The Stonewalls breakfasted hastily on biscuits, cheese, jam, and tea, were formed up, and moved on to the road. They marched slowly up this in the direction of the front, and presently found the mist clearing away and then dispersing7 rapidly under the rays of the rising sun. It seemed as if the first beams of sunrise were a signal to the artillery, for the gunfire speeded up and up, until it beat in one long reverberating8 roar on the38 trembling air. The firing was not all from our side either; although for the moment none of the enemy shells dropped very close to the Stonewalls, there were enough of them sufficiently9 close to be unpleasantly startling, and to send their fragments whistling and whining10 over their hastily ducking heads.
About seven o’clock a new note began to run through the bellowing11 of the guns—the sharp, more staccato sound of the rifles and machine guns, the distinctive12 bang of bombs and hand-grenades. The rifle fire, hesitant and spasmodic at first, swelled13 suddenly to a loud, deep, drumming roll, hung there for several minutes, pitched upward again to a still louder tone, then sank and died away, until it was drowned out in the redoubled clamor of the guns.
The Stonewalls were halted and moved into the side of the road, and squatted14 lining15 the ditches and banks, listening to the uproar16, discussing and speculating upon its meaning.
“Sounded like an attack, sure thing,” said Kentucky, “but whether our side is pushing or being pushed I have not a notion.”
“Probably ours,” said Larry; “the yarn17 was39 going that we were to attack this morning, although some said it was for tomorrow.”
“Anyway,” said Pug, “if our lot ’as gone over they’ve either got it in the neck, and ’ad to ’ook it back again, or else they’re over the No-Man’s-Land, and into the fust line.”
“That’s what,” said Billy Simson. “And ’ark at the bombs and ’and-grenades bustin’ off nineteen to the dozen. That means we’re bombin’ our way along the trenches19 and chuckin’ ’em down into the dugouts.”
It was true that the distinctive sound of the bursting bombs had risen again to a renewed activity, and from somewhere further up or down the line the rifle fire commenced again, and rose to one long, continuous full-bodied roar. The sound spread and beat down in rolling waves nearer and nearer, ran outward again on both flanks, continued loud and unceasing.
The Stonewalls were formed up and moved on again, and presently came upon, and marched into, the ruined fragments of a village, with shattered and tumble-down houses lining the sides of the road. They began to notice a new and significant sound, the thin whistling and piping of bullets passing high over their heads, the smack20 and40 crack of an occasional one catching21 some upper portion of the ruined houses past which they marched. Here, too, they began to meet the first of the backwash of battle, the limping figures of men with white bandages about their heads, arms, and bodies; the still forms at full length on the sagging22, reddened stretchers. At one of the houses in the village a Red Cross flag hung limp over a broken archway, and through this the procession passed in an ever quickening stream.
The village street rose to the crest23 of a gentle slope, and when the Stonewalls topped the rise, and began to move down the long gentle decline on the other side, they seemed to step from the outer courts into the inner chambers24 of war. Men hung about the broken fragments of the buildings; ammunition25 carts were drawn26 up in angles and corners of the remaining walls; a couple of ambulances jolted27 slowly and carefully up the hill towards them; the road was pitted and cratered28 with shell holes; the trees, that lined both sides of it, trailed broken branches and jagged ends of smashed off trunks, bore huge white scars and patches, and strewed29 the road with showers of leaves and twigs30. The houses of the village, too, on this side of the slope, had been reduced to utter41 ruin. Only here and there were two-or three-sided portions of a house still standing31; the rest were no more than heaped and tangled32 rubbish-heaps of stone and brick, broken beams and woodwork, shattered pieces of furniture, and litter of red tiles.
By now the bullets were singing and whisking overhead, crackling with vicious emphasis against the trees and walls. And now, suddenly and without the slightest warning, four shells rushed and crashed down upon the road amongst the ruined buildings. The men who had been hanging about in the street vanished hastily into such cover as they could find, and the Stonewalls, tramping steadily33 down the shell-smashed, rubbish-strewn street, flinched34 and ducked hastily to the quick rush and crash of another string of shells. An order was passed back, and the column divided into two, half taking one side of the road, and half the other; the rear halting and lying down, while the front moved off by platoons, with some fifty to a hundred yards between each.
