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heads in criminal fashion； so that it came to pass that the men trudged with
sudden heaviness； as if they bore upon their bended shoulders the coffin of
their honor。 And the youthful lieutenant； recollecting himself； be… gan to
mutter softly in black curses。
They turned when they arrived at their old position to regard the
ground over which they had charged。
The youth in this contemplation was smitten with a large astonishment。
He discovered that the distances； as compared with the brilliant
measurings of his mind； were trivial and ridicu… lous。 The stolid trees；
where much had taken place； seemed incredibly near。 The time； too； now
that he reflected； he saw to have been short。 He wondered at the number of
emotions and events that had been crowded into such little spaces。 Elfin
thoughts must have exaggerated and enlarged everything； he said。
It seemed； then； that there was bitter justice in the speeches of the
gaunt and bronzed vet… erans。 He veiled a glance of disdain at his fel…
lows who strewed the ground； choking with dust； red from perspiration；
misty…eyed； disheveled。
They were gulping at their canteens； fierce to wring every mite of
water from them； and they polished at their swollen and watery features
with coat sleeves and bunches of grass。
However； to the youth there was a consider… able joy in musing upon
his performances during the charge。 He had had very little time pre…
viously in which to appreciate himself； so that there was now much
satisfaction in quietly think… ing of his actions。 He recalled bits of color
that in the flurry had stamped themselves unawares upon his engaged
senses。
As the regiment lay heaving from its hot exer… tions the officer who
had named them as mule drivers came galloping along the line。 He had
lost his cap。 His tousled hair streamed wildly； and his face was dark with
vexation and wrath。 His temper was displayed with more clearness by the
way in which he managed his horse。 He jerked and wrenched savagely at
his bridle； stop… ping the hard…breathing animal with a furious pull near the
colonel of the regiment。 He im… mediately exploded in reproaches which
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came unbidden to the ears of the men。 They were suddenly alert； being
always curious about black words between officers。
〃Oh； thunder； MacChesnay； what an awful bull you made of this
thing！〃 began the officer。 He attempted low tones； but his indignation
caused certain of the men to learn the sense of his words。 〃What an
awful mess you made！ Good Lord； man； you stopped about a hun… dred
feet this side of a very pretty success！ If your men had gone a hundred
feet farther you would have made a great charge； but as it is what a lot of
mud diggers you've got any… way！〃
The men； listening with bated breath； now turned their curious eyes
upon the colonel。 They had a ragamuffin interest in this affair。
The colonel was seen to straighten his form and put one hand forth in
oratorical fashion。 He wore an injured air； it was as if a deacon had been
accused of stealing。 The men were wiggling in an ecstasy of excitement。
But of a sudden the colonel's manner changed from that of a deacon to
that of a Frenchman。 He shrugged his shoulders。 〃Oh； well； general； we
went as far as we could；〃 he said calmly。
〃As far as you could？ Did you； b'Gawd？〃 snorted the other。 〃Well；
that wasn't very far； was it？〃 he added； with a glance of cold con… tempt
into the other's eyes。 〃Not very far； I think。 You were intended to make
a diversion in favor of Whiterside。 How well you succeeded your own
ears can now tell you。〃 He wheeled his horse and rode stiffly away。
The colonel； bidden to hear the jarring noises of an engagement in the
woods to the left； broke out in vague damnations。
The lieutenant； who had listened with an air of impotent rage to the
interview； spoke suddenly in firm and undaunted tones。 〃I don't care
what a man iswhether he is a general or whatif he says th' boys didn't
put up a good fight out there he's a damned fool。〃
〃Lieutenant；〃 began the colonel； severely； 〃this is my own affair； and
I'll trouble you〃
The lieutenant made an obedient gesture。 〃All right； colonel； all right；〃
he said。 He sat down with an air of being content with him… self。
The news that the regiment had been re… proached went along the line。
For a time the men were bewildered by it。 〃Good thunder！〃 they
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The Red Badge of Courage
ejaculated； staring at the vanishing form of the general。 They conceived
it to be a huge mistake。
Presently； however； they began to believe that in truth their efforts had
been called light。 The youth could see this conviction weigh upon the
entire regiment until the men were like cuffed and cursed animals； but
withal rebellious。
The friend； with a grievance in his eye； went to the youth。 〃I wonder
what he does want；〃 he said。 〃He must think we went out there an'
played marbles！ I never see sech a man！〃
The youth developed a tranquil philosophy for these moments of
irritation。 〃Oh； well；〃 he rejoined； 〃he probably didn't see nothing of it at
all and got mad as blazes； and concluded we were a lot of sheep； just
because we didn't do what he wanted done。 It's a pity old Grandpa
Hender… son got killed yestirdayhe'd have known that we did our best
and fought good。 It's just our awful luck； that's what。〃
〃I should say so；〃 replied the friend。 He seemed to be deeply
wounded at an injustice。 〃I should say we did have awful luck！ There's
no fun in fightin' fer people when everything yeh dono matter whatain't
done right。 I have a notion t' stay behind next time an' let 'em take their
ol' charge an' go t' th' devil with it。〃
The youth spoke soothingly to his comrade。 〃Well； we both did good。
I'd lik