126 CONVERSATIONS ON 



" But, Uncle Philip, you said you would tell 

 us about the soldiers and labourers coming 

 out when the city is attacked." 



" Yes, I did. As soon as a hole is made in 

 the outside wall, you will see a soldier run 

 out, and walk about as if to look around ; but 

 as he is blind, it cannot be to see what the 

 danger is. He may have some way though of 

 finding out without seeing. Presently he will 

 go in, as if to tell the others, and then out 

 pour the soldiers in great numbers, as fast 

 as the hole will let them ; and just as long 

 as you strike the outside wall, they will 

 continue to rush out. They seem to be in 

 a terrible passion. They are in such a hurry 

 that sometimes they slip, and roll down 

 the outside of the hill ; but they jump up 

 again instantly, and begin to bite every thing 

 they run against, for they are blind and can-* 

 not tell a friend from an enemy." 



"Do they bite hard, Uncle Philip?" 



"Very hard indeed. They make their 

 hooked jaws, which are like awls, you know, 

 meet at every bite ; and if it should happen to 

 be a man's leg they get hold of, you would see 

 upon his stocking a spot of blood an inch long. 

 At every bite too you may hear their jaws 



