the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第25章
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few paces to fire and load； and in this manner moved slowly on from trees
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to trees。
The flaming opposition in their front grew with their advance until it
seemed that all for… ward ways were barred by the thin leaping tongues；
and off to the right an ominous demon… stration could sometimes be dimly
discerned。 The smoke lately generated was in confusing clouds that made
it difficult for the regiment to proceed with intelligence。 As he passed
through each curling mass the youth wondered what would confront him
on the farther side。
The command went painfully forward until an open space interposed
between them and the lurid lines。 Here； crouching and cowering be… hind
some trees； the men clung with desperation； as if threatened by a wave。
They looked wild… eyed； and as if amazed at this furious disturbance they
had stirred。 In the storm there was an ironical expression of their
importance。 The faces of the men； too； showed a lack of a certain feeling
of responsibility for being there。 It was as if they had been driven。 It
was the dominant animal failing to remember in the supreme mo… ments
the forceful causes of various superficial qualities。 The whole affair
seemed incompre… hensible to many of them。
As they halted thus the lieutenant again be… gan to bellow profanely。
Regardless of the vin… dictive threats of the bullets； he went about coaxing；
berating； and bedamning。 His lips； that were habitually in a soft and
childlike curve； were now writhed into unholy contortions。 He swore by
all possible deities。
Once he grabbed the youth by the arm。 〃Come on； yeh lunkhead！〃 he
roared。 〃Come on！ We'll all git killed if we stay here。 We've on'y got
t' go across that lot。 An' then〃the remainder of his idea disappeared in a
blue haze of curses。
The youth stretched forth his arm。 〃Cross there？〃 His mouth was
puckered in doubt and awe。
〃Certainly。 Jest 'cross th' lot！ We can't stay here；〃 screamed the
lieutenant。 He poked his face close to the youth and waved his ban…
daged hand。 〃Come on！〃 Presently he grap… pled with him as if for a
wrestling bout。 It was as if he planned to drag the youth by the ear on to
the assault。
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The private felt a sudden unspeakable indig… nation against his officer。
He wrenched fiercely and shook him off。
〃Come on herself； then；〃 he yelled。 There was a bitter challenge in
his voice。
They galloped together down the regimental front。 The friend
scrambled after them。 In front of the colors the three men began to bawl：
〃Come on！ come on！〃 They danced and gy… rated like tortured savages。
The flag； obedient to these appeals； bended its glittering form and
swept toward them。 The men wavered in indecision for a moment； and
then with a long； wailful cry the dilapidated regiment surged forward and
began its new journey。
Over the field went the scurrying mass。 It was a handful of men
splattered into the faces of the enemy。 Toward it instantly sprang the yel…
low tongues。 A vast quantity of blue smoke hung before them。 A
mighty banging made ears valueless。
The youth ran like a madman to reach the woods before a bullet could
discover him。 He ducked his head low； like a football player。 In his
haste his eyes almost closed； and the scene was a wild blur。 Pulsating
saliva stood at the corners of his mouth。
Within him； as he hurled himself forward； was born a love； a
despairing fondness for this flag which was near him。 It was a creation
of beauty and invulnerability。 It was a goddess； radiant； that bended its
form with an imperious gesture to him。 It was a woman； red and white；
hating and loving； that called him with the voice of his hopes。 Because
no harm could come to it he en… dowed it with power。 He kept near； as if
it could be a saver of lives； and an imploring cry went from his mind。
In the mad scramble he was aware that the color sergeant flinched
suddenly； as if struck by a bludgeon。 He faltered； and then became
motion… less； save for his quivering knees。
He made a spring and a clutch at the pole。 At the same instant his
friend grabbed it from the other side。 They jerked at it； stout and furious；
but the color sergeant was dead； and the corpse would not relinquish its
trust。 For a moment there was a grim encounter。 The dead man；
swinging with bended back； seemed to be obsti… nately tugging； in
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ludicrous and awful ways； for the possession of the flag。
It was past in an instant of time。 They wrenched the flag furiously
from the dead man； and； as they turned again； the corpse swayed for… ward
with bowed head。 One arm swung high； and the curved hand fell with
heavy protest on the friend's unheeding shoulder。
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CHAPTER XX。
WHEN the two youths turned with the flag they saw that much of the
regiment had crum… bled away； and the dejected remnant was coming
slowly back。 The men； having hurled themselves in projectile fashion；
had presently expended their forces。 They slowly retreated； with their
faces still toward the spluttering woods； and their hot rifles still replying to
the din。 Several officers were giving orders； their voices keyed to
screams。
〃Where in hell yeh goin'？〃 the lieutenant was asking in a sarcastic
howl。 And a red…bearded officer； whose voice of triple brass could
plainly be heard； was commanding： 〃Shoot into 'em！ Shoot into 'em； Gawd
damn their souls！〃 There was a melee of screeches； in which the men
were ordered to do conflicting and impossible things。
The youth and his friend had a small scuffle over the flag。 〃Give it t'
me！〃 〃No； let me keep it！〃 Each felt satisfied with the other's pos…
session of it； but each felt bound to declare； by
189 an offer to carry the emblem； his willingness to further risk
himself。 The youth roughly pushed his friend away。
The regiment fell back to the stolid trees。 There it halted for a moment
to blaze at some dark forms that had begun to steal upon its track。
Presently it resumed its march again； curving among the tree trunks。 By
the time the depleted regiment had again reached the first open space they
were receiving a fast and merciless fire。 There seemed to be mobs all
about them。
The greater part of the men； discouraged； their spirits worn by the
turmoil； acted as if stunned。 They accepted the pelting of the bul… lets
with bowed and weary heads。 It was of no purpose to strive against walls。
It was of no use to batter themselves against granite。 And from this
consciousness that they had attempted to conquer an unconquerable thing
there seemed to arise a feeling that they had been betrayed。 They glowered
with bent brows； but danger… ously； upon some of the officers； more
particu… larly upon the red…bearded one with the voice of triple brass。
However； the rear of the regiment was fringed with men； who
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continued to shoot irritably at the advancing foes。 They seemed resolved
to make every trouble。 The youthful lieutenant was per… haps the last
man in the disordered mass。 His forgotten back was toward the enemy。
He had been shot in the arm。 It hung straight and rigid。 Occasionally he
would cease to remember it； and be about to emphasize an oath with a
sweeping gesture。 The multiplied pain caused him to swear with
incredible power。
The youth went along with slipping； uncertain feet。 He kept watchful
eyes rearward。 A scowl of mortification and rage was upon his face。
He had thought of a fine revenge upon the officer who had referred to him
and his fellows as mule drivers。 But he saw that it could not come to
pass。 His dreams had collapsed when the mule drivers； dwindling
rapidly； had wavered and hes… itated on the little clearing； and then had
recoiled。 And now the retreat of the mule drivers was a march of shame to
him。
A dagger…pointed gaze from without his black… ened face was held
toward the enemy； but his greater hatred was riveted upon the man； who；
not knowing him； had called him a mule driver。
When he knew that he and his comrades had failed to do anything in
successful ways that might bring the little pangs of a kind of remorse upon
the officer； the youth allowed the rage of the baf… fled to possess him。
This cold officer upon a monument； who dropped epithets unconcernedly
down； would be finer as a dead man； he thought。 So grievous did he think
it that he could never possess the secret right to taunt truly in answer。
He had pictured red letters of curious revenge。 〃We ARE mule drivers；
are we？〃 And now he was compelled to throw them away。
He presently wrapped his heart in the cloak of his pride and kept the
flag erect。 He ha… rangued his fellows； pushing against their chests with
his fre
