food could not long support the large population now gathered in the town, and there seemed no possibility, whatever, of assistance from England before the horrors of famine would be upon them. To what purpose, then, oppose resistance, which must, even if successful, cause frightful4 sufferings to the inhabitants, and which, if unsuccessful, would hand over the city to the vengeance5 of James.
The garrison6 had been strengthened by two regiments7 and a vast quantity of supplies. But, including everything, there were but provisions for ten days, and as many weeks might elapse before assistance could come.
"Better," they said, "die of hunger, than surrender the Protestant stronghold to the Papists."
Every hour brought crowds of fugitives10, the inhabitants of all the villages deserting their homes at the approach of the royal forces, and flying, with what goods they could carry, to Derry.
Archdeacon Hamilton had arrived with a message from the king, offering that if the city would, within four days, surrender, there should be an amnesty to all for past offences, and that the property of all the inhabitants should be respected. This proposition was now being considered by the governor and his council, together with all the principal officers of the English regiments.
John Whitefoot had been out all day, and had just returned to his cousin's house, which was crowded with fugitives, as the tanner had friends and connections in all the villages, and had opened his doors to all who sought shelter, until every room was filled. It was a pitiful sight to see women, with their babies in their arms and their children gathered round them, sitting forlornly, almost indifferent to the momentous11 consultation12 which was going on, and thinking only of their deserted13 homes, and wondering what had befallen them. The men had, for the most part, been out in the streets gathering news. The tanner's wife, assisted by two or three of the women, was busy at the great fire on the hearth14, over which hung some huge pots in which broth15 and porridge were being prepared.
One by one, the men dropped in. No news had yet been heard as to the decision of the council. It was dark when the tanner himself entered. His face was stern and pale.
"It is settled," he said shortly. "The council have broken up. I have just spoken to one of the members. They and the officers are unanimously in favour of accepting the terms of James."
Exclamations17 of anger broke from some of the men.
"I cannot say aught against it," the tanner said, "though my heart feels well-nigh broken. Had we only men here, I should say let us fight to the last, but look at all these women and children! Think what thousands and thousands of them are in the town. Truly, I cannot blame the council that they have decided18 not to bring this terrible suffering upon the city."
"The Lord will provide for his own," a minister, who had come in with his flock, said. "Friend, I had looked for better things from you. I thought that you were steadfast19 in the cause of the Lord, and now that the time of trouble comes, you fall away at once. Remember how Sennacherib and his host died before Jerusalem. Cannot the Lord protect Londonderry likewise?"
"The age of miracles is past," the tanner said. "Did we not see, in Germany, how Magdeburg and other Protestant cities were destroyed, with their inhabitants, by the Papists? No, Brother Williams, the wicked are suffered to work their will here, when they are stronger than the godly, and we must look for no miracles. I am ready to fight, and, had the council decided otherwise, would have done my share to the last; but my heart sickens, as I look round on the women, the weak, and ailing20. Did James demand that we should renounce21 our religion, I would say let us all die by sword or Famine rather than consent; but he has offered toleration to all, that none shall suffer for what has been done, and that the property as well as the lives of all shall be respected.
"Truly, it seems to me that resistance would be not bravery, but a sort of madness. There are promises of aid from England; but how long may we have to wait for them? And there are but ten days' provisions in the town. If these English officers of King William think that resistance is hopeless, why should I, who know nought22 of war, set myself against them?"
"Because they have not faith," the minister said, "and you should have faith; because they think only of carnal weapons, and you should trust to the Lord. Remember Leyden, how help came when all seemed lost."
