Behind them blue smoke curled and clouded above the treetops, and through the thickets7 he could sometimes see a distant pink glare. The voices of the cannon8 were clamoring in interminable chorus.
The youth was horrorstricken. He stared in agony and amazement9. He forgot that he was engaged in combating the universe. He threw aside his mental pamphlets on the philosophy of the retreated and rules for the guidance of the damned.
The fight was lost. The dragons were coming with invincible10 strides. The army, helpless in the matted thickets and blinded by the overhanging night, was going to be swallowed. War, the red animal, war, the blood-swollen11 god, would have bloated fill.
Within him something bade to cry out. He had the impulse to make a rallying speech, to sing a battle hymn12, but he could only get his tongue to call into the air: "Why--why--what--what 's th' matter?"
Soon he was in the midst of them. They were leaping and scampering13 all about him. Their blanched14 faces shone in the dusk. They seemed, for the most part, to be very burly men. The youth turned from one to another of them as they galloped15 along. His incoherent questions were lost. They were heedless of his appeals. They did not seem to see him.
They sometimes gabbled insanely. One huge man was asking of the sky: "Say, where de plank18 road? Where de plank road!" It was as if he had lost a child. He wept in his pain and dismay.
Presently, men were running hither and thither19 in all ways. The artillery20 booming, forward, rearward, and on the flanks made jumble21 of ideas of direction. Landmarks22 had vanished into the gathered gloom. The youth began to imagine that he had got into the center of the tremendous quarrel, and he could perceive no way out of it. From the mouths of the fleeing men came a thousand wild questions, but no one made answers.
The youth, after rushing about and throwing interrogations at the heedless bands of retreating infantry23, finally clutched a man by the arm. They swung around face to face.
The man screamed: "Let go me! Let go me!" His face was livid and his eyes were rolling uncontrolled. He was heaving and panting. He still grasped his rifle, perhaps having forgotten to release his hold upon it. He tugged26 frantically28, and the youth being compelled to lean forward was dragged several paces.
"Let go me! Let go me!"
"Why--why--" stuttered the youth.
"Well, then!" bawled29 the man in a lurid30 rage. He adroitly31 and fiercely swung his rifle. It crushed upon the youth's head. The man ran on.
The youth's fingers had turned to paste upon the other's arm. The energy was smitten32 from his muscles. He saw the flaming wings of lightning flash before his vision. There was a deafening33 rumble34 of thunder within his head.
Suddenly his legs seemed to die. He sank writhing35 to the ground. He tried to arise. In his efforts against the numbing36 pain he was like a man wrestling with a creature of the air.
Sometimes he would achieve a position half erect38, battle with the air for a moment, and then fall again, grabbing at the grass. His face was of a clammy pallor. Deep groans39 were wrenched40 from him.
At last, with a twisting movement, he got upon his hands and knees, and from thence, like a babe trying to walk, to his feet. Pressing his hands to his temples he went lurching over the grass.
He fought an intense battle with his body. His dulled senses wished him to swoon and he opposed them stubbornly, his mind portraying41 unknown dangers and mutilations if he should fall upon the field. He went tall soldier fashion. He imagined secluded42 spots where he could fall and be unmolested. To search for one he strove against the tide of pain.
Once he put his hand to the top of his head and timidly touched the wound. The scratching pain of the contact made him draw a long breath through his clinched43 teeth. His fingers were dabbled44 with blood. He regarded them with a fixed45 stare.
Around him he could hear the grumble46 of jolted47 cannon as the scurrying48 horses were lashed49 toward the front. Once, a young officer on a besplashed charger nearly ran him down. He turned and watched the mass of guns, men, and horses sweeping in a wide curve toward a gap in a fence. The officer was making excited motions with a gauntleted hand. The guns followed the teams with an air of unwillingness50, of being dragged by the heels.
Some officers of the scattered51 infantry were cursing and railing like fishwives. Their scolding voices could be heard above the din52. Into the unspeakable jumble in the roadway rode a squadron of cavalry53. The faded yellow of their facings shone bravely. There was a mighty54 altercation55.
The artillery were assembling as if for a conference.
The blue haze56 of evening was upon the field. The lines of forest were long purple shadows. One cloud lay along the western sky partly smothering57 the red.
As the youth left the scene behind him, he heard the guns suddenly roar out. He imagined them shaking in black rage. They belched58 and howled like brass59 devils guarding a gate. The soft air was filled with the tremendous remonstrance60. With it came the shattering peal16 of opposing infantry. Turning to look behind him, he could see sheets of orange light illumine the shadowy distance. There were subtle and sudden lightnings in the far air. At times he thought he could see heaving masses of men.
He hurried on in the dusk. The day had faded until he could barely distinguish place for his feet. The purple darkness was filled with men who lectured and jabbered61. Sometimes he could see them gesticulating against the blue and somber62 sky. There seemed to be a great ruck of men and munitions63 spread about in the forest and in the fields.
The little narrow roadway now lay lifeless. There were overturned wagons64 like sun-dried bowlders. The bed of the former torrent65 was choked with the bodies of horses and splintered parts of war machines.
It had come to pass that his wound pained him but little. He was afraid to move rapidly, however, for a dread66 of disturbing it. He held his head very still and took many precautions against stumbling. He was filled with anxiety, and his face was pinched and drawn67 in anticipation68 of the pain of any sudden mistake of his feet in the gloom.
His thoughts, as he walked, fixed intently upon his hurt. There was a cool, liquid feeling about it and he imagined blood moving slowly down under his hair. His head seemed swollen to a size that made him think his neck to be inadequate69.
The new silence of his wound made much worriment. The little blistering70 voices of pain that had called out from his scalp were, he thought, definite in their expression of danger. By them he believed he could measure his plight71. But when they remained ominously72 silent he became frightened and imagined terrible fingers that clutched into his brain.
Amid it he began to reflect upon various incidents and conditions of the past. He bethought him of certain meals his mother had cooked at home, in which those dishes of which he was particularly fond had occupied prominent positions. He saw the spread table. The pine walls of the kitchen were glowing in the warm light from the stove. Too, he remembered how he and his companions used to go from the school-house to the bank of a shaded pool. He saw his clothes in disorderly array upon the grass of the bank. He felt the swash of the fragrant73 water upon his body. The leaves of the overhanging maple74 rustled75 with melody in the wind of youthful summer.
He was overcome presently by a dragging weariness. His head hung forward and his shoulders were stooped as if he were bearing a great bundle. His feet shuffled76 along the ground.
He held continuous arguments as to whether he should lie down and sleep at some near spot, or force himself on until he reached a certain haven77. He often tried to dismiss the question, but his body persisted in rebellion and his senses nagged78 at him like pampered79 babies.
At last he heard a cheery voice near his shoulder: "Yeh seem t' be in a pretty bad way, boy?"
The owner of the cheery voice took him firmly by the arm. "Well," he said, with a round laugh, "I'm goin' your way. Th' hull81 gang is goin' your way. An' I guess I kin17 give yeh a lift." They began to walk like a drunken man and his friend.
