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！
madly at a battery were plain to them； and the opposing infantry's lines
were defined by the gray walls and fringes of smoke。
It seemed to the youth that he saw every… thing。 Each blade of the
green grass was bold and clear。 He thought that he was aware of every
change in the thin； transparent vapor that floated idly in sheets。 The
brown or gray trunks of the trees showed each roughness of their sur…
faces。 And the men of the regiment； with their starting eyes and sweating
faces； running madly； or falling； as if thrown headlong； to queer； heaped…
up corpsesall were comprehended。 His mind took a mechanical but
firm impression； so that afterward everything was pictured and ex… plained
to him； save why he himself was there。
But there was a frenzy made from this furious rush。 The men；
pitching forward insanely； had burst into cheerings； moblike and barbaric；
but tuned in strange keys that can arouse the dullard and the stoic。 It
made a mad enthusiasm that； it seemed； would be incapable of checking
itself before granite and brass。 There was the deli… rium that encounters
despair and death； and is heedless and blind to the odds。 It is a temporary
but sublime absence of selfishness。 And because it was of this order was
the reason； perhaps； why the youth wondered； afterward； what reasons he
could have had for being there。
Presently the straining pace ate up the ener… gies of the men。 As if by
agreement； the leaders began to slacken their speed。 The volleys di…
rected against them had had a seeming windlike effect。 The regiment
snorted and blew。 Among some stolid trees it began to falter and hesitate。
The men； staring intently； began to wait for some of the distant walls of
smoke to move and dis… close to them the scene。 Since much of their
strength and their breath had vanished； they re… turned to caution。 They
were become men again。
105
… Page 106…
The Red Badge of Courage
The youth had a vague belief that he had run miles； and he thought； in
a way； that he was now in some new and unknown land。
The moment the regiment ceased its advance the protesting splutter of
musketry became a steadied roar。 Long and accurate fringes of smoke
spread out。 From the top of a small hill came level belchings of yellow
flame that caused an inhuman whistling in the air。
The men； halted； had opportunity to see some of their comrades
dropping with moans and shrieks。 A few lay under foot； still or wailing。
And now for an instant the men stood； their rifles slack in their hands； and
watched the regiment dwindle。 They appeared dazed and stupid。 This
spectacle seemed to paralyze them； overcome them with a fatal fascination。
They stared wood… enly at the sights； and； lowering their eyes； looked
from face to face。 It was a strange pause； and a strange silence。
Then； above the sounds of the outside commo… tion； arose the roar of
the lieutenant。 He strode suddenly forth； his infantile features black with
rage。
〃Come on； yeh fools！〃 he bellowed。 〃Come on！ Yeh can't stay here。
Yeh must come on。〃 He said more； but much of it could not be under…
stood。
He started rapidly forward； with his head turned toward the men。
〃Come on；〃 he was shouting。 The men stared with blank and yokel… like
eyes at him。 He was obliged to halt and retrace his steps。 He stood then
with his back to the enemy and delivered gigantic curses into the faces of
the men。 His body vibrated from the weight and force of his
imprecations。 And he could string oaths with the facility of a maiden
who strings beads。
The friend of the youth aroused。 Lurching suddenly forward and
dropping to his knees； he fired an angry shot at the persistent woods。
This action awakened the men。 They huddled no more like sheep。
They seemed suddenly to be… think them of their weapons； and at once
com… menced firing。 Belabored by their officers； they began to move
forward。 The regiment； involved like a cart involved in mud and muddle；
started unevenly with many jolts and jerks。 The men stopped now every
few paces to fire and load； and in this manner moved slowly on from trees
106
… Page 107…
The Red Badge of Courage
to trees。
The flaming opposition in their front grew with their advance until it
seemed that all for… ward ways were barred by the thin leaping tongues；
and off to the right an ominous demon… stration could sometimes be dimly
discerned。 The smoke lately generated was in confusing clouds that made
it difficult for the regiment to proceed with intelligence。 As he passed
through each curling mass the youth wondered what would confront him
on the farther side。
The command went painfully forward until an open space interposed
between them and the lurid lines。 Here； crouching and cowering be… hind
some trees； the men clung with desperation； as if threatened by a wave。
They looked wild… eyed； and as if amazed at this furious disturbance they
had stirred。 In the storm there was an ironical expression of their
importance。 The faces of the men； too； showed a lack of a certain feeling
of responsibility for being there。 It was as if they had been driven。 It
was the dominant animal failing to remember in the supreme mo… ments
the forceful causes of various superficial qualities。 The whole affair
seemed incompre… hensible to many of them。
As they halted thus the lieutenant again be… gan to bellow profanely。
Regardless of the vin… dictive threats of the bullets； he went about coaxing；
berating； and bedamning。 His lips； that were habitually in a soft and
childlike curve； were now writhed into unholy contortions。 He swore by
all possible deities。
Once he grabbed the youth by the arm。 〃Come on； yeh lunkhead！〃 he
roared。 〃Come on！ We'll all git killed if we stay here。 We've on'y got
t' go across that lot。 An' the