the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第36节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to have a catapultian effect。 This dream made him run faster among his
comrades； who were giving vent to hoarse and frantic cheers。
But presently he could see that many of the men in gray did not intend
to abide the blow。 The smoke； rolling； disclosed men who ran； their faces
still turned。 These grew to a crowd； who retired stubbornly。 Individuals
wheeled fre… quently to send a bullet at the blue wave。
But at one part of the line there was a grim and obdurate group that
made no movement。 They were settled firmly down behind posts and rails。
A flag； ruffled and fierce； waved over them and their rifles dinned fiercely。
The blue whirl of men got very near； until it seemed that in truth there
would be a close and frightful scuffle。 There was an expressed disdain in
the opposition of the little group； that changed the meaning of the cheers
128
… Page 129…
The Red Badge of Courage
of the men in blue。 They became yells of wrath； directed； personal。
The cries of the two parties were now in sound an interchange of scathing
insults。
They in blue showed their teeth； their eyes shone all white。 They
launched themselves as at the throats of those who stood resisting。 The
space between dwindled to an insignificant dis… tance。
The youth had centered the gaze of his soul upon that other flag。 Its
possession would be high pride。 It would express bloody minglings； near
blows。 He had a gigantic hatred for those who made great difficulties
and complications。 They caused it to be as a craved treasure of my…
thology； hung amid tasks and contrivances of danger。
He plunged like a mad horse at it。 He was resolved it should not
escape if wild blows and darings of blows could seize it。 His own em…
blem； quivering and aflare； was winging toward the other。 It seemed
there would shortly be an encounter of strange beaks and claws； as of
eagles。
The swirling body of blue men came to a sudden halt at close and
disastrous range and roared a swift volley。 The group in gray was split
and broken by this fire； but its riddled body still fought。 The men in blue
yelled again and rushed in upon it。
The youth； in his leapings； saw； as through a mist； a picture of four or
five men stretched upon the ground or writhing upon their knees with
bowed heads as if they had been stricken by bolts from the sky。 Tottering
among them was the rival color bearer； whom the youth saw had been
bitten vitally by the bullets of the last formidable volley。 He perceived
this man fighting a last struggle； the struggle of one whose legs are
grasped by demons。 It was a ghastly battle。 Over his face was the bleach
of death； but set upon it was the dark and hard lines of desperate purpose。
With this terrible grin of resolution he hugged his precious flag to him and
was stum… bling and staggering in his design to go the way that led to
safety for it。
But his wounds always made it seem that his feet were retarded； held；
and he fought a grim fight； as with invisible ghouls fastened greedily upon
his limbs。 Those in advance of the scam… pering blue men； howling
129
… Page 130…
The Red Badge of Courage
cheers； leaped at the fence。 The despair of the lost was in his eyes as he
glanced back at them。
The youth's friend went over the obstruction in a tumbling heap and
sprang at the flag as a panther at prey。 He pulled at it and； wrench… ing it
free； swung up its red brilliancy with a mad cry of exultation even as the
color bearer； gasping； lurched over in a final throe and； stiff… ening
convulsively； turned his dead face to the ground。 There was much blood
upon the grass blades。
At the place of success there began more wild clamorings of cheers。
The men gesticulated and bellowed in an ecstasy。 When they spoke it
was as if they considered their listener to be a mile away。 What hats and
caps were left to them they often slung high in the air。
At one part of the line four men had been swooped upon； and they now
sat as prisoners。 Some blue men were about them in an eager and curious
circle。 The soldiers had trapped strange birds； and there was an
examination。 A flurry of fast questions was in the air。
One of the prisoners was nursing a superficial wound in the foot。 He
cuddled it； baby…wise； but he looked up from it often to curse with an
astonishing utter abandon straight at the noses of his captors。 He
consigned them to red regions； he called upon the pestilential wrath of
strange gods。 And with it all he was singularly free from recognition of
the finer points of the con… duct of prisoners of war。 It was as if a clumsy
clod had trod upon his toe and he conceived it to be his privilege； his duty；
to use deep； resentful oaths。
Another； who was a boy in years； took his plight with great calmness
and apparent good nature。 He conversed with the men in blue； studying
their faces with his bright and keen eyes。 They spoke of battles and
conditions。 There was an acute interest in all their faces dur… ing this
exchange of view points。 It seemed a great satisfaction to hear voices
from where all had been darkness and speculation。
The third captive sat with a morose counte… nance。 He preserved a
stoical and cold attitude。 To all advances he made one reply without varia…
tion； 〃Ah； go t' hell！〃
The last of the four was always silent and； for the most part； kept his
130
… Page 131…
The Red Badge of Courage
face turned in un… molested directions。 From the views the youth
received he seemed to be in a state of absolute dejection。 Shame was
upon him； and with it profound regret that he was； perhaps； no more to be
counted in the ranks of his fellows。 The youth could detect no expression
that would allow him to believe that the other was giving a thought to his
narrowed future； the pictured dungeons； perhaps； and starvations and
brutali… ties； liable to the imagination。 All to be seen was shame for
captivity and regret for the right to antagonize。
After the men had celebrated sufficiently they settled down behind the
old rail fence； on the opposite side to the one from which their foes had
been driven。 A few shot perfunctorily at distant marks。
There was some long grass。 The youth nestled in it and rested；
making a convenient rail support the flag。 His friend； jubilant and glori…
fied； holding his treasure with vanity； came to him there。 They sat side
by side and congratu… lated each other。
131
… Page 132…
The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER XXIV。
THE roarings that had stretched in a long line of sound across the
face of the forest began to grow intermittent and weaker。 The stentorian
speeches of the artillery continued in some dis… tant encounter； but the
crashes of the musketry had almost ceased。 The youth and his friend of a
sudden looked up； feeling a deadened form of distress at the waning of
these noises； which had become a part of life。 They could see changes
going on among the troops。 There were march… ings this way and that
way。 A battery wheeled leisurely。 On the crest of a small hill was the
thick gleam of many departing muskets。
The youth arose。 〃Well； what now； I won… der？〃 he said。 By his
tone he seemed to be preparing to resent some new monstrosity in the way
of dins and smashes。