"I do," the tanner replied, "and I remember how the women and children suffered and died, how they dropped in the streets and perished with famine in their houses. I remember this, and I shrink from saying 'let us resist to the end.' I should rejoice if they had decided that Derry should be deserted, that the women and children should be sent away to shelter in the mountains of Donegal, and that every man should march out and do combat with the army of James. We are numerous, and far better armed than the Papists, and victory might be ours; but, were it otherwise, were every man fated to fall on the field, I would still say let us march forward. It is not death that I fear, but seeing these weak and helpless ones suffer. I should not envy the feelings of the men who decided on resistance, when the time came that the women and children were dying of hunger around them. There is a time to fight; and a time to sheath the sword, and to wait until a chance of drawing it successfully again arrives; and methinks that, having such good terms offered, the present is the time for waiting."
The preacher waved his hand impatiently, and, wrapping himself in his cloak, left the house without another word. The next day the capitulation was signed, and the following day the army of James was seen approaching, and presently halted, on a hill within cannon23 shot of the town.
Londonderry stands in a bend of the river Foyle, and the position which the army took up at once isolated24 it from the surrounding country. The offer of capitulation had already been sent out to General Hamilton by Captain White, the bearer receiving instructions to stipulate25 that the army should not advance within four miles of the town, until all was ready to hand over the city. In the meantime, General Rosen, who was in chief command of the army, stationed it so as to extend from one corner of the bend of the river to the other, and so to cut off all communication between the city and the surrounding country; but, in the course of the day, a country gentleman named Murray made his way through their lines, with a body of cavalry26, and rode up to the gate of the town.
The governor refused to open it, but, in spite of his orders, some of the townspeople opened the gate, and Murray rode into the town, and, going from point to point, exhorted27 the people not to surrender but to resist to the last, accusing the governor and council of foul28 treachery, in thus handing over the city.
The confusion and excitement in the streets was now great, and, while this was going on, the governor sent a trumpeter to the king, requiring one hour's time before the city should surrender.
Rosen took no notice of this, and, believing that all was arranged, rode forward with the king and a portion of the army. But Murray's exhortations29 and passionate30 harangues32 had their effect. A number of the townspeople ran to the walls, and, loading the cannon, opened, with these and their muskets33, a heavy fire on the approaching troops. Several of the soldiers were killed, and among them was Captain Troy, who was riding close to the king.
Astonished at this unexpected resistance, the troops drew back, as they were entirely34 without means of making an assault upon the city. The governor and council at once sent Archdeacon Hamilton to the royal camp, to excuse themselves for what had happened, and to explain that the firing was the action of a turbulent body of men, whom they were unable to restrain, and whom they represented as drunken rebels. The better class of citizens, they said, were all resolved to surrender dutifully, and were doing all they could to persuade the common people to do the same.
As the royal artillery had not yet arrived, James drew off his troops to Saint Johnston. Murray, with a body of horse, went out and skirmished with them, but returned into the town on hearing that the council still intended to surrender, and again harangued35 the people.
Eight thousand men assembled on the parade, and, after listening to a passionate harangue31, declared that they would resist to the last. They at once chose a preacher named Walker, and a Mr. Baker36, as joint37 governors, appointed Murray as general in the field, divided themselves into eight regiments, and took the entire control of the city into their hands. Archdeacon Hamilton, Lundy, and several of the principal citizens at once left the town, in disguise, and were allowed to pass through the besieging38 army.
John Whitefoot had been present at all the events which had taken place that day, and, although he had quite agreed with his cousin that resistance would do no good to the cause, and would entail39 fearful sufferings on the besieged40, he was carried away by the general enthusiasm, and shouted as loudly as any in reply to the exhortations of Murray. The tanner was also present. John was by his side, and saw that he was deeply moved by the speech, but he did not join in the acclamations. When all was over, he laid his hand on John's shoulder:
"The die is cast, my boy. I am glad that no act or voice of mine has had aught to do with bringing it about, and that the weight of what is to come will not rest upon my conscience. But, now that it is decided, I shall not be one to draw back, but will do my share with what strength the Lord has given me."
"May I join one of the regiments, too?" John asked. "I am young, but I am as strong as many men."
