NIGHT threw her dark mantle1 over the camp of the 200th Ind. The details of guard and picket2 had been made. Videts, with sleepless3 eye and listening ear, kept watch and ward4 on the outposts, while faithful sentries5 trod their beats around the great bivouac. All day the army had marched, and was to take the road again at an early hour in the morning. Supper had been eaten, and the tired soldiers were gathered around the campfires that gleamed far and near through the darkness.
"Si," said Shorty to his chum as they sat on a log beside the dying embers, "how d'ye like soldierin', as fur as ye've got?"
"It's purty hard business," said Si, reflectively, "an' I s'pose we haint seen the worst on it yet, either, from what I've hearn tell. Pity the men that got up this war can't be made to do all the trampin' 'n' fitin'. An' them fellers up in old Injjeanny that come 'round makin' such red-hot speeches to git us boys to 'list, wouldn't it be fun to see 'em humpin' 'long with gun 'n' knapsack, 'n' chawin' hardtack, 'n' stan'in' guard nights, 'n' pourin' water on their blisters7, 'n' pickin' graybacks off their shirts, 'n' p'leecin' camp, 'n' washin' their own clothes?"
"I think we'd enj'y seein' 'em do all that," said Shorty, laughing at the picture Si had drawn8. "I reckon most of 'em 'd peter out purty quick, and I'd like to hear what sort o' speeches they'd, make then. I tell ye, Si, there's a big diff'rence 'tween goin' yerself an' tellin' some other feller to go."
"Mebbe they'll git to draftin' after a while," observed Si, "'n' if they do I hope that'll ketch em!"
"Wall, we're in fur it, anyway," said Shorty. "Let's take down the bed 'n' turn in!"
It didn't take long to complete the arrangements for the night. They spread their "gum" blankets, or ponchos9, on the ground, within the tent, and on these their wool blankets, placed their knapsacks at the head for pillows, and that was all. It was warmer than usual that evening, and they stripped down to their nether10 garments.
"Feels good once in a while," said Si, "to peel a feller's clothes oft, 'n' sleep in a Christian-like way. But, Great Scott! Shorty, ain't this ground lumpy? It's like lying on a big washboard. I scooted all over the country huntin' fer straw to-night. There wasn't but one little stack within a mile of camp. Them derned Ohio chaps gobbled every smidgin of it. They didn't leave enuff to make a hummin'-bird's nest. The 200th Ind. 'll git even with 'em some day."
So Si and Shorty crept in between the blankets, drew the top one up to their chins, and adjusted their bodily protuberances as best they could to fit the ridges11 and hollows beneath them.
"Now, Si," said Shorty, "don't ye git to fitin' rebels in yer sleep and kick the kiver off, as ye did last night."
As they lay there their ears caught the music of the bugles12 sounding the "tattoo13." Far and near floated through the clear night air the familiar melody that warned every soldier not on duty to go to bed. Next to the 200th Ind. lay a regiment14 of wild Michigan veterans, who struck up, following the strains of the bugles:
Say, oh Dutch'y, will ye fight mit Si-gel?
Zwei glass o' la-ger, Yaw! Yaw! Yaw!!!
Will yet fight to help de bul-ly ea-gle?
Schweitzer-ksse und pret-zels,
Hur-raw! raw! raw!
During the night there came one of those sudden storms that seemed to be sent by an inscrutable Providence15 especially to give variety to the soldier's life.
Struck by a Cyclone16 111
A well-developed cyclone struck the camp, and Si and Shorty were soon awakened17 by the racket. The wind was blowing and whirling in fierce gusts18, wrenching19 out the tent-pins or snapping the ropes as if they were threads. Everywhere was heard the flapping of canvas, and the yells and shouts of the men as they dashed about in the darkness and wild confusion. Many of the tents were already prostrate21, and their demoralized inmates22 were crawling out from under the ruin. To crown all the rain began to fall in torrents23. The camp was a vast pandemonium24. The blackest darkness prevailed, save when the scene was illuminated25 by flashes of lightning. These were followed by peals26 of thunder that made the stoutest27 quake.
Si sprang up at the first alarm. "Git up, here, you fellers!" he shouted. "We'd better go outside and grab the ropes, or the hull28 shebang 'll go over."
There was not a moment to spare. Si dashed out into the storm and darkness, followed by his comrades. Seizing the ropes, some of which were already loosened, they braced29 themselves and hung on for dear life, in the drenching30 rain, their hair and garments streaming in the wind.
Si's prompt action saved the tent from the general wreck31. The fury of the storm was soon past. Si and his comrades, after driving the pins and securing the ropes, re-entered the tent, wet and shivering for the mercury had gone down with a tumble, or rather it would have done so had they been supplied with thermometers. But the scanty32 costume in which Si found himself afforded a weather indicator33 sufficiently34 accurate for all practical purposes.
Supper Under Difficulties 115
The ground was flooded, and their blankets and garments were fast absorbing the water that flowed around in such an exasperating35 way. Sleep under such conditions was out of the question. Si and Shorty put on their clothes and tried to make the best of their sorry plight36.
By this time the rain had nearly ceased. Fortunately they had laid in a good stock of fuel the night before, and after a little patient effort they succeeded in getting a fire started. Around this the boys hovered37, alternately warming their calves38 and shins.
"This is a leetle more'n I bargained fer," said Si. Then, taking a philosophical39 view of the case, he added, "but there's one good thing about it, Shorty, we'll be all fixed40 for mornin', an' we won't have to get up when they sound the revel-lee. The buglers kin6 jest bust41 theirselves a-blowin' fer all I keer!"
