He fixed6 his eye upon a distant and prominent clump7 of trees where he had concluded the enemy were to be met, and he ran toward it as toward a goal. He had believed throughout that it was a mere8 question of getting over an unpleasant matter as quickly as possible, and he ran desperately9, as if pursued for a murder. His face was drawn10 hard and tight with the stress of his endeavor. His eyes were fixed in a lurid11 glare. And with his soiled and disordered dress, his red and inflamed12 features surmounted13 by the dingy14 rag with its spot of blood, his wildly swinging rifle, and banging accouterments, he looked to be an insane soldier.
As the regiment swung from its position out into a cleared space the woods and thickets15 before it awakened16. Yellow flames leaped toward it from many directions. The forest made a tremendous objection.
The line lurched straight for a moment. Then the right wing swung forward; it in turn was surpassed by the left. Afterward17 the center careered to the front until the regiment was a wedge-shaped mass, but an instant later the opposition18 of the bushes, trees, and uneven19 places on the ground split the command and scattered20 it into detached clusters.
The youth, light-footed, was unconsciously in advance. His eyes still kept note of the clump of trees. From all places near it the clannish21 yell of the enemy could be heard. The little flames of rifles leaped from it. The song of the bullets was in the air and shells snarled22 among the treetops. One tumbled directly into the middle of a hurrying group and exploded in crimson23 fury. There was an instant spectacle of a man, almost over it, throwing up his hands to shield his eyes.
Other men, punched by bullets, fell in grotesque24 agonies. The regiment left a coherent trail of bodies.
They had passed into a clearer atmosphere. There was an effect like a revelation in the new appearance of the landscape. Some men working madly at a battery were plain to them, and the opposing infantry's lines were defined by the gray walls and fringes of smoke.
It seemed to the youth that he saw everything. Each blade of the green grass was bold and clear. He thought that he was aware of every change in the thin, transparent25 vapor26 that floated idly in sheets. The brown or gray trunks of the trees showed each roughness of their surfaces. And the men of the regiment, with their starting eyes and sweating faces, running madly, or falling, as if thrown headlong, to queer, heaped-up corpses--all were comprehended. His mind took a mechanical but firm impression, so that afterward everything was pictured and explained to him, save why he himself was there.
But there was a frenzy28 made from this furious rush. The men, pitching forward insanely, had burst into cheerings, moblike and barbaric, but tuned29 in strange keys that can arouse the dullard and the stoic30. It made a mad enthusiasm that, it seemed, would be incapable31 of checking itself before granite32 and brass33. There was the delirium34 that encounters despair and death, and is heedless and blind to the odds35. It is a temporary but sublime36 absence of selfishness. And because it was of this order was the reason, perhaps, why the youth wondered, afterward, what reasons he could have had for being there.
Presently the straining pace ate up the energies of the men. As if by agreement, the leaders began to slacken their speed. The volleys directed against them had had a seeming windlike effect. The regiment snorted and blew. Among some stolid37 trees it began to falter38 and hesitate. The men, staring intently, began to wait for some of the distant walls of smoke to move and disclose to them the scene. Since much of their strength and their breath had vanished, they returned to caution. They were become men again.
The youth had a vague belief that he had run miles, and he thought, in a way, that he was now in some new and unknown land.
The moment the regiment ceased its advance the protesting splutter of musketry became a steadied roar. Long and accurate fringes of smoke spread out. From the top of a small hill came level belchings of yellow flame that caused an inhuman39 whistling in the air.
The men, halted, had opportunity to see some of their comrades dropping with moans and shrieks40. A few lay under foot, still or wailing41. And now for an instant the men stood, their rifles slack in their hands, and watched the regiment dwindle42. They appeared dazed and stupid. This spectacle seemed to paralyze them, overcome them with a fatal fascination43. They stared woodenly at the sights, and, lowering their eyes, looked from face to face. It was a strange pause, and a strange silence.
Then, above the sounds of the outside commotion44, arose the roar of the lieutenant45. He strode suddenly forth46, his infantile features black with rage.
"Come on, yeh fools!" he bellowed48. "Come on! Yeh can't stay here. Yeh must come on." He said more, but much of it could not be understood.
He started rapidly forward, with his head turned toward the men, "Come on," he was shouting. The men stared with blank and yokel-like eyes at him. He was obliged to halt and retrace49 his steps. He stood then with his back to the enemy and delivered gigantic curses into the faces of the men. His body vibrated from the weight and force of his imprecations. And he could string oaths with the facility of a maiden50 who strings51 beads52.
The friend of the youth aroused. Lurching suddenly forward and dropping to his knees, he fired an angry shot at the persistent53 woods. This action awakened the men. They huddled54 no more like sheep. They seemed suddenly to bethink themselves of their weapons, and at once commenced firing. Belabored55 by their officers, they began to move forward. The regiment, involved like a cart involved in mud and muddle56, started unevenly57 with many jolts58 and jerks. The men stopped now every few paces to fire and load, and in this manner moved slowly on from trees to trees.
The flaming opposition in their front grew with their advance until it seemed that all forward ways were barred by the thin leaping tongues, and off to the right an ominous59 demonstration60 could sometimes be dimly discerned. The smoke lately generated was in confusing clouds that made it difficult for the regiment to proceed with intelligence. As he passed through each curling mass the youth wondered what would confront him on the farther side.
