the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第31节
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The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER XX。
WHEN the two youths turned with the flag they saw that much of the
regiment had crum… bled away； and the dejected remnant was coming
slowly back。 The men； having hurled themselves in projectile fashion；
had presently expended their forces。 They slowly retreated； with their
faces still toward the spluttering woods； and their hot rifles still replying to
the din。 Several officers were giving orders； their voices keyed to
screams。
〃Where in hell yeh goin'？〃 the lieutenant was asking in a sarcastic
howl。 And a red…bearded officer； whose voice of triple brass could
plainly be heard； was commanding： 〃Shoot into 'em！ Shoot into 'em； Gawd
damn their souls！〃 There was a melee of screeches； in which the men
were ordered to do conflicting and impossible things。
The youth and his friend had a small scuffle over the flag。 〃Give it t'
me！〃 〃No； let me keep it！〃 Each felt satisfied with the other's pos…
session of it； but each felt bound to declare； by
189 an offer to carry the emblem； his willingness to further risk
himself。 The youth roughly pushed his friend away。
The regiment fell back to the stolid trees。 There it halted for a moment
to blaze at some dark forms that had begun to steal upon its track。
Presently it resumed its march again； curving among the tree trunks。 By
the time the depleted regiment had again reached the first open space they
were receiving a fast and merciless fire。 There seemed to be mobs all
about them。
The greater part of the men； discouraged； their spirits worn by the
turmoil； acted as if stunned。 They accepted the pelting of the bul… lets
with bowed and weary heads。 It was of no purpose to strive against walls。
It was of no use to batter themselves against granite。 And from this
consciousness that they had attempted to conquer an unconquerable thing
there seemed to arise a feeling that they had been betrayed。 They glowered
with bent brows； but danger… ously； upon some of the officers； more
particu… larly upon the red…bearded one with the voice of triple brass。
However； the rear of the regiment was fringed with men； who
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The Red Badge of Courage
continued to shoot irritably at the advancing foes。 They seemed resolved
to make every trouble。 The youthful lieutenant was per… haps the last
man in the disordered mass。 His forgotten back was toward the enemy。
He had been shot in the arm。 It hung straight and rigid。 Occasionally he
would cease to remember it； and be about to emphasize an oath with a
sweeping gesture。 The multiplied pain caused him to swear with
incredible power。
The youth went along with slipping； uncertain feet。 He kept watchful
eyes rearward。 A scowl of mortification and rage was upon his face。
He had thought of a fine revenge upon the officer who had referred to him
and his fellows as mule drivers。 But he saw that it could not come to
pass。 His dreams had collapsed when the mule drivers； dwindling
rapidly； had wavered and hes… itated on the little clearing； and then had
recoiled。 And now the retreat of the mule drivers was a march of shame to
him。
A dagger…pointed gaze from without his black… ened face was held
toward the enemy； but his greater hatred was riveted upon the man； who；
not knowing him； had called him a mule driver。
When he knew that he and his comrades had failed to do anything in
successful ways that might bring the little pangs of a kind of remorse upon
the officer； the youth allowed the rage of the baf… fled to possess him。
This cold officer upon a monument； who dropped epithets unconcernedly
down； would be finer as a dead man； he thought。 So grievous did he think
it that he could never possess the secret right to taunt truly in answer。
He had pictured red letters of curious revenge。 〃We ARE mule drivers；
are we？〃 And now he was compelled to throw them away。
He presently wrapped his heart in the cloak of his pride and kept the
flag erect。 He ha… rangued his fellows； pushing against their chests with
his free hand。 To those he knew well he made frantic appeals；
beseeching them by name。 Between him and the lieutenant； scolding and
near to losing his mind with rage； there was felt a subtle fellowship and
equality。 They supported each other in all manner of hoarse； howling
pro… tests。
But the regiment was a machine run down。 The two men babbled at a
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The Red Badge of Courage
forceless thing。 The soldiers who had heart to go slowly were con…
tinually shaken in their resolves by a knowledge that comrades were
slipping with speed back to the lines。 It was difficult to think of
reputation when others were thinking of skins。 Wounded men were left
crying on this black journey。
The smoke fringes and flames blustered al… ways。 The youth； peering
once through a sud… den rift in a cloud； saw a brown mass of troops；
interwoven and magnified until they appeared to be thousands。 A fierce…
hued flag flashed before his vision。
Immediately； as if the uplifting of the smoke had been prearranged； the
discovered troops burst into a rasping yell； and a hundred flames jetted
toward the retreating band。 A rolling gray cloud again interposed as the
regiment dog… gedly replied。 The youth had to depend again upon his
misused ears； which were trembling and buzzing from the melee of
musketry and yells。
The way seemed eternal。 In the clouded haze men became
panicstricken with the thought that the regiment had lost its path； and was
proceed… ing in a perilous direction。 Once the men who headed the wild
procession turned and came push… ing back against their comrades；
screaming that they were being fired upon from points which they had
considered to be toward their own lines。 At this cry a hysterical fear and
dismay beset the troops。 A soldier； who heretofore had been am… bitious
to make the regiment into a wise little band that would proceed calmly
amid the huge… appearing difficulties； suddenly sank down and buried his
face in his arms with an air of bowing to a doom。 From another a shrill
lamentation rang out filled with profane allusions to a general。 Men ran
hither and thither； seeking with their eyes roads of escape。 With serene
regularity； as if controlled by a schedule； bullets buffed into men。
The youth walked stolidly into the midst of the mob； and with his flag
in his hands took a stand as if he expected an attempt to push him to the
ground。 He unconsciously assumed the atti… tude of the color bearer in
the fight of the pre… ceding day。 He passed over his brow a hand that
trembled。 His breath did not come freely。 He was choking during this
small wait for the crisis。
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His friend came to him。 〃Well； Henry； I guess this is good…byJohn。〃
〃Oh； shut up； you damned fool！〃 replied the youth； and he would not
look at the other。
The officers labored like politicians to beat the mass into a proper
circle to face the men… aces。 The ground was uneven and torn。 The
men curled into depressions and fitted them… selves snugly behind
whatever
