the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第32章
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Looking down an aisle of the grove； the youth and his companion saw
a jangling general and his staff almost ride upon a wounded man； who was
crawling on his hands and knees。 The general reined strongly at his
charger's opened and foamy mouth and guided it with dexterous
horsemanship past the man。 The latter scram… bled in wild and torturing
haste。 His strength evidently failed him as he reached a place of safety。
One of his arms suddenly weakened； and he fell； sliding over upon his
back。 He lay stretched out； breathing gently。
A moment later the small； creaking cavalcade was directly in front of
the two soldiers。 An… other officer； riding with the skillful abandon of a
cowboy； galloped his horse to a position directly before the general。 The
two unnoticed foot sol… diers made a little show of going on； but they
lingered near in the desire to overhear the con… versation。 Perhaps； they
thought； some great inner historical things would be said。
The general； whom the boys knew as the com… mander of their
division； looked at the other officer and spoke coolly； as if he were
criticising his clothes。 〃Th' enemy's formin' over there for another
charge；〃 he said。 〃It'll be directed against Whiterside； an' I fear they'll
break through there unless we work like thunder t' stop them。〃
The other swore at his restive horse； and then cleared his throat。 He
made a gesture toward his cap。 〃It'll be hell t' pay stoppin' them；〃 he said
shortly。
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〃I presume so；〃 remarked the general。 Then he began to talk rapidly
and in a lower tone。 He frequently illustrated his words with a pointing
finger。 The two infantrymen could hear nothing until finally he asked：
〃What troops can you spare？〃
The officer who rode like a cowboy reflected for an instant。 〃Well；〃
he said； 〃I had to order in th' 12th to help th' 76th； an' I haven't really got
any。 But there's th' 304th。 They fight like a lot 'a mule drivers。 I can
spare them best of any。〃
The youth and his friend exchanged glances of astonishment。
The general spoke sharply。 〃Get 'em ready； then。 I'll watch
developments from here； an' send you word when t' start them。 It'll
happen in five minutes。〃
As the other officer tossed his fingers toward his cap and wheeling his
horse； started away； the general called out to him in a sober voice： 〃I don't
believe many of your mule drivers will get back。〃
The other shouted something in reply。 He smiled。
With scared faces； the youth and his compan… ion hurried back to the
line。
These happenings had occupied an incredibly short time； yet the youth
felt that in them he had been made aged。 New eyes were given to him。
And the most startling thing was to learn sud… denly that he was very
insignificant。 The officer spoke of the regiment as if he referred to a
broom。 Some part of the woods needed sweep… ing； perhaps； and he
merely indicated a broom in a tone properly indifferent to its fate。 It was
war； no doubt； but it appeared strange。
As the two boys approached the line； the lieu… tenant perceived them
and swelled with wrath。 〃FlemingWilsonhow long does it take yeh to
git water； anyhowwhere yeh been to。〃
But his oration ceased as he saw their eyes； which were large with
great tales。 〃We're goin' t' chargewe're goin' t' charge！〃 cried the youth's
friend； hastening with his news。
〃Charge？〃 said the lieutenant。 〃Charge？ Well； b'Gawd！ Now； this is
real fightin'。〃 Over his soiled countenance there went a boastful smile。
〃Charge？ Well； b'Gawd！〃
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A little group of soldiers surrounded the two youths。 〃Are we； sure
'nough？ Well； I'll be derned！ Charge？ What fer？ What at？ Wil…
son； you're lyin'。〃
〃I hope to die；〃 said the youth； pitching his tones to the key of angry
remonstrance。 〃Sure as shooting； I tell you。〃
And his friend spoke in re…enforcement。 〃Not by a blame sight； he
ain't lyin'。 We heard 'em talkin'。〃
They caught sight of two mounted figures a short distance from them。
One was the colonel of the regiment and the other was the officer who had
received orders from the commander of the division。 They were
gesticulating at each other。 The soldier； pointing at them； interpreted the
scene。
One man had a final objection： 〃How could yeh hear 'em talkin'？〃
But the men； for a large part； nodded； admitting that previously the two
friends had spoken truth。
They settled back into reposeful attitudes with airs of having accepted
the matter。 And they mused upon it； with a hundred varieties of
expression。 It was an engrossing thing to think about。 Many tightened
their belts carefully and hitched at their trousers。
A moment later the officers began to bustle among the men； pushing
them into a more com… pact mass and into a better alignment。 They
chased those that straggled and fumed at a few men who seemed to show
by their attitudes that they had decided to remain at that spot。 They were
like critical shepherds struggling with sheep。
Presently； the regiment seemed to draw itself up and heave a deep
breath。 None of the men's faces were mirrors of large thoughts。 The
sol… diers were bended and stooped like sprinters be… fore a signal。 Many
pairs of glinting eyes peered from the grimy faces toward the curtains of
the deeper woods。 They seemed to be engaged in deep calculations of
time and distance。
They were surrounded by the noises of the monstrous altercation
between the two armies。 The world was fully interested in other matters。
Apparently； the regiment had its small affair to itself。
The youth； turning； shot a quick； inquiring glance at his friend。 The
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latter returned to him the same manner of look。 They were the only ones
who possessed an inner knowledge。 〃Mule drivershell t' paydon't
believe many will get back。〃 It was an ironical secret。 Still； they saw
no hesitation in each other's faces； and they nod… ded a mute and
unprotesting assent when a shag… gy man near them said in a meek voice：
〃We'll git swallowed。〃
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CHAPTER XIX。
THE youth stared at the land in front of him。 Its foliages now seemed
to veil powers and hor… rors。 He was unaware of the machinery of orders
that started the charge； although from the cor… ners of his eyes he saw an
officer； who looked like a boy a…horseback； com