"It were better not, at present, John. Before the end comes, every arm that can bear weapon may be needed, but, at present, there is no reason why you should do so. Doubtless, plenty of work will be found for younger hands, besides absolute fighting, but I think not that there will be much fighting, save against famine. Our walls are strong, and we have well-nigh forty pieces of cannon, while they say that James has but six pieces, and most of these are small.
"Methinks, then, that they will not even attempt to take the city by storm. Why should they waste men in doing so, when they can starve us out? It is famine we have to fight, in this sort of war. I do not think that James has, in all Ireland, cannon sufficient to batter41 down our walls; but ten days will bring our provisions to an end. It will be with us as with Leyden. We have only to suffer and wait. If it be God's will, succour will come in time. If not, we must even perish."
With his spirits somewhat damped by his cousin's view of the case, John returned with him to the house. He would willingly enough have gone out, to fight against the besiegers, but the thought of the long slow agony of starvation was naturally terrible to a lad of good health and appetite.
The mob of Derry had shown good sense in the choice which they made of their governors. Baker, indeed, who was a military man, was a mere42 cipher43 in the matter. Walker was, in reality, the sole governor. He was a man of energy and judgment44, as well as enthusiastic and fanatical, and he at once gave evidence of his fitness for the post, and set himself diligently45 to work to establish order in the town.
He issued orders that all unable to bear arms, who wished to leave the town, could do so, while the able-bodied men, now formed into regiments, were assigned every man his place, and every regiment8 its quarter, on the walls. No less than thirty thousand fugitives, exclusive of the garrison, were shut up in the walls of Derry, and the army which was besieging the town numbered twenty thousand.
The guns of the besiegers soon opened fire, and those on the walls replied briskly. The besiegers threw up works, but carried on the siege but languidly, feeling sure that famine must, ere long, force the town to surrender; and fearing, perhaps, to engage the fresh and ill-trained levies46 against a multitude, animated47 by the desperate resolution and religious fanaticism48 of the defenders49 of the town.
Now that the die was once cast, there was no longer any difference of opinion among the inhabitants, and all classes joined enthusiastically in the measures for defence. All provisions in the town were given into one common store, to be doled50 out in regular rations51, and so made to last as long as possible; and, as these rations were, from the first, extremely small, the sufferings of the besieged really began from the first day.
John Whitefoot found that there was but little for him to do, and spent much of his time on the walls, watching the throwing up of works by the besiegers.
A regular cannonade was now kept up on both sides; but, though the shot occasionally fell inside the town, the danger to the inhabitants from this source was but slight; for, of the six guns possessed52 by the besiegers, five were very small, and one only was large enough to carry shell. All day the various chapels54 were open, and here the preachers, by their fiery55 discourses56, kept up the spirits and courage of the people who thronged57 these buildings. The women spent most of their time there, and the men, when off duty from the walls, however fatigued58 they might be with their labour, flocked at once to the chapels, to pray for strength to resist and for early succour. Never were the whole population of the town more deeply animated by religious excitement, never a whole population more thoroughly59 and unanimously determined60 to die, rather than surrender.
When not upon the walls or in chapel53, John spent much of his time in amusing the children, of whom there were many in the tanner's house. The change from their country quarters, the crowded town, the privation of milk, and the scantiness62 and unfitness of their rations, soon began to tell upon the little ones, and John felt thankful, indeed, that his mind had been stored with stories from his varied63 reading of the last two or three years. With these, he was able to interest and quiet the children, who sat round him with wrapt attention, while the booming of the guns and the occasional rattling64 of musketry outside passed unheeded.
Scarce a day passed without active fighting, the initiative being always taken by the besieged, for, in the royal army, the policy of blockade rather than assault was steadily65 adhered to. The besieged, however, continually sallied out, and attacked the parties engaged in throwing up works. There was no settled plan of operations; but the commander on each portion of the walls led out his men against the enemy, whenever he thought he saw a favourable66 opportunity. The fights which ensued were stoutly67 contested, and many were killed, but no advantage was gained on either side. If it was the intention of the besieged to incite68 the Royalists to make an attack upon the city, they failed altogether, and, indeed, would have served their purpose better had they remained quietly within the walls, for the energy and desperation with which they fought were well calculated to deter61 even the most energetic commander from attacking a town defended by eight or nine thousand men, animated by such fiery energy.
