the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第18部分
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voices of the cannon were clamoring in intermi… nable chorus。
The youth was horrorstricken。 He stared in agony and amazement。
He forgot that he was engaged in combating the universe。 He threw
aside his mental pamphlets on the philoso… phy of the retreated and rules
for the guidance of the damned。
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The fight was lost。 The dragons were com… ing with invincible
strides。 The army； helpless in the matted thickets and blinded by the
over… hanging night； was going to be swallowed。 War； the red animal；
war； the blood…swollen god； would have bloated fill。
Within him something bade to cry out。 He had the impulse to make a
rallying speech； to sing a battle hymn； but he could only get his tongue to
call into the air： 〃Whywhywhatwhat 's th' matter？〃
Soon he was in the midst of them。 They were leaping and
scampering all about him。 Their blanched faces shone in the dusk。 They
seemed； for the most part； to be very burly men。 The youth turned from
one to another of them as they galloped along。 His incoherent questions
were lost。 They were heedless of his appeals。 They did not seem to see
him。
They sometimes gabbled insanely。 One huge man was asking of the
sky： 〃Say； where de plank road？ Where de plank road！〃 It was as if he
had lost a child。 He wept in his pain and dismay。
Presently； men were running hither and thither in all ways。 The
artillery booming； forward； rearward； and on the flanks made jumble of
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ideas of direction。 Landmarks had vanished into the gathered gloom。
The youth began to imagine that he had got into the center of the
tremendous quarrel； and he could perceive no way out of it。 From the
mouths of the fleeing men came a thousand wild questions； but no one
made answers。
The youth； after rushing about and throwing interrogations at the
heedless bands of retreating infantry； finally clutched a man by the arm。
They swung around face to face。
〃Whywhy〃 stammered the youth strug… gling with his balking
tongue。
The man screamed： 〃Let go me！ Let go me！〃 His face was livid
and his eyes were roll… ing uncontrolled。 He was heaving and panting。
He still grasped his rifle； perhaps having for… gotten to release his hold
upon it。 He tugged frantically； and the youth being compelled to lean
forward was dragged several paces。
〃Let go me！ Let go me！〃
〃Whywhy〃 stuttered the youth。
〃Well； then！〃 bawled the man in a lurid rage。 He adroitly and fiercely
swung his rifle。 It crushed upon the youth's head。 The man ran on。
The youth's fingers had turned to paste upon the other's arm。 The
energy was smitten from his muscles。 He saw the flaming wings of light…
ning flash before his vision。 There was a deaf… ening rumble of thunder
within his head。
Suddenly his legs seemed to die。 He sank writhing to the ground。
He tried to arise。 In his efforts against the numbing pain he was like a
man wrestling with a creature of the air。
There was a sinister struggle。
Sometimes he would achieve a position half erect； battle with the air
for a moment； and then fall again； grabbing at the grass。 His face was of
a clammy pallor。 Deep groans were wrenched from him。
At last； with a twisting movement； he got upon his hands and knees；
and from thence； like a babe trying to walk； to his feet。 Pressing his
hands to his temples he went lurching over the grass。
He fought an intense battle with his body。 His dulled senses wished
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him to swoon and he opposed them stubbornly； his mind portraying
unknown dangers and mutilations if he should fall upon the field。 He
went tall soldier fashion。 He imagined secluded spots where he could fall
and be unmolested。 To search for one he strove against the tide of his
pain。
Once he put his hand to the top of his head and timidly touched the
wound。 The scratching pain of the contact made him draw a long breath
through his clinched teeth。 His fingers were dabbled with blood。 He
regarded them with a fixed stare。
Around him he could hear the grumble of jolted cannon as the
scurrying horses were lashed toward the front。 Once； a young officer on
a besplashed charger nearly ran him down。 He turned and watched the
mass of guns； men； and horses sweeping in a wide curve toward a gap in a
fence。 The officer was making excited motions with a gauntleted hand。
The guns followed the teams with an air of unwillingness； of being
dragged by the heels。
Some officers of the scattered infantry were cursing and railing like
fishwives。 Their scold… ing voices could be heard above the din。 Into
the unspeakable jumble in the roadway rode a squadron of cavalry。 The
faded yellow of their facings shone bravely。 There was a mighty
altercation。
The artillery were assembling as if for a con… ference。
The blue haze of evening was upon the field。 The lines of forest were
long purple shadows。 One cloud lay along the western sky partly
smothering the red。
As the youth left the scene behind him； he heard the guns suddenly
roar out。 He imagined them shaking in black rage。 They belched and
howled like brass devils guarding a gate。 The soft air was filled with the
tremendous remon… strance。 With it came the shattering peal of opposing
infantry。 Turning to look behind him； he could see sheets of orange light
illumine the shadowy distance。 There were subtle and sudden lightnings
in the far air。 At times he thought he could see heaving masses of men。
He hurried on in the dusk。 The day had faded until he could barely
distinguish place for his feet。 The purple darkness was filled with men
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who lectured and jabbered。 Sometimes he could see them gesticulating
against the blue and somber sky。 There seemed to be a great ruck of men
and munitions spread about in the forest and in the fields。
The little narrow roadway now lay lifeless。 There were overturned
wagons like sun…dried bowlders。 The bed of the former torrent was
choked with the bodies of horses and splintered parts of war machines。
It had come to pass that his wound pained him but little。 He was
afraid to move rapidly； how… ever； for a dread of disturbing it。 He held
his head very still and took many precautions against stumbling。 He was
filled with anxiety； and his face was pinched and drawn in anticipation of
the pain of any sudden mistake of his feet in the gloom。
His thoughts； as he walked； fixed intently upon his hurt。 There was a
cool； liquid feeling about it and he imagined blood moving slowly down
under his hair。 His head seemed swollen to a size that made him think
his neck to be inadequate。
The new silence of his wound made much worriment。 The little
blistering voices of pain that had called out from his scalp were； he
thought； definite in their expression of danger。 By them he believed that he
could measure his plight。 But when they remained ominously silent he
became frightened and imagined ter… rible fingers that clutched into his
brain。
Amid it he began to reflect upon various incidents and conditions of
the past。 He be… thought him of certain meals his mother had cooked at
home； in which those dishes of which he was particularly fond had
occupied prominent positions。 He saw the spread table。 The pine walls
of the kitchen were glowing in the warm light from the stove。 Too； he
remembered how he and his companions used to go from the school…
house to the bank of a shaded pool。 He saw his clothes in disorderly
array upon the grass of the bank。 He felt the swash of the fragrant water
upon his body。 The leaves of the overhanging maple rustled with melody
in the wind of youth… ful summer。
He was overcome presently by a dragging weariness。 His head hung
forward and his shoulders were stooped as if he were bearing a great
bundle。 His feet shuffled along the ground。
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He held continuous a
