English
Whenanothernightcame,thecolumns,changedtopurplestreaks,filedacrosstwopontoonbridges.
Aglaringfirewine-tintedthewatersoftheriver.
Itsrays,shininguponthemovingmassesoftroops,broughtforthhereandtheresuddengleamsofsilverorgold.
Upontheothershoreadarkandmysteriousrangeofhillswascurvedagainstthesky.
Theinsectvoicesofthenightsangsolemnly.
Afterthiscrossingtheyouthassuredhimselfthatatanymomenttheymightbesuddenlyandfearfullyassaultedfromthecavesoftheloweringwoods.Hekepthiseyeswatchfullyuponthedarkness.
Buthisregimentwentunmolestedtoacampingplace,anditssoldierssleptthebravesleepofweariedmen.
Inthemorningtheywereroutedoutwithearlyenergy,andhustledalonganarrowroadthatleddeepintotheforest.
Itwasduringthisrapidmarchthattheregimentlostmanyofthemarksofanewcommand.
Themenhadbeguntocountthemilesupontheirfingers,andtheygrewtired.
“Sorefeetan’damnedshortrations,that’sall,”saidtheloudsoldier.Therewasperspirationandgrumblings.
Afteratimetheybegantoshedtheirknapsacks.
Sometossedthemunconcernedlydown;othershidthemcarefully,assertingtheirplanstoreturnforthematsomeconvenienttime.
Menextricatedthemselvesfromthickshirts.
Presentlyfewcarriedanythingbuttheirnecessaryclothing,blankets,haversacks,canteens,andarmsandammunition.
“Youcannoweatandshoot,”saidthetallsoldiertotheyouth.“That’sallyouwanttodo.”
Therewassuddenchangefromtheponderousinfantryoftheorytothelightandspeedyinfantryofpractice.
Theregiment,relievedofaburden,receivedanewimpetus.
Buttherewasmuchlossofvaluableknapsacks,and,onthewhole,verygoodshirts.
Buttheregimentwasnotyetveteranlikeinappearance.
Veteranregimentsinthearmywerelikelytobeverysmallaggregationsofmen.
Once,whenthecommandhadfirstcometothefield,someperambulatingveterans,notingthelengthoftheircolumn,hadaccostedthemthus:“Hey,fellers,whatbrigadeisthat?”
Andwhenthemenhadrepliedthattheyformedaregimentandnotabrigade,theoldersoldiershadlaughed,andsaid,“OGawd!”
Also,therewastoogreatasimilarityinthehats.
Thehatsofaregimentshouldproperlyrepresentthehistoryofheadgearforaperiodofyears.
And,moreover,therewerenolettersoffadedgoldspeakingfromthecolors.
Theywerenewandbeautiful,andthecolorbearerhabituallyoiledthepole.
Presentlythearmyagainsatdowntothink.
Theodorofthepeacefulpineswasinthemen’snostrils.
Thesoundofmonotonousaxeblowsrangthroughtheforest,andtheinsects,noddingupontheirperches,croonedlikeoldwomen.
Theyouthreturnedtohistheoryofabluedemonstration.
Onegraydawn,however,hewaskickedinthelegbythetallsoldier,andthen,beforehewasentirelyawake,hefoundhimselfrunningdownawoodroadinthemidstofmenwhowerepantingfromthefirsteffectsofspeed.
Hiscanteenbangedrhythmicallyuponhisthigh,andhishaversackbobbedsoftly.
Hismusketbouncedatriflefromhisshoulderateachstrideandmadehiscapfeeluncertainuponhishead.
Hecouldhearthemenwhisperjerkysentences:“Say—what’sallthis—about?”
“Whatth’thunder—we—skedaddlin’thiswayfer?”
“Billie—keepoffm’feet.Yehrun—likeacow.”
Andtheloudsoldier’sshrillvoicecouldbeheard:“Whatth’deviltheyinsichahurryfor?”
