the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第22章
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jackasses。〃
He paused； ready to pounce upon any man who might have the
temerity to reply。 No words being said； he resumed his dignified pacing。
〃There's too much chin music an' too little fightin' in this war；
anyhow；〃 he said to them； turning his head for a final remark。
The day had grown more white； until the sun shed his full radiance
upon the thronged forest。 A sort of a gust of battle came sweeping toward
that part of the line where lay the youth's regi… ment。 The front shifted a
trifle to meet it square… ly。 There was a wait。 In this part of the field
there passed slowly the intense moments that pre… cede the tempest。
A single rifle flashed in a thicket before the regiment。 In an instant it
was joined by many others。 There was a mighty song of clashes and
crashes that went sweeping through the woods。 The guns in the rear；
aroused and enraged by shells that had been thrown burlike at them；
suddenly involved themselves in a hideous alter… cation with another band
of guns。 The battle roar settled to a rolling thunder； which was a single；
long explosion。
In the regiment there was a peculiar kind of hesitation denoted in the
attitudes of the men。 They were worn； exhausted； having slept but lit… tle
and labored much。 They rolled their eyes toward the advancing battle as
they stood await… ing the shock。 Some shrank and flinched。 They stood
as men tied to stakes。
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CHAPTER XVII。
THIS advance of the enemy had seemed to the youth like a ruthless
hunting。 He began to fume with rage and exasperation。 He beat his
foot upon the ground； and scowled with hate at the swirling smoke that
was approaching like a phan… tom flood。 There was a maddening quality
in this seeming resolution of the foe to give him no rest； to give him no
time to sit down and think。 Yesterday he had fought and had fled rapidly。
There had been many adventures。 For to…day he felt that he had earned
opportunities for contem… plative repose。 He could have enjoyed
portraying to uninitiated listeners various scenes at which he had been a
witness or ably discussing the pro… cesses of war with other proved men。
Too it was important that he should have time for physical recuperation。
He was sore and stiff from his ex… periences。 He had received his fill of
all exer… tions； and he wished to rest。
But those other men seemed never to grow weary； they were fighting
with their old speed。
163 He had a wild hate for the relentless foe。 Yester… day； when he
had imagined the universe to be against him； he had hated it； little gods
and big gods； to…day he hated the army of the foe with the same great
hatred。 He was not going to be badgered of his life； like a kitten chased
by boys； he said。 It was not well to drive men into final corners； at those
moments they could all develop teeth and claws。
He leaned and spoke into his friend's ear。 He menaced the woods
with a gesture。 〃If they keep on chasing us； by Gawd； they'd better watch
out。 Can't stand TOO much。〃
The friend twisted his head and made a calm reply。 〃If they keep on
a…chasin' us they'll drive us all inteh th' river。〃
The youth cried out savagely at this state… ment。 He crouched behind
a little tree； with his eyes burning hatefully and his teeth set in a cur… like
snarl。 The awkward bandage was still about his head； and upon it； over
his wound； there was a spot of dry blood。 His hair was wondrously
tousled； and some straggling； moving locks hung over the cloth of the
bandage down toward his forehead。 His jacket and shirt were open at the
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throat； and exposed his young bronzed neck。 There could be seen
spasmodic gulpings at his throat。
His fingers twined nervously about his rifle。 He wished that it was an
engine of annihilating power。 He felt that he and his companions were
being taunted and derided from sincere convic… tions that they were poor
and puny。 His knowl… edge of his inability to take vengeance for it made
his rage into a dark and stormy specter； that pos… sessed him and made him
dream of abominable cruelties。 The tormentors were flies sucking in…
solently at his blood； and he thought that he would have given his life for a
revenge of seeing their faces in pitiful plights。
The winds of battle had swept all about the regiment； until the one rifle；
instantly followed by others； flashed in its front。 A moment later the
