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The loud young soldier watched his comrade with an air of satisfaction。
He later produced an extensive handkerchief from his pocket。 He folded
it into a manner of bandage and soused water from the other canteen upon
the middle of it。 This crude arrangement he bound over the youth's head；
tying the ends in a queer knot at the back of the neck。
〃There；〃 he said； moving off and surveying his deed； 〃yeh look like th'
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devil； but I bet yeh feel better。〃
The youth contemplated his friend with grate… ful eyes。 Upon his
aching and swelling head the cold cloth was like a tender woman's hand。
〃Yeh don't holler ner say nothin'；〃 remarked his friend approvingly。
〃I know I'm a black… smith at takin' keer 'a sick folks； an' yeh never
squeaked。 Yer a good un； Henry。 Most 'a men would a' been in th'
hospital long ago。 A shot in th' head ain't foolin' business。〃
The youth made no reply； but began to fumble with the buttons of his
jacket。
〃Well； come； now；〃 continued his friend； 〃come on。 I must put yeh t'
bed an' see that yeh git a good night's rest。〃
The other got carefully erect； and the loud young soldier led him
among the sleeping forms lying in groups and rows。 Presently he
stooped and picked up his blankets。 He spread the rubber one upon the
ground and placed the woolen one about the youth's shoulders。
〃There now；〃 he said； 〃lie down an' git some sleep。〃
The youth； with his manner of doglike obe… dience； got carefully down
like a crone stoop… ing。 He stretched out with a murmur of relief and
comfort。 The ground felt like the softest couch。
But of a sudden he ejaculated： 〃Hol' on a minnit！ Where you goin' t'
sleep？〃
His friend waved his hand impatiently。 〃Right down there by yeh。〃
〃Well； but hol' on a minnit；〃 continued the youth。 〃What yeh goin' t'
sleep in？ I've got your〃
The loud young soldier snarled： 〃Shet up an' go on t' sleep。 Don't be
makin' a damn' fool 'a yerself；〃 he said severely。
After the reproof the youth said no more。 An exquisite drowsiness had
spread through him。 The warm comfort of the blanket enveloped him and
made a gentle languor。 His head fell for… ward on his crooked arm and
his weighted lids went softly down over his eyes。 Hearing a splatter of
musketry from the distance； he wondered indifferently if those men
sometimes slept。 He gave a long sigh； snuggled down into his blanket；
and in a moment was like his com… rades。
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The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER XIV。
WHEN the youth awoke it seemed to him that he had been asleep for
a thousand years； and he felt sure that he opened his eyes upon an unex…
pected world。 Gray mists were slowly shifting before the first efforts of
the sun rays。 An im… pending splendor could be seen in the eastern sky。
An icy dew had chilled his face； and im… mediately upon arousing he
curled farther down into his blanket。 He stared for a while at the leaves
overhead； moving in a heraldic wind of the day。
The distance was splintering and blaring with the noise of fighting。
There was in the sound an expression of a deadly persistency； as if it had
not begun and was not to cease。
About him were the rows and groups of men that he had dimly seen
the previous night。 They were getting a last draught of sleep before the
awakening。 The gaunt； careworn features and dusty figures were made
plain by this quaint
139 light at the dawning； but it dressed the skin of the men in
corpselike hues and made the tangled limbs appear pulseless and dead。
The youth started up with a little cry when his eyes first swept over this
motionless mass of men； thick… spread upon the ground； pallid； and in
strange postures。 His disordered mind interpreted the hall of the forest as
a charnel place。 He believed for an instant that he was in the house of the
dead； and he did not dare to move lest these corpses start up； squalling and
squawking。 In a second； however； he achieved his proper mind。 He
swore a complicated oath at himself。 He saw that this somber picture
was not a fact of the present； but a mere prophecy。
He heard then the noise of a fire crackling briskly in the cold air； and；
turning his head； he saw his friend pottering busily about a small blaze。
A few other figures moved in the fog； and he heard the hard cracking of
axe blows。
Suddenly there was a hollow rumble of drums。 A distant bugle sang
faintly。 Similar sounds； varying in strength； came from near and far over
the forest。 The bugles called to each other like brazen gamecocks。 The
near thunder of the regimental drums rolled。
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The Red Badge of Courage
The body of men in the woods rustled。 There was a general uplifting
of heads。 A murmuring of voices broke upon the air。 In it there was
much bass of grumbling oaths。 Strange gods were addressed in
condemnation of the early hours necessary to correct war。 An officer's
peremptory tenor rang out and quickened the stiffened movement of the
men。 The tangled limbs unraveled。 The corpse…hued faces were hidden
behind fists that twisted slowly in the eye sockets。
The youth sat up and gave vent to an enormous yawn。 〃Thunder！〃 he
remarked petulantly。 He rubbed his eyes； and then putting up his hand felt
carefully of the bandage over his wound。 His friend； perceiving him to be
awake； came from the fire。 〃Well； Henry； ol' man； how do yeh feel this
mornin'？〃 he demanded。
The youth yawned again。 Then he puckered his mouth to a little
pucker。 His head； in truth； felt precisely like a melon； and there was an
un… pleasant sensation at his stomach。
〃Oh； Lord； I feel pretty bad；〃 he said。
〃Thunder！〃 exclaimed the other。 〃I hoped ye'd feel all right this
mornin'。 Let's see th' bandageI guess it's slipped。