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Presently they passed into a roadway and marched forward with easy
strides。 A dark regiment moved before them； and from behind also came
the tinkle of equipments on the bodies of marching men。
The rushing yellow of the developing day went on behind their backs。
When the sunrays at last struck full and mellowingly upon the earth； the
youth saw that the landscape was streaked with two long； thin； black
columns which disappeared on the brow of a hill in front and rearward
vanished in a wood。 They were like two serpents crawling from the
cavern of the night。
The river was not in view。 The tall soldier burst into praises of what
he thought to be his powers of perception。
Some of the tall one's companions cried with emphasis that they； too；
had evolved the same thing； and they congratulated themselves upon it。
But there were others who said that the tall one's plan was not the true one
at all。 They per… sisted with other theories。 There was a vigorous
discussion。
The youth took no part in them。 As he walked along in careless line
he was engaged with his own eternal debate。 He could not hin… der
himself from dwelling upon it。 He was de… spondent and sullen； and
threw shifting glances about him。 He looked ahead； often expecting to
hear from the advance the rattle of firing。
But the long serpents crawled slowly from hill to hill without bluster
of smoke。 A dun…col… ored cloud of dust floated away to the right。 The
sky overhead was of a fairy blue。
The youth studied the faces of his compan… ions； ever on the watch to
detect kindred emo… tions。 He suffered disappointment。 Some ardor of
the air which was causing the veteran com… mands to move with glee
almost with song had infected the new regiment。 The men began to
speak of victory as of a thing they knew。 Also； the tall soldier received his
vindication。 They were certainly going to come around in behind the
enemy。 They expressed commisera… tion for that part of the army which
had been left upon the river bank； felicitating themselves upon being a part
of a blasting host。
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The Red Badge of Courage
The youth； considering himself as separated from the others； was
saddened by the blithe and merry speeches that went from rank to rank。
The company wags all made their best endeav… ors。 The regiment
tramped to the tune of laughter。
The blatant soldier often convulsed whole files by his biting sarcasms
aimed at the tall one。
And it was not long before all the men seemed to forget their mission。
Whole brigades grinned in unison； and regiments laughed。
A rather fat soldier attempted to pilfer a horse from a dooryard。 He
planned to load his knap… sack upon it。 He was escaping with his prize
when a young girl rushed from the house and grabbed the animal's mane。
There followed a wrangle。 The young girl； with pink cheeks and shining
eyes； stood like a dauntless statue。
The observant regiment； standing at rest in the roadway； whooped at
once； and entered whole…souled upon the side of the maiden。 The men
became so engrossed in this affair that they entirely ceased to remember
their own large war。 They jeered the piratical private； and called attention
to various defects in his personal ap… pearance； and they were wildly
enthusiastic in support of the young girl。
To her； from some distance； came bold advice。 〃Hit him with a stick。〃
There were crows and catcalls showered upon him when he retreated
without the horse。 The regiment rejoiced at his downfall。 Loud and
vociferous congratulations were showered upon the maiden； who stood
panting and regard… ing the troops with defiance。
At nightfall the column broke into regimental pieces； and the
fragments went into the fields to camp。 Tents sprang up like strange
plants。 Camp fires； like red； peculiar blossoms； dotted the night。
The youth kept from intercourse with his companions as much as
circumstances would allow him。 In the evening he wandered a few paces
into the gloom。 From this little distance the many fires； with the black
forms of men pass… ing to and fro before the crimson rays； made weird and
satanic effects。
He lay down in the grass。 The blades pressed tenderly against his
cheek。 The moon had been lighted and was hung in a treetop。 The liquid
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The Red Badge of Courage
stillness of the night enveloping him made him feel vast pity for himself。
There was a caress in the soft winds； and the whole mood of the darkness；
he thought； was one of sympathy for himself in his distress。
He wished； without reserve； that he was at home again making the
endless rounds from the house to the barn； from the barn to the fields；
from the fields to the barn； from the barn to the house。 He remembered
he had often cursed the brindle cow and her mates； and had sometimes
flung milking stools。 But； from his present point of view； there was a
halo of happiness about each of their heads； and he would have sacrificed
all the brass buttons on the continent to have been enabled to return to
them。 He told himself that he was not formed for a soldier。 And he
mused seriously upon the radical differences between himself and those
men who were dodging imp… like around the fires。
As he mused thus he heard the rustle of grass； and； upon turning his
head； discovered the loud soldier。 He called out； 〃Oh； Wilson！〃
The latter approached and looked down。 〃Why； hello； Henry； is it you？
What you do… ing here？〃
〃Oh； thinking；〃 said the youth。
The other sat down and carefully lighted his pipe。 〃You're getting
blue； my boy。 You're looking thundering peeked。 What the dickens is
wrong with you？〃
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said the youth。
The loud soldier launched then into the sub… ject of the anticipated
fight。 〃Oh； we've got 'em now！〃 As he spoke