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ol' charge an' go t' th' devil with it。〃
The youth spoke soothingly to his comrade。 〃Well； we both did good。
I'd like to see the fool what'd say we both didn't do as good as we could！〃
〃Of course we did；〃 declared the friend stoutly。 〃An' I'd break th'
feller's neck if he was as big as a church。 But we're all right； anyhow； for
I heard one feller say that we two fit th' best in th' reg'ment； an' they had a
great argument 'bout it。 Another feller； 'a course； he had t' up an' say it
was a liehe seen all what was goin' on an' he never seen us from th'
beginnin' t' th' end。 An' a lot more struck in an' ses it wasn't a liewe did
fight like thunder； an' they give us quite a send…off。 But this is what I
can't standthese everlastin' ol' soldiers； titterin' an' laughin'； an' then that
general； he's crazy。〃
The youth exclaimed with sudden exaspera… tion： 〃He's a lunkhead！
He makes me mad。 I wish he'd come along next time。 We'd show 'im
what〃
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He ceased because several men had come hurrying up。 Their faces
expressed a bringing of great news。
〃O Flem； yeh jest oughta heard！〃 cried one； eagerly。
〃Heard what？〃 said the youth。
〃Yeh jest oughta heard！〃 repeated the other； and he arranged himself to
tell his tidings。 The others made an excited circle。 〃Well； sir； th' colonel
met your lieutenant right by usit was damnedest thing I ever heardan'
he ses： 'Ahem！ ahem！' he ses。 'Mr。 Hasbrouck！' he ses； 'by th' way； who
was that lad what carried th' flag？' he ses。 There； Flemin'； what d' yeh
think 'a that？ 'Who was th' lad what carried th' flag？' he ses； an' th'
lieutenant； he speaks up right away： 'That's Flemin'； an' he's a jimhickey；'
he ses； right away。 What？ I say he did。 'A jim… hickey；' he sesthose
'r his words。 He did； too。 I say he did。 If you kin tell this story better
than I kin； go ahead an' tell it。 Well； then； keep yer mouth shet。 Th'
lieutenant； he ses： 'He's a jimhickey；' an' th' colonel； he ses： 'Ahem！ ahem！
he is； indeed； a very good man t' have； ahem！ He kep' th' flag 'way t' th'
front。 I saw 'im。 He's a good un；' ses th' colonel。 'You bet；' ses th'
lieu… tenant； 'he an' a feller named Wilson was at th' head 'a th' charge； an'
howlin' like Indians all th' time；' he ses。 'Head 'a th' charge all th' time；'
he ses。 'A feller named Wilson；' he ses。 There； Wilson； m'boy； put that
in a letter an' send it hum t' yer mother； hay？ 'A feller named Wil… son；'
he ses。 An' th' colonel； he ses： 'Were they； indeed？ Ahem！ ahem！ My
sakes！' he ses。 'At th' head 'a th' reg'ment？' he ses。 'They were；' ses th'
lieutenant。 'My sakes！' ses th' colonel。 He ses： 'Well； well； well；' he ses；
'those two babies？' 'They were；' ses th' lieutenant。 'Well； well；' ses th'
colonel； 'they deserve t' be major generals；' he ses。 'They deserve t' be
major…generals。'
The youth and his friend had said： 〃Huh！〃 〃Yer lyin'； Thompson。〃
〃Oh； go t' blazes！〃 〃He never sed it。〃 〃Oh； what a lie！〃 〃Huh！〃 But
despite these youthful scoffings and embar… rassments； they knew that
their faces were deeply flushing from thrills of pleasure。 They ex…
changed a secret glance of joy and congratula… tion。
They speedily forgot many things。 The past held no pictures of error
and disappointment。 They were very happy； and their hearts swelled with
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grateful affection for the colonel and the youthful lieutenant。
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The Red Badge of Courage
CHAPTER XXII。
WHEN the woods again began to pour forth the dark…hued masses of
the enemy the youth felt serene self…confidence。 He smiled briefly when
he saw men dodge and duck at the long screech… ings of shells that were
thrown in giant handfuls over them。 He stood； erect and tranquil； watch…
ing the attack begin against a part of the line that made a blue curve along
the side of an adja… cent hill。 His vision being unmolested by smoke
from the rifles of his companions； he had oppor… tunities to see parts of the
hard fight。 It was a relief to perceive at last from whence came some of
these noises which had been roared into his ears。
Off a short way he saw two regiments fight… ing a little separate battle
with two other regi… ments。 It was in a cleared space； wearing a set… apart
look。 They were blazing as if upon a wager； giving and taking
tremendous blows。 The firings were incredibly fierce and rapid。
209 These intent regiments apparently were oblivious of all larger
purposes of war； and were slugging each other as if at a matched game。
In another direction he saw a magnificent brigade going with the
evident intention of driv… ing the enemy from a wood。 They passed in
out of sight and presently there was a most awe…in… spiring racket in the
wood。 The noise was un… speakable。 Having stirred this prodigious up…
roar； and； apparently； finding it too prodigious； the brigade； after a little
time； came marching airily out again with its fine formation in nowise
disturbed。 There were no traces of speed in its movements。 The
brigade was jaunty and seemed to point a proud thumb at the yelling wood。
On a slope to the left there was a long row of guns； gruff and maddened；
denouncing the enemy； who； down through the woods； were forming for
another attack in the pitiless mo… notony of conflicts。 The round red
discharges from the guns made a crimson flare and a high； thick smoke。
Occasional glimpses could be caught of groups of the toiling artillerymen。
In the rear of this row of guns stood a house； calm and white； amid
bursting shells。 A congregation of horses； tied to a long railing； were
tugging frenziedly at their bridles。 Men were running hither and thither。
The