the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第9章
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made the blood stream widely down his face。 He clapped both hands to
his head。 〃Oh！〃 he said； and ran。 Another grunted suddenly as if he had
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been struck by a club in the stomach。 He sat down and gazed ruefully。
In his eyes there was mute； indefinite reproach。 Farther up the line a man；
standing behind a tree； had had his knee joint splintered by a ball。
Immediately he had dropped his rifle and gripped the tree with both arms。
And there he remained； clinging desperately and crying for assistance that
he might withdraw his hold upon the tree。
At last an exultant yell went along the quiver… ing line。 The firing
dwindled from an uproar to a last vindictive popping。 As the smoke
slowly eddied away； the youth saw that the charge had been repulsed。
The enemy were scattered into reluctant groups。 He saw a man climb to
the top of the fence； straddle the rail； and fire a part… ing shot。 The waves
had receded； leaving bits of dark debris upon the ground。
Some in the regiment began to whoop fren… ziedly。 Many were silent。
Apparently they were trying to contemplate themselves。
After the fever had left his veins； the youth thought that at last he was
going to suffocate。 He became aware of the foul atmosphere in which he
had been struggling。 He was grimy and dripping like a laborer in a
foundry。 He grasped his canteen and took a long swallow of the warmed
water。
A sentence with variations went up and down the line。 〃Well； we 've
helt 'em back。 We 've helt 'em back； derned if we haven't。〃 The men
said it blissfully； leering at each other with dirty smiles。
The youth turned to look behind him and off to the right and off to the
left。 He experienced the joy of a man who at last finds leisure in which
to look about him。
Under foot there were a few ghastly forms motionless。 They lay
twisted in fantastic contor… tions。 Arms were bent and heads were turned
in incredible ways。 It seemed that the dead men must have fallen from
some great height to get into such positions。 They looked to be dumped
out upon the ground from the sky。
From a position in the rear of the grove a bat… tery was throwing shells
over it。 The flash of the guns startled the youth at first。 He thought they
were aimed directly at him。 Through the trees he watched the black
figures of the gunners as they worked swiftly and intently。 Their labor
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seemed a complicated thing。 He wondered how they could remember its
formula in the midst of confusion。
The guns squatted in a row like savage chiefs。 They argued with
abrupt violence。 It was a grim pow…wow。 Their busy servants ran
hither and thither。
A small procession of wounded men were go… ing drearily toward the
rear。 It was a flow of blood from the torn body of the brigade。
To the right and to the left were the dark lines of other troops。 Far in
front he thought he could see lighter masses protruding in points from the
forest。 They were suggestive of un… numbered thousands。
Once he saw a tiny battery go dashing along the line of the horizon。
The tiny riders were beating the tiny horses。
From a sloping hill came the sound of cheer… ings and clashes。
Smoke welled slowly through the leaves。
Batteries were speaking with thunderous ora… torical effort。 Here and
there were flags； the red in the stripes dominating。 They splashed bits of
warm color upon the dark lines of troops。
The youth felt the old thrill at the sight of the emblem。 They were
like beautiful birds strangely undaunted in a storm。
As he listened to the din from the hillside； to a deep pulsating thunder
that came from afar to the left； and to the lesser clamors which came from
many directions； it occurred to him that they were fighting； too； over there；
and over there； and over there。 Heretofore he had sup… posed that all the
battle was directly under his nose。
As he gazed around him the youth felt a flash of astonishment at the
blue； pure sky and the sun gleamings on the trees and fields。 It was
surprising that Nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden process in
the midst of so much devilment。
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CHAPTER VI。
THE youth awakened slowly。 He came grad… ually back to a
position from which he could re… gard himself。 For moments he had been
scruti… nizing his person in a dazed way as if he had never before seen
himself。 Then he picked up his cap from the ground。 He wriggled in
