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〃Mebbe； it wa'n't all his faultnot all to… gether。 He did th' best he
knowed。 It's our luck t' git licked often；〃 said his friend in a weary tone。
He was trudging along with stooped shoulders and shifting eyes like a man
who has been caned and kicked。
〃Well； don't we fight like the devil？ Don't we do all that men can？〃
demanded the youth loudly。
He was secretly dumfounded at this sentiment when it came from his
lips。 For a moment his face lost its valor and he looked guiltily about
him。 But no one questioned his right to deal in such words； and presently
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he recovered his air of courage。 He went on to repeat a statement he had
heard going from group to group at the camp that morning。 〃The
brigadier said he never saw a new reg'ment fight the way we fought
yestirday； didn't he？ And we didn't do better than many another reg'ment；
did we？ Well； then； you can't say it's th' army's fault； can you？〃
In his reply； the friend's voice was stern。 〃'A course not；〃 he said。
〃No man dare say we don't fight like th' devil。 No man will ever dare say
it。 Th' boys fight like hell…roosters。 But stillstill； we don't have no
luck。〃
〃Well； then； if we fight like the devil an' don't ever whip； it must be the
general's fault；〃 said the youth grandly and decisively。 〃And I don't see
any sense in fighting and fighting and fighting； yet always losing through
some derned old lunkhead of a general。〃
A sarcastic man who was tramping at the youth's side； then spoke
lazily。 〃Mebbe yeh think yeh fit th' hull battle yestirday； Fleming；〃 he
remarked。
The speech pierced the youth。 Inwardly he was reduced to an abject
pulp by these chance words。 His legs quaked privately。 He cast a
frightened glance at the sarcastic man。
〃Why； no；〃 he hastened to say in a concili… ating voice； 〃I don't think I
fought the whole battle yesterday。〃
But the other seemed innocent of any deeper meaning。 Apparently；
he had no information。 It was merely his habit。 〃Oh！〃 he replied in the
same tone of calm derision。
The youth； nevertheless； felt a threat。 His mind shrank from going
near to the danger； and thereafter he was silent。 The significance of the
sarcastic man's words took from him all loud moods that would make him
appear prominent。 He became suddenly a modest person。
There was low…toned talk among the troops。 The officers were
impatient and snappy； their countenances clouded with the tales of misfor…
tune。 The troops； sifting through the forest； were sullen。 In the youth's
company once a man's laugh rang out。 A dozen soldiers turned their
faces quickly toward him and frowned with vague displeasure。
The noise of firing dogged their footsteps。 Sometimes； it seemed to be
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driven a little way； but it always returned again with increased insolence。
The men muttered and cursed； throwing black looks in its direction。
In a clear space the troops were at last halted。 Regiments and brigades；
broken and detached through their encounters with thickets； grew together
again and lines were faced toward the pursuing bark of the enemy's
infantry。
This noise； following like the yellings of eager； metallic hounds；
increased to a loud and joyous burst； and then； as the sun went serenely up
the sky； throwing illuminating rays into the gloomy thickets； it broke forth
into prolonged pealings。 The woods began to crackle as if afire。
〃Whoop…a…dadee；〃 said a man； 〃here we are！ Everybody fightin'。
Blood an' destruction。〃
〃I was willin' t' bet they'd attack as soon as th' sun got fairly up；〃
savagely asserted the lieutenant who commanded the youth's company。 He
jerked without mercy at his little mustache。 He strode to and fro with dark
dignity in the rear of his men； who were lying down behind whatever
protection they had collected。
A battery had trundled into position in the rear and was thoughtfully
shelling the distance。 The regiment； unmolested as yet； awaited the
moment when the gray shadows of the woods before them should be
slashed by the lines of flame。 There was much growling and swearing。
〃Good Gawd；〃 the youth grumbled； 〃we're always being chased
around like rats！ It makes me sick。 Nobody seems to know where we
go or why we go。 We just get fired around from pillar to post and get
licked here and get licked there； and nobody knows what it's done for。 It
makes a man feel like a damn' kitten in a bag。 Now； I'd like to know what
the eternal thunders we was marched into these woods for anyhow；
THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE 161
unless it was to give the rebs a regular pot shot at us。 We came in
here and got our legs all tangled up in these cussed briers； and then we
begin to fight and the rebs had an easy time of it。 Don't tell me it's just
luck！ I know better。 It's this derned old〃
The friend seemed jaded； but he interrupted his comrade with a voice
of calm confidence。 〃It'll turn out all right in th' end；〃 he said。
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〃Oh； the devil it will！ You always talk like a dog…hanged parson。
Don't tell me！ I know〃
At this time there was an interposition by the savage…minded
lieutenant； who was obliged to vent some of his inward dissatisfaction
upon his men。 〃You boys shut right up！ There no need 'a your wastin'
your breath in long…winded arguments about this an' that an' th' other。
You've been jawin' like a lot 'a old hens。 All you've got t' do is to fight；
an' you'll get plenty 'a that t' do in about ten minutes。 Less talkin' an'
more fightin' is what's best for you boys。 I never saw sech gabbling
jackasses。〃
He paused； ready to pounce upon any man w