Heywood never can be
here again, it would be better nothing should be left to
remind them of the bloody doings of yesterday.'
"'And what other name would you give it?' I asked.
"'If it was left to me, Mr. Ronayne,' replied the corporal;
'I would call it HARDSCRABBLE, on account of the hard
struggle the fellows must have had with Mr. Heywood,
judging from his wounds and his broken rifle, before they
mastered him.'
"'Then, HARDSCRABBLE be it,' I said, 'not that I can
really see it will make much difference in calling the
thing to mind, yet it would scarcely be fair to deny to
you, who have so bravely defended the place, the privilege
of giving it a new name, if the old one is to be abandoned.'
"'Thank you, sir,' returned Nixon, 'but if you hadn't
come to our assistance, I don't know what the upshot
might have been, I suspect that fellow whose comrade you
killed, sent them off sooner than they intended.'
"'No more of that, Nixon--and now do you remember what
you are to say when you get back to the Fort?'
"'I do, sir, and every man shall be told to say as I
do--but about the new name, Mr.
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