the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第11章
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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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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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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 thing。 He feared that if he turned his back the body might
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spring up and stealthily pursue him。
The branches； pushing against him； threat… ened to throw him over
upon it。 His unguided feet； too； caught aggravatingly in brambles； and
with it all he received a subtle suggestion to touch the corpse。 As he
thought of his hand upon it he shuddered profoundly。
At last he burst the bonds which had fastened him to the spot and fled；
unheeding the under… brush。 He was pursued by a sight of the black ants
swarming greedily upon the gray face and venturing horribly near to the
eyes。
After a time he paused； and； breathless and panting； listened。 He
imagined some strange voice would come from the dead throat and
squawk after him in horrible menaces。
The trees about the portal of the chapel moved soughingly in a soft
wind。 A sad silence was upon the little guarding edifice。
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CHAPTER VIII。
THE trees began softly to sing a hymn of twi… light。 The sun sank
until slanted bronze rays struck the forest。 There was a lull in the noises
of insects as if they had bowed their beaks and were making a devotional
pause。 There was silence save for the chanted chorus of the trees。
Then； upon this stillness； there suddenly broke a tremendous clangor
of sounds。 A crimson roar came from the distance。
The youth stopped。 He was transfixed by this terrific medley of all
noises。 It was as if worlds were being rended。 There was the rip… ping
sound of musketry and the breaking crash of the artillery。
His mind flew in all directions。 He conceived the two armies to be at
each other panther fashion。 He listened for a time。 Then he began to
run in the direction of the battle。 He saw that it was an ironical thing for
him to be run… ning thus toward that which he had been at such
82 pains to avoid。 But he said； in substance； to him… self that if the
earth and the moon were about to clash； many persons would doubtless
plan to get upon the roofs to witness the collision。
As he ran； he became aware that the forest had stopped its music； as if
at last becoming capable of hearing the foreign sounds。 The trees hushed
and stood motionless。 Everything seemed to be listening to the crackle
and clatter and ear… shaking thunder。 The chorus pealed over the still
earth。
It suddenly occurred to the youth that the fight in which he had been
was； after all； but perfunctory popping。 In the hearing of this present din
he was doubtful if he had seen real battle scenes。 This uproar explained a
celes… tial battle； it was tumbling hordes a…struggle in the air。
Reflecting； he saw a sort of a humor in the point of view of himself
and his fellows during the late encounter。 They had taken themselves
and the enemy very seriously and had imagined that they were deciding
the war。 Individuals must have supposed that they were cutting the
letters of their names deep into everlasting tablets of brass； or enshrining
their reputations forever in the hearts of their countrymen； while； as to fact；
the affair would appear in printed reports under a meek and immaterial
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