the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第23章
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he had been a barbarian； a beast。 He had fought like a pagan who de…
fends his religion。 Regarding it； he saw that it was fine； wild； and； in
some ways； easy。 He had been a tremendous figure； no doubt。 By this
struggle he had overcome obstacles which he had admitted to be
mountains。 They had fallen like paper peaks； and he was now what he
called a hero。 And he had not been aware of the pro… cess。 He had slept
and； awakening； found him… self a knight。
He lay and basked in the occasional stares of his comrades。 Their
faces were varied in de… grees of blackness from the burned powder。 Some
were utterly smudged。 They were reek… ing with perspiration； and their
breaths came hard and wheezing。 And from these soiled ex… panses they
peered at him。
〃Hot work！ Hot work！〃 cried the lieu… tenant deliriously。 He
walked up and down； restless and eager。 Sometimes his voice could be
heard in a wild； incomprehensible laugh。
When he had a particularly profound thought upon the science of war
he always unconsciously addressed himself to the youth。
There was some grim rejoicing by the men。 〃By thunder； I bet this
army'll never see another new reg'ment like us！〃 〃You bet！〃
〃A dog； a woman； an' a walnut tree； Th' more yeh beat 'em； th'
better they be！
That's like us。〃
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〃Lost a piler men； they did。 If an' ol' woman swep' up th' woods she'd
git a dustpanful。〃
〃Yes； an' if she'll come around ag'in in 'bout an' hour she'll git a pile
more。〃
The forest still bore its burden of clamor。 From off under the trees
came the rolling clatter of the musketry。 Each distant thicket seemed a
strange porcupine with quills of flame。 A cloud of dark smoke； as from
smoldering ruins； went up toward the sun now bright and gay in the blue；
enameled sky。
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CHAPTER XVIII。
THE ragged line had respite for some min… utes； but during its pause
the struggle in the forest became magnified until the trees seemed to
quiver from the firing and the ground to shake from the rushing of the men。
The voices of the cannon were mingled in a long and interminable row。
It seemed difficult to live in such an atmos… phere。 The chests of the men
strained for a bit of freshness； and their throats craved water。
There was one shot through the body； who raised a cry of bitter
lamentation when came this lull。 Perhaps he had been calling out during
the fighting also； but at that time no one had heard him。 But now the
men turned at the woe… ful complaints of him upon the ground。
〃Who is it？ Who is it？〃
〃It's Jimmie Rogers。 Jimmie Rogers。〃
When their eyes first encountered him there was a sudden halt； as if
they feared to go near。 He was thrashing about in the grass； twisting his
171 shuddering body into many strange postures。 He was screaming
loudly。 This instant's hesita… tion seemed to fill him with a tremendous；
fantas… tic contempt； and he damned them in shrieked sentences。
The youth's friend had a geographical illusion concerning a stream；
and he obtained permission to go for some water。 Immediately canteens
were showered upon him。 〃Fill mine； will yeh？〃 〃Bring me some； too。〃
〃And me； too。〃 He departed； ladened。 The youth went with his friend；
feeling a desire to throw his heated body onto the stream and； soaking
there； drink quarts。
They made a hurried search for the supposed stream； but did not find it。
〃No water here；〃 said the youth。 They turned without delay and began to
retrace their steps。
From their position as they again faced to… ward the place of the
fighting； they could of course comprehend a greater amount of the bat… tle
than when their visions had been blurred by the hurling smoke of the line。
They could see dark stretches winding along the land； and on one cleared
space there was a row of guns mak… ing gray clouds； which were filled
with large flashes of orange…colored flame。 Over some foli… age they
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could see the roof of a house。 One win… dow； glowing a deep murder red；
shone squarely through the leaves。 From the edifice a tall lean… ing tower
of smoke went far into the sky。
Looking over their own troops； they saw mixed masses slowly getting
into regular form。 The sunlight made twinkling points of the bright steel。
