The troops sent out to Egypt at that time were much wanted to reinforce the southern frontier and defend it from the attacks of Osman Digna, who, with a large host of the dusky warriors2 of the Soudan, was giving the defenders3 much trouble, and keeping them incessantly4 on the qui vive.
Miles Milton had no time while in Alexandria for anything but duty. He saw Marion only once again before leaving, but did not find an opportunity to converse5 with her alone. To do him justice, he had not the most distant intention of declaring the state of his feelings, even if the opportunity had been given. He merely desired to be in her company for a little on any terms whatever!
On that occasion, however, he contrived6 to scorch7 his heart with a double dose of jealousy8, for he found two young men visiting the clergyman, each of whom seemed to be a friend of the family. One was a spendthrift named Rentworth—a young traveller of that loose, easy-going type which is occasionally met with in foreign parts, squandering9 the money of a rich father. He was a decidedly handsome young fellow, but with the stamp of dissipation already on his countenance10. The other was a telegraph engineer, with honesty and good-nature in every line of his plain countenance.
Both of these youths paid marked attention to Marion—at least Miles thought so—and he hated them both accordingly; all the more that he felt their eyes to be fixed11 upon him while he was bidding her “farewell.” He did not say “Good-bye.” That was too commonplace—in the circumstances almost childish.
There was one gleam of comfort in the fact, however, that Marion echoed the word, and that he thought—indeed he was sure—her hand trembled slightly as she returned, or rather received, his squeeze. Miles was very stern of countenance and remarkably12 upright in figure while these adieux were being said—for the glare of his rivals, he thought, was upon him.
How the poor fellow got through the preparations and packing and parades that were necessary when the order came abruptly13 for the regiment14 to start for Suez we cannot tell. He went about everything mechanically, or like a man in a dream. And it was not till they had fairly started in the railway train that he became alive to the serious fact that he was actually off to the wars!
The accommodation for passengers in that train was not good. Distinctly bad, indeed, would be the proper term to apply to the kind of cattle-truck in which Miles found himself with a detachment of the gallant15 310th Infantry16; and soon the blinding dust of Egypt reminded our young soldier that the real battle of life had fairly begun.
“You’ll get over it in time, my poor fellow,” said his friend Armstrong, who sat beside him.
“You need the same consolation17 yourself, friend Willie,” retorted Miles, wiping the dust out of the corners of his eyes.
“I didn’t mean that,” returned his friend. “You know what I mean! But cheer up; absence makes the heart grow fonder—at the same time it makes a fellow fit for duty. I have gone through it myself, and know all about it.”
Miles flushed and felt inclined at first to resent this allusion18 to the state of his affections, but he was fortunately saved from taking any notice of it by a sudden burst of laughter among the men at a remark from Corporal Flynn, who, although this was his first visit to Egypt, had undertaken to point out to his comrades the various localities which he chose to assume were more or less connected with Scripture19 history!
The first part of the journey was not particularly interesting, and what with the fine sand and the great heat the men began to experience the discomforts20 of an Eastern climate, and to make frequent application to their water-bottles. It would have been well if they had contented21 themselves with water, and with the cold tea which some of them had been provident22 enough to save up at breakfast; but when they reached the first station where there was a five minutes’ halt, some of them managed to smuggle23 strong drink into the train. One immediate24 result was that the men became more noisy.
“Come, give us a song, Gaspard,” cried several voices, apparently25 inspired at the same moment with the same idea and desire.
Gaspard complied, being ever ready to oblige, but whether it was the heat, or the dust, or the “rousin’” chorus, or the drink, the song was a partial failure. Perhaps it was the excess of tremulo induced by the motion of the train! At all events it fell flat, and, when finished, a hilarious26 loud-voiced man named Simkin, or Rattling27 Bill, struck up “Rule Britannia,” which more than made amends28 for the other, and was sung with intense vigour29 till the next station was reached.
Here more drink was smuggled30 on board the train, and, as a natural consequence, men became troublesome. A morose31 man named Sutherland, who was apt to grow argumentative and quarrelsome in his cups, made an assertion in reference to something terrestrial, which had no particular interest for any mortal man. Simkin contradicted it. Sutherland repeated it. Simkin knocked Sutherland’s helmet overboard. Sutherland returned the compliment in kind, and their comrades had to quell32 an intestine33 war, while the lost head-pieces were left on the arid34 plain, where they were last seen surrounded by wonder-stricken and long-legged natives of the Flamingo35 tribe.
This loss was a serious one, for exposure of the head to the sun in such a climate is exceedingly dangerous, and the old hands had great difficulty in impressing the fact on Rattling Bill and Sutherland, who, with the obstinacy36 of “greenhorns,” made light of the danger, and expressed disbelief in sunstroke.
Of course considerable interest was manifested when the station of Tel-el-Kebir was reached.
“How d’ee know that, Flynn?” asked one.
“How do I know anything I’m towld but by belaivin’ it?” returned the corporal.
“It’s my opeenion,” said the big Scotsman Macleod, “that if there had been ony better troops than Egeeptians to fecht wi’, oor men an’ my Lord Wolseley wadna hae fund it sic an easy job.”
“But it is said that the Egyptians were brave enough, and fought and died like men till they were fairly overpowered,” said Moses Pyne, who, being young and ardent38, besides just, felt bound to stand up for dead foes39.
“I’m no objeckin’ to their bravery,” returned the Scot. “They did the best they could; but what was to be expeckit o’ a wheen men that was dragged to the field against their wull, an’ made to fecht afore they weel kent hoo to use their airms?”
“Anyhow they gave us a chance to show what British soldiers can do,” said Rattling Bill.
