So it was all over at last! The supreme5 trial had been passed. The red, formidable difficulties of war had been vanquished7.
He went into an ecstasy8 of self-satisfaction. He had the most delightful9 sensations of his life. Standing10 as if apart from himself, he viewed that last scene. He perceived that the man who had fought thus was magnificent.
He felt that he was a fine fellow. He saw himself even with those ideals which he had considered as far beyond him. He smiled in deep gratification.
Upon his fellows he beamed tenderness and good will. "Gee11! ain't it hot, hey?" he said affably to a man who was polishing his streaming face with his coat sleeves.
"You bet!" said the other, grinning sociably12. "I never seen sech dumb hotness." He sprawled13 out luxuriously14 on the ground. "Gee, yes! An' I hope we don't have no more fightin' till a week from Monday."
There were some handshakings and deep speeches with men whose features were familiar, but with whom the youth now felt the bonds of tied hearts. He helped a cursing comrade to bind15 up a wound of the shin.
But, of a sudden, cries of amazement16 broke out along the ranks of the new regiment17. "Here they come ag'in! Here they come ag'in!" The man who had sprawled upon the ground started up and said, "Gosh!"
The youth turned quick eyes upon the field. He discerned forms begin to swell18 in masses out of a distant wood. He again saw the tilted19 flag speeding forward.
The shells, which had ceased to trouble the regiment for a time, came swirling20 again, and exploded in the grass or among the leaves of the trees. They looked to be strange war flowers bursting into fierce bloom.
The men groaned21. The luster22 faded from their eyes. Their smudged countenances23 now expressed a profound dejection. They moved their stiffened24 bodies slowly, and watched in sullen25 mood the frantic26 approach of the enemy. The slaves toiling27 in the temple of this god began to feel rebellion at his harsh tasks.
They fretted28 and complained each to each. "Oh, say, this is too much of a good thing! Why can't somebody send us supports?"
"We ain't never goin' to stand this second banging. I didn't come here to fight the hull29 damn' rebel army."
There was one who raised a doleful cry. "I wish Bill Smithers had trod on my hand, insteader me treddin' on his'n." The sore joints30 of the regiment creaked as it painfully floundered into position to repulse31.
The youth stared. Surely, he thought, this impossible thing was not about to happen. He waited as if he expected the enemy to suddenly stop, apologize, and retire bowing. It was all a mistake.
But the firing began somewhere on the regimental line and ripped along in both directions. The level sheets of flame developed great clouds of smoke that tumbled and tossed in the mild wind near the ground for a moment, and then rolled through the ranks as through a gate. The clouds were tinged32 an earthlike yellow in the sunrays and in the shadow were a sorry blue. The flag was sometimes eaten and lost in this mass of vapor33, but more often it projected, sun-touched, resplendent.
Into the youth's eyes there came a look that one can see in the orbs34 of a jaded35 horse. His neck was quivering with nervous weakness and the muscles of his arms felt numb36 and bloodless. His hands, too, seemed large and awkward as if he was wearing invisible mittens37. And there was a great uncertainty38 about his knee joints.
The words that comrades had uttered previous to the firing began to recur39 to him. "Oh, say, this is too much of a good thing! What do they take us for--why don't they send supports? I didn't come here to fight the hull damned rebel army."
He began to exaggerate the endurance, the skill, and the valor40 of those who were coming. Himself reeling from exhaustion41, he was astonished beyond measure at such persistency42. They must be machines of steel. It was very gloomy struggling against such affairs, wound up perhaps to fight until sundown.
He slowly lifted his rifle and catching43 a glimpse of the thickspread field he blazed at a cantering cluster. He stopped then and began to peer as best as he could through the smoke. He caught changing views of the ground covered with men who were all running like pursued imps44, and yelling.
To the youth it was an onslaught of redoubtable45 dragons. He became like the man who lost his legs at the approach of the red and green monster. He waited in a sort of a horrified46, listening attitude. He seemed to shut his eyes and wait to be gobbled.
A man near him who up to this time had been working feverishly47 at his rifle suddenly stopped and ran with howls. A lad whose face had borne an expression of exalted48 courage, the majesty49 of he who dares give his life, was, at an instant, smitten50 abject51. He blanched52 like one who has come to the edge of a cliff at midnight and is suddenly made aware. There was a revelation. He, too, threw down his gun and fled. There was no shame in his face. He ran like a rabbit.
