the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第26节
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yestirday； didn't he？ And we didn't do better than many another reg'ment；
did we？ Well； then； you can't say it's th' army's fault； can you？〃
In his reply； the friend's voice was stern。 〃'A course not；〃 he said。
〃No man dare say we don't fight like th' devil。 No man will ever dare say
it。 Th' boys fight like hell…roosters。 But stillstill； we don't have no
luck。〃
〃Well； then； if we fight like the devil an' don't ever whip； it must be the
general's fault；〃 said the youth grandly and decisively。 〃And I don't see
any sense in fighting and fighting and fighting； yet always losing through
some derned old lunkhead of a general。〃
A sarcastic man who was tramping at the youth's side； then spoke
lazily。 〃Mebbe yeh think yeh fit th' hull battle yestirday； Fleming；〃 he
remarked。
The speech pierced the youth。 Inwardly he was reduced to an abject
pulp by these chance words。 His legs quaked privately。 He cast a
frightened glance at the sarcastic man。
〃Why； no；〃 he hastened to say in a concili… ating voice； 〃I don't think I
fought the whole battle yesterday。〃
But the other seemed innocent of any deeper meaning。 Apparently；
he had no information。 It was merely his habit。 〃Oh！〃 he replied in the
same tone of calm derision。
The youth； nevertheless； felt a threat。 His mind shrank from going
near to the danger； and thereafter he was silent。 The significance of the
sarcastic man's words took from him all loud moods that would make him
appear prominent。 He became suddenly a modest person。
There was low…toned talk among the troops。 The officers were
impatient and snappy； their countenances clouded with the tales of misfor…
tune。 The troops； sifting through the forest； were sullen。 In the youth's
company once a man's laugh rang out。 A dozen soldiers turned their
faces quickly toward him and frowned with vague displeasure。
The noise of firing dogged their footsteps。 Sometimes； it seemed to be
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driven a little way； but it always returned again with increased insolence。
The men muttered and cursed； throwing black looks in its direction。
In a clear space the troops were at last halted。 Regiments and brigades；
broken and detached through their encounters with thickets； grew together
again and lines were faced toward the pursuing bark of the enemy's
infantry。
This noise； following like the yellings of eager； metallic hounds；
increased to a loud and joyous burst； and then； as the sun went serenely up
the sky； throwing illuminating rays into the gloomy thickets； it broke forth
into prolonged pealings。 The woods began to crackle as if afire。
〃Whoop…a…dadee；〃 said a man； 〃here we are！ Everybody fightin'。
Blood an' destruction。〃
〃I was willin' t' bet they'd attack as soon as th' sun got fairly up；〃
savagely asserted the lieutenant who commanded the youth's company。 He
jerked without mercy at his little mustache。 He strode to and fro with dark
dignity in the rear of his men； who were lying down behind whatever
protection they had collected。
A battery had trundled into position in the rear and was thoughtfully
shelling the distance。 The regiment； unmolested as yet； awaited the
moment when the gray shadows of the woods before them should be
slashed by the lines of flame。 There was much growling and swearing。
〃Good Gawd；〃 the youth grumbled； 〃we're always being chased
around like rats！ It makes me sick。 Nobody seems to know where we
go or why we go。 We just get fired around from pillar to post and get
licked here and get licked there； and nobody knows what it's done for。 It
makes a man feel like a damn' kitten in a bag。 Now； I'd like to know what
the eternal thunders we was marched into these woods for anyhow；
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE 161
unless it was to give the rebs a regular pot shot at us。 We came in
here and got our legs all tangled up in these cussed briers； and then we
begin to fight and the rebs had an easy time of it。 Don't tell me it's just
luck！ I know better。 It's this derned old〃
The friend seemed jaded； but he interrupted his comrade with a voice
of calm confidence。 〃It'll turn out all right in th' end；〃 he said。
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〃Oh； the devil it will！ You always talk like a dog…hanged parson。
Don't tell me！ I know〃
At this time there was an interposition by the savage…minded
lieutenant； who was obliged to vent some of his inward dissatisfaction
upon his men。 〃You boys shut right up！ There no need 'a your wastin'
your breath in long…winded arguments about this an' that an' th' other。
You've been jawin' like a lot 'a old hens。 All you've got t' do is to fight；
an' you'll get plenty 'a that t' do in about ten minutes。 Less talkin' an'
more fightin' is what's best for you boys。 I never saw sech gabbling
jackasses。〃
He paused； ready to pounce upon any man who might have the
temerity to reply。 No words being said； he resumed his dignified pacing。
〃There's too much chin music an' too little fightin' in this war；
anyhow；〃 he said to them； turning his head for a final remark。
The day had grown more white； until the sun shed his full radiance
upon the thronged forest。 A sort of a gust of battle came sweeping toward
that part of the line where lay the youth's regi… ment。 The front shifted a
trifle to meet it square… ly。 There was a wait。 In this part of the field
there passed slowly the intense moments that pre… cede the tempest。
A single rifle flashed in a thicket before the regiment。 In an instant it
was joined by many others。 There was a mighty song of clashes and
crashes that went sweeping through the woods。 The guns in the rear；
aroused and enraged by shells that had been thrown burlike at them；
suddenly involved themselves in a hideous alter… cation with another band
of guns。 The battle roar settled to a rolling thunder； which was a single；
long explosion。
In the regiment there was a peculiar kind of hesitation denoted in the
attitudes of the men。 They were worn； exhausted； having slept but lit… tle
and labored much。 They rolled their eyes toward the advancing battle as
they stood await… ing the shock。 Some shrank and flinched。 They stood
as men tied to stakes。
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CHAPTER XVII。
THIS advance of the enemy had seemed to the youth like a ruthless
hunting。 He began to fume with rage and exasperation。 He beat his
foot upon the ground； and scowled with hate at the swirling smoke that
was approaching like a phan… tom flood。 There was a maddening quality
in this seeming resolution of the foe to give him no rest； to give him no
time to sit down and think。 Yesterday he had fought and had fled rapidly。
There had been many adventures。 For to…day he felt that he had earned
opportunities for contem… plative repose。 He could have enjoyed
portraying to uninitiated listeners various scenes at which he had been a
witness or ably discussing the pro… cesses of war with other proved men。
Too it was important that he should have time for physical recuperation。
He was sore and stiff from his ex… periences。 He had received his fill of
all exer… tions； and he wished to rest。
But those other men seemed never to grow weary； they were fighting
with their old speed。
163 He had a wild hate for the relentless foe。 Yester… day； when he
had imagined the universe to b
