the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第41章
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circle。 The soldiers had trapped strange birds； and there was an
examination。 A flurry of fast questions was in the air。
One of the prisoners was nursing a superficial wound in the foot。 He
cuddled it； baby…wise； but he looked up from it often to curse with an
astonishing utter abandon straight at the noses of his captors。 He
consigned them to red regions； he called upon the pestilential wrath of
strange gods。 And with it all he was singularly free from recognition of
the finer points of the con… duct of prisoners of war。 It was as if a clumsy
clod had trod upon his toe and he conceived it to be his privilege； his duty；
to use deep； resentful oaths。
Another； who was a boy in years； took his plight with great calmness
and apparent good nature。 He conversed with the men in blue； studying
their faces with his bright and keen eyes。 They spoke of battles and
conditions。 There was an acute interest in all their faces dur… ing this
exchange of view points。 It seemed a great satisfaction to hear voices
from where all had been darkness and speculation。
The third captive sat with a morose counte… nance。 He preserved a
stoical and cold attitude。 To all advances he made one reply without varia…
tion； 〃Ah； go t' hell！〃
The last of the four was always silent and； for the most part； kept his
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face turned in un… molested directions。 From the views the youth
received he seemed to be in a state of absolute dejection。 Shame was
upon him； and with it profound regret that he was； perhaps； no more to be
counted in the ranks of his fellows。 The youth could detect no expression
that would allow him to believe that the other was giving a thought to his
narrowed future； the pictured dungeons； perhaps； and starvations and
brutali… ties； liable to the imagination。 All to be seen was shame for
captivity and regret for the right to antagonize。
After the men had celebrated sufficiently they settled down behind the
old rail fence； on the opposite side to the one from which their foes had
been driven。 A few shot perfunctorily at distant marks。
There was some long grass。 The youth nestled in it and rested；
making a convenient rail support the flag。 His friend； jubilant and glori…
fied； holding his treasure with vanity； came to him there。 They sat side
by side and congratu… lated each other。
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CHAPTER XXIV。
THE roarings that had stretched in a long line of sound across the
face of the forest began to grow intermittent and weaker。 The stentorian
speeches of the artillery continued in some dis… tant encounter； but the
crashes of the musketry had almost ceased。 The youth and his friend of a
sudden looked up； feeling a deadened form of distress at the waning of
these noises； which had become a part of life。 They could see changes
going on among the troops。 There were march… ings this way and that
way。 A battery wheeled leisurely。 On the crest of a small hill was the
thick gleam of many departing muskets。
The youth arose。 〃Well； what now； I won… der？〃 he said。 By his
tone he seemed to be preparing to resent some new monstrosity in the way
of dins and smashes。 He shaded his eyes with his grimy hand and gazed
over the field。
His friend also arose and stared。 〃I bet
226 we're goin' t' git along out of this an' back over th' river；〃 said he。
〃Well； I swan！〃 said the youth。
They waited； watching。 Within a little while the regiment received
orders to retrace its way。 The men got up grunting from the grass； regret…
ting the soft repose。 They jerked their stiffened legs； and stretched their
arms over their heads。 One man swore as he rubbed his eyes。 They all
groaned 〃O Lord！〃 They had as many objec… tions to this change as they
would have had to a proposal for a new battle。
They trampled slowly back over the field across which they had run in
a mad scamper。
The regiment marched until it had joined its fellows。 The reformed
brigade； in column； aimed through a wood at the road。 Directly they
were in a mass of dust…covered troops； and were trudging along in a way
parallel to the enemy's lines as these had been defined by the previous
turmoil。
They passed within view of a stolid white house； and saw in front of it
groups of their com… rades lying in wait behind a neat breastwork。 A row
of guns were booming at a distant enemy。 Shells thrown in reply were
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raising clouds of dust and splinters。 Horsemen dashed along the line of
intrenchments。
At this point of its march the division curved away from the field and
went winding off in the direction of the river。 When the significance of
this movement had impressed itself upon the youth he turned his head and
looked over his shoulder toward the trampled and debris…strewed ground。
He breathed a breath of new satisfac… tion。 He finally nudged his friend。
〃Well； it's all over；〃 he said to him。
His friend gazed backward。 〃B'Gawd； it is；〃 he assented。 They
mused。
For a time the youth was obliged to reflect in a puzzled and uncertain
way。 His mind was undergoing a subtle change。 It took moments for it
to cast off its battleful ways and resume its accustomed course of thought。
Gradually his brain emerged from the clogged clouds； and at last he was
enabled to more closely compre… hend himself and circumstance。
He understood then that the existence of shot and counter…shot was in
the past。 He had dwelt in a land of strange； squalling upheavals and had
come forth。 He had been where there was red of blood and black of
passion； and he was es… caped。 His first thoughts were given to rejoic…
ings at this fact。
Later he began to study his deeds； his fail… ures； and his achievements。
Thus； fresh from scenes where many of his usual machines of re… flection
had been idle； from where he had pro… ceeded sheeplike； he struggled to
marshal all his acts。
At last they marched before him clearly。 From this present view point
he was enabled to look upon them in spectator fashion and to criticise
them with some correctness； for his new condition had already defeated
certain sym… pathies。
Regarding his procession of memory he felt gleeful and unregretting；
for in it his public deeds were paraded in great and shining prominence。
Those performances which had been witnessed by his fellows marched
now in wide purple and gold； having various deflections。 They went
gayly with music。 It was pleasure to watch these things。 He spent
delightful minutes viewing the gilde
