the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第16节
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overcome by a terror。 His face turned to a semblance of gray paste。 He
clutched the youth's arm and looked all about him； as if dreading to be
overheard。 Then he began to speak in a shaking whisper：
〃I tell yeh what I'm 'fraid of； HenryI 'll tell yeh what I 'm 'fraid of。 I
'm 'fraid I 'll fall down an' then yeh knowthem damned artillery
wagonsthey like as not 'll run over me。 That 's what I 'm 'fraid of〃
The youth cried out to him hysterically： 〃I 'll take care of yeh； Jim！
I'll take care of yeh！ I swear t' Gawd I will！〃
〃Surewill yeh； Henry？〃 the tall soldier beseeched。
〃YesyesI tell yehI'll take care of yeh； Jim！〃 protested the youth。
He could not speak accurately because of the gulpings in his throat。
But the tall soldier continued to beg in a lowly way。 He now hung
babelike to the youth's arm。 His eyes rolled in the wildness of his terror。
〃I was allus a good friend t' yeh； wa'n't I； Henry？ I 've allus been a pretty
good feller； ain't I？ An' it ain't much t' ask； is it？ Jest t' pull me along
outer th' road？ I 'd do it fer you； Wouldn't I； Henry？〃
He paused in piteous anxiety to await his friend's reply。
The youth had reached an anguish where the sobs scorched him。 He
strove to express his loyalty； but he could only make fantastic gestures。
However； the tall soldier seemed suddenly to forget all those fears。
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He became again the grim； stalking specter of a soldier。 He went stonily
forward。 The youth wished his friend to lean upon him； but the other
always shook his head and strangely protested。 〃Nonono leave me
beleave me be〃
His look was fixed again upon the unknown。 He moved with
mysterious purpose； and all of the youth's offers he brushed aside。 〃No
no leave me beleave me be〃
The youth had to follow。
Presently the latter heard a voice talking softly near his shoulders。
Turning he saw that it belonged to the tattered soldier。 〃Ye 'd better take
'im outa th' road； pardner。 There 's a batt'ry comin' helitywhoop down th'
road an' he 'll git runned over。 He 's a goner anyhow in about five
minutesyeh kin see that。 Ye 'd better take 'im outa th' road。 Where th'
blazes does he git his stren'th from？〃
〃Lord knows！〃 cried the youth。 He was shaking his hands helplessly。
He ran forward presently and grasped the tall soldier by the arm。
〃Jim！ Jim！〃 he coaxed； 〃come with me。〃
The tall soldier weakly tried to wrench himself free。 〃Huh；〃 he said
vacantly。 He stared at the youth for a moment。 At last he spoke as if
dimly comprehending。 〃Oh！ Inteh th' fields？ Oh！〃
He started blindly through the grass。
The youth turned once to look at the lashing riders and jouncing guns
of the battery。 He was startled from this view by a shrill outcry from the
tattered man。
〃Gawd！ He's runnin'！〃
Turning his head swiftly； the youth saw his friend running in a
staggering and stumbling way toward a little clump of bushes。 His heart
seemed to wrench itself almost free from his body at this sight。 He made
a noise of pain。 He and the tattered man began a pursuit。 There was a
singular race。
When he overtook the tall soldier he began to plead with all the words
he could find。 〃Jim Jimwhat are you doingwhat makes you do this
wayyou 'll hurt yerself。〃
The same purpose was in the tall soldier's face。 He protested in a
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dulled way； keeping his eyes fastened on the mystic place of his intentions。
〃Nonodon't tech meleave me beleave me be〃
The youth； aghast and filled with wonder at the tall soldier； began
quaveringly to question him。 〃Where yeh goin'； Jim？ What you thinking
about？ Where you going？ Tell me； won't you； Jim？〃
The tall soldier faced about as upon relentless pursuers。 In his eyes
there was a great appeal。 〃Leave me be； can't yeh？ Leave me be fer a
minnit。〃
The youth recoiled。 〃Why； Jim；〃 he said； in a dazed way； 〃what's the
matter with you？〃
The tall soldier turned and； lurching danger… ously； went on。 The
youth and the tattered soldier followed； sneaking as if whipped； feeling
unable to face the stricken man if he should again confront them。 They
began to have thoughts of a solemn ceremony。 There was something rite…
like in these movements of the doomed soldier。 And there was a
resemblance in him to a devotee of a mad religion； blood…sucking； muscle…
wrench… ing； bone…crushing。 They were awed and afraid。 They hung
back lest he have at command a dreadful weapon。
At last； they saw him stop and stand motion… less。 Hastening up； they
perceived that his face wore an expression telling that he had at last found
the place for which he had struggled。 His spare figure was erect； his
bloody hands were quietly at his side。 He was waiting with patience for
something that he had come to meet。 He was at the rendezvous。 They
paused and stood； ex… pectant。
There was a silence。
Finally； the chest of the doomed soldier began to heave with a strained
motion。 It increased in violence until it was as if an animal was within
and was kicking and tumbling furiously to be free。
This spectacle of gradual strangulation made the youth writhe； and
once as his friend rolled his eyes； he saw something in them that made him
sink wailing to the ground。 He raised his voice in a last supreme call。
〃JimJimJim〃
The tall soldier opened his lips and spoke。 He made a gesture。
〃Leave me bedon't tech meleave me be〃
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There was another silence while he waited。
Suddenly； his form stiffened and straightened。 Then it was shaken by a
prolonged ague。 He stared into space。 To the two watchers there was a
curious and profound dignity in the firm lines of his awful face。
He was invaded by a creeping strangeness that slowly enveloped him。
For a moment the tremor of his legs caused him to dance a sort of hideous
hornpipe。 His arms beat wildly about his head in expression of implike
enthusiasm。
His tall figure stretched itself to its full height。 There was a slight
rending sound。 Then it began to swing forward； slow and straight； in the
man… ner of a falling tree。 A swift muscular contortion made the left
shoulder strike the ground first。
The body seemed to bounce a little way from the earth。 〃God！〃 said
the tattered soldier。
The youth had watched； spellbound； this ceremony at the place of
meeting。 His face had been twisted into an expression of every agony he
had imagined for his friend。
He now sprang to his feet and； going closer； gazed upon the pastelike
face。 The mouth was open and the teeth showed in a laugh。
As the flap of the blue jacket fell away from the body； he could see
that the side looked as if it had been chewed by wolves。
The youth turned； with sudden； livid rage； toward the battlefield。 He
shook his fist。 He seemed about to deliver a philippic。
〃Hell〃
The red sun was pasted in the sky like a wafer。
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CHAPTER X。
THE tattered man stood musing。
〃Well； he was reg'lar jim…dandy fer nerve； wa'n't he；〃 said he finally in
a little awestruck voice。 〃A reg'lar jim…dandy。〃 He thoughtfully poked
one of the docile hands with his foot。 〃I wonner
