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！
past they made pert remarks to him。 When he raged in reply and
threatened them； they told him to be damned。
The shoulder of one of the tramping bearers knocked heavily against
the spectral soldier who was staring into the unknown。
The youth joined this crowd and marched along with it。 The torn
51
… Page 52…
The Red Badge of Courage
bodies expressed the awful machinery in which the men had been
entangled。
Orderlies and couriers occasionally broke through the throng in the
roadway； scattering wounded men right and left； galloping on fol… lowed
by howls。 The melancholy march was continually disturbed by the
messengers； and sometimes by bustling batteries that came swing… ing and
thumping down upon them； the officers shouting orders to clear the way。
There was a tattered man； fouled with dust； blood and powder stain
from hair to shoes； who trudged quietly at the youth's side。 He was lis…
tening with eagerness and much humility to the lurid descriptions of a
bearded sergeant。 His lean features wore an expression of awe and ad…
miration。 He was like a listener in a country store to wondrous tales told
among the sugar barrels。 He eyed the story…teller with unspeak… able
wonder。 His mouth was agape in yokel fashion。
The sergeant； taking note of this； gave pause to his elaborate history
while he administered a sardonic comment。 〃Be keerful； honey； you 'll
be a…ketchin' flies；〃 he said。
The tattered man shrank back abashed。
After a time he began to sidle near to the youth； and in a different way
try to make him a friend。 His voice was gentle as a girl's voice and his
eyes were pleading。 The youth saw with surprise that the soldier had two
wounds； one in the head； bound with a blood…soaked rag； and the other in
the arm； making that member dangle like a broken bough。
After they had walked together for some time the tattered man
mustered sufficient courage to speak。 〃Was pretty good fight； wa'n't it？〃
he timidly said。 The youth； deep in thought； glanced up at the bloody
and grim figure with its lamblike eyes。 〃What？〃
〃Was pretty good fight； wa'n't it？
〃Yes；〃 said the youth shortly。 He quick… ened his pace。
But the other hobbled industriously after him。 There was an air of
apology in his manner； but he evidently thought that he needed only to talk
for a time； and the youth would perceive that he was a good fellow。
〃Was pretty good fight； wa'n't it？〃 he began in a small voice； and then
he achieved the forti… tude to continue。 〃Dern me if I ever see fellers
52
… Page 53…
The Red Badge of Courage
fight so。 Laws； how they did fight！ I knowed th' boys 'd like when they
onct got square at it。 Th' boys ain't had no fair chanct up t' now； but this
time they showed what they was。 I knowed it 'd turn out this way。 Yeh
can't lick them boys。 No； sir！ They're fighters； they be。〃
He breathed a deep breath of humble ad… miration。 He had looked at
the youth for en… couragement several times。 He received none； but
gradually he seemed to get absorbed in his subject。
〃I was talkin' 'cross pickets with a boy from Georgie； onct； an' that boy；
he ses； 'Your fellers 'll all run like hell when they onct hearn a gun；' he ses。
'Mebbe they will；' I ses； 'but I don't b'lieve none of it；' I ses； 'an' b'jiminey；'
I ses back t' 'um； 'mebbe your fellers 'll all run like hell when they onct
hearn a gun；' I ses。 He larfed。 Well； they didn't run t' day； did they； hey？
No； sir！ They fit； an' fit； an' fit。〃
His homely face was suffused with a light of love for the army which
was to him all things beautiful and powerful。
After a time he turned to the youth。 〃Where yeh hit； ol' boy？〃 he
asked in a brotherly tone。
The youth felt instant panic at this question； although at first its full
import was not borne in upon him。
〃What？〃 he asked。
〃Where yeh hit？〃 repeated the tattered man。
〃Why；〃 began the youth； 〃IIthat is whyI〃
He turned away suddenly and slid through the crowd。 His brow was
heavily flushed； and his fingers were picking nervously at one of his
buttons。 He bent his head and fastened his eyes studiously upon the
button as if it were a little problem。
The tattered man looked after him in aston… ishment。
53
… Page 54…
The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER IX。
THE youth fell back in the procession until the tattered soldier was
not in sight。 Then he started to walk on with the others。
But he was amid wounds。 The mob of men was bleeding。 Because
of the tattered soldier's question he now felt that his shame could be
viewed。 He was continually casting sidelong glances to see if the men
were contemplating the letters of guilt he felt burned into his brow。
At times he regarded the wounded soldiers in an envious way。 He
conceived persons with torn bodies to be peculiarly happy。 He wished
that he； too； had a wound； a red badge of cour… age。
The spectral soldier was at his side like a stalking reproach。 The
man's eyes were still fixed in a stare into the unknown。 His gray；
appalling face had attracted attention in the crowd； and men； slowing to
his dreary pace； were walking with him。 They were discussing his plight；
questioning him and giving him advice。
91 In a dogged way he repelled them； signing to them to go on and
leave him alone。 The shadows of his face were deepening and his tight
lips seemed holding in check the moan of great despair。 There could be
seen a certain stiffness in the movements of his body； as if he were taking
infinite care not to arouse the passion of his wounds。 As he went on； he
seemed always look… ing for a place； like one who goes to choose a grave。
Something in the gesture of the man as he waved the bloody and
pitying soldie