regiment roared forth its sudden and valiant re… tort。 A dense wall of
smoke settled slowly down。 It was furiously slit and slashed by the
knifelike fire from the rifles。
To the youth the fighters resembled animals tossed for a death struggle
into a dark pit。 There was a sensation that he and his fellows； at bay；
were pushing back； always pushing fierce on… slaughts of creatures who
were slippery。 Their beams of crimson seemed to get no purchase upon
the bodies of their foes； the latter seemed to evade them with ease； and
come through； between； around； and about with unopposed skill。
When； in a dream； it occurred to the youth that his rifle was an
impotent stick； he lost sense of everything but his hate； his desire to smash
into pulp the glittering smile of victory which he could feel upon the faces
of his enemies。
The blue smoke…swallowed line curled and writhed like a snake
stepped upon。 It swung its ends to and fro in an agony of fear and rage。
The youth was not conscious that he was erect upon his feet。 He did
not know the direction of the ground。 Indeed； once he even lost the habit
of balance and fell heavily。 He was up again immediately。 One thought
went through the chaos of his brain at the time。 He wondered if he had
fallen because he had been shot。 But the suspicion flew away at once。
He did not think more of it。
He had taken up a first position behind the lit… tle tree； with a direct
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determination to hold it against the world。 He had not deemed it possi…
ble that his army could that day succeed； and from this he felt the ability to
fight harder。 But the throng had surged in all ways； until he lost
directions and locations； save that he knew where lay the enemy。
The flames bit him； and the hot smoke broiled his skin。 His rifle
barrel grew so hot that ordi… narily he could not have borne it upon his
palms； but he kept on stuffing cartridges into it； and pounding them with
his clanking； bending ram… rod。 If he aimed at some changing form
through the smoke； he pulled his trigger with a fierce grunt； as if he were
dealing a blow of the fist with all his strength。
When the enemy seemed falling back before him and his fellows； he
went instantly forward； like a dog who； seeing his foes lagging； turns and
insists upon being pursued。 And when he was compelled to retire again；
he did it slowly； sul… lenly； taking steps of wrathful despair。
Once he； in his intent hate； was almost alone； and was firing； when all
those near him had ceased。 He was so engrossed in his occupation that he
was not aware of a lull。
He was recalled by a hoarse laugh and a sen… tence that came to his
ears in a voice of contempt and amazement。 〃Yeh infernal fool； don't yeh
know enough t' quit when there ain't anything t' shoot at？ Good Gawd！〃
He turned then and； pausing with his rifle thrown half into position；
looked at the blue line of his comrades。 During this moment of leisure
they seemed all to be engaged in staring with astonishment at him。 They
had become specta… tors。 Turning to the front again he saw； under the
lifted smoke； a deserted ground。
He looked bewildered for a moment。 Then there appeared upon the
glazed vacancy of his eyes a diamond point of intelligence。 〃Oh；〃 he
said； comprehending。
He returned to his comrades and threw him… self upon the ground。
He sprawled like a man who had been thrashed。 His flesh seemed
strange… ly on fire； and the sounds of the battle continued in his ears。 He
groped blindly for his canteen。
The lieutenant was crowing。 He seemed drunk with fighting。 He
called out to the youth： 〃By heavens； if I had ten thousand wild cats like
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you I could tear th' stomach outa this war in less'n a week！〃 He puffed
out his chest with large dignity as he said it。
Some of the men muttered and looked at the youth in awe…struck ways。
It was plain that as he had gone on loading and firing and cursing without
the proper intermission； they had found time to regard him。 And they
now looked upon him as a war devil。
The friend came staggering to him。 There was some fright and
dismay in his voice。 〃Are yeh all right； Fleming？ Do yeh feel all right？
There ain't nothin' th' matter with yeh； Henry； is there？〃
〃No；〃 said the youth with difficulty。 His throat seemed full of knobs
and burs。
These incidents made the youth ponder。 It was revealed to him that
he had been a barbarian； a beast。 He had fought like a pagan who de…