Theyouththoughtthedampfogofearlymorningmovedfromtherushofagreatbodyoftroops.Fromthedistancecameasuddenspatteroffiring.
Hewasbewildered.Asheranwithhiscomradeshestrenuouslytriedtothink,butallheknewwasthatifhefelldownthosecomingbehindwouldtreaduponhim.
Allhisfacultiesseemedtobeneededtoguidehimoverandpastobstructions.Hefeltcarriedalongbyamob.
Thesunspreaddisclosingrays,and,onebyone,regimentsburstintoviewlikearmedmenjustbornoftheearth.
Theyouthperceivedthatthetimehadcome.Hewasabouttobemeasured.
Foramomenthefeltinthefaceofhisgreattriallikeababe,andthefleshoverhisheartseemedverythin.
Heseizedtimetolookabouthimcalculatingly.
Butheinstantlysawthatitwouldbeimpossibleforhimtoescapefromtheregiment.Itinclosedhim.Andtherewereironlawsoftraditionandlawonfoursides.Hewasinamovingbox.
Asheperceivedthisfactitoccurredtohimthathehadneverwishedtocometothewar.Hehadnotenlistedofhisfreewill.
Hehadbeendraggedbythemercilessgovernment.
Andnowtheyweretakinghimouttobeslaughtered.
Theregimentsliddownabankandwallowedacrossalittlestream.Themournfulcurrentmovedslowlyon,andfromthewater,shadedblack,somewhitebubbleeyeslookedatthemen.
Astheyclimbedthehillonthefarthersideartillerybegantoboom.
Heretheyouthforgotmanythingsashefeltasuddenimpulseofcuriosity.
Hescrambledupthebankwithaspeedthatcouldnotbeexceededbyabloodthirstyman.
Heexpectedabattlescene.
Thereweresomelittlefieldsgirtedandsqueezedbyaforest.
Spreadoverthegrassandinamongthetreetrunks,hecouldseeknotsandwavinglinesofskirmisherswhowererunninghitherandthitherandfiringatthelandscape.
Adarkbattlelinelayuponasunstruckclearingthatgleamedorangecolor.Aflagfluttered.
Otherregimentsflounderedupthebank.Thebrigadewasformedinlineofbattle,andafterapausestartedslowlythroughthewoodsintherearoftherecedingskirmishers,whowerecontinuallymeltingintothescenetoappearagainfartheron.
Theywerealwaysbusyasbees,deeplyabsorbedintheirlittlecombats.
Theyouthtriedtoobserveeverything.Hedidnotusecaretoavoidtreesandbranches,andhisforgottenfeetwereconstantlyknockingagainststonesorgettingentangledinbriers.
Hewasawarethatthesebattalionswiththeircommotionswerewovenredandstartlingintothegentlefabricofsoftenedgreensandbrowns.
Itlookedtobeawrongplaceforabattlefield.
Theskirmishersinadvancefascinatedhim.Theirshotsintothicketsandatdistantandprominenttreesspoketohimoftragedies—hidden,mysterious,solemn.
Oncethelineencounteredthebodyofadeadsoldier.
Helayuponhisbackstaringatthesky.
Hewasdressedinanawkwardsuitofyellowishbrown.
Theyouthcouldseethatthesolesofhisshoeshadbeenworntothethinnessofwritingpaper,andfromagreatrentinonethedeadfootprojectedpiteously.
Anditwasasiffatehadbetrayedthesoldier.
Indeathitexposedtohisenemiesthatpovertywhichinlifehehadperhapsconcealedfromhisfriends.
Theranksopenedcovertlytoavoidthecorpse.
Theinvulnerabledeadmanforcedawayforhimself.
Theyouthlookedkeenlyattheashenface.Thewindraisedthetawnybeard.Itmovedasifahandwerestrokingit.