A German battery was evidently making a target of this portion of the road, for the shells continued to pound up and down its length. After the sharp burst of one quartette fairly between the42 ranks of a marching platoon, there was a call for stretchers, and the regimental stretcher-bearers came up at the double, busied themselves for a few minutes about some crumpled35 forms, lifted them, and moved off along the road back to the Red Cross flag of the dressing36 station. The shell-swept stretch of road was growing uncomfortably dangerous, and it was with a good deal of relief that the Stonewalls saw their leading platoon turn aside and disappear into the entrance of a communication trench18.
“This ’ere,” said Pug, with a sigh of satisfaction, “is a blinkin’ sight more like the thing; and why them lazy beggars of a Staff ’aven’t ’ad this communication trench took back a bit further beats me.”
“It sure is a comfortable feeling,” agreed Kentucky, “to hear those bullets whistling along upstairs, and we safe down below ground level.”
The communication trench was very narrow and twisted, and wormed its way for an interminable distance towards the still constant rattle37 of rifle fire and banging grenades. The men had not the slightest idea what had happened, or what was happening. Some of them had asked questions of the stretcher bearers or of the wounded back in43 the village, but these it appeared had come from the support trenches and from the firing-line before the uproar of rifle fire had indicated the commencement of an attack by one side or the other. The long, straight, single-file line of Stonewalls moved slowly and with frequent checks and halts for over an hour; then they were halted and kept waiting for a good thirty minutes, some chafing38 at their inaction, others perfectly39 content to sit there in the safety of the deep trench. A few men tried to raise themselves and climb the straight sided walls of the trench to the level ground, but the long grass growing there still hid their view, and the few who would have climbed right out on to the level were sharply reprimanded and ordered back by the officers and N.C.O.s; so the line sat or stood leaning against the walls, listening to the unintelligible40 sounds of the conflict, trying to glean41 some meaning and understanding of the action’s progress from them.
The section of trench where Larry and his friends were waiting was suddenly overcast42 by a shadow, and the startled men, glancing hastily upward, saw to their astonishment43 a couple of Highlanders standing over and looking down upon them. One had a red, wet bandage about his head,44 the other his hose top slit44 down and dangling45 about his ankle, and a white bandage wound round the calf46 of his leg. The two stood for a minute looking down upon the men crouching47 and squatting48 in their shelter, on men too astonished for the moment to speak or do aught save gape49 upwards50 at the two above them. Somehow, after their relief at escaping from the open into the shelter of the trench, after the doubts and misgivings51 with which some of them had ventured to raise themselves and peer out above ground level, the angry orders given to them to get back and not expose themselves, after having, in fact, felt themselves for an hour past to be separate only from a sudden and violent death by the depth of their shelter trench, it took their breath away to see two men walking about and standing with apparent unconcern upon a bullet swept level, completely without protection, indifferent to that fact. But they recovered quickly from their amazement52.
“Holloa, Jock,” Pug called up to them, “what’s the latest news in the dispatches? ’Ave we commenced the attack?”
“Commenced? Aye, and gey near finished, as far as we’re concerned.”
There was a quick chorus of questions to this.45 “How far had we gone?” “Was the first line taken?” “Was the attack pushing on?” “Had the casualties been heavy?” and a score of other questions.
The two Highlanders bobbed down hastily, as a heavy shell fell with a rolling cr-r-r-ump within a hundred yards of them.
“We’ve got the first line where we attacked,” said one of them after a moment, “and we’re pushing on to the second. They say that we have taken the second and third lines down there on the right, but the Huns are counter-attacking, and have got a bit of the third line back. I’m no’ sure what’s happened on the left, but I’m hearin’ the attack was held, and pretty near wiped out. I only ken2 that our lot is tryin’ to bomb up there to the left, and no’ makin’ much progress.”
His companion rose and stepped across the narrow trench.
“Come on, Andy,” he said, “we’ll awa’ back to the dressin’ station, and the first train to the North. This is no’ just a health resort to be bidin’ in. Good luck to you, lads.”
“Good luck, so long,” chorused the trench after them, and the two vanished from sight.
There was a buzz of excited talk after they had46 gone—talk that lasted until word was passed back along the trench and the line rose and commenced to stumble onward54 again.
“I suppose,” said Larry, “they’ll be moving us up in support. I hope we get out of this beastly trench soon, and see something of what’s going on.”
Billy Simson grunted55. “Maybe we’ll see plenty, and maybe a bit too much, when we get out of here,” he said, “and it is decently safe down here anyhow.”
