the red badge of courage(红色英勇勋章)-第14章
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The Red Badge of Courage
midst of the other battery's formation would appear a little thing when the
infantry came swooping out of the woods。
The face of a youthful rider； who was jerking his frantic horse with an
abandon of temper he might display in a placid barnyard； was im… pressed
deeply upon his mind。 He knew that he looked upon a man who would
presently be dead。
Too； he felt a pity for the guns； standing； six good comrades； in a bold
row。
He saw a brigade going to the relief of its pes… tered fellows。 He
scrambled upon a wee hill and watched it sweeping finely； keeping
formation in difficult places。 The blue of the line was crusted with steel
color； and the brilliant flags projected。 Officers were shouting。
This sight also filled him with wonder。 The brigade was hurrying
briskly to be gulped into the infernal mouths of the war god。 What man…
ner of men were they； anyhow？ Ah； it was some wondrous breed！ Or
else they didn't compre… hendthe fools。
A furious order caused commotion in the artil… lery。 An officer on a
bounding horse made mani… acal motions with his arms。 The teams went
swinging up from the rear； the guns were whirled about； and the battery
scampered away。 The cannon with their noses poked slantingly at the
ground grunted and grumbled like stout men； brave but with objections to
hurry。
The youth went on； moderating his pace since he had left the place of
noises。
Later he came upon a general of division seated upon a horse that
pricked its ears in an interested way at the battle。 There was a great
gleaming of yellow and patent leather about the saddle and bridle。 The
quiet man astride looked mouse…colored upon such a splen… did charger。
A jingling staff was galloping hither and thither。 Sometimes the
general was surrounded by horsemen and at other times he was quite alone。
He looked to be much harassed。 He had the appearance of a business
man whose market is swinging up and down。
The youth went slinking around this spot。 He went as near as he dared
trying to overhear words。 Perhaps the general； unable to compre… hend
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The Red Badge of Courage
chaos； might call upon him for information。 And he could tell him。 He
knew all concerning it。 Of a surety the force was in a fix； and any fool
could see that if they did not retreat while they had opportunitywhy
He felt that he would like to thrash the gen… eral； or at least approach
and tell him in plain words exactly what he thought him to be。 It was
criminal to stay calmly in one spot and make no effort to stay destruction。
He loitered in a fever of eagerness for the division commander to apply to
him。
As he warily moved about； he heard the gen… eral call out irritably：
〃Tompkins； go over an' see Taylor； an' tell him not t' be in such an all…
fired hurry； tell him t' halt his brigade in th' edge of th' woods； tell him t'
detach a reg'ment say I think th' center 'll break if we don't help it out
some； tell him t' hurry up。〃
A slim youth on a fine chestnut horse caught these swift words from
the mouth of his superior。 He made his horse bound into a gallop almost
from a walk in his haste to go upon his mission。 There was a cloud of dust。
A moment later the youth saw the general bounce excitedly in his
saddle。
〃Yes； by heavens； they have！〃 The officer leaned forward。 His face
was aflame with excite… ment。 〃Yes； by heavens； they 've held 'im！ They
've held 'im！〃
He began to blithely roar at his staff： 〃We 'll wallop 'im now。 We 'll
wallop 'im now。 We 've got 'em sure。〃 He turned suddenly upon an aid：
〃HereyouJonesquickride after Tompkins see Taylortell him t' go
ineverlastingly like blazesanything。〃
As another officer sped his horse after the first messenger； the general
beamed upon the earth like a sun。 In his eyes was a desire to chant a
paean。 He kept repeating； 〃They 've held 'em； by heavens！〃
His excitement made his horse plunge； and he merrily kicked and
swore at it。 He held a little carnival of joy on horseback。
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The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER VII。
THE youth cringed as if discovered in a crime。 By heavens； they had
won after all！ The im… becile line had remained and become victors。 He
could hear cheering。
He lifted himself upon his toes and looked in the direction of the fight。
A yellow fog lay wal… lowing on the treetops。 From beneath it came the
clatter of musketry。 Hoarse cries told of an advance。
He turned away amazed and angry。 He felt that he had been
wronged。
He had fled； he told himself； because annihila… tion approached。 He
had done a good part in saving himself； who was a little piece of the army。
He had considered the time； he said； to be one in which it was the duty of
every little piece to res… cue itself if possible。 Later the officers could fit
the little pieces together again； and make a battle front。 If none of the
little pieces were wise enough to save themselves from the flurry of death
at such
75 a time； why； then； where would be the army？ It was all plain that
he had proceeded according to very correct and commendable rules。 His
ac… tions had been sagacious things。 They had been full of strategy。
They were the work of a mas… ter's legs。
Thoughts of his comrades came to him。 The brittle blue line had
withstood the blows and won。 He grew bitter over it。 It seemed that the
blind ignorance and stupidity of those little pieces had betrayed him。 He
had been overturned and crushed by their lack of sense in holding the po…
sition； when intelligent deliberation would have convinced them that it
was impossible。 He； the enlightened man who looks afar in the dark； had
fled because of his superior perceptions and knowledge。 He felt a great
anger against his comrades。 He knew it could be proved that they had
been fools。
He wondered what they would remark when later he appeared in camp。
His mind heard howls of derision。 Their density would not en… able them
to understand his sharper point of view。
He began to pity himself acutely。 He was ill used。 He was trodden
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The Red Badge of Courage
beneath the feet of an iron injustice。 He had proceeded with wisdom and
from the most righteous motives under heaven's blue only to be frustrated
by hateful circumstances。
A dull； animal…like rebellion against his fel… lows； war in the abstract；
and fate grew within him。 He shambled along with bowed head； his
brain in a tumult of agony and despair。 When he looked loweringly up；
quivering at each sound； his eyes had the expression of those of a crim
