the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第13章
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stiffened bodies slowly； and watched in sul… len mood the frantic approach
of the enemy。 The slaves toiling in the temple of this god began to feel
rebellion at his harsh tasks。
They fretted and complained each to each。 〃Oh； say； this is too much
of a good thing！ Why can't somebody send us supports？〃
〃We ain't never goin' to stand this second banging。 I didn't come here
to fight the hull damn' rebel army。〃
There was one who raised a doleful cry。 〃I wish Bill Smithers had
trod on my hand； in… steader me treddin' on his'n。〃 The sore joints of the
regiment creaked as it painfully floundered into position to repulse。
The youth stared。 Surely； he thought； this impossible thing was not
about to happen。 He waited as if he expected the enemy to suddenly stop；
apologize； and retire bowing。 It was all a mistake。
But the firing began somewhere on the regi… mental line and ripped
along in both directions。 The level sheets of flame developed great clouds
of smoke that tumbled and tossed in the mild wind near the ground for a
moment； and then rolled through the ranks as through a gate。 The clouds
were tinged an earthlike yellow in the sunrays and in the shadow were a
sorry blue。 The flag was sometimes eaten and lost in this mass of vapor；
but more often it projected； sun… touched； resplendent。
Into the youth's eyes there came a look that one can see in the orbs of a
jaded horse。 His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the
muscles of his arms felt numb and bloodless。 His hands； too； seemed large
and awkward as if he was wearing invisible mittens。 And there was a
great uncertainty about his knee joints。
The words that comrades had uttered previous to the firing began to
recur to him。 〃Oh； say； this is too much of a good thing！ What do they
take us forwhy don't they send supports？ I didn't come here to fight the
hull damned rebel army。〃
He began to exaggerate the endurance； the skill； and the valor of those
who were coming。 Himself reeling from exhaustion； he was aston… ished
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beyond measure at such persistency。 They must be machines of steel。 It
was very gloomy struggling against such affairs； wound up perhaps to
fight until sundown。
He slowly lifted his rifle and catching a glimpse of the thickspread
field he blazed at a cantering cluster。 He stopped then and began to peer
as best he could through the smoke。 He caught changing views of the
ground covered with men who were all running like pursued imps； and
yelling。
To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubt… able dragons。 He
became like the man who lost his legs at the approach of the red and green
monster。 He waited in a sort of a horrified； listening attitude。 He
seemed to shut his eyes and wait to be gobbled。
A man near him who up to this time had been working feverishly at his
rifle suddenly stopped and ran with howls。 A lad whose face had borne
an expression of exalted courage； the majesty of he who dares give his life；
was； at an instant； smitten abject。 He blanched like one who has come to
the edge of a cliff at midnight and is sud… denly made aware。 There was
a revelation。 He； too； threw down his gun and fled。 There was no
shame in his face。 He ran like a rabbit。
Others began to scamper away through the smoke。 The youth turned
his head； shaken from his trance by this movement as if the regiment was
leaving him behind。 He saw the few fleeting forms。
He yelled then with fright and swung about。 For a moment； in the great
clamor； he was like a proverbial chicken。 He lost the direction of safety。
Destruction threatened him from all points。
Directly he began to speed toward the rear in great leaps。 His rifle
and cap were gone。 His unbuttoned coat bulged in the wind。 The flap
of his cartridge box bobbed wildly； and his canteen； by its slender cord；
swung out behind。 On his face was all the horror of those things which
he imagined。
The lieutenant sprang forward bawling。 The youth saw his features
wrathfully red； and saw him make a dab with his sword。 His one thought
of the incident was that the lieutenant was a pecul… iar creature to feel
interested in such matters upon this occasion。
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He ran like a blind man。 Two or three times he fell down。 Once he
knocked his shoulder so heavily against a tree that he went headlong。
Since he had turned his back upon the fight his fears had been
wondrously magnified。 Death about to thrust him between the shoulder
blades was far more dreadful than death about to smite him between the
eyes。 When he thought of it later； he conceived the impression that it is
better to view the appalling than to be merely within hearing。 The noises
of the battle were like stones； he believed himself liable to be crushed。
As he ran he mingled with others。 He dimly saw men on his right
and on his left； and he heard footsteps behind him。 He thought that all
the regiment was fleeing； pursued by these ominous crashes。
In his flight the sound of these following foot… steps gave him his one
meager relief。 He felt vaguely that death must make a first choice of the
men who were nearest； the initial morsels for the dragons would be then
those who were fol… lowing him。 So he displayed the zeal of an insane
sprinter in his purpose to keep them in the rear。 There was a race。
As he； leading； went across a little field； he found himself in a region
of shells。 They hurtled over his head with long wild screams。 As he
listened he imagined them to have rows of cruel teeth that grinned at him。
Once one lit before him and the livid lightning of the explosion effectually
barred the way in his chosen direc… tion。 He groveled on the ground and
then springing up went careering off through some bushes。
He experienced a thrill of amazement when he came within view of a
battery in action。 The men there seemed to be in conventional moods；
altogether unaware of the impending annihila… tion。 The battery was
disputing with a distant antagonist and the gunners were wrapped in
admiration of their shooting。 They were con… tinually bending in coaxing
postures over the guns。 They seemed to be patting them on the back and
encouraging them with words。 The guns； stolid and undaunted； spoke
with dogged valor。
The precise gunners were coolly enthusiastic。 They lifted their eyes
every chance to the smoke… wreathed hillock from whence the hostile
battery addressed them。 The youth pitied them as he ran。 Methodical
idiots！ Machine…like fools！ The refined joy of planting shells in the
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