The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-08
THE -.
RED BADGE
OF COURAGE.
,AlBpB0dGO fthGAnGTican CiVilVa.
by STEPHEN CRANE
Copyright, 1894, by the Author
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV,
The youth stared at the land in front
of him. Its foliages now seemed to
veil powers and horrors, He was una
ware of the machinery of orders that
started the charge, although from the
corners Of his eyes he saw an officer,
who looked like boy n horeeback,
come galloping, waving his hat. Sud
denly he felt straining and heaving
among the men. The line fell slowly
forward like topping wall and, with
a convulsive gasp that was intended
for cheer, the regiment began its
Journey. The youth was pushed and
jostled for moment before he under
stood the movement at all, but directly
he lunged ahead and began to run.
He fixed his eye upon a distant and
prominent clump of trees where he had
concluded the enemy were to be met,
and he ran toward it as toward goal.
He had believed throughout that it
was a mere question of getting over an
unpleasant matter as quickly as possi-
BILE, and he ran desperately as if pur-
sued for murder His face was drawn
hard and tight with the stress of his
endeavor. His eyes were fixed in a
!lurid glare. And with his soiled and
disordered dress, his red and infamed
features surmounted by the dingy rag
with its spot of blood, his wildly
swinging rifle and banging accoutre-
ments, he looked to be an insane sol
dier.
, AS the regiment swung from its posi-.
tion out into cleared space, the woods
and thickets before it awakened Yel-
low flames leaped toward it from
many directions. The forest made a
tremendous objection.
The line lurched straight for mo-
ment. Then the right wing swung for.
ward; it in turn was surpassed by the
left. Afterward the center careered
to the front until the regiment was a
wedge-shaped mass; but an instant
later the opposition of the bushes,
trees and uneven places on the ground
split the command and scattered it into
detached clusters.
The youth, light-footed was uncon-
sciously in advance. His eyes still
kept note of the clump of trees. From
all places near it the clannish yell of
the enemy could be heard. The little
flames of rifles leaped from it. Tie
song of the bullets was in the air and
shells snarled from the sky. Ore
tuinbled directly into the middle of a
hurrying group and exploded in Grim
son fury. There was an instant's spec
tacle of man, almost over it, throw
ing up his hands to shield his eyes
Other men, punched by bullets, fell
lin grotesquc agonies. The regiment
left coherent trail of bodies.
They had passed into clearer at
Imosphcre. There was an effect like a
revelation in the new appearance OF
the landscape. Some men working
,madly at n battery were plain to them
and the opposing infantry's lines were
defined by the gray walls and fringes
of smoke.
1t seemed to the youth that he saw
everything. Each blade Of the green
grass was bold and clear. He thought
he was aware of every change in the
thin, transparent vapor that foated
idly in sheets. The brown 'or gray
trunks of the trees showed each rough
ness of their surfaces And the men of
the regiment, with their starting eyes
and sweating faces, running madly or
failing as If thrown headlong, TO
queer, heaped up corpses, all were com
Iprehended. His mind took mechan-
ical but firm impression, so that after
ward everything was pictured and ex-
planned to him, save why he himself
was there.
But there was frenzy made from
his furious rush. The men, pitching
forward insanely, had burst into cheer
Iings, mobilize and barbaric, but tuned
in strange keys that can arouse the
Idullard and the stole. 1t made mad
enthusiasm that, it seemed, would be
incapable of checking itself before
granite and brass. There was the de-
Ilirium that encounters despair and
death, and is needless and blind to the
odds.
Presently the straining pace ate up
the energies of the men. AS if by
agreement the leaders began to slacl1en
their speed. The volleys directed
against them had had seeming wind
like effect. The regiment snorted and
blew. Among some stolid trees it be-
igan to falter and hesitate. The men,
staring intently, began to wait for.
some of the distant walls Of smoke o.
move and disclose to them the scene.
Since much of their strength and their
breath had-vanished, they returned. to
caution.
The youth had a vague belief that he
had run miles and he thought, in q
way, that he was now in some new and
unknown land.
THE moment the regiment ceased its
advance the protesting splutter of mus
kerry became steadied roar Long
land accurate fringes of smoke spread
out. From the top of q small hill
came level belchings of yellow flame
that caused an inhusan whistling in
the air.
The men, halted, had opportunity to
see some Of their comrades dropping
with means end shrieks. A few lay
under foot, still or wailing. And now
for an instant the men stood, their
rifles slack in their hands, and watched
the reginent-dwindle. They appeared
dazed and stupid. This spectacle
seemed to paralyze them, to overcome
them with fatal fascination. They
stared woodenly atthe sights and, low
iering their eyes, looked from face TO
face.
Then above thessounds of the outside
commotion arose the roar of the lieu
tenant. He strobe suddenly forth, his
infantile features black with rage.
Come on, yeh FOOLS" he beloved.
"Come on. Yeh can't stay here. Yeh