Others began to scamper53 away through the smoke. The youth turned his head, shaken from his trance by this movement as if the regiment was leaving him behind. He saw the few fleeting54 forms.
He yelled then with fright and swung about. For a moment, in the great clamor, he was like a proverbial chicken. He lost the direction of safety. Destruction threatened him from all points.
Directly he began to speed toward the rear in great leaps. His rifle and cap were gone. His unbuttoned coat bulged55 in the wind. The flap of his cartridge56 box bobbed wildly, and his canteen, by its slender cord, swung out behind. On his face was all the horror of those things which he imagined.
The lieutenant57 sprang forward bawling58. The youth saw his features wrathfully red, and saw him make a dab6 with his sword. His one thought of the incident was that the lieutenant was a peculiar59 creature to feel interested in such matters upon this occasion.
He ran like a blind man. Two or three times he fell down. Once he knocked his shoulder so heavily against a tree that he went headlong.
Since he had turned his back upon the fight his fears had been wondrously60 magnified. Death about to thrust him between the shoulder blades was far more dreadful than death about to smite62 him between the eyes. When he thought of it later, he conceived the impression that it is better to view the appalling63 than to be merely within hearing. The noises of the battle were like stones; he believed himself liable to be crushed.
As he ran on he mingled64 with others. He dimly saw men on his right and on his left, and he heard footsteps behind him. He thought that all the regiment was fleeing, pursued by those ominous65 crashes.
In his flight the sound of these following footsteps gave him his one meager66 relief. He felt vaguely67 that death must make a first choice of the men who were nearest; the initial morsels68 for the dragons would be then those who were following him. So he displayed the zeal69 of an insane sprinter70 in his purpose to keep them in the rear. There was a race.
As he, leading, went across a little field, he found himself in a region of shells. They hurtled over his head with long wild screams. As he listened he imagined them to have rows of cruel teeth that grinned at him. Once one lit before him and the livid lightning of the explosion effectually barred the way in his chosen direction. He groveled on the ground and then springing up went careering off through some bushes.
He experienced a thrill of amazement when he came within view of a battery in action. The men there seemed to be in conventional moods, altogether unaware71 of the impending72 annihilation. The battery was disputing with a distant antagonist73 and the gunners were wrapped in admiration74 of their shooting. They were continually bending in coaxing75 postures76 over the guns. They seemed to be patting them on the back and encouraging them with words. The guns, stolid77 and undaunted, spoke78 with dogged valor.
The precise gunners were coolly enthusiastic. They lifted their eyes every chance to the smoke-wreathed hillock from whence the hostile battery addressed them. The youth pitied them as he ran. Methodical idiots! Machine-like fools! The refined joy of planting shells in the midst of the other battery's formation would appear a little thing when the infantry79 came swooping80 out of the woods.
The face of a youthful rider, who was jerking his frantic horse with an abandon of temper he might display in a placid81 barnyard, was impressed deeply upon his mind. He knew that he looked upon a man who would presently be dead.
Too, he felt a pity for the guns, standing, six good comrades, in a bold row.
He saw a brigade going to the relief of its pestered82 fellows. He scrambled83 upon a wee hill and watched it sweeping84 finely, keeping formation in difficult places. The blue of the line was crusted with steel color, and the brilliant flags projected. Officers were shouting.
This sight also filled him with wonder. The brigade was hurrying briskly to be gulped85 into the infernal mouths of the war god. What manner of men were they, anyhow? Ah, it was some wondrous61 breed! Or else they didn't comprehend--the fools.
A furious order caused commotion86 in the artillery87. An officer on a bounding horse made maniacal88 motions with his arms. The teams went swinging up from the rear, the guns were whirled about, and the battery scampered89 away. The cannon90 with their noses poked91 slantingly at the ground grunted92 and grumbled93 like stout94 men, brave but with objections to hurry.
The youth went on, moderating his pace since he had left the place of noises.
