the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第6部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
years。 And； moreover； there were no letters of faded gold speaking from
the colors。 They were new and beautiful； and the color bearer habitu…
ally oiled the pole。
Presently the army again sat down to think。 The odor of the peaceful
pines was in the men's nostrils。 The sound of monotonous axe blows
rang through the forest； and the insects； nodding upon their perches；
crooned like old women。 The youth returned to his theory of a blue dem…
onstration。
One gray dawn； however； he was kicked in the leg by the tall soldier；
and then； before he was entirely awake； he found himself running down a
wood road in the midst of men who were panting from the first effects of
speed。 His can… teen banged rhythmically upon his thigh； and his
haversack bobbed softly。 His musket bounced a trifle from his shoulder
at each stride and made his cap feel uncertain upon his head。
He could hear the men whisper jerky sen… tences： 〃Saywhat's all this…
…about？〃 〃What th' thunderweskedaddlin' this way fer？〃 〃Billiekeep
off m' feet。 Yeh runlike a cow。〃 And the loud soldier's shrill voice could
be heard： 〃What th' devil they in sich a hurry for？〃
The youth thought the damp fog of early morning moved from the
rush of a great body of troops。 From the distance came a sudden spatter
of firing。
He was bewildered。 As he ran with his com… rades he strenuously
tried to think； but all he knew was that if he fell down those coming
behind would tread upon him。 All his faculties seemed to be needed to
guide him over and past obstruc… tions。 He felt carried along by a mob。
The sun spread disclosing rays； and； one by one； regiments burst into
view like armed men just born of the earth。 The youth perceived that the
time had come。 He was about to be measured。 For a moment he felt in
the face of his great trial like a babe； and the flesh over his heart seemed
21
… Page 22…
The Red Badge of Courage
very thin。 He seized time to look about him calculatingly。
But he instantly saw that it would be impossi… ble for him to escape
from the regiment。 It in… closed him。 And there were iron laws of tradi…
tion and law on four sides。 He was in a moving box。
As he perceived this fact it occurred to him that he had never wished
to come to the war。 He had not enlisted of his free will。 He had been
dragged by the merciless government。 And now they were taking him
out to be slaughtered。
The regiment slid down a bank and wallowed across a little stream。
The mournful current moved slowly on； and from the water； shaded black；
some white bubble eyes looked at the men。
As they climbed the hill on the farther side artillery began to boom。
Here the youth forgot many things as he felt a sudden impulse of curi…
osity。 He scrambled up the bank with a speed that could not be exceeded
by a bloodthirsty man。
He expected a battle scene。
There were some little fields girted and squeezed by a forest。 Spread
over the grass and in among the tree trunks； he could see knots and waving
lines of skirmishers who were running hither and thither and firing at the
landscape。 A dark battle line lay upon a sunstruck clearing that gleamed
orange color。 A flag fluttered。
Other regiments floundered up the bank。 The brigade was formed in
line of battle； and after a pause started slowly through the woods in the
rear of the receding skirmishers； who were con… tinually melting into the
scene to appear again farther on。 They were always busy as bees； deeply
absorbed in their little combats。
The youth tried to observe everything。 He did not use care to avoid
trees and branches； and his forgotten feet were constantly knocking against
stones or getting entangled in briers。 He was aware that these battalions
with their commotions were woven red and startling into the gentle fabric
of softened greens and browns。 It looked to be a wrong place for a battle
field。
The skirmishers in advance fascinated him。 Their shots into thickets
and at distant and prominent trees spoke to him of tragedieshid… den；
22
… Page 23…
The Red Badge of Courage
mysterious； solemn。
Once the line encountered the body of a dead soldier。 He lay upon
his back staring at the sky。 He was dressed in an awkward suit of
yellowish brown。 The youth could see that the soles of his shoes had
been worn to the thinness of writing paper； and from a great rent in one the
dead foot projected piteously。 And it was as if fate had betrayed the
soldier。 In death it exposed to his enemies that poverty which in life he
had perhaps concealed from his friends。
The ranks opened covertly to avoid the corpse。 The invulnerable dead
man forced a way for him… self。 The youth looked keenly at the ashen
face。 The wind raised the tawny beard。 It moved as if a hand were
stroking it。 He vaguely desired to walk around and around the body and
stare； the impulse of the living to try to read in dead eyes the answer to the
Question。
During the march the ardor which the youth had acquired when out of
view of the field rapidly faded to nothing。 His curiosity was quite easily
satisfied。 If an intense scene had caught him with its wild swing as he
came to the top of the bank； he might have gone roaring on。 This
advance upon Nature was too calm。 He had opportunity to reflect。 He
had time in which to wonder about himself and to attempt to probe his
sensa… tions。
Absurd ideas took hold upon him。 He thought that he did not relish
the landscape。 It threatened him。 A coldness swept over his back； and it
is true that his trousers felt to him that they were no fit for his legs at all。
A house standing placidly in distant fields had to him an ominous look。
The shadows of the woods were formidable。 He was certain that in this
vista there lurked fierce…eyed hosts。 The swift thought came to him that
the generals did not know what they were about。 It was all a trap。
Suddenly those close forests would bristle with rifle barrels。 Ironlike
brigades would ap… pear in the rear。 They were all going to be sacrificed。
The generals were stupids。 The enemy would presently swallow the
whole com… mand。 He glared about him； expecting to see the stealthy
approach of his death。
He thought that he must break from the ranks and harangue his
23
… Page 24…
The Red Badge of Courage
comrades。 They must not all be killed like pigs； and he was sure it would
come to pass unless they were informed of these dangers。 The generals
were idiots to send them marching into a regular pen。 There was but one
pair of eyes in the corps。 He would step forth and make a speech。
Shrill and passionate words came to his lips。
The line； broken into moving fragments by the ground； went calmly on
through fields and woods。 The youth looked at the men nearest him； and
saw； for the most part； expressions of deep inter… est； as if they were
investigating something that had fascinated them。 One or two stepped
with overvaliant airs as if they were already plunged into war。 Others
walked as upon thin ice。 The greater part of the untested men appeared
quiet and absorbed。 They were going to look at war； the red animalwar；
the blood…swollen god。 And they were deeply engrossed in this march。
As he looked the youth gripped his outcry at his throat。 He saw that
even if the men were tottering with fear they would laugh at his warn… ing。
They would jeer him； and； if practicable； pelt him with missiles。
Admitting that he might be wrong； a frenzied declamation of the kind
would turn him into a worm。
He assumed； then； the demeanor of one who knows that he is doomed
alone to unwritten re… sponsibilities。 He lagged； with tragic glances at the
sky。
He was surprised presently by the young lieu… tenant of his company；
who began heartily to beat him with a sword； calling out in a loud and
insolent voice： 〃Come； young man； get up into ranks there。 No
skulking'll do here。〃 He mend… ed his pace with suitable haste。 And he
hated the lieutenant； who had no appreciation of fine minds。 He was a
mere brute。
After a time the brigade was halted in the cathedral light of a forest。
The busy skirmish… ers were still popping。 Through the aisles of the
wood could be seen the floating smoke from their rifles。