Pug snorted. “Safe?” he echoed; “no safer than it is above there, by the look of them two Jocks. They don’t seem to be worritin’ much about it being safe. I believe we would be all right to climb up out of this sewer56 and walk like bloomin’ two-legged humans above ground, instead of crawling along ’ere like rats in a ’Ampton Court maze53 of drains.”
But, whether they liked it or not, the Stonewalls were condemned57 to spend most of that day in their drains. They moved out at last, it is true, from the communication trench into one of the support trenches, and from this they could catch an occasional narrow glimpse of the battlefield. They were little the wiser for that, partly because47 the view gave only a restricted vision of a maze of twisting lines of parapets, of which they could tell no difference between British and German; of tangles58 of rusty59 barbed wire; and, beyond these things, of a drifting haze60 of smoke, of puffing61 white bursts of cotton wool-like smoke from shrapnel, and of the high explosives spouting62 gushes63 of heavy black smoke, that leaped from the ground and rose in tall columns with slow-spreading tops. They could not even tell which of these shells were friends’ and which were foes’, or whether they were falling in the British or the German lines.
Pug was frankly64 disgusted with the whole performance.
“The people at ’ome,” he complained, “will see a blinkin’ sight more of this show in the picture papers and the kinema shows than me what’s ’ere in the middle of it.”
“Don’t you fret65, Pug,” said Larry; “we’ll see all we’re looking for presently. Those regiments66 up front must have had a pretty hot strafing, and they’re certain to push us up from the supports into the firing-line.”
“I don’t see what you’ve got to grumble67 about,” put in Billy Simson; “we’re snug68 and comfortable48 enough here, and personally I’m not in any hurry to be trottin’ out over the open, with the German Army shootin’ at me.”
“I admit I’m not in any hurry to get plugged myself,” drawled Kentucky, “but I’ve got quite a big mite69 of sympathy for Pug’s feelings. I’m sure getting some impatient myself.”
“Anyway,” said Pug, “it’s about time we ’ad some grub; who’s feelin’ like a chunk70 of bully71 and a pavin’-stone?”
The others suddenly woke to the fact that they also were hungry. Bully beef and biscuits were produced, and the four sat and ate their meal, and lit cigarettes, and smoked contentedly72 after it, with the roar of battle ringing in their ears, with the shells rumbling5 and moaning overhead, and the bullets piping and hissing73 and singing past above their trench.
After their meal, in the close, stagnant74 air of the trench they began to feel drowsy75, and presently they settled themselves in the most comfortable positions possible, and dozed76 off to sleep. They slept for a good half hour, heedless of all the turmoil77 about them, and they were roused by a word passed down along the trench.
They rose, and shook the packs into place on49 their shoulders, tightened78 and settled the straps79 about them, patted their ammunition pouches80, felt the bayonets slip freely in their scabbards, tried the bolts and action of their rifles, and then stood waiting with a curious thrill, that was made up of expectation, of excitement, of fear, perhaps—they hardly knew what. For the word passed along had been to get ready, that the battalion81 was moving up into the firing-line.
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收听单词发音
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1
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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6
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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7
dispersing
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| adj. 分散的 动词disperse的现在分词形式 | |
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reverberating
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的现在分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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9
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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12
distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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14
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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21
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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24
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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25
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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26
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cratered
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| adj.有坑洞的，多坑的v.火山口( crater的过去分词 )；弹坑等 | |
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29
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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30
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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33
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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36
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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37
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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38
chafing
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| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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39
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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41
glean
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| v.收集(消息、资料、情报等) | |
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42
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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43
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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44
slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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45
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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46
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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47
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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48
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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49
gape
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| v.张口，打呵欠，目瞪口呆地凝视 | |
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50
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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51
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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52
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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53
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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54
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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55
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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56
sewer
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| n.排水沟，下水道 | |
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57
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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58
tangles
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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60
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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61
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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62
spouting
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| n.水落管系统v.（指液体）喷出( spout的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地讲；喋喋不休地说；喷水 | |
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63
gushes
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| n.涌出，迸发( gush的名词复数 )v.喷，涌( gush的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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64
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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65
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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66
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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67
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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68
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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69
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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70
chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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71
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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72
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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73
hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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74
stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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75
drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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76
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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77
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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78
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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79
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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80
pouches
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| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
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81
battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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