Later he came upon a general of division seated upon a horse that pricked95 its ears in an interested way at the battle. There was a great gleaming of yellow and patent leather about the saddle and bridle96. The quiet man astride looked mouse-colored upon such a splendid charger.
A jingling97 staff was galloping98 hither and thither100. Sometimes the general was surrounded by horsemen and at other times he was quite alone. He looked to be much harassed101. He had the appearance of a business man whose market is swinging up and down.
The youth went slinking around this spot. He went as near as he dared trying to overhear words. Perhaps the general, unable to comprehend chaos102, might call upon him for information. And he could tell him. He knew all concerning it. Of a surety the force was in a fix, and any fool could see that if they did not retreat while they had opportunity--why--
He felt that he would like to thrash the general, or at least approach and tell him in plain words exactly what he thought him to be. It was criminal to stay calmly in one spot and make no effort to stay destruction. He loitered in a fever of eagerness for the division commander to apply to him.
As he warily103 moved about, he heard the general call out irritably104: "Tompkins, go over an' see Taylor, an' tell him not t' be in such an all-fired hurry; tell him t' halt his brigade in th' edge of th' woods; tell him t' detach a reg'ment--say I think th' center 'll break if we don't help it out some; tell him t' hurry up."
A slim youth on a fine chestnut105 horse caught these swift words from the mouth of his superior. He made his horse bound into a gallop99 almost from a walk in his haste to go upon his mission. There was a cloud of dust.
A moment later the youth saw the general bounce excitedly in his saddle.
"Yes, by heavens, they have!" The officer leaned forward. His face was aflame with excitement. "Yes, by heavens, they 've held 'im! They 've held 'im!"
He began to blithely106 roar at his staff: "We 'll wallop 'im now. We 'll wallop 'im now. We 've got 'em sure." He turned suddenly upon an aide: "Here--you--Jones--quick--ride after Tompkins--see Taylor--tell him t' go in--everlastingly--like blazes--anything."
As another officer sped his horse after the first messenger, the general beamed upon the earth like a sun. In his eyes was a desire to chant a paean107. He kept repeating, "They 've held 'em, by heavens!"
His excitement made his horse plunge108, and he merrily kicked and swore at it. He held a little carnival109 of joy on horseback.
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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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2
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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3
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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4
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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5
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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6
dab
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| v.轻触，轻拍，轻涂；n.(颜料等的)轻涂 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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8
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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9
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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10
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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11
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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12
sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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13
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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14
luxuriously
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| adv.奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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15
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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16
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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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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18
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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19
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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20
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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21
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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22
luster
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| n.光辉；光泽，光亮；荣誉 | |
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23
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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24
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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25
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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26
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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27
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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28
fretted
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| 焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的 | |
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29
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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30
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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31
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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32
tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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34
orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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35
jaded
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| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
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36
numb
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| adj.麻木的，失去感觉的；v.使麻木 | |
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37
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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38
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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39
recur
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| vi.复发，重现，再发生 | |
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40
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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41
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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42
persistency
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| n. 坚持(余辉, 时间常数) | |
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43
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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44
imps
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| n.（故事中的）小恶魔( imp的名词复数 )；小魔鬼；小淘气；顽童 | |
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45
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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46
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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47
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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48
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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49
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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50
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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51
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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52
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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53
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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54
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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55
bulged
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| 凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物） | |
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56
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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57
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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58
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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59
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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60
wondrously
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| adv.惊奇地，非常，极其 | |
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61
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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62
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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63
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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64
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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65
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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66
meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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67
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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68
morsels
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| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
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69
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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70
sprinter
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| n.短跑运动员，短距离全速奔跑者 | |
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71
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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72
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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73
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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74
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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75
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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76
postures
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| 姿势( posture的名词复数 )； 看法； 态度； 立场 | |
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77
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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79
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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80
swooping
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的现在分词 ) | |
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81
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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82
pestered
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| 使烦恼，纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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84
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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85
gulped
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的过去式和过去分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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86
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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87
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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88
maniacal
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| adj.发疯的 | |
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89
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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90
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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91
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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92
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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93
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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95
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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96
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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97
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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98
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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99
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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100
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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101
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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102
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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103
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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104
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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105
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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106
blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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107
paean
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| n.赞美歌，欢乐歌 | |
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108
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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