“An’ sure there’s plenty more where they came from to give us another chance,” said Flynn.
“That’s true, boys. Three cheers for the heroes of Tel-el-Kebir, dead and livin’!” cried Armstrong, setting the example.
The response was prompt and hearty40, and for a few moments a forest of white helmets waved in the air.
The enthusiasm was not allowed to cool, for the next station was Kassassin, where the Life Guards and our cavalry41 made their midnight charges; and where there occurred, perhaps, one of the longest day’s fighting in the war of 1882. Here, also, they saw the graves of the poor fellows who fell at that time, but the sight did not depress the men much. The somewhat lugubrious42 Sutherland alone seemed to take a serious view of such matters.
“It’s a’ vera weel for licht-hearted lads like you to laugh an’ cheer,” he said, “but there’s naething mair certain than that some o’ you that’s laughin’ an’ cheerin’ yenoo, an’ boastin’ o’ lickin’ the Soudan neegers, ’ll fill sandy graves afore lang.”
“You don’t know that, Scotty. Pr’a’ps we’ll all escape and return to old England together,” said one of his comrades.
“Arrah! if I did git into wan o’ the sandy graves ye spake of,” remarked Flynn, “I do belaive I’d rise out of it just for the pleasure o’ contradictin’ you, Sutherland.”
“H’m! nae doot. Contradictiousness whiles maks fowk lively that wad be dull an’ deed eneuch withoot it. But did onybody iver hear o’ a reg’ment gaun’ oot to the wars an’ comin’ back jist as it went? That’s the question—”
“As Hamlet’s ghost said when he was takin’ a night-walk to cool his-self,” interposed Simkin.
“It wasna his ghost; it was his faither’s ghost,” cried Sutherland; “an’ I’m no’ sure that—”
“Howld yer tongues, both o’ ye!” cried Flynn; “sure the loss o’ yer helmets is beginning to tell on yer heads already. What can the line be I see in the distance over there? I do belaive it’s another o’ thim broad rivers that seem to cut up this land all into stripes.”
“Why, it’s the canal, man,” cried Moses Pyne, who was more or less enthusiastic about all the sights and scenes they were passing. “Don’t ye see the ships?”
“Sure enough, you’re right, Moses, as ye ginerally are whin you’re not wrong. There’s some ships comin’ wan way, an’ some goin’ the other. Och! but he is a great jainius that Frenchman as tied the two says togither—Lips—Lisps—what is it they calls him? I’ve clane forgot.”
“Lesseps,” said Miles, as he gazed with unusual interest on this wonderful highway of nations.
The troops reached Suez after a ten hours’ journey, the distance being about 230 miles. Our hero made the acquaintance here of a private of marines named Stevenson, with whom he afterwards served in the Soudan, and with whom he became very friendly, not only because their spirits were sympathetic, but because, having been brought up in the same part of England, they had similar memories and associations in regard to “home.” Only those who have wandered long and far from their native land can understand the attractive influence that arises between men who meet abroad, and find that they can chat about the same places and persons in the “old country.”
It was Saturday when the troops arrived at Suez, and the heavy dew that fell rendered the night bitterly cold, and felt to be so all the more because of the intense heat of the day. Sunday began with “rousing out” at six, breakfast at seven, parade at eight, and “divine service” thereafter. As there was no clergyman at the place at the time, the duty was performed by one of the officers. Doubtless among the officers there are men who not only can “read prayers” well, but who have the spirit of prayer in them. That such, however, is not always the case may be gathered from the remark of one of the men upon this occasion.
“W’y, you know, Tom,” said this rather severe critic to his comrade confidentially43, “there’s one advantage in fast readin’, that it gets the business soon over, which is some sort o’ comfort to fellows that has got to attend whether they like it or not, hot or cold, fresh or tired, unless dooty prevents. But the hofficer that did dooty to-day seemed to me to ’ave made a wager44 to read the prayers against time, an’ that can do no good at all to any one, you know. Far better, in my opinion, to ’ave no service at all. No wonder men won’t listen. Why, it’s a mockery—that’s what it is.”
A walk round Suez with Armstrong and Stevenson till tattoo45 at 9:30 finished the day, and convinced Miles and his friends that the sooner they bade adieu to that place the better for all of them.
Their wishes were gratified almost sooner than they wished!
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
wan
|
|
| (wide area network)广域网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
defenders
|
|
| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
incessantly
|
|
| ad.不停地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
converse
|
|
| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
contrived
|
|
| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
scorch
|
|
| v.烧焦，烤焦；高速疾驶；n.烧焦处，焦痕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
squandering
|
|
| v.（指钱，财产等）浪费，乱花( squander的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
regiment
|
|
| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
infantry
|
|
| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
consolation
|
|
| n.安慰，慰问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
allusion
|
|
| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
scripture
|
|
| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
discomforts
|
|
| n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 )；不愉快，苦恼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
contented
|
|
| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
provident
|
|
| adj.为将来做准备的，有先见之明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
smuggle
|
|
| vt.私运；vi.走私 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
hilarious
|
|
| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
rattling
|
|
| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
amends
|
|
| n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
vigour
|
|
| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
smuggled
|
|
| 水货 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
morose
|
|
| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
quell
|
|
| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
intestine
|
|
| adj.内部的；国内的；n.肠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
arid
|
|
| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
flamingo
|
|
| n.红鹳，火烈鸟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
obstinacy
|
|
| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
bin
|
|
| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ardent
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
foes
|
|
| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
cavalry
|
|
| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
lugubrious
|
|
| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
confidentially
|
|
| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
tattoo
|
|
| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |