the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第4章
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at the red eyes across the river； he conceived them to be grow… ing larger；
as the orbs of a row of dragons ad… vancing。 He turned toward the
colonel and saw him lift his gigantic arm and calmly stroke his mustache。
At last he heard from along the road at the foot of the hill the clatter of
a horse's galloping hoofs。 It must be the coming of orders。 He bent
forward； scarce breathing。 The exciting clickety…click； as it grew louder
and louder； seemed to be beating upon his soul。 Presently a horseman
with jangling equipment drew rein be… fore the colonel of the regiment。
The two held a short； sharp…worded conversation。 The men in the
foremost ranks craned their necks。
As the horseman wheeled his animal and gal… loped away he turned to
shout over his shoulder； 〃Don't forget that box of cigars！〃 The colonel
mumbled in reply。 The youth wondered what a box of cigars had to do
with war。
A moment later the regiment went swinging off into the darkness。 It
was now like one of those moving monsters wending with many feet。 The
air was heavy； and cold with dew。 A mass of wet grass； marched upon；
rustled like silk。
There was an occasional flash and glimmer of steel from the backs of
all these huge crawl… ing reptiles。 From the road came creakings and
grumblings as some surly guns were dragged away。
The men stumbled along still muttering specu… lations。 There was a
subdued debate。 Once a man fell down； and as he reached for his rifle a
comrade； unseeing； trod upon his hand。 He of the injured fingers swore
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bitterly and aloud。 A low； tittering laugh went among his fellows。
Presently they passed into a roadway and marched forward with easy
strides。 A dark regiment moved before them； and from behind also came
the tinkle of equipments on the bodies of marching men。
The rushing yellow of the developing day went on behind their backs。
When the sunrays at last struck full and mellowingly upon the earth； the
youth saw that the landscape was streaked with two long； thin； black
columns which disappeared on the brow of a hill in front and rearward
vanished in a wood。 They were like two serpents crawling from the
cavern of the night。
The river was not in view。 The tall soldier burst into praises of what
he thought to be his powers of perception。
Some of the tall one's companions cried with emphasis that they； too；
had evolved the same thing； and they congratulated themselves upon it。
But there were others who said that the tall one's plan was not the true one
at all。 They per… sisted with other theories。 There was a vigorous
discussion。
The youth took no part in them。 As he walked along in careless line
he was engaged with his own eternal debate。 He could not hin… der
himself from dwelling upon it。 He was de… spondent and sullen； and
threw shifting glances about him。 He looked ahead； often expecting to
hear from the advance the rattle of firing。
But the long serpents crawled slowly from hill to hill without bluster
of smoke。 A dun…col… ored cloud of dust floated away to the right。 The
sky overhead was of a fairy blue。
The youth studied the faces of his compan… ions； ever on the watch to
detect kindred emo… tions。 He suffered disappointment。 Some ardor of
the air which was causing the veteran com… mands to move with glee
almost with song had infected the new regiment。 The men began to
speak of victory as of a thing they knew。 Also； the tall soldier received his
vindication。 They were certainly going to come around in behind the
enemy。 They expressed commisera… tion for that part of the army which
had been left upon the river bank； felicitating themselves upon being a part
of a blasting host。
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The youth； considering himself as separated from the others； was
saddened by the blithe and merry speeches that went from rank to rank。
The company wags all made their best endeav… ors。 The regiment
tramped to the tune of laughter。
The blatant soldier often convulsed whole files by his biting sarcasms
aimed at the tall one。
And it was not long before all the men seemed to forget their mission。
Whole brigades grinned in unison； and regiments laughed。
A rather fat soldier attempted to pilfer a horse from a dooryard。 He
planned to load his knap… sack upon it。 He was escaping with his prize
when a young girl rushed from the house and grabbed the animal's mane。
There followed a wrangle。 The young girl； with pink cheeks and shining
eyes； stood like a dauntless statue。
The observant regiment； standing at rest in the roadway； whooped at
once； and entered whole…souled upon the side of the maiden。 The men
became so engrossed in this affair that they entirely ceased to remember
their own large war。 They jeered the piratical private； and called attention
to various defects in his personal ap… pearance； and they were wildly
enthusiastic in support of the young girl。
To her； from some distance； came bold advice。 〃Hit him with a stick。〃
There were crows and catcalls showered upon him when he retreated
without the horse。 The regiment rejoiced at his downfall。 Loud and
vociferous congratulations were showered upon the maiden； who stood
panting and regard… ing the troops with defiance。
At nightfall the column broke into regimental pieces； and the
fragments went into the fields to camp。 Tents sprang up like strange
plants。 Camp fires； like red； peculiar blossoms； dotted the night。
The youth kept from intercourse with his companions as much as
circumstances would allow him。 In the evening he wandered a few paces
into the gloom。 From this little distance the many fires； with the black
forms of men pass… ing to and fro before the crimson rays； made weird and
satanic effects。
He lay down in the grass。 The blades pressed tenderly against his
cheek。 The moon had been lighted and was hung in a treetop。 The liquid
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stillness of the night enveloping him made him feel vast pity for himself。
There was a caress in the soft winds； and the whole mood of the darkness；
he thought； was one of sympathy for himself in his distress。
He wished； without reserve； that he was at home again making the
endless rounds from the house to the barn； from the barn to the fields；
from the fields to the barn； from the barn to the house。 He remembered
he had often cursed the brindle cow and her mates； and had sometimes
flung milking stools。 But； from his present point of view； there was a
halo of happiness about each of their heads； and he would have sacrificed
all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to
them。 He told himself that he was not formed for a soldier。 And he
mused seriously upon the radical differences between himself and those
men who were dodging imp… like around the fires。
As he mused thus he heard the rustle of grass； and； upon turning his
head； discovered the loud soldier。 He called out； 〃Oh； Wilson！〃
The latter approached and looked down。 〃Why； hello； Henry； is it you？
What you do… ing here？〃
〃Oh； thinking；〃 said the youth。
The other sat down and carefully lighted his pipe。 〃You're getting
blue； my boy。 You're looking thundering peeked。 What the dickens is
wrong with you？〃
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said the youth。
The loud soldier launched then into the sub… ject of the anticipated
fight。 〃Oh； we've got 'em now！〃 As he spoke his boyish face was
wreathed in a gleeful smile； and his voice had an exultant ring。 〃We've
got 'em now。 At last； by the eternal thunders； we'll lick 'em good！〃
〃If the truth was known；〃 he added； more soberly； 〃THEY'VE licked
US about every clip up to now； but this timethis timewe'll lick 'em
good！〃
〃I thought you was objecting to this march a little while ago；〃 said the
youth coldly。
〃Oh； it wasn't that；〃 explained the other。 〃I don't mind marching； if
there's going to be fight… ing at the end of it。 What I hate is this getting
moved here and moved there； with no good com… ing of it； as far as I can
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see； excepting sore feet and damned short rations。〃
〃Well； Jim Conklin says we'll get a plenty of fighting this time。〃
〃He's right for once； I guess； though I can't see how it come。 This
time we're in for a big battle； and we've got the best end of it； certain sure。
Gee rod！ how we will thump 'em！〃
He arose and began to pace to and fro excit… edly。 The thrill of his
enthusiasm made him walk with an elastic step。 He was sprightly；
vigorous； fiery in his belief in success。 He looked into the future with
clear； proud eye； and he swore with the air of an old soldier。
The youth watched him for a moment in silence。 When he finally
spoke his voice was as bitter as dregs。 〃Oh； you're going to do great
things； I s'pose！〃
The loud soldier blew a thoughtful cloud of smoke from his pipe。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 he remarked with dignity； 〃I don't know。 I s'pose I'll
do