So confident, indeed, were the besieged, that the gates were often left open, and taunting69 invitations to come on and take Derry were shouted to the besiegers. The supply of provisions found to be stored away was vastly greater than had been expected, for many of the fugitives had brought in large stores, and a great number of the inhabitants had been, for weeks, making preparation for the siege, by buying up quantities of grain and storing it in their cellars.
Thus, up to the end of the first month, although the allowance of food was short, no real suffering was undergone by the inhabitants; but, as time went on, the supplies doled out became smaller and smaller, and dysentery and fever broke out in the crowded town.
Fierce disputes arose between those belonging to the Established Church and the Nonconformists, and it was with the greatest difficulty that Governor Walker prevented the two parties from engaging in open strife70. Day and night, the besiegers' fire continued, and many were killed by the shells which fell in the city. The fighting men on the walls were far better off than those who had nothing to do but to wait and suffer, and it was among the women and children, chiefly, that disease at first made its victims.
For a time, the children of the families who had taken refuge with the tanner remained healthy. The visitors were lodged71 for the most part in the cellars, so as to be in shelter from the fire of the enemy's mortar72; but John Whitefoot suggested to his cousin that the children would soon pine and sicken, unless they had air. The tanner gave his consent to John's establishing a shelter in the yard. A corner was chosen, and a number of casks were placed along by either wall; on these beams were laid, for it happened that the tanner had intended, shortly before the siege, to build a large shed, and had got the timber together for the purpose.
On the timber, bark from the now disused pits was heaped to a depth of some feet, which would effectually break the fall of any shell which might light upon it, and, along the front of this low triangular73 building, two lines of sacks filled with tan were placed. These would suffice to prevent any fragment of a shell, which might fall and burst in the courtyard, from entering the shelter; save by the opening, about a foot deep, between the top of the sacks and the beams.
When the whole was completed, John gathered the children there, and made it their headquarters, and established himself as captain of the castle, as he called it.
The elders entered warmly into his plans. It was a great relief, to them, to have the house cleared of the eighteen or twenty children. Their mothers had no longer any anxiety for their safety, and the children themselves looked upon it as great fun. There was plenty of air here, and, in a short time, John persuaded the parents to allow the children to sleep, as well as to pass the day, in the shelter. Here he told them stories, constructed toys for them, and kept them amused and quiet, appointing as his lieutenants74 three or four of the oldest of the girls, who had the little ones under their special charge. John was rewarded, for his pains, by seeing that the children kept their health far better than did those of their neighbours, and, up to the end of May, not one of them had succumbed75, although several of the parents had already fallen victims to dysentery and fever.
Thus the month of May passed. With June, the hardships rapidly increased; but, on the 13th, shouts of joy were heard in the streets. John ran out to ascertain76 the cause, and learned that a fleet of thirty ships had appeared in Lough Foyle, and was approaching the city. The inhabitants, frantic77 with joy, ran to the walls, and both sides suspended their fire to watch the approaching fleet.
Suddenly, the ships were seen to turn and sail away. The people could not believe that they were deserted; but, when they saw that the fleet was really making off, curses and cries of lamentation78 and grief rose from the crowd.
Why Major General Kirk, who commanded the force on board the ships, which were laden79 with provisions, did not attempt to sail up to Londonderry, which, as was afterwards proved, they could have done without difficulty, was never satisfactorily explained. The besiegers had erected80 two or three small forts on the banks of the river, but these were quite incapable81 of arresting the passage of the fleet, had it been commanded by a man of any resolution. Kirk anchored in Lough Swilly, and contented82 himself with sending messages to the town, to hold out to the last.
