The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-07
THE.
RED BADGE
OF COURAGE.
iAlEDSodeoftle AIneliGalCiVil War.
BY STEPaEN CRANE.
copyright, 1894, by the Author.1
CHAPTER XII.


CHAPTER XII.
The rifle was lowered to position Of
caution and his loud friend came slow
ly forward. He peered into the youths
face. That you, Flem?"
"Yes, it's me-"
"Well, well, Elem, OF boy" said the
loud one, ''by ginger, I'm glad t. see
,yeh. I give yeh up fer a goner. /
thought yeh was dead sure enough"
There was husky emotion in his voice.
The youth found that now he could
barely stand upon his feet. There was
q sudden sinking of his forces. He
thought he must hasten to produce his
tale to protect him from the missiles
already at the lips Of his redoubtable
comrade. So staggering before him he
began: ''Yes, yes, rve-Ive had an
awful time. I've been all over. Way
over on TIL right. Terrible fightin' over
there. had an awful time, got sep
arated from tn regiment. Over on tn
right, got shot In tn head. l never
see sech fghtin'."
The loud private hadstepped forward
quickly. "What? Got shot? Why
didn't yeh say so at first. Poor OF boy"
Another figure Pt that moment
loomed in the gloom. They could see
it was the corporal. "Who yeh talliin'
ito, Wilson," he demanded. His voice
was anger-toned. who yeh talkin'
to? You're the derndest sentinel
why-hello, Flem, you here? Why, l
thought you was dead four hours ago.
Great Jerusalem! they keep turnin' up
every ten minutes or So"
"Over on tn right. l got sep
arated"-began the youth with consid-
cradle glibness.
But his loud friend interrupted hast
lily. eyes, an he got shot in the head
jan he's in fix an we must see to him
right away" He rested his rifle in the
hollow of his left arm and put his right
around the youths shoulder.
Gee! it must hurt like thunder" he
said.
! The youth leaned heavily upon his
friend. "Yes, it hurts-hurts q good
DEAL" he replied. There was falter-
ing in his voice.
"Oh!" said the corporal. He linked
his arm in the youths and drew him
forward. Come on, Elem. I'll take
keer a. yeh."
AS they went on together, the loud
private called out after them: "Put i'm
to sleep in my blanket, Simpson. AM
hold on a minnit-here's my canteen.
It's full of coffee"
The youths senses were so deadened
that his friends voice sounded from
afar and he could scarcely feel the
pressure of the corporars arm. He
submitted passively to the latter's di.
recting strength. His head was in the
old manner hanging forward upon his
breast. His knees wobbled.
The corporal led him into the glare
3of the fire. snow, Flem," he said
a"let's have look at yer oil head"
The youth sat, obediently, and the
,corporal, laying down his rifle, begar
to tumble in the bushy hair of his com
rade. He was obliged to turn the other.
head so that the full flush of the fire
light would beam upon it. He puck
erred his mouth with critical air. He
! drew back his lips and whistleG
through his teeth when his fingers
, came in contact with the splashet
blood and the rare wound.
v "Ah, here we are" he said. He awk
Iwardly made further Investigations
"Jest as I thought" he added, present
Ipy. "Yeh've been grazed by ball"
The corporal went away. The you'll
liromained on the ground like parcel
He stared with q vacant look into tn,
fire
4 After a time, he aroused, for som,
part, and the things about him be