the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第39章
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trees were wrangled over； as gold thrones or pearl bedsteads。 There were
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desperate lunges at these chosen spots seemingly every instant； and most
of them were bandied like light toys between the contending forces。 The
youth could not tell from the battle flags flying like crimson foam in many
directions which color of cloth was winning。
His emaciated regiment bustled forth with undiminished fierceness
when its time came。 When assaulted again by bullets； the men burst out in
a barbaric cry of rage and pain。 They bent their heads in aims of intent
hatred behind the projected hammers of their guns。 Their ramrods clanged
loud with fury as their eager arms pounded the cartridges into the rifle
barrels。 The front of the regiment was a smoke… wall penetrated by the
flashing points of yellow and red。
Wallowing in the fight； they were in an astonishingly short time
resmudged。 They surpassed in stain and dirt all their previous ap…
pearances。 Moving to and fro with strained exertion； jabbering the while；
they were； with their swaying bodies； black faces； and glowing eyes； like
strange and ugly friends jigging heavily in the smoke。
The lieutenant； returning from a tour after a bandage； produced from a
hidden receptacle of his mind new and portentous oaths suited to the
emergency。 Strings of expletives he swung lashlike over the backs of his
men； and it was evident that his previous efforts had in nowise impaired
his resources。
The youth； still the bearer of the colors； did not feel his idleness。 He
was deeply absorbed as a spectator。 The crash and swing of the great
drama made him lean forward； intent…eyed； his face working in small
contortions。 Sometimes he prattled； words coming unconsciously from
him in grotesque exclamations。 He did not know that he breathed； that
the flag hung silently over him； so absorbed was he。
A formidable line of the enemy came within dangerous range。 They
could be seen plainly tall； gaunt men with excited faces running with
long strides toward a wandering fence。
At sight of this danger the men suddenly ceased their cursing
monotone。 There was an instant of strained silence before they threw up
their rifles and fired a plumping volley at the foes。 There had been no
order given； the men； upon recognizing the menace； had immedi… ately let
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drive their flock of bullets without wait… ing for word of command。
But the enemy were quick to gain the protec… tion of the wandering
line of fence。 They slid down behind it with remarkable celerity； and
from this position they began briskly to slice up the blue men。
These latter braced their energies for a great struggle。 Often； white
clinched teeth shone from the dusky faces。 Many heads surged to and fro；
floating upon a pale sea of smoke。 Those behind the fence frequently
shouted and yelped in taunts and gibelike cries； but the regi… ment
maintained a stressed silence。 Perhaps； at this new assault the men
recalled the fact that they had been named mud diggers； and it made their
situation thrice bitter。 They were breath… lessly intent upon keeping the
ground and thrust… ing away the rejoicing body of the enemy。 They
fought swiftly and with a despairing savageness denoted in their
expressions。
The youth had resolved not to budge what… ever should happen。
Some arrows of scorn that had buried themselves in his heart had
generated strange and unspeakable hatred。 It was clear to him that his
final and absolute revenge was to be achieved by his dead body lying； torn
and gluttering； upon the field。 This was to be a poignant retaliation upon
the officer who had said 〃mule drivers；〃 and later 〃mud diggers；〃 for in all
the wild graspings of his mind for a unit responsible for his sufferings and
commo… tions he always seized upon the man who had dubbed him
wrongly。 And it was his idea； vaguely formulated； that his corpse would
be for those eyes a great and salt reproach。
The regiment bled extravagantly。 Grunting bundles of blue began to
drop。 The orderly sergeant of the youth's company was shot through the
cheeks。 Its supports being injured； his jaw hung afar down； disclosing in
the wide cavern of his mouth a pulsing mass of blood and teeth。 And with
it all he made attempts to cry out。 In his endeavor there was a dreadful
earnestness； as if he conceived that one great shriek would make him well。
The youth saw him presently go rearward。 His strength seemed in
nowise impaired。 He ran swiftly； casting wild glances for succor。
Others fell down about the feet of their com… panions。 Some of the
wounded crawled out and away； but many lay still； their bodies twisted
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into impossible shapes。
The youth looked once for his friend。 He saw a vehement young man；
powder…smeared and frowzled； whom he knew to be him。 The lieu…
tenant； also； was unscathed in his position at the rear。 He had continued
to curse； but it was now with the air of a man who was using his last box
of oaths。
For the fire of the regiment had begun to wane and drip。 The robust
voice； that had come strangely from the thin ranks； was growing rapidly
weak。
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CHAPTER XXIII。
THE colonel came running along back of the line。 There were other
officers following him。 〃We must charge'm！〃 they shouted。 〃We must
charge'm！〃 they cried with resentful voices； as if anticipating a rebellion
against this plan by the men。
The youth； upon hearing the shouts； began to study the distance
between him and the enemy。 He made vague calculations。 He saw that to
be firm soldiers they must go forward。 It would be death to stay in the
present place； and with all the circumstances to go backward would exalt
too many others。 Their hope was to push the galling foes away from the
fence。
He expected that his companions； weary and stiffened； would have to
be driven to this assault； but as he turned toward them he perceived with a
certain surprise that they were giving quick and unqualified expressions of
assent。 There was an ominous； clanging overture to the charge
217 when the shafts of the bayonets rattled upon the rifle barrels。 At
the yelled words of command the soldiers sprang forward in eager leaps。
There was new and unexpected force in the movement of the regiment。
A knowledge of its faded and jaded condition made the cha
