the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第9节
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the reserves。 It landed in the grove； and exploding redly flung the brown
earth。 There was a little shower of pine needles。
Bullets began to whistle among the branches and nip at the trees。
Twigs and leaves came sailing down。 It was as if a thousand axes； wee
and invisible； were being wielded。 Many of the men were constantly
dodging and ducking their heads。
The lieutenant of the youth's company was shot in the hand。 He
began to swear so won… drously that a nervous laugh went along the regi…
mental line。 The officer's profanity sounded conventional。 It relieved
the tightened senses of the new men。 It was as if he had hit his fingers
with a tack hammer at home。
He held the wounded member carefully away from his side so that the
blood would not drip upon his trousers。
The captain of the company； tucking his sword under his arm；
produced a handkerchief and began to bind with it the lieutenant's wound。
And they disputed as to how the binding should be done。
The battle flag in the distance jerked about madly。 It seemed to be
struggling to free itself from an agony。 The billowing smoke was filled
with horizontal flashes。
Men running swiftly emerged from it。 They grew in numbers until it
was seen that the whole command was fleeing。 The flag suddenly sank
down as if dying。 Its motion as it fell was a gesture of despair。
Wild yells came from behind the walls of smoke。 A sketch in gray
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The Red Badge of Courage
and red dissolved into a moblike body of men who galloped like wild
horses。
The veteran regiments on the right and left of the 304th immediately
began to jeer。 With the passionate song of the bullets and the banshee
shrieks of shells were mingled loud catcalls and bits of facetious advice
concerning places of safety。
But the new regiment was breathless with hor… ror。 〃Gawd！
Saunders's got crushed！〃 whis… pered the man at the youth's elbow。 They
shrank back and crouched as if compelled to await a flood。
The youth shot a swift glance along the blue ranks of the regiment。
The profiles were motion… less； carven； and afterward he remembered that
the color sergeant was standing with his legs apart； as if he expected to be
pushed to the ground。
The following throng went whirling around the flank。 Here and there
were officers carried along on the stream like exasperated chips。 They
were striking about them with their swords and with their left fists；
punching every head they could reach。 They cursed like highway… men。
A mounted officer displayed the furious anger of a spoiled child。 He
raged with his head； his arms； and his legs。
Another； the commander of the brigade； was galloping about bawling。
His hat was gone and his clothes were awry。 He resembled a man who
has come from bed to go to a fire。 The hoofs of his horse often
threatened the heads of the running men； but they scampered with sin…
gular fortune。 In this rush they were apparently all deaf and blind。
They heeded not the largest and longest of the oaths that were thrown at
them from all directions。
Frequently over this tumult could be heard the grim jokes of the
critical veterans； but the retreating men apparently were not even con…
scious of the presence of an audience。
The battle reflection that shone for an instant in the faces on the mad
current made the youth feel that forceful hands from heaven would not
have been able to have held him in place if he could have got intelligent
control of his legs。
There was an appalling imprint upon these faces。 The struggle in the
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The Red Badge of Courage
smoke had pictured an exaggeration of itself on the bleached cheeks and in
the eyes wild with one desire。
The sight of this stampede exerted a floodlike force that seemed able
to drag sticks and stones and men from the ground。 They of the reserves
had to hold on。 They grew pale and firm； and red and quaking。
The youth achieved one little thought in the midst of this chaos。 The
composite monster which had caused the other troops to flee had not then
appeared。 He resolved to get a view of it； and then； he thought he might
very likely run better than the best of them。
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The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER V。
THERE were moments of waiting。 The youth thought of the village
street at home before the arrival of the circus parade on a day in the spring。
He remembered how he had stood； a small； thrillful boy； prepared to
follow the dingy lady upon the white horse； or the band in its faded chariot。
He saw the yellow road； the lines of expectant people； and the sober
houses。 He particularly remembered an old fellow who used to sit upon a
cracker box in front of the store and feign to despise such exhibitions。 A
thousand details of color and form surged in his mind。 The old fellow
upon the cracker box ap… peared in middle prominence。
Some one cried； 〃Here they come！〃
There was rustling and muttering among the men。 They displayed a
feverish desire to have every possible cartridge ready to their hands。 The
boxes were pulled around into various posi… tions； and adjusted with great
care。 It was as if seven hundred new bonnets were being tried on。
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The tall soldier； having prepared his rifle； pro… duced a red
handkerchief of some kind。 He was engaged in knitting it about his
throat with ex… quisite attention to its position； when the cry was repeated
up and down the line in a muffled roar of sound。
〃Here they come！ Here they come！〃 Gun locks clicked。
Across the smoke…infested fields came a brown swarm of running men
who were giving shrill yells。 They came on； stooping and swinging their
rifles at all angles。 A flag； tilted forward； sped near the front。
As he caught sight of them the youth was momentarily startled by a
thought that perhaps his gun was not loaded。 He stood trying to rally his
faltering intellect so that he might rec… ollect the moment when he had
loaded； but he could not。
A hatless general pulled his dripping horse to a stand near the colonel
of the 304th。 He shook his fist in the other's face。 〃You 've got to hold
'em back！〃 he shouted； savagely； 〃you 've got to hold 'em back！〃
In his agitation the colonel began to stammer。 〃A…all r…right； General；
all right； by Gawd！ We… we'll do ourwe…we'll d…d…dodo our best； Gen…
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eral。〃 The general made a passionate gesture and galloped away。 The
colonel； perchance to relieve his feelings； began to scold like a wet parrot。
The youth； turning swiftly to make sure that the rear was unmolested； saw
the com… mander regarding his men in a highly regretful manner； as if he
regretted above everything his association with them。
The man at the youth's elbow was mumbling； as if to himself： 〃Oh； we
're in for it now！ oh； we 're in for it now！〃
The captain of the company had been pacing excitedly to and fro in the
rear。 He coaxed in schoolmistress fashion； as to a congregation of boys
with primers。 His talk was an endless repetition。 〃Reserve your fire；
boysdon't shoot till I tell yousave your firewait till they get close up
don't be damned fools〃
Perspiration streamed down the youth's face； which was soiled like
that of a weeping urchin。 He frequently； with a nervous movement； wiped
his eyes with his coat sleeve。 His mouth was still a little ways open。
He got the one glance at the foe…swarming field in front of him； and
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