the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第28章
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in a letter an' send it hum t' yer mother； hay？ 'A feller named Wil… son；'
he ses。 An' th' colonel； he ses： 'Were they； indeed？ Ahem！ ahem！ My
sakes！' he ses。 'At th' head 'a th' reg'ment？' he ses。 'They were；' ses th'
lieutenant。 'My sakes！' ses th' colonel。 He ses： 'Well； well； well；' he ses；
'those two babies？' 'They were；' ses th' lieutenant。 'Well； well；' ses th'
colonel； 'they deserve t' be major generals；' he ses。 'They deserve t' be
major…generals。'
The youth and his friend had said： 〃Huh！〃 〃Yer lyin'； Thompson。〃
〃Oh； go t' blazes！〃 〃He never sed it。〃 〃Oh； what a lie！〃 〃Huh！〃 But
despite these youthful scoffings and embar… rassments； they knew that
their faces were deeply flushing from thrills of pleasure。 They ex…
changed a secret glance of joy and congratula… tion。
They speedily forgot many things。 The past held no pictures of error
and disappointment。 They were very happy； and their hearts swelled with
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grateful affection for the colonel and the youthful lieutenant。
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CHAPTER XXII。
WHEN the woods again began to pour forth the dark…hued masses of
the enemy the youth felt serene self…confidence。 He smiled briefly when
he saw men dodge and duck at the long screech… ings of shells that were
thrown in giant handfuls over them。 He stood； erect and tranquil； watch…
ing the attack begin against a part of the line that made a blue curve along
the side of an adja… cent hill。 His vision being unmolested by smoke
from the rifles of his companions； he had oppor… tunities to see parts of the
hard fight。 It was a relief to perceive at last from whence came some of
these noises which had been roared into his ears。
Off a short way he saw two regiments fight… ing a little separate battle
with two other regi… ments。 It was in a cleared space； wearing a set… apart
look。 They were blazing as if upon a wager； giving and taking
tremendous blows。 The firings were incredibly fierce and rapid。
209 These intent regiments apparently were oblivious of all larger
purposes of war； and were slugging each other as if at a matched game。
In another direction he saw a magnificent brigade going with the
evident intention of driv… ing the enemy from a wood。 They passed in
out of sight and presently there was a most awe…in… spiring racket in the
wood。 The noise was un… speakable。 Having stirred this prodigious up…
roar； and； apparently； finding it too prodigious； the brigade； after a little
time； came marching airily out again with its fine formation in nowise
disturbed。 There were no traces of speed in its movements。 The
brigade was jaunty and seemed to point a proud thumb at the yelling wood。
On a slope to the left there was a long row of guns； gruff and maddened；
denouncing the enemy； who； down through the woods； were forming for
another attack in the pitiless mo… notony of conflicts。 The round red
discharges from the guns made a crimson flare and a high； thick smoke。
Occasional glimpses could be caught of groups of the toiling artillerymen。
In the rear of this row of guns stood a house； calm and white； amid
bursting shells。 A congregation of horses； tied to a long railing； were
tugging frenziedly at their bridles。 Men were running hither and thither。
The detached battle between the four regi… ments lasted for some time。
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There chanced to be no interference； and they settled their dispute by
themselves。 They struck savagely and pow… erfully at each other for a
period of minutes； and then the lighter…hued regiments faltered and drew
back； leaving the dark…blue lines shouting。 The youth could see the two
flags shaking with laughter amid the smoke remnants。
Presently there was a stillness； pregnant with meaning。 The blue
lines shifted and changed a trifle and stared expectantly at the silent woods
and fields before them。 The hush was solemn and churchlike； save for a
distant battery that； evidently unable to remain quiet； sent a faint rolling
thunder over the ground。 It irritated； like the noises of unimpressed boys。
The men imagined that it would prevent their perched ears from hearing
the first words of the new battle。
Of a sudden the guns on the slope roared out a message of warning。
A spluttering sound had begun in the woods。 It swelled with amazing
speed to a profound clamor that involved the earth in noises。 The