A fresh search was now made for provisions, and parties of men entered houses which had been abandoned, or whose inmates83 had died, and dug up the floors of the cellars. Several considerable deposits of grain were discovered, and many inhabitants, moved by the intensity84 of the general suffering, voluntarily brought out hoards85 which they had hitherto kept secret.
Early in the siege, the water in the wells had become turbid86 and muddy, partly owing, it was thought, to the concussion87 of the ground by the constant firing, partly by the extra supplies which were drawn88 from them. As the time went on, many of them dried altogether, and the water in the others became so muddy that it had to be filtered through cloth or sacking, before it could be drunk.
During fishing expeditions, previous to the commencement of the siege, John had more than once had a drink of water from the well of a peasant, living in a little hut near the river bank. This hut lay between the outposts of the two parties, and had, at the commencement of the siege, been deserted by its owner. After the water became bad, John set out every evening with a bucket, leaving the town just before the gates were shut, and making straight down to the river. When it became dark, he crawled along under the shelter of the banks, unperceived by the outposts of either party, until close to the hut. Then he filled his bucket at the well, and returned as he had come, lying down to sleep on the bank, well in the rear of the Protestant outposts, until morning; when, as soon as the gates were opened, he carried home the precious supply.
It was this, as much as the light and air, which kept the children in comparative health; but, on the further diminution89 of rations which took place after Kirk's fleet retired90, they began to fade rapidly.
The horses had now been killed for food. The sufferings of the besieged inhabitants became greater daily, and numbers died from sheer starvation. The little inhabitants of John Whitefoot's castle were mere skeletons. Most of their parents were dead, and a mournful silence pervaded91 the town, save when the bells of the chapels called to prayer, or the yells of the mob announced that the lower orders were breaking into houses in search of food.
John could stand the sight of the faces of the suffering children no longer. He was himself faint and ill from hunger, for he had, each day, given a portion of his own scanty92 rations to the weakest of the children, and he determined to try and get them some food, or to die in the attempt.
He set out at his usual hour in the evening. The tide was high, but just running out, and, entering the river, he floated down with the stream. Keeping close under the bank, he passed the batteries which the besiegers had erected there without notice, dived under the great boom which they had constructed across the river, directly Kirk's expedition had retired, and continued to float down to the mouth of the river, where he landed and boldly struck across the country, for he was now beyond the lines of the besiegers. He knew that his friend Walter was in the Royalist army, for one of the last mails which entered the city had told him that he was to accompany his father, and that Captain Davenant's troop would most likely form part of any army that might march for the north.
By the morning, his clothes had dried upon him, and he then boldly entered the Royalist camp, mingling93 with the peasants who were bringing in provisions for sale. He soon learned where Captain Davenant's troop was stationed, and made his way thither94. He stood watching for some time until he saw Walter come out of a tent, and he then approached him. Walter looked up, but did not recognize, in the thin and pallid95 lad before him, his former companion.
"Do you want anything?" he asked.
"Don't you know me, Walter?" John said.
Walter started, and gazed at him earnestly.
"Good heavens!" he exclaimed at last. "Why, it can't be John!"
"Why, what on earth have you been doing to yourself, John?"
"I have been starving, in there," John said, pointing to the city.
"Come into the tent, John," Walter said, grasping his friend's arm, and then letting it fall again, with an exclamation16 of horror at its thinness. "You needn't be afraid. My father is out--not that that would make any difference."
John entered the tent, and sat exhausted97 upon a box. Walter hastened to get some food, which he set before him, and poured out a large cup of wine and water, and then stood, looking on in awed98 silence, while John devoured99 his meal.
"I have wondered, a thousand times," he said at last, when John had finished, "what you were doing in there, or whether you left before the siege began. How did you get out?"
"I floated down the river to the mouth, beyond your lines, last night; and then worked round here. I thought I might find you."
