On the day these tidings were circulated in the trenches13 by many who had witnessed the events, we seemed to redouble our energies, and shot and shell were poured with greater fury than ever on the city, while sharper, nearer, and more deadly were the contests of man and man in the rifle-pits between it and the trenches. Then followed the sortie made by Menschikoff, supposing that most of the allied14 forces had been drawn15 towards Balaclava--a movement met by the infantry and artillery of the second division under Sir De Lacy Evans, and repulsed16 with a slaughter17 which naturally added to the hatred18 on both sides; and innumerable were the stories told, and authenticated19, of the Russians murdering our helpless wounded in cold blood. On the night of the 2nd November I was again in the trenches opposite to the eastern flank of Sebastopol, the whole regiment20 being on duty covering the batteries and working-parties.
The day passed as usual in exciting and desultory21 firing, the Russians and our fellows watching each other like lynxes, and never missing an opportunity for taking a quiet shot at each other. A strong battalion22 of the former was in our front, lurking23 among some mounds24 and thick abattis, formed of trees felled and pegged25 to the earth with their branches towards us; and above the barrier and the broken ground that lay between it and the advanced trench4-ground, strewed26 with fragments of rusty27 iron nails, broken bottles, and the other amiable28 contents of exploded bombs, torn, rent, upheaved, or sunk into deep holes by the explosion of mines and countermines, shells and rockets, we could see their bearded visages, their flat caps and tall figures, cross-belted and clad in long gray shapeless coats, as from time to time they yelled and started up to take aim at some unwary Welsh Fusileer, heedless that from some other point some comrade's bullet avenged him, or anticipated his fate. To attempt a description of the trenches to a non-military reader, in what Byron terms "engineering slang," would be useless, perhaps; suffice it to say that we were pretty secure from round shot, but never from shells, the trenches or zigzags30 being dug fairly parallel to the opposing batteries, with a thick bank of earth towards Sebastopol, a banquette for our men to mount on when firing became necessary.
Near us was a battery manned by our Royal Artillery--the guns being run through rude portholes made in the earthen bank, with the addition of sand-bags, baskets, and stuffed gabions, to protect the gunners. All was in splendid order there: the breeching-guns ever ready for action; the sponges, rammers, and handspikes lying beside the wheels; the shot piled close by as tidily as if in Woolwich-yard; the carbines of the men placed in racks against the gabions; the officers laughing over an old Punch, or making sketches32, varied33 by caricatures of the Russians, their men sitting close by in their greatcoats, smoking and singing while awaiting orders, and listening with perfect indifference34 to the casual dropping fire maintained by us against the enemy in the abbatis or pits along our front, though almost every shot was the knell35 of a human existence.
Death and danger were now strangely familiar to us all, and we cared as little for the whish of a round bullet or the sharp ping of the Minie, while it cut the air, as for the deep hoarse36 booming of the breaching37-guns; it was the cry of "bomb!" from the look out men, that usually made us start, and sprawl38 on our faces, or scamper39 away, for shelter, to crouch40 with our heads stooped in our favourite or fancied places of security among the gabions, till a soaring monster, with death and mutilation in its womb, with its hoarse puffing41 that rose to a whistle, concussed all the air by the crash of its explosion.
Our men were all in their greatcoats, with their white belts outside; and, save when a section or so started angrily to arms, as those fellows in the abattis became more annoying, they sat quietly on the ground or against the wall of the trench, smoking, chatting with perfect equanimity42, and occasionally taking a sip43 of rum or raki from their canteens; for, after weeks and months of this kind of duty, especially after the severity of the Crimean war set in, our older soldiers seemed utterly44 indifferent as to whether they lived or died.
All of them, even such boys as Tom Clavell, had been front to front with death, again and again. Among ourselves, even, there was an incessant45 scramble46 for food; hence in the expression of their faces and eyes there was something hard, set, fierce, and undefinable--half-wolfish at times, devil-may-care always; for in a few weeks after the landing at Eupatoria, they had seen more and lived longer than one can do in years upon years of a life of peace.
"What do you see, Hugh, that you look so earnestly to the front?" I asked of Price, who was lying on his breast with a rifle close beside him, and his field-glass, to which his eyes were applied47, wedged in a cranny between two sand-bags.
"A Russian devil has made a bolt out of the abattis into yonder hole made by a shell."
"And what of that?"
"I am waiting to pot him, as he can't stay there long," replied Price, usually the best of good-natured fellows, but now looking with a tiger-like stare through the same lorgnette which he had used on many a day at the Derby, and many a night at the opera; "there he comes," he added. In a moment the Minie rifle, already sighted, was firmly at the shoulder of Price, who fired; a mass like a gray bundle, with hands and arms outspread, rolled over and over again on the ground, and then lay still; at another time it might have seemed most terribly still!
"Potted, by Jove!" exclaimed Hugh, as he restored the rifle to Sergeant48 Rhuddlan, and quietly resumed his cigar.
"A jolly good shot, sir, at four hundred yards," added the non-commissioned officer, as he proceeded to reload and cap.
At that time the life of a Russian was deemed by us of no more account than that of a hare or rabbit in the shooting season; but, if reckless of the lives of others, it must be remembered that we were equally reckless of our own; and, with all its horrors, war is not without producing some of the gentler emotions. Thus, even on those weary, exciting, and perilous49 days and nights in the trenches, under the influence of camaraderie50, of general danger, and the most common chance of a sudden and terrible death, men grew communicative, and while interchanging their canteens and tobacco-pouches they were apt to speak of friends and relations that were far away: the old mother, whose nightly prayers went up for the absent; the ailing52 sister, who had died since war had been declared; the absent wife, left on the shore at Southampton with a begging-pass to her own parish; the little baby that had been born since the transport sailed; the old fireside, where their place remained vacant, their figure but a shadowy remembrance; the girls they had left behind them; their disappointments in life; their sorrows and joys and hopes for the future; the green lanes, the green fields, the pleasant and familiar places they never more might see: and officers and privates talked of such things in common; so true it is that
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin7."