To the rear there was a glimpse of a dis… tant roadway as it curved over a
slope。 It was crowded with retreating infantry。 From all the interwoven
forest arose the smoke and bluster of the battle。 The air was always
occupied by a blaring。
Near where they stood shells were flip…flap… ping and hooting。
Occasional bullets buzzed in the air and spanged into tree trunks。
Wounded men and other stragglers were slinking through the woods。
Looking down an aisle of the grove； the youth and his companion saw
a jangling general and his staff almost ride upon a wounded man； who was
crawling on his hands and knees。 The general reined strongly at his
charger's opened and foamy mouth and guided it with dexterous
horsemanship past the man。 The latter scram… bled in wild and torturing
haste。 His strength evidently failed him as he reached a place of safety。
One of his arms suddenly weakened； and he fell； sliding over upon his
back。 He lay stretched out； breathing gently。
A moment later the small； creaking cavalcade was directly in front of
the two soldiers。 An… other officer； riding with the skillful abandon of a
cowboy； galloped his horse to a position directly before the general。 The
two unnoticed foot sol… diers made a little show of going on； but they
lingered near in the desire to overhear the con… versation。 Perhaps； they
thought； some great inner historical things would be said。
The general； whom the boys knew as the com… mander of their
division； looked at the other officer and spoke coolly； as if he were
criticising his clothes。 〃Th' enemy's formin' over there for another
charge；〃 he said。 〃It'll be directed against Whiterside； an' I fear they'll
break through there unless we work like thunder t' stop them。〃
The other swore at his restive horse； and then cleared his throat。 He
made a gesture toward his cap。 〃It'll be hell t' pay stoppin' them；〃 he said
shortly。
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〃I presume so；〃 remarked the general。 Then he began to talk rapidly
and in a lower tone。 He frequently illustrated his words with a pointing
finger。 The two infantrymen could hear nothing until finally he asked：
〃What troops can you spare？〃
The officer who rode like a cowboy reflected for an instant。 〃Well；〃
he said； 〃I had to order in th' 12th to help th' 76th； an' I haven't really got
any。 But there's th' 304th。 They fight like a lot 'a mule drivers。 I can
spare them best of any。〃
The youth and his friend exchanged glances of astonishment。
The general spoke sharply。 〃Get 'em ready； then。 I'll watch
developments from here； an' send you word when t' start them。 It'll
happen in five minutes。〃
As the other officer tossed his fingers toward his cap and wheeling his
horse； started away； the general called out to him in a sober voice： 〃I don't
believe many of your mule drivers will get back。〃
The other shouted something in reply。 He smiled。
With scared faces； the youth and his compan… ion hurried back to the
line。
These happenings had occupied an incredibly short time； yet the youth
felt that in them he had been made aged。 New eyes were given to him。
And the most startling thing was to learn sud… denly that he was very
insignificant。 The officer spoke of the regiment as if he referred to a
broom。 Some part of the woods needed sweep… ing； perhaps； and he
merely indicated a broom in a tone properly indifferent to its fate。 It was
war； no doubt； but it appeared strange。
As the two boys approached the line； the lieu… tenant perceived them
and swelled with wrath。 〃FlemingWilsonhow long does it take yeh to
git water； anyhowwhere yeh been to。〃
But his oration ceased as he saw their eyes； which were large with
great tales。 〃We're goin' t' chargewe're goin' t' charge！〃 cried the youth's
friend； hastening with his news。
〃Charge？〃 said the lieutenant。 〃Charge？ Well； b'Gawd！ Now； this is
real fightin'。〃 Over his soiled countenance there went a boastful smile。
〃Charge？ Well； b'Gawd！〃
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A little group of soldiers surrounded the two youths。 〃Are we； sure
'nough？ Well； I'll be derned！ Charge？ What fer？ What at？ Wil…
son； you're lyin'。〃
〃I hope to die；〃 said the youth； pitching his tones to the key of angry
remonstrance。 〃Sure as shooting； I tell you。〃
And his friend spoke in re…enforcement。 〃Not by a blame sight； he
ain't lyin'。 We heard 'em talkin'。〃
They caught sight of two mounted figures a short distance from