"Well, I am glad indeed that you are out," Walter said. "Every time the mortar sent a shell into the town, I was thinking of you, and wishing that I could share meals with you, for, of course, we know that you are suffering horribly in the town."
"Horribly!" John repeated. "You can have no idea what it is, Walter, to see children suffer. As for men, if it is the will of God, they must bear it, but it is awful for children. I have had eighteen of them under my charge through the siege, and to see them getting thinner and weaker, every day, till the bones look as if they would come through the skin, and their eyes get bigger and bigger, and their voices weaker, is awful. At last I could stand it no longer, and I have come out to fetch some food for them."
"To fetch food!" Walter repeated. "Do you mean to say you are thinking of going back again?"
"That I am," John said. "I am going to take some food in to them. You will help me, won't you, Walter? It isn't for the men that fight, but for little children, who know nothing about King James, or King William, or the Protestants, or the Catholics, but who are just God's creatures, and are dying of hunger. No one could grudge100 food to infants like these."
"I will help you, of course, John," Walter said, "if I can; but now, tell me all about it."
John then gave an account of all he had been doing throughout the siege.
"And now what have you been doing, Walter? Fighting?"
"No. I have not been doing any fighting, except that, once or twice, I was out with the troop, when they had a skirmish with your horsemen, but I kept in the rear. I hope, ere long, my father will let me enter, but he is waiting to see what comes of it. No. I have been idle enough. Well, of course, I know all the officers in the cavalry now, and pretty nearly all the officers in the camp, and then, with these constant skirmishes and attacks by your people and ours, there is always plenty to interest one. General Hamilton has been conducting the siege lately, but General Rosen returned yesterday and took the command; but there's really not much to do. We know you cannot hold out much longer."
"I don't know," John said quietly. "I think that, as long as a man has strength enough to hold his arms, Derry will not surrender. When you march in, it will be to a city of dead people. We had such hopes when the fleet came. If the people could have caught Kirk, they would have torn him in pieces. He had five thousand soldiers on board, and, if he had landed them, we could have sallied out and fought, instead of dying of hunger."
"Yes," Walter agreed, "we should have retired at once. We have only seven or eight thousand men here now, and if five thousand English soldiers had landed, we must have raised the siege at once. I can tell you that, though he is on the other side, I was almost as angry at Kirk's cowardice101 as you must have been. I shall be glad when this awful business is over. I knew it was bad enough before, but after what you have told me about the women and children, I shall never think of anything else, and I will gladly help you in any way I can. There can't be any treason in trying to prevent children from starving to death. What do you want me to do?"
"What would do the children more good than anything, the women say, would be milk. If I could get a keg that would hold two or three gallons--and a watertight box with about twenty pounds of bread, I could swim back with them just as I came. I would show you the exact spot where I landed, and would come out again in four days. If you could put a supply ready for me, every fourth night, among the bushes at the mouth of the river, with a little lantern to show me the exact spot, I could come down with the tide, get the things, and float back again when the tide turns."
"I could do that, easily enough," Walter said. "The mouth of the river is quite beyond our lines. But it is very risky102 for you, John. You might get shot, if a sentry103 were to see you."
"I do not think that there is much fear of that," John said. "Just floating along as I do, without swimming at all, there is only just my face above water, and it would be hardly possible for a sentry to see me; but if I were shot, I could not die in a better cause."
"I think, John, if you don't mind, I should like to tell my father. I am quite sure he would not object, and, in case you should happen to get caught, you could refer at once to him to prove that you were not a spy. They make very short work of spies. But if you were to demand to be brought to Captain Davenant, and say you were acting104 in accordance with his knowledge, no doubt they would bring you."
"Do as you think best, Walter, but don't tell him, unless you feel almost sure that he will not object."