his jacket to make a more comfortable fit； and kneel… ing relaced his shoe。
He thoughtfully mopped his reeking features。
So it was all over at last！ The supreme trial had been passed。 The
red； formidable difficulties of war had been vanquished。
He went into an ecstasy of self…satisfaction。 He had the most delightful
sensations of his life。 Standing as if apart from himself； he viewed that last
scene。 He perceived that the man who had fought thus was magnificent。
He felt that he was a fine fellow。 He saw himself even with those
ideals which he had con… sidered as far beyond him。 He smiled in deep
gratification。
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Upon his fellows he beamed tenderness and good will。 〃Gee！ ain't it
hot； hey？〃 he said affably to a man who was polishing his stream… ing face
with his coat sleeves。
〃You bet！〃 said the other； grinning sociably。 〃I never seen sech dumb
hotness。〃 He sprawled out luxuriously on the ground。 〃Gee； yes！ An'
I hope we don't have no more fightin' till a week from Monday。〃
There were some handshakings and deep speeches with men whose
features were familiar； but with whom the youth now felt the bonds of tied
hearts。 He helped a cursing comrade to bind up a wound of the shin。
But； of a sudden； cries of amazement broke out along the ranks of the
new regiment。 〃Here they come ag'in！ Here they come ag'in！〃 The
man who had sprawled upon the ground started up and said； 〃Gosh！〃
The youth turned quick eyes upon the field。 He discerned forms begin
to swell in masses out of a distant wood。 He again saw the tilted flag
speeding forward。
The shells； which had ceased to trouble the regiment for a time； came
swirling again； and ex… ploded in the grass or among the leaves of the trees。
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They looked to be strange war flowers bursting into fierce bloom。
The men groaned。 The luster faded from their eyes。 Their smudged
countenances now expressed a profound dejection。 They moved their
stiffened bodies slowly； and watched in sul… len mood the frantic approach
of the enemy。 The slaves toiling in the temple of this god began to feel
rebellion at his harsh tasks。
They fretted and complained each to each。 〃Oh； say； this is too much
of a good thing！ Why can't somebody send us supports？〃
〃We ain't never goin' to stand this second banging。 I didn't come here
to fight the hull damn' rebel army。〃
There was one who raised a doleful cry。 〃I wish Bill Smithers had
trod on my hand； in… steader me treddin' on his'n。〃 The sore joints of the
regiment creaked as it painfully floundered into position to repulse。
The youth stared。 Surely； he thought； this impossible thing was not
about to happen。 He waited as if he expected the enemy to suddenly stop；
apologize； and retire bowing。 It was all a mistake。
But the firing began somewhere on the regi… mental line and ripped
along in both directions。 The level sheets of flame developed great clouds
of smoke that tumbled and tossed in the mild wind near the ground for a
moment； and then rolled through the ranks as through a gate。 The clouds
were tinged an earthlike yellow in the sunrays and in the shadow were a
sorry blue。 The flag was sometimes eaten and lost in this mass of vapor；
but more often it projected； sun… touched； resplendent。
Into the youth's eyes there came a look that one can see in the orbs of a
jaded horse。 His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the
muscles of his arms felt numb and bloodless。 His hands； too； seemed large
and awkward as if he was wearing invisible mittens。 And there was a
great uncertainty about his knee joints。
The words that comrades had uttered previous to the firing began to
recur to him。 〃Oh； say； this is too much of a good thing！ What do they
take us forwhy don't they send supports？ I didn't come here to fight the
hull damned rebel army。〃
He began to exaggerate the endurance； the skill； and the valor of those
who were coming。 Himself reeling from exhaustion； he was aston… ished
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beyond measure at such persistency。 They must be machines of steel。 It
was very gloomy struggling against such affairs； wound up perhaps to
fight until sundown。
He slowly lifted his rifle and catching a glimpse of the thickspread
field he blazed at a cantering cluster。 He stopped then and began to peer
as best he could through the smoke。 He caught changing views of the
ground covered with men who were all running like pursued imps； and
yelling。
To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubt… able dragons。 He
became like t