Hevaguelydesiredtowalkaroundandaroundthebodyandstare;theimpulseofthelivingtotrytoreadindeadeyestheanswertotheQuestion.
Duringthemarchtheardorwhichtheyouthhadacquiredwhenoutofviewofthefieldrapidlyfadedtonothing.
Hiscuriositywasquiteeasilysatisfied.
Ifanintensescenehadcaughthimwithitswildswingashecametothetopofthebank,hemighthavegonegoneroaringon.ThisadvanceuponNaturewastoocalm.Hehadopportunitytoreflect.
Hehadtimeinwhichtowonderabouthimselfandtoattempttoprobehissensations.
Absurdideastookholduponhim.Hethoughtthathedidnotrelishthelandscape.Itthreatenedhim.
Acoldnesssweptoverhisback,anditistruethathistrousersfelttohimthattheywerenofitforhislegsatall.
Ahousestandingplacidlyindistantfieldshadtohimanominouslook.
Theshadowsofthewoodswereformidable.
Hewascertainthatinthisvistatherelurkedfierce-eyedhosts.
Theswiftthoughtcametohimthatthegeneralsdidnotknowwhattheywereabout.Itwasallatrap.
Suddenlythosecloseforestswouldbristlewithriflebarrels.
Ironlikebrigadeswouldappearintherear.Theywereallgoingtobesacrificed.Thegeneralswerestupids.
Theenemywouldpresentlyswallowthewholecommand.
Heglaredabouthim,expectingtoseethestealthyapproachofhisdeath.
Hethoughtthathemustbreakfromtheranksandharanguehiscomrades.
Theymustnotallbekilledlikepigs;andhewassureitwouldcometopassunlesstheywereinformedofthesedangers.
Thegeneralswereidiotstosendthemmarchingintoaregularpen.
Therewasbutonepairofeyesinthecorps.Hewouldstepforthandmakeaspeech.
Shrillandpassionatewordscametohislips.
Theline,brokenintomovingfragmentsbytheground,wentcalmlyonthroughfieldsandwoods.
Theyouthlookedatthemennearesthim,andsaw,forthemostpart,expressionsofdeepinterest,asiftheywereinvestigatingsomethingthathadfascinatedthem.
Oneortwosteppedwithovervaliantairsasiftheywerealreadyplungedintowar.Otherswalkedasuponthinice.
Thegreaterpartoftheuntestedmenappearedquietandabsorbed.
Theyweregoingtolookatwar,theredanimal—war,theblood-swollengod.
Andtheyweredeeplyengrossedinthismarch.
Ashelookedtheyouthgrippedhisoutcryathisthroat.
Hesawthatevenifthemenweretotteringwithfeartheywouldlaughathiswarning.
Theywouldjeerhim,and,ifpracticable,pelthimwithmissiles.
Admittingthathemightbewrong,afrenzieddeclamationofthekindwouldturnhimintoaworm.
Heassumed,then,thedemeanorofonewhoknowsthatheisdoomedalonetounwrittenresponsibilities.Helagged,withtragicglancesatthesky.
Hewassurprisedpresentlybytheyounglieutenantofhiscompany,whobeganheartilytobeathimwithasword,callingoutinaloudandinsolentvoice:“Come,youngman,getupintoranksthere.Noskulking‘lldohere.”Hemendedhispacewithsuitablehaste.
Andhehatedthelieutenant,whohadnoappreciationoffineminds.Hewasamerebrute.
Afteratimethebrigadewashaltedinthecathedrallightofaforest.
Thebusyskirmisherswerestillpopping.
Throughtheaislesofthewoodcouldbeseenthefloatingsmokefromtheirrifles.
Sometimesitwentupinlittleballs,whiteandcompact.
Duringthishaltmanymenintheregimentbeganerectingtinyhillsinfrontofthem.
Theyusedstonessticks,earth,andanythingtheythoughtmightturnabullet.
Somebuiltcomparativelylargeones,whileothersseemscontentwithlