the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第3节
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chewing tobacco with unspeakable valor； tremendous bodies of fierce
soldiery who were sweeping along like the Huns。 Others spoke of
tattered and eternally hungry men who fired despondent powders。
〃They'll charge through hell's fire an' brimstone t' git a holt on a haversack；
an' sech stomachs ain't a…lastin' long；〃 he was told。 From the stories； the
youth imagined the red； live bones sticking out through slits in the faded
uniforms。
Still； he could not put a whole faith in veter… ans' tales； for recruits
were their prey。 They talked much of smoke； fire； and blood； but he
could not tell how much might be lies。 They persistently yelled 〃Fresh
fish！〃 at him； and were in no wise to be trusted。
However； he perceived now that it did not greatly matter what kind of
soldiers he was going to fight； so long as they fought； which fact no one
disputed。 There was a more serious problem。 He lay in his bunk
pondering upon it。 He tried to mathematically prove to himself that he
would not run from a battle。
Previously he had never felt obliged to wrestle too seriously with this
question。 In his life he had taken certain things for granted； never
challeng… ing his belief in ultimate success； and bothering little about
means and roads。 But here he was confronted with a thing of moment。
It had sud… denly appeared to him that perhaps in a battle he might run。
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He was forced to admit that as far as war was concerned he knew nothing
of himself。
A sufficient time before he would have allowed the problem to kick its
heels at the outer portals of his mind； but now he felt compelled to give
serious attention to it。
A little panic…fear grew in his mind。 As his imagination went forward
to a fight； he saw hide… ous possibilities。 He contemplated the lurking
menaces of the future； and failed in an effort to see himself standing
stoutly in the midst of them。 He recalled his visions of broken…bladed
glory； but in the shadow of the impending tumult he suspected them to be
impossible pictures。
He sprang from the bunk and began to pace nervously to and fro。
〃Good Lord； what's th' matter with me？〃 he said aloud。
He felt that in this crisis his laws of life were useless。 Whatever he
had learned of himself was here of no avail。 He was an unknown
quantity。 He saw that he would again be obliged to experi… ment as he had
in early youth。 He must accumu… late information of himself； and
meanwhile he re… solved to remain close upon his guard lest those qualities
of which he knew nothing should ever… lastingly disgrace him。 〃Good
Lord！〃 he re… peated in dismay。
After a time the tall soldier slid dexterously through the hole。 The
loud private followed。 They were wrangling。
〃That's all right；〃 said the tall soldier as he entered。 He waved his
hand expressively。 〃You can believe me or not； jest as you like。 All you
got to do is to sit down and wait as quiet as you can。 Then pretty soon
you'll find out I was right。〃
His comrade grunted stubbornly。 For a mo… ment he seemed to be
searching for a formidable reply。 Finally he said： 〃Well； you don't know
everything in the world； do you？〃
〃Didn't say I knew everything in the world；〃 retorted the other sharply。
He began to stow various articles snugly into his knapsack。
The youth； pausing in his nervous walk； looked down at the busy
figure。 〃Going to be a battle； sure； is there； Jim？〃 he asked。
〃Of course there is；〃 replied the tall soldier。 〃Of course there is。 You
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jest wait 'til to…morrow； and you'll see one of the biggest battles ever was。
You jest wait。〃
〃Thunder！der！〃 said the youth。
〃Oh； you'll see fighting this time； my boy； what'll be regular out…and…
out fighting；〃 added the tall soldier； with the air of a man who is about to
exhibit a battle for the benefit of his friends。
〃Huh！〃 said the loud one from a corner。
〃Well；〃 remarked the youth； 〃like as not this story'll turn out jest like
them others did。〃
〃Not much it won't；〃 replied the tall soldier； exasperated。 〃Not much
it won't。 Didn't the cavalry all start this morning？〃 He glared about him。
No one denied his statement。 〃The cav… alry started this morning；〃 he
continued。 〃They say there ain't hardly any cavalry left in camp。 They're
going to Richmond； or some place； while we fight all the Johnnies。 It's
some dodge like that。 The regiment's got orders； too。 A feller what seen
'em go to headquarters told me a little while ago。 And they're raising
blazes all over campanybody can see that。〃
〃Shucks！〃 said the loud one。
The youth remained silent for a time。 At last he spoke to the tall
soldier。 〃Jim！〃
〃What？〃
〃How do you think the reg'ment 'll do？〃
〃Oh； they'll fight all right； I guess； after they once get into it；〃 said the
other with cold judg… ment。 He made a fine use of the third person。
〃There's been heaps of fun poked at 'em because they're new； of course；
and all that； but they'll fight all right； I guess。〃
〃Think any of the boys 'll run？〃 persisted the youth。
〃Oh； there may be a few of 'em run； but there's them kind in every
regiment； 'specially when they first goes under fire；〃 said the other in a
tolerant way。 〃Of course it might happen that the hull kit…and…boodle
might start and run； if some big fighting came first…off； and then again
they might stay and fight like fun。 But you can't bet on nothing。 Of
course they ain't never been under fire yet； and it ain't likely they'll lick the
hull rebel army all…to…oncet the first time； but I think they'll fight better
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than some； if worse than others。 That's the way I figger。 They call the
reg'ment 'Fresh fish' and everything； but the boys come of good stock； and
most of 'em 'll fight like sin after they oncet git shootin'；〃 he added； with a
mighty emphasis on the last four words。
〃Oh； you think you know〃 began the loud soldier with scorn。
The other turned savagely upon him。 They had a rapid altercation； in
which they fastened upon each other various strange epithets。
The youth at last interrupted them。 〃Did you ever think you might
run yourself； Jim？〃 he asked。 On concluding the sentence he laughed as
if he had meant to aim a joke。 The loud sol… dier also giggled。
The tall private waved his hand。 〃Well；〃 said he profoundly； 〃I've
thought it might get too hot for Jim Conklin in some of them scrimmages；
and if a whole lot of boys started and run； why； I s'pose I'd start and run。
And if I once started to run； I'd run like the devil； and no mistake。 But if
everybody was a…standing and a…fighting； why； I'd stand and fight。 Be
jiminey； I would。 I'll bet on it。〃
〃Huh！〃 said the loud one。
The youth of this tale felt gratitude for these words of his comrade。
He had feared that all of the untried men possessed a great and correct
confidence。 He now was in a measure reassured。
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CHAPTER II。
THE next morning the youth discovered that his tall comrade had
been the fast…flying messen… ger of a mistake。 There was much scoffing
at the latter by those who had yesterday been
