第 28 节
作者:点绛唇      更新:2021-02-20 16:44      字数:9322
  walked up and down; restless and eager。               Sometimes his voice could be
  heard in a wild; incomprehensible laugh。
  When he had a particularly profound thought upon the science of war
  he always unconsciously addressed himself to the youth。
  There   was   some   grim   rejoicing   by   the   men。   〃By   thunder;   I   bet   this
  army'll never see another new reg'ment like us!〃 〃You bet!〃
  〃A dog; a woman; an' a walnut tree;                Th' more yeh beat 'em; th'
  better they be!
  That's like us。〃
  97
  … Page 98…
  The Red Badge of Courage
  〃Lost a piler men; they did。        If an' ol' woman swep' up th' woods she'd
  git a dustpanful。〃
  〃Yes; an' if she'll come around ag'in in 'bout an' hour she'll git a pile
  more。〃
  The   forest   still   bore   its   burden   of   clamor。   From   off   under   the   trees
  came the rolling clatter of the musketry。             Each distant thicket seemed   a
  strange porcupine with quills of flame。             A cloud of dark smoke; as from
  smoldering ruins; went up toward the sun now bright and gay in the blue;
  enameled sky。
  98
  … Page 99…
  The Red Badge of Courage
  CHAPTER XVIII。
  THE ragged line had respite for some min… utes; but during its pause
  the   struggle   in   the   forest   became   magnified   until   the   trees   seemed   to
  quiver from the firing and the ground to shake from the rushing of the men。
  The voices of the  cannon were  mingled in   a long   and interminable   row。
  It seemed difficult to live in such an atmos… phere。             The chests of the men
  strained for a bit of freshness; and their throats craved water。
  There     was   one   shot   through    the  body;   who    raised   a  cry   of  bitter
  lamentation when came this lull。            Perhaps he had been calling out during
  the   fighting   also;   but   at   that   time   no   one   had   heard   him。 But   now   the
  men turned at the woe… ful complaints of him upon the ground。
  〃Who is it?      Who is it?〃
  〃It's Jimmie Rogers。        Jimmie Rogers。〃
  When their eyes first encountered him there was a sudden halt; as if
  they feared to go near。 He was thrashing about in the grass; twisting his
  171   shuddering   body  into   many  strange   postures。  He   was   screaming
  loudly。     This instant's hesita… tion seemed to fill him with a tremendous;
  fantas… tic contempt; and he damned them in shrieked sentences。
  The   youth's   friend   had   a   geographical   illusion   concerning   a   stream;
  and he obtained permission to go for some water。                 Immediately canteens
  were showered upon him。            〃Fill mine; will yeh?〃        〃Bring me some; too。〃
  〃And me;  too。〃   He   departed; ladened。           The   youth   went   with   his   friend;
  feeling   a   desire   to   throw   his   heated   body   onto   the   stream   and;   soaking
  there; drink quarts。
  They made a hurried search for the supposed stream; but did not find it。
  〃No water here;〃 said the youth。           They turned without delay and began to
  retrace their steps。
  From   their   position   as   they   again   faced   to…   ward   the   place   of   the
  fighting; they could of course comprehend a greater amount of the bat… tle
  than when their visions had been blurred by the hurling smoke of the line。
  They could see dark stretches winding along the land; and on one cleared
  space   there   was   a   row   of   guns   mak…   ing   gray  clouds;   which   were   filled
  with   large   flashes   of   orange…colored   flame。      Over   some   foli…   age   they
  99
  … Page 100…
  The Red Badge of Courage
  could see the roof of a house。          One win… dow; glowing a deep murder red;
  shone squarely through the leaves。            From the edifice a tall lean… ing tower
  of smoke went far into the sky。
  Looking over their own troops; they saw mixed masses slowly getting
  into regular form。 The sunlight made twinkling points of the bright steel。
  To the rear there was a glimpse of a dis… tant roadway as it curved over a
  slope。     It was crowded with retreating infantry。             From all the interwoven
  forest   arose   the   smoke   and   bluster   of   the   battle。   The   air   was   always
  occupied by a blaring。
  Near     where    they    stood    shells   were    flip…flap…   ping    and   hooting。
  Occasional       bullets   buzzed     in   the   air  and   spanged      into   tree  trunks。
  Wounded men and other stragglers were slinking through the woods。
  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。
  100
  … Page 101…
  The Red Badge of Courage
  〃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' c