The command went painfully forward until an open space interposed between them and the lurid lines. Here, crouching61 and cowering62 behind some trees, the men clung with desperation, as if threatened by a wave. They looked wild-eyed, and as if amazed at this furious disturbance63 they had stirred. In the storm there was an ironical64 expression of their importance. The faces of the men, too, showed a lack of a certain feeling of responsibility for being there. It was as if they had been driven. It was the dominant65 animal failing to remember in the supreme66 moments the forceful causes of various superficial qualities. The whole affair seemed incomprehensible to many of them.
As they halted thus the lieutenant again began to bellow47 profanely67. Regardless of the vindictive68 threats of the bullets, he went about coaxing70, berating71, and bedamning. His lips, that were habitually72 in a soft and childlike curve, were now writhed73 into unholy contortions74. He swore by all possible deities75.
Once he grabbed the youth by the arm. "Come on, yeh lunkhead!" he roared. "Come on! We'll all git killed if we stay here. We've on'y got t' go across that lot. An' then"--the remainder of his idea disappeared in a blue haze76 of curses.
"Certainly. Jest 'cross th' lot! We can't stay here," screamed the lieutenant. He poked79 his face close to the youth and waved his bandaged hand. "Come on!" Presently he grappled with him as if for a wrestling bout69. It was as if he planned to drag the youth by the ear on to the assault.
The private felt a sudden unspeakable indignation against his officer. He wrenched80 fiercely and shook him off.
"Come on yerself, then," he yelled. There was a bitter challenge in his voice.
They galloped81 together down the regimental front. The friend scrambled83 after them. In front of the colors the three men began to bawl84: "Come on! come on!" They danced and gyrated like tortured savages85.
The flag, obedient to these appeals, bended its glittering form and swept toward them. The men wavered in indecision for a moment, and then with a long, wailful86 cry the dilapidated regiment surged forward and began its new journey.
Over the field went the scurrying87 mass. It was a handful of men splattered into the faces of the enemy. Toward it instantly sprang the yellow tongues. A vast quantity of blue smoke hung before them. A mighty88 banging made ears valueless.
The youth ran like a madman to reach the woods before a bullet could discover him. He ducked his head low, like a football player. In his haste his eyes almost closed, and the scene was a wild blur89. Pulsating90 saliva91 stood at the corners of his mouth.
Within him, as he hurled92 himself forward, was born a love, a despairing fondness for this flag which was near him. It was a creation of beauty and invulnerability. It was a goddess, radiant, that bended its form with an imperious gesture to him. It was a woman, red and white, hating and loving, that called him with the voice of his hopes. Because no harm could come to it he endowed it with power. He kept near, as if it could be a saver of lives, and an imploring93 cry went from his mind.
In the mad scramble82 he was aware that the color sergeant94 flinched95 suddenly, as if struck by a bludgeon. He faltered96, and then became motionless, save for his quivering knees. He made a spring and a clutch at the pole. At the same instant his friend grabbed it from the other side. They jerked at it, stout97 and furious, but the color sergeant was dead, and the corpse27 would not relinquish98 its trust. For a moment there was a grim encounter. The dead man, swinging with bended back, seemed to be obstinately99 tugging100, in ludicrous and awful ways, for the possession of the flag.
It was past in an instant of time. They wrenched the flag furiously from the dead man, and, as they turned again, the corpse swayed forward with bowed head. One arm swung high, and the curved hand fell with heavy protest on the friend's unheeding shoulder.
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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2
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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3
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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4
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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5
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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6
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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7
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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8
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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9
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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10
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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11
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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12
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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14
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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15
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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16
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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17
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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18
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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19
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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20
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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21
clannish
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| adj.排他的，门户之见的 | |
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22
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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23
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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24
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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25
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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26
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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27
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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28
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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29
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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30
stoic
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| n.坚忍克己之人，禁欲主义者 | |
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31
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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32
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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33
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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34
delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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35
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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36
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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37
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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38
falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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39
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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40
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41
wailing
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱 | |
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42
dwindle
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| v.逐渐变小（或减少） | |
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43
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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44
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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45
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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46
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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47
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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48
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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49
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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50
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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51
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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52
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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53
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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54
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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55
belabored
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| v.毒打一顿( belabor的过去式和过去分词 )；责骂；就…作过度的说明；向…唠叨 | |
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56
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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57
unevenly
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| adv.不均匀的 | |
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58
jolts
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的名词复数 ) | |
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59
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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60
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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61
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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62
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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63
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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64
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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65
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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66
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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67
profanely
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| adv.渎神地，凡俗地 | |
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68
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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69
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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70
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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71
berating
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| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的现在分词 ) | |
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72
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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73
writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
contortions
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| n.扭歪，弯曲；扭曲，弄歪，歪曲( contortion的名词复数 ) | |
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75
deities
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| n.神，女神( deity的名词复数 )；神祗；神灵；神明 | |
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76
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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77
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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79
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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80
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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81
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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82
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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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
bawl
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| v.大喊大叫，大声地喊，咆哮 | |
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85
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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86
wailful
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| adj.悲叹的，哀悼的 | |
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87
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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88
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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89
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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90
pulsating
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| adj.搏动的，脉冲的v.有节奏地舒张及收缩( pulsate的现在分词 )；跳动；脉动；受（激情）震动 | |
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91
saliva
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| n.唾液，口水 | |
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92
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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93
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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94
sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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95
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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98
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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99
obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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100
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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