"There is no fear of that," Walter said. "He is constantly lamenting105 over the sufferings of the people of Derry, and has, all along, been in favour of attempting to storm the place by force, so as to put a stop to all this useless suffering. Now, John, you had better lie down on that straw bed of mine, and get a sleep. After that, you will be ready for another meal. I will tell Larry to go out among the market people, and buy three gallons of milk and twenty pounds of bread. There are plenty of small spirit kegs about, which will do capitally for the milk, and I don't think that we can have anything better than one of them for the bread. We can head it up, and make it watertight. How do you mean to get into the town? I should have thought that they were likely to be seized."
"So they would be," John said. "I shall hide them in some bushes at the foot of the walls, at the side of the town facing the river. There are only a few sentries106 there. Then, when it is light, I shall go in and tell my cousin; and get him, after dark, to lower a rope from the wall. I shall of course be below, to tie on the kegs. He can then walk with them boldly through the street to our house, which is only a short distance from that part of the walls. If anyone saw him, they would only suppose he was taking home water from one of the wells."
John was soon fast asleep. Walter sat watching him until, two hours later, his father returned with his troop. John still slept on, while Walter told his father the errand on which he had come.
"He is a brave lad," Captain Davenant said, "and I honour him for his conduct. It is not many men who, at a time like this, would risk their lives for a number of children who are not any relation to them. Certainly, I will gladly assist him. I am sick at heart at all this. My only consolation107 is, that it is brought on solely108 by the acts of these men, who, though comparatively a handful, set themselves up against the voice of all Ireland. If they had risen when an English army arrived to their assistance, I should say nothing against it. As it is, without doing any good to their cause, they are entailing109 this horrible suffering upon thousands of women and children.
"By all means, help the poor lad, and if he should fall into the hands of our people, let him mention my name. Rosen would no doubt disapprove110 of it, but I cannot help that. All the Irish gentlemen in the army would agree that I had done rightly, and, even if they didn't, my own conscience would be quite sufficient for me to act upon. I am fighting against the king's enemies, not warring against women and children.
"How soundly the poor lad sleeps, and how changed he is! He is a mere skeleton. I should not have known him in the least. If this is the condition into which a strong, healthy lad has fallen, what must the women and children have suffered! I wish Kirk had not turned coward, but had landed his troops. We could then have brought up our scattered111 forces, and could have fought them in a fair field, with something like equal forces. That would have been vastly more to my taste than starving them, like rats in a hole."
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incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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ailing
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| v.生病 | |
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21
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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22
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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23
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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24
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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25
stipulate
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| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
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26
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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27
exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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29
exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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30
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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31
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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32
harangues
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| n.高谈阔论的长篇演讲( harangue的名词复数 )v.高谈阔论( harangue的第三人称单数 ) | |
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33
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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34
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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35
harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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37
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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38
besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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39
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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40
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
batter
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| v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员 | |
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42
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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43
cipher
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| n.零；无影响力的人；密码 | |
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44
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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45
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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46
levies
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| （部队）征兵( levy的名词复数 )； 募捐； 被征募的军队 | |
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47
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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48
fanaticism
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| n.狂热，盲信 | |
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49
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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doled
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| 救济物( dole的过去式和过去分词 )； 失业救济金 | |
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rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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53
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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54
chapels
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| n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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56
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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57
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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59
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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60
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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61
deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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62
scantiness
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| n.缺乏 | |
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63
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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64
rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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65
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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66
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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68
incite
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| v.引起，激动，煽动 | |
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69
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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70
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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71
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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72
mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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73
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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74
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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75
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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76
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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77
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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78
lamentation
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| n.悲叹，哀悼 | |
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79
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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80
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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81
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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82
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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83
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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84
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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85
hoards
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| n.（钱财、食物或其他珍贵物品的）储藏，积存( hoard的名词复数 )v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的第三人称单数 ) | |
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86
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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87
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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88
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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89
diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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90
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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91
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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93
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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94
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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95
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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96
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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97
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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98
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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100
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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101
cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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102
risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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103
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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104
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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105
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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106
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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107
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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108
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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109
entailing
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| 使…成为必要( entail的现在分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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110
disapprove
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| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
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111
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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