the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第24章
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ain't lyin'。 We heard 'em talkin'。〃
They caught sight of two mounted figures a short distance from them。
One was the colonel of the regiment and the other was the officer who had
received orders from the commander of the division。 They were
gesticulating at each other。 The soldier； pointing at them； interpreted the
scene。
One man had a final objection： 〃How could yeh hear 'em talkin'？〃
But the men； for a large part； nodded； admitting that previously the two
friends had spoken truth。
They settled back into reposeful attitudes with airs of having accepted
the matter。 And they mused upon it； with a hundred varieties of
expression。 It was an engrossing thing to think about。 Many tightened
their belts carefully and hitched at their trousers。
A moment later the officers began to bustle among the men； pushing
them into a more com… pact mass and into a better alignment。 They
chased those that straggled and fumed at a few men who seemed to show
by their attitudes that they had decided to remain at that spot。 They were
like critical shepherds struggling with sheep。
Presently； the regiment seemed to draw itself up and heave a deep
breath。 None of the men's faces were mirrors of large thoughts。 The
sol… diers were bended and stooped like sprinters be… fore a signal。 Many
pairs of glinting eyes peered from the grimy faces toward the curtains of
the deeper woods。 They seemed to be engaged in deep calculations of
time and distance。
They were surrounded by the noises of the monstrous altercation
between the two armies。 The world was fully interested in other matters。
Apparently； the regiment had its small affair to itself。
The youth； turning； shot a quick； inquiring glance at his friend。 The
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latter returned to him the same manner of look。 They were the only ones
who possessed an inner knowledge。 〃Mule drivershell t' paydon't
believe many will get back。〃 It was an ironical secret。 Still； they saw
no hesitation in each other's faces； and they nod… ded a mute and
unprotesting assent when a shag… gy man near them said in a meek voice：
〃We'll git swallowed。〃
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CHAPTER XIX。
THE youth stared at the land in front of him。 Its foliages now seemed
to veil powers and hor… rors。 He was unaware of the machinery of orders
that started the charge； although from the cor… ners of his eyes he saw an
officer； who looked like a boy a…horseback； come galloping； waving his
hat。 Suddenly he felt a straining and heaving among the men。 The line
fell slowly forward like a toppling wall； and； with a convulsive gasp that
was intended for a cheer； the regiment began its journey。 The youth was
pushed and jostled for a moment before he understood the move… ment at
all； but directly he lunged ahead and began to run。
He fixed his eye upon a distant and promi… nent clump of trees where
he had concluded the enemy were to be met； and he ran toward it as
toward a goal。 He had believed throughout that it was a mere question of
getting over an unpleas… ant matter as quickly as possible； and he ran
179 desperately； as if pursued for a murder。 His face was drawn hard
and tight with the stress of his endeavor。 His eyes were fixed in a lurid
glare。 And with his soiled and disordered dress； his red and inflamed
features surmounted by the dingy rag with its spot of blood； his wildly
swinging rifle and banging accouterments； he looked to be an insane
soldier。
As the regiment swung from its position out into a cleared space the
woods and thickets be… fore it awakened。 Yellow flames leaped toward it
from many directions。 The forest made a tre… mendous objection。
The line lurched straight for a moment。 Then the right wing swung
forward； it in turn was surpassed by the left。 Afterward the center
careered to the front until the regiment was a wedge…shaped mass； but an
instant later the opposition of the bushes； trees； and uneven places on the
ground split the command and scattered it into detached clusters。
The youth； light…footed； was unconsciously in advance。 His eyes still
kept note of the clump of trees。 From all places near it the clannish yell
of the enemy could be heard。 The little flames of rifles leaped from it。
The song of the bullets was in the air and shells snarled among the tree…
tops。 One tumbled directly into the middle of a hurrying group and
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exploded in crimson fury。 There was an instant's spectacle of a man；
almost over it； throwing up his hands to shield his eyes。
Other men； punched by bullets； fell in gro… tesque agonies。 The
regiment left a coherent trail of bodies。
They had passed into a clearer atmosphere。 There was an effect like a
revelation in the new appearance of the landscape。 Some men work… ing
madly at a battery were plain to them； and the opposing infantry's lines
were defined by the gray walls and fringes of smoke。
It seemed to the youth that he saw every… thing。 Each blade of the
green grass was bold and clear。 He thought that he was aware of every
change in the thin； transparent vapor that floated idly in sheets。 The
brown or gray trunks of the trees showed each roughness of their sur…
faces。 And the men of the regiment； with their starting eyes and sweating
faces； running madly； or falling； as if thrown headlong； to queer； heaped…
up corpsesall were comprehended。 His mind took a mechanical but
firm impression； so that afterward everything was pictured and ex… plained
to him； save why he himself was there。
But there was a frenzy made from this furious rush。 The men；
pitching forward insanely； had burst into cheerings； moblike and barbaric；
but tuned in strange keys that can arouse the dullard and the stoic。 It
made a mad enthusiasm that； it seemed； would be incapable of checking
itself before granite and brass。 There was the deli… rium that encounters
despair and death； and is heedless and blind to the odds。 It is a temporary
but sublime absence of selfishness。 And because it was of this order was
the reason； perhaps； why the youth wondered； afterward； what reasons he
could have had for being there。
Presently the straining pace ate up the ener… gies of the men。 As if by
agreement； the leaders began to slacken their speed。 The volleys di…
rected against them had had a seeming windlike effect。 The regiment
snorted and blew。 Among some stolid trees it began to falter and hesitate。
The men； staring intently； began to wait for some of the distant walls of
smoke to move and dis… close to them the scene。 Since much of their
strength and their breath had vanished； they re… turned to caution。 They
were become men again。
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The youth had a vague belief that he had run miles； and he thought； in
a way； that he was now in some new and unknown land。
The moment the regiment ceased its advance the protesting splutter of
musketry became a steadied roar。 Long and accurate fringes of smoke
spread out。 From the top of a small hill came level belchings of yellow
flame that caused an inhuman whistling in the air。
The men； halted； had opportunity to see some of their comrades
dropping with moans and shrieks。 A few lay under foot； still or wailing。
And now for an instant the men stood； their rifles slack in their hands； and
watched the regiment dwindle。 They appeared dazed and stupid。 This
spectacle seemed to paralyze them； overcome them with a fatal fascination。
They stared wood… enly at the sights； and； lowering their eyes； looked
from face to face。 It was a strange pause； and a strange silence。
Then； above the sounds of the outside commo… tion； arose the roar of
the lieutenant。 He strode suddenly forth； his infantile features black with
rage。
〃Come on； yeh fools！〃 he bellowed。 〃Come on！ Yeh can't stay here。
Yeh must come on。〃 He said more； but much of it could not be under…
stood。
He started rapidly forward； with his head turned toward the men。
〃Come on；〃 he was shouting。 The men stared with blank and yokel… like
eyes at him。 He was obliged to halt and retrace his steps。 He stood then
with his back to the enemy and delivered gigantic curses into the faces of
the men。 His body vibrated from the weight and force of his
imprecations。 And he could string oaths with the facility of a maiden
who strings beads。
The friend of the youth aroused。 Lurching suddenly forward and
dropping to his knees； he fired an angry shot at the persistent woods。
This action awakened the men。 They huddled no more like sheep。
They seemed suddenly to be… think them of their weapons； and at once
com… menced firing。 Belabored by their officers； they began to move
forward。 The regiment； involved like a cart involved in mud and muddle；
started unevenly with many jolts and jerks。 The men stopped now every
few paces to fire and load； and in this manner moved slowly on from trees
