the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第13节
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saddle。
〃Yes； by heavens； they have！〃 The officer leaned forward。 His face
was aflame with excite… ment。 〃Yes； by heavens； they 've held 'im！ They
've held 'im！〃
He began to blithely roar at his staff： 〃We 'll wallop 'im now。 We 'll
wallop 'im now。 We 've got 'em sure。〃 He turned suddenly upon an aid：
〃HereyouJonesquickride after Tompkins see Taylortell him t' go
ineverlastingly like blazesanything。〃
As another officer sped his horse after the first messenger； the general
beamed upon the earth like a sun。 In his eyes was a desire to chant a
paean。 He kept repeating； 〃They 've held 'em； by heavens！〃
His excitement made his horse plunge； and he merrily kicked and
swore at it。 He held a little carnival of joy on horseback。
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The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER VII。
THE youth cringed as if discovered in a crime。 By heavens； they had
won after all！ The im… becile line had remained and become victors。 He
could hear cheering。
He lifted himself upon his toes and looked in the direction of the fight。
A yellow fog lay wal… lowing on the treetops。 From beneath it came the
clatter of musketry。 Hoarse cries told of an advance。
He turned away amazed and angry。 He felt that he had been
wronged。
He had fled； he told himself； because annihila… tion approached。 He
had done a good part in saving himself； who was a little piece of the army。
He had considered the time； he said； to be one in which it was the duty of
every little piece to res… cue itself if possible。 Later the officers could fit
the little pieces together again； and make a battle front。 If none of the
little pieces were wise enough to save themselves from the flurry of death
at such
75 a time； why； then； where would be the army？ It was all plain that
he had proceeded according to very correct and commendable rules。 His
ac… tions had been sagacious things。 They had been full of strategy。
They were the work of a mas… ter's legs。
Thoughts of his comrades came to him。 The brittle blue line had
withstood the blows and won。 He grew bitter over it。 It seemed that the
blind ignorance and stupidity of those little pieces had betrayed him。 He
had been overturned and crushed by their lack of sense in holding the po…
sition； when intelligent deliberation would have convinced them that it
was impossible。 He； the enlightened man who looks afar in the dark； had
fled because of his superior perceptions and knowledge。 He felt a great
anger against his comrades。 He knew it could be proved that they had
been fools。
He wondered what they would remark when later he appeared in camp。
His mind heard howls of derision。 Their density would not en… able them
to understand his sharper point of view。
He began to pity himself acutely。 He was ill used。 He was trodden
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The Red Badge of Courage
beneath the feet of an iron injustice。 He had proceeded with wisdom and
from the most righteous motives under heaven's blue only to be frustrated
by hateful circumstances。
A dull； animal…like rebellion against his fel… lows； war in the abstract；
and fate grew within him。 He shambled along with bowed head； his
brain in a tumult of agony and despair。 When he looked loweringly up；
quivering at each sound； his eyes had the expression of those of a criminal
who thinks his guilt and his pun… ishment great； and knows that he can
find no words。
He went from the fields into a thick woods； as if resolved to bury
himself。 He wished to get out of hearing of the crackling shots which
were to him like voices。
The ground was cluttered with vines and bushes； and the trees grew
close and spread out like bouquets。 He was obliged to force his way with
much noise。 The creepers； catching against his legs； cried out harshly as
their sprays were torn from the barks of trees。 The swishing sap… lings
tried to make known his presence to the world。 He could not conciliate
the forest。 As he made his way； it was always calling out prot… estations。
When he separated embraces of trees and vines the disturbed foliages
waved their arms and turned their face leaves toward him。 He dreaded
lest these noisy motions and cries should bring men to look at him。 So he
went far； seek… ing dark and intricate places。
After a time the sound of musketry grew faint and the cannon boomed
in the distance。 The sun； suddenly apparent； blazed among the trees。
The insects were making rhythmical noises。 They seemed to be grinding
their teeth in unison。 A woodpecker stuck his impudent head around the
side of a tree。 A bird flew on lighthearted wing。
Off was the rumble of death。 It seemed now that Nature had no ears。
This landscape gave him assurance。 A fair field holding life。 It was
the religion of peace。 It would die if its timid eyes were compelled to see
blood。 He conceived Nature to be a woman with a deep aversion to
tragedy。
He threw a pine cone at a jovial squirrel； and he ran with chattering
fear。 High in a treetop he stopped； and； poking his head cautiously from
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The Red Badge of Courage
behind a branch； looked down with an air of trepi… dation。
The youth felt triumphant at this exhibition。 There was the law； he said。
Nature had given him a sign。 The squirrel； immediately upon rec…
ognizing danger； had taken to his legs without ado。 He did not stand
stolidly baring his furry belly to the missile； and die with an upward
glance at the sympathetic heavens。 On the con… trary； he had fled as fast
as his legs could carry him； and he was but an ordinary squirrel； too
doubtless no philosopher of his race。 The youth wended； feeling that
Nature was of his mind。 She re…enforced his argument with proofs that
lived where the sun shone。
Once he found himself almost into a swamp。 He was obliged to walk
upon bog tufts and watch his feet to keep from the oily mire。 Paus… ing at
one time to look about him he saw； out at some black water； a small
animal pounce in and emerge directly with a gleaming fish。
The youth went again into the deep thickets。 The brushed branches
made a noise that drowned the sounds of cannon。 He walked on； going
from obscurity into promises of a greater obscurity。
At length he reached a place where the high； arching boughs made a
chapel。 He softly pushed the green doors aside and entered。 Pine
needles were a gentle brown carpet。 There was a reli… gious half light。
Near the threshold he stopped； horror…stricken at the sight of a thing。
He was being looked at by a dead man who was seated with his back
against a columnlike tree。 The corpse was dressed in a uniform that once
had been blue； but was now faded to a mel… ancholy shade of green。 The
eyes； staring at the youth； had changed to the dull hue to be seen on the
side of a dead fish。 The mouth was open。 Its red had changed to an
appalling yellow。 Over the gray skin of the face ran little ants。 One was
trundling some sort of a bundle along the upper lip。
The youth gave a shriek as he confronted the thing。 He was for
moments turned to stone be… fore it。 He remained staring into the liquid…
look… ing eyes。 The dead man and the living man ex… changed a long
look。 Then the youth cautiously put one hand behind him and brought it
against a tree。 Leaning upon this he retreated； step by step； with his face
still toward the