In this way the soldiers spent the remainder of the night. Before daybreak the blast of a hundred bugles rang out, but there was little need for the reveille.
Breakfast was soon over, and in the gray dawn of that murky42 morning the long column went trailing on its way. The weather gave promise of a sloppy43 day, and the indications were fully44 verified. A drizzling45 rain set in, and continued without cessation. The boys put their heads through the holes in their ponchos, from the corners of which the water streamed. With their muskets46 at a "secure" they sloshed along through the mud, hour after hour. In spite of their "gums" the water found its way in at the back of the neck and trickled47 down their bodies. Their clothes became saturated48, and they were altogether about as miserable49 as it is possible for mortals to be.
A Field Shanty50 117
It seemed to Si that the maximum of discomfort51 had been reached. He had experienced one thing after another during the few weeks since he left home, and he thought each in turn was worse than the last, and about as bad as it could be. But Si learned a good deal more before he graduated. All through the long, dreary52 day the soldiers plodded53 on. There was little comfort to be derived54 from the "rest," for the ground was soaked with water.
"Why didn't we think of it, Shorty," said Si, "'n' make it part o' the bargain' when we 'listed that we were to have umbrellers. These gum things don't amount to shucks, nohow, to keep the rain off. I sh'd think Uncle Sam might do that much for us!"
"I reckon our clothes 'll be purty well washed by the time we git out o' this mess," said Shorty.
"Feels that way," said Si; "but how about the bilin'? A cold bath jest refreshes them pesky little varmints, 'n' makes 'em livelier 'n ever. Say, Shorty, ye didn't write home anything 'bout20 our havin' graybacks, did ye?"
"No, not yet; but I was thinkin' I'd tell 'em 'bout it one o' these days."
"Well, Shorty, I ain't going to tell my folks; it 'd jest make my mother feel awful to know I was that way. And sister Maria, and—"
Si was thinking aloud, and was going to say "Annabel," but he checked himself. That name was not to be mentioned in other ears. But he was afraid she would go back on him if she knew, all about it.
It was nearly night when the 200th Ind., dripping and discouraged, filed off into a field of standing55 corn to pass the night. The men sank to their shoetops in the soft earth. Si remarked to Shorty that he didn't see why the officers should turn 'em loose in such a place as that. But the longer he lived the more he found out about those things. That was the way they always did.
It's the Morning 119
In five minutes after arms were stacked not a cornstalk remained standing in the field. During the afterfnoon the troops had gone over a long stretch of swamp road that was almost impassable for teams. Fears were entertained that the wagons56 of the regiment would not be up that night, and they would not have their tents to shelter them from the storm. In anticipation57 of such a calamity58 the boys, gathered in the cornstalks, having a vague idea that they would help out in case of emergency.
Taking the Top Rail 113
Then there was a scramble59 for the fences. Recognizing the need of good fuel, an order from the General was filtered through the various headquarters that the men might take the top rails, only, from the fence inclosing tha field. This order was literally60 interpreted and carried out, each man, successively, taking the "top rail" as he found it. The very speedy result was that the bottom rails became the "top," and then there weren't any. Almost in the twinkling of an eye the entire fence disappeared.
The drizzle61 continued through the evening, and by the sputtering62 fires the soldiers prepared and ate their frugal63 suppers. Word came that, as was feared, the wagons were hopelessly bemired three or four miles back, and the men would have to make such shift as they could.
The prospect64 was dreary and cheerless enough. It was little wonder that many of the young Hoosiers felt as if they wanted to quit and go home. But with that wonderful facility for adapting themselves to circumstances that marked the volunteer soldiers, they set about the work of preparing for the night. No one who has not "been there" can imagine how good a degree of comfort—comparatively speaking, of course—it was possible to reach, with such surroundings, by the exercise of a little patience, ingenuity65 and industry.
Si and Shorty and the others of the "mess" bestirred themselves, and it did not take them more than 20 minutes to build, out of rails and cornstalks, a shelter that was really inviting66. They kindled67 a big fire in front of it, laid some rails within, covered with stalks, and on these spread their blankets. Si, who had "bossed" the job, viewed the work with great satisfaction.
"I tell ye, that's no slouch of a shanty!" said he.
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1
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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3
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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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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blisters
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| n.水疱( blister的名词复数 )；水肿；气泡 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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ponchos
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| n.斗篷( poncho的名词复数 ) | |
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10
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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11
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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12
bugles
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| 妙脆角，一种类似薯片但做成尖角或喇叭状的零食； 号角( bugle的名词复数 )； 喇叭； 匍匐筋骨草； （装饰女服用的）柱状玻璃（或塑料）小珠 | |
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13
tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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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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15
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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cyclone
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| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
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17
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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18
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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19
wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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20
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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21
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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22
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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23
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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24
pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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25
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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26
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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27
stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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28
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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29
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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30
drenching
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| n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体） | |
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31
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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32
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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33
indicator
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| n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器 | |
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34
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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35
exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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36
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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37
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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38
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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39
philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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40
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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41
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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42
murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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43
sloppy
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| adj.邋遢的，不整洁的 | |
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44
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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45
drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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46
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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47
trickled
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| v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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48
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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49
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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50
shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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51
discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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52
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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53
plodded
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| v.沉重缓慢地走（路）( plod的过去式和过去分词 )；努力从事；沉闷地苦干；缓慢进行（尤指艰难枯燥的工作） | |
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54
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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55
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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56
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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57
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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58
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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59
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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60
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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61
drizzle
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| v.下毛毛雨；n.毛毛雨，蒙蒙细雨 | |
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62
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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63
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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64
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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65
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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66
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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67
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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