the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第25节
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gods and doomed to greatness？
He remembered how some of the men had run from the battle。 As he
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recalled their terror… struck faces he felt a scorn for them。 They had
surely been more fleet and more wild than was absolutely necessary。
They were weak mortals。 As for himself； he had fled with discretion and
dignity。
He was aroused from this reverie by his friend； who； having hitched
about nervously and blinked at the trees for a time； suddenly coughed in
an introductory way； and spoke。
〃Fleming！〃
〃What？〃
The friend put his hand up to his mouth and coughed again。 He
fidgeted in his jacket。
〃Well；〃 he gulped； at last； 〃I guess yeh might as well give me back
them letters。〃 Dark； prick… ling blood had flushed into his cheeks and
brow。
〃All right； Wilson；〃 said the youth。 He loosened two buttons of his
coat； thrust in his hand； and brought forth the packet。 As he ex… tended it
to his friend the latter's face was turned from him。
He had been slow in the act of producing the packet because during it
he had been trying to invent a remarkable comment upon the affair。 He
could conjure nothing of sufficient point。 He was compelled to allow his
friend to escape unmolested with his packet。 And for this he took unto
himself considerable credit。 It was a generous thing。
His friend at his side seemed suffering great shame。 As he
contemplated him； the youth felt his heart grow more strong and stout。
He had never been compelled to blush in such manner for his acts； he was
an individual of extraordi… nary virtues。
He reflected； with condescending pity： 〃Too bad！ Too bad！ The
poor devil； it makes him feel tough！〃
After this incident； and as he reviewed the battle pictures he had seen；
he felt quite com… petent to return home and make the hearts of the people
glow with stories of war。 He could see himself in a room of warm tints
telling tales to listeners。 He could exhibit laurels。 They were
insignificant； still； in a district where laurels were infrequent； they might
shine。
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He saw his gaping audience picturing him as the central figure in
blazing scenes。 And he imagined the consternation and the ejaculations
of his mother and the young lady at the seminary as they drank his recitals。
Their vague feminine formula for beloved ones doing brave deeds on the
field of battle without risk of life would be destroyed。
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CHAPTER XVI。
A SPUTTERING of musketry was always to be heard。 Later； the
cannon had entered the dis… pute。 In the fog…filled air their voices made a
thudding sound。 The reverberations were con… tinued。 This part of the
world led a strange； battleful existence。
The youth's regiment was marched to relieve a command that had lain
long in some damp trenches。 The men took positions behind a curv… ing
line of rifle pits that had been turned up； like a large furrow； along the line
of woods。 Before them was a level stretch； peopled with short； deformed
stumps。 From the woods beyond came the dull popping of the
skirmishers and pickets； firing in the fog。 From the right came the noise
of a terrific fracas。
The men cuddled behind the small embank… ment and sat in easy
attitudes awaiting their turn。 Many had their backs to the firing。 The
youth's friend lay down； buried his face in his
154 arms； and almost instantly； it seemed； he was in a deep sleep。
The youth leaned his breast against the brown dirt and peered over at
the woods and up and down the line。 Curtains of trees interfered with his
ways of vision。 He could see the low line of trenches but for a short
distance。 A few idle flags were perched on the dirt hills。 Behind them
were rows of dark bodies with a few heads sticking curiously over the top。
Always the noise of skirmishers came from the woods on the front and
left； and the din on the right had grown to frightful proportions。 The guns
were roaring without an instant's pause for breath。 It seemed that the
cannon had come from all parts and were engaged in a stupendous
wrangle。 It became impossible to make a sen… tence heard。
The youth wished to launch a jokea quota… tion from newspapers。
He desired to say； 〃All quiet on the Rappahannock；〃 but the guns refused
to permit even a comment upon their uproar。 He never successfully
concluded the sentence。 But at last the guns stopped； and among the men
in the rifle pits rumors again flew； like birds； but they were now for the
most part black creatures who flapped their wings drearily near to the
ground and refused to rise on any wings of hope。 The men's faces grew
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doleful from the interpreting of omens。 Tales of hesitation and
uncertainty on the part of those high in place and responsibility came to
their ears。 Stories of disaster were borne into their minds with many
proofs。 This din of musketry on the right； grow… ing like a released genie
of sound； expressed and emphasized the army's plight。
The men were disheartened and began to mutter。 They made gestures
expressive of the sentence： 〃Ah； what more can we do？〃 And it could
always be seen that they were bewildered by the alleged news and could
not fully compre… hend a defeat。
Before the gray mists had been totally ob… literated by the sun rays； the
regiment was march… ing in a spread column that was retiring carefully
through the woods。 The disordered； hurrying lines of the enemy could
sometimes be seen down through the groves and little fields。 They were
yelling； shrill and exultant。
At this sight the youth forgot many personal matters and became
greatly enraged。 He ex… ploded in loud sentences。 〃B'jiminey； we're
generaled by a lot 'a lunkheads。〃
〃More than one feller has said that t'…day；〃 observed a man。
His friend； recently aroused； was still very drowsy。 He looked behind
him until his mind took in the meaning of the movement。 Then he sighed。
〃Oh； well； I s'pose we got licked；〃 he remarked sadly。
The youth had a thought that it would not be handsome for him to
freely condemn other men。 He made an attempt to restrain himself； but the
words upon his tongue were too bitter。 He presently began a long and
intricate denunciation of the commander of the forces。
〃Mebbe； it wa'n't all his faultnot all to… gether。 He did th' best he
knowed。 It's our luck t' git licked often；〃 said his friend in a weary tone。
He was trudging along with stooped shoulders and shifting eyes like a man
who has been caned and kicked。
〃Well； don't we fight like the devil？ Don't we do all that men can？〃
demanded the youth loudly。
He was secretly dumfounded at this sentiment when it came from his
lips。 For a moment his face lost its valor and he looked guiltily about
him。 But no one questioned his right to deal in such words； and presently
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he recovered his air of courage。 He went on to repeat a statement he had
heard going from group to group at the camp that morning。 〃The
brigadier said he never saw a new reg'ment fight the way we fought
yestirday； didn't he？ And we didn't do better than many another reg'me
