CHAPTER V.

 Mr. Valiant¹ summoned. His will. His last words.

 

Then, said he, "I am going to my Father's.... My Sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my Pilgrimage, and my Courage and Skill to him that can get it." ... And as he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy Victory?"

 

So he passed over, and all the Trumpets² sounded for him on the other side.

 

Bunyan's Pilgrim's, Progress.

 

Coming out of a hospital-tent, at headquarters, the surgeon cannonaded against, and rebounded³ from, another officer; a sallow man, not young, with a face worn more by ungentle experiences than by age; with weary eyes that kept their own counsel, iron gray hair, and a moustache that was as if a raven⁴ had laid its wing across his lips and sealed them.

 

"Well?"

 

"Beg pardon, Major. Didn't see you. Oh, compound fracture and bruises⁵, but it's all right. He'll pull through."

 

"Thank God."

 

It was probably an involuntary expression, for prayer and praise were not much in the Major's line, as a jerk of the surgeon's head would have betrayed to an observer. He was a bright little man, with his feelings showing all over him, but with gallantry and contempt of death enough for both sides of his profession; who took a cool head, a white handkerchief and a case of instruments, where other men went hot-blooded with weapons, and who was the biggest gossip, male or female, of the regiment⁶. Not even the Major's taciturnity daunted⁷ him.

 

"Didn't think he'd as much pluck about him as he has. He'll do all right if he doesn't fret⁸ himself into a fever about poor Jackanapes."

 

"Whom are you talking about?" asked the Major hoarsely⁹.

 

"Young Johnson. He—"

 

"What about Jackanapes?"

 

"Don't you know? Sad business. Rode back for Johnson, and brought him in; but, monstrous¹⁰ ill-luck, hit as they rode. Left lung—"

 

"Will he recover?"

 

"No. Sad business." "What a frame—what limbs—what health—and what good looks? Finest young fellow—"

 

"Where is he?"

 

"In his own tent," said the surgeon sadly.

 

The Major wheeled and left him.

 

"Can I do anything else for you?"

 

"Nothing, thank you. Except—Major! I wish I could get you to appreciate Johnson."

 

"This is not an easy moment, Jackanapes."

 

"Let me tell you, sir—he never will—that if he could have driven me from him, he would be lying yonder at this moment, and I should be safe and sound."

 

The Major laid his hand over his mouth, as if to keep back a wish he would have been ashamed to utter.

 

"I've known old Tony from a child. He's a fool on impulse, a good man and a gentleman in principle. And he acts on principle, which it's not every—some water, please! Thank you, sir. It's very hot, and yet one's feet get uncommonly¹¹ cold. Oh, thank you, thank you. He's no fire-eater, but he has a trained conscience and a tender heart, and he'll do his duty when a braver and more selfish man might fail you. But he wants encouragement; and when I'm gone—"

 

"He shall have encouragement. You have my word for it. Can I do nothing else?"

 

"Yes, Major. A favor."

 

"Thank you, Jackanapes."

 

"Be Lollo's master, and love him as well as you can. He's used to it."

 

[52]

 

"Wouldn't you rather Johnson had him?"

 

The blue eyes twinkled in spite of mortal pain.

 

"Tony rides on principle, Major. His legs are bolsters¹², and will be to the end of the chapter. I couldn't insult dear Lollo, but if you don't care—"

 

"Whilst I live—which will be longer than I desire or deserve—Lollo shall want nothing, but—you. I have too little tenderness for—my dear boy, you're faint. Can you spare me for a moment?"

 

"No, stay—Major!"

 

"What? What?"

 

[53]

 

"My head drifts so—if you wouldn't mind."

 

"Yes! Yes!"

 

"Say a prayer by me. Out loud please, I am getting deaf."

 

"My dearest Jackanapes—my dear boy—"

 

"One of the Church Prayers—Parade Service, you know—"

 

"I see. But the fact is—God forgive me, Jackanapes—I'm a very different sort of fellow to some of you youngsters. Look here, let me fetch—"

 

[54]

 

But Jackanapes' hand was in his, and it wouldn't let go.

 

There was a brief and bitter silence.

 

"'Pon my soul I can only remember the little one at the end."

 

"Please," whispered Jackanapes.

 

Pressed by the conviction that what little he could do it was his duty to do, the Major—kneeling—bared his head, and spoke¹³ loudly, clearly, and very reverently—

 

"The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ—"

 

Jackanapes moved his left hand to his right one, which still held the Major's—

 

"—The love of God."

 

[55]

 

And with that—Jackanapes died.

 

Tailpiece

1 valiant   

adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人

参考例句：

• He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。
• Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

2 trumpets   

喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花

参考例句：

• A wreath was laid on the monument to a fanfare of trumpets. 在响亮的号角声中花圈被献在纪念碑前。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

3 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。

4 raven   

n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的

参考例句：

• We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
• Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。

5 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

7 daunted   

使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. 她是一个勇敢的女人，但对面前的任务却感到信心不足。
• He was daunted by the high quality of work they expected. 他被他们对工作的高品质的要求吓倒了。

8 fret   

v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损

参考例句：

• Don't fret.We'll get there on time.别着急，我们能准时到那里。
• She'll fret herself to death one of these days.她总有一天会愁死的.

9 hoarsely   

adv.嘶哑地

参考例句：

• "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
• Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

10 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

11 uncommonly   

adv. 稀罕(极，非常)

参考例句：

• an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
• My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。

12 bolsters   

n.长枕( bolster的名词复数 )；垫子；衬垫；支持物v.支持( bolster的第三人称单数 )；支撑；给予必要的支持；援助

参考例句：

• He used a couple of bolsters to elevate his head. 他用两个垫枕垫头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The double-row piles with both inclined and horizontal bolsters also analyzed in consideration of staged excavation. 本文亦分析了考虑开挖过程的安置斜撑与带支撑的双排桩支护结构。 来自互联网

13 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。