splitting crashes swept along the lines until an interminable roar was
developed。 To those in the midst of it it became a din fitted to the
universe。 It was the whirring and thumping of gigantic machinery；
complica… tions among the smaller stars。 The youth's ears were filled up。
They were incapable of hearing more。
On an incline over which a road wound he saw wild and desperate
rushes of men perpet… ually backward and forward in riotous surges。 These
parts of the opposing armies were two long waves that pitched upon each
other madly at dictated points。 To and fro they swelled。 Sometimes； one
side by its yells and cheers would proclaim decisive blows； but a moment
later the other side would be all yells and cheers。 Once the youth saw a
spray of light forms go in houndlike leaps toward the waving blue lines。
There was much howling； and presently it went away with a vast mouthful
of prisoners。 Again； he saw a blue wave dash with such thunderous force
against a gray obstruction that it seemed to clear the earth of it and leave
nothing but trampled sod。 And always in their swift and deadly rushes to
and fro the men screamed and yelled like maniacs。
Particular pieces of fence or secure positions behind collections of
trees were wrangled over； as gold thrones or pearl bedsteads。 There were
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desperate lunges at these chosen spots seemingly every instant； and most
of them were bandied like light toys between the contending forces。 The
youth could not tell from the battle flags flying like crimson foam in many
directions which color of cloth was winning。
His emaciated regiment bustled forth with undiminished fierceness
when its time came。 When assaulted again by bullets； the men burst out in
a barbaric cry of rage and pain。 They bent their heads in aims of intent
hatred behind the projected hammers of their guns。 Their ramrods clanged
loud with fury as their eager arms pounded the cartridges into the rifle
barrels。 The front of the regiment was a smoke… wall penetrated by the
flashing points of yellow and red。
Wallowing in the fight； they were in an astonishingly short time
resmudged。 They surpassed in stain and dirt all their previous ap…
pearances。 Moving to and fro with strained exertion； jabbering the while；
they were； with their swaying bodies； black faces； and glowing eyes； like
strange and ugly friends jigging heavily in the smoke。
The lieutenant； returning from a tour after a bandage； produced from a
hidden receptacle of his mind new and portentous oaths suited to the
emergency。 Strings of expletives he swung lashlike over the backs of his
men； and it was evident that his previous efforts had in nowise impaired
his resources。
The youth； still the bearer of the colors； did not feel his idleness。 He
was deeply absorbed as a spectator。 The crash and swing of the great
drama made him lean forward； intent…eyed； his face working in small
contortions。 Sometimes he prattled； words coming unconsciously from
him in grotesque exclamations。 He did not know that he breathed； that
the flag hung silently over him； so absorbed was he。
A formidable line of the enemy came within dangerous range。 They
could be seen plainly tall； gaunt men with excited faces running with
long strides toward a wandering fence。
At sight of this danger the men suddenly ceased their cursing
monotone。 There was an instant of strained silence before they threw up
their rifles and fired a plumping volley at the foes。 There had been no
order given； the men； upon recognizing the menace； had immedi… ately let
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drive their flock of bullets without wait… ing for word of command。
But the enemy were quick to gain the protec… tion of the wandering
line of fence。 They slid down behind it with remarkable celerity； and
from this position they began briskly to slice up the blue men。
These latter braced their energies for a great struggle。 Often； white
clinched teeth shone from the dusky faces。 Many heads surged to and fro；
floating upon a pale sea of smoke。 Those behind the fence frequently
shouted and yelped in taunts and gibelike cries； but the regi… ment
maintained a stressed silence。 Perhaps； at this new assault the men
recalled the fact that they had been named mud diggers； and it made their
situation thrice bitter。 They were breath… lessly intent upon keeping the
ground and thrust… ing away the rejoicing body of the enemy。 They
fought swiftly a