On the 3rd of November, Caradoc and I were sitting in a sheltered corner, between the gabions, chatting on some of the themes I have enumerated53, when a little commotion54 was observable among our men, and we saw the adjutant and the major--the worthy55 holder56 of Toby Purcell's spurs, he who had carried off the first gun at Alma, B-- of ours, and who, since Colonel Chesters was killed, had commanded the regiment--coming directly towards us.
"What the deuce is up?" said I.
"Their faces look important," added Caradoc.
"Sorry to disturb you; not that there is much pleasure here, certainly," said the major, smiling; "but the adjutant tells me that you, Hardinge, are the first officer for duty."
"We are all on duty," replied I, laughing; "if we are not, I don't know what duty is. Well, major, what is to be done?"
"You are to convey a message from Lord Raglan into Sebastopol."
"To Sebastopol?"
"Yes, to that pleasant city by the sea," said the adjutant.
"To Prince Menschikoff?"
"No," replied the major; "to the officer commanding the nearest post."
"Under a flag of truce57?"
"Of course; it would be perilous work otherwise."
"About what is the message?"
"The capture of Major MacG--, of the 93rd, who was carried off by a kind of sortie the other night, and who is supposed to have been afterwards killed in cold blood."
The seizure58 of the major of the Sutherland Highlanders, a brave old fellow who had on his breast medals for Candahar, Afghanistan, and Maharajapore, had created much interest in the army at this time, when we so readily believed the Russians liable to commit atrocities59 on wounded and prisoners.
"Lord Raglan wishes distinct information on the subject," added the adjutant, after a pause.
"All right, I am his man," said I, starting up and looking carefully to the chambers60 and capping of my Colt, ere I replaced it in its pouch51; and knocking some dust and mud off my somewhat dilapidated regimentals, added, "now for a drummer and a flag of truce."
"You are to go to the officer in command of that bastion on the Russian left," said the major.
"To that wasp61 of a fellow who is so active, and whose scoundrels have killed so many of our wounded men, firing even on the burial parties?"
"The same. You must be sharp, wary29, and watchful62."
"His name?"
"Ah, that you may perhaps learn, not that it matters much; even Lord Raglan cannot know that; but, doubtless, it will be something like a sneeze or two, ending in 'off' or 'iski.'"
"Success, Harry63!" cried Caradoc.
A few minutes after this saw me issue from the trenches of the right attack, attended by Dicky Roll, with his drum slung64 before him; in my right hand I carried a Cossack lance, to which a white handkerchief of the largest dimensions was attached to attract attention, as the Russians were not particular to a shade as to what or whom they fired on, and the cruel and infamous65 massacre66 of an English boat's crew at Hango was fresh in the minds of us all; consequently I was not without feeling a certain emotion of anxiety, mingled67 with ardour and joy at the prospect68 of Estelle seeing my name in the despatches, as Dicky and I now advanced into the broken and open ground that lay between our parallel and the abattis, amid which I saw head after head appear, as the white emblem69 I bore announced that pro31 tem, hostilities70 in that quarter must cease, by the rules of war.
Dicky Roll, who, poor little fellow, had been fraternally sharing his breakfast and blanket with the goat, and did not seem happy in his mind at our increasing proximity71 to "them Roosian hogres," as he called them, beat a vigorous chamade on his drum, and I waved my impromptu72 banner. I was glad when a Russian drum responded, as flags of truce had been more than once fired upon, on the miserable73 plea that communications under them were merely designed for the purpose of gaining intelligence, of reconnoitring Sebastopol and its outposts. Hence our progress was watched with the deepest interest by the whole regiment and others, all of whom were now lining74 the banquette of the parallels, or clustering at the embrasures and fascines of the breaching batteries.
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1
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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7
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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9
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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10
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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11
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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12
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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13
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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15
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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17
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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19
authenticated
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| v.证明是真实的、可靠的或有效的( authenticate的过去式和过去分词 )；鉴定，使生效 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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21
desultory
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| adj.散漫的，无方法的 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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23
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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pegged
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| v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的过去式和过去分词 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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26
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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27
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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30
zigzags
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| n.锯齿形的线条、小径等( zigzag的名词复数 )v.弯弯曲曲地走路，曲折地前进( zigzag的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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32
sketches
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| n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概 | |
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33
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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35
knell
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| n.丧钟声；v.敲丧钟 | |
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36
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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37
breaching
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| 攻破( breach的过去式 )； 破坏，违反 | |
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38
sprawl
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| vi.躺卧，扩张，蔓延；vt.使蔓延；n.躺卧，蔓延 | |
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39
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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40
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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41
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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42
equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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43
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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44
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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45
incessant
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| adj.不停的，连续的 | |
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46
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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47
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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48
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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49
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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50
camaraderie
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| n.同志之爱，友情 | |
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51
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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52
ailing
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| v.生病 | |
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53
enumerated
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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55
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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56
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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57
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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58
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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59
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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60
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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61
wasp
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| n.黄蜂，蚂蜂 | |
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62
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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63
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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64
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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65
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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66
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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67
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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68
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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69
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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70
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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71
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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