As they went along, the man questioned the youth and assisted him with the replies like one manipulating the mind of a child. Sometimes he interjected anecdotes82. "What reg'ment do yeh b'long teh? Eh? What 's that? Th' 304th N' York? Why, what corps83 is that in? Oh, it is? Why, I thought they wasn't engaged t'-day-they 're 'way over in th' center. Oh, they was, eh? Well pretty nearly everybody got their share 'a fightin' t'-day. By dad, I give myself up fer dead any number 'a times. There was shootin' here an' shootin' there, an' hollerin' here an' hollerin' there, in th' damn' darkness, until I couldn't tell t' save m' soul which side I was on. Sometimes I thought I was sure 'nough from Ohier, an' other times I could 'a swore I was from th' bitter end of Florida. It was th' most mixed up dern thing I ever see. An' these here hull woods is a reg'lar mess. It 'll be a miracle if we find our reg'ments t'-night. Pretty soon, though, we 'll meet a-plenty of guards an' provost-guards, an' one thing an' another. Ho! there they go with an off'cer, I guess. Look at his hand a-draggin'. He 's got all th' war he wants, I bet. He won't be talkin' so big about his reputation an' all when they go t' sawin' off his leg. Poor feller! My brother 's got whiskers jest like that. How did yeh git 'way over here, anyhow? Your reg'ment is a long way from here, ain't it? Well, I guess we can find it. Yeh know there was a boy killed in my comp'ny t'-day that I thought th' world an' all of. Jack84 was a nice feller. By ginger85, it hurt like thunder t' see ol' Jack jest git knocked flat. We was a-standin' purty peaceable fer a spell, 'though there was men runnin' ev'ry way all 'round us, an' while we was a-standin' like that, 'long come a big fat feller. He began t' peck at Jack's elbow, an' he ses: 'Say, where 's th' road t' th' river?' An' Jack, he never paid no attention, an' th' feller kept on a-peckin' at his elbow an' sayin': 'Say, where 's th' road t' th' river?' Jack was a-lookin' ahead all th' time tryin' t' see th' Johnnies comin' through th' woods, an' he never paid no attention t' this big fat feller fer a long time, but at last he turned 'round an' he ses: 'Ah, go t' hell an' find th' road t' th' river!' An' jest then a shot slapped him bang on th' side th' head. He was a sergeant86, too. Them was his last words. Thunder, I wish we was sure 'a findin' our reg'ments t'-night. It 's goin' t' be long huntin'. But I guess we kin do it."
In the search which followed, the man of the cheery voice seemed to the youth to possess a wand of a magic kind. He threaded the mazes87 of the tangled88 forest with a strange fortune. In encounters with guards and patrols he displayed the keenness of a detective and the valor89 of a gamin. Obstacles fell before him and became of assistance. The youth, with his chin still on his breast, stood woodenly by while his companion beat ways and means out of sullen90 things.
The forest seemed a vast hive of men buzzing about in frantic27 circles, but the cheery man conducted the youth without mistakes, until at last he began to chuckle91 with glee and self-satisfaction. "Ah, there yeh are! See that fire?"
The youth nodded stupidly.
"Well, there 's where your reg'ment is. An' now, good-by, ol' boy, good luck t' yeh."
A warm and strong hand clasped the youth's languid fingers for an instant, and then he heard a cheerful and audacious whistling as the man strode away. As he who had so befriended him was thus passing out of his life, it suddenly occurred to the youth that he had not once seen his face.
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1
butted
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| 对接的 | |
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stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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fibers
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| 光纤( fiber的名词复数 )； （织物的）质地； 纤维，纤维物质 | |
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entanglements
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| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
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6
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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7
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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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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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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13
scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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14
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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15
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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16
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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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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18
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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20
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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21
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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22
landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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23
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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24
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
balking
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| n.慢行，阻行v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的现在分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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26
tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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29
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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32
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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33
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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34
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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35
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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36
numbing
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| adj.使麻木的，使失去感觉的v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的现在分词 ) | |
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37
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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40
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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41
portraying
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| v.画像( portray的现在分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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42
secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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43
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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44
dabbled
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| v.涉猎( dabble的过去式和过去分词 )；涉足；浅尝；少量投资 | |
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45
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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46
grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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47
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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49
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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50
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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51
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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52
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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53
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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54
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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57
smothering
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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58
belched
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| v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 )；喷出，吐出；打（嗝）；嗳（气） | |
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59
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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61
jabbered
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的过去式和过去分词 )；急促兴奋地说话 | |
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62
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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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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65
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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67
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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70
blistering
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| adj.酷热的；猛烈的；使起疱的；可恶的v.起水疱；起气泡；使受暴晒n.[涂料] 起泡 | |
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71
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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72
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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73
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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74
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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77
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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78
nagged
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| adj.经常遭责怪的；被压制的；感到厌烦的；被激怒的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的过去式和过去分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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79
pampered
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| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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82
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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83
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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84
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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85
ginger
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| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
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86
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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87
mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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88
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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89
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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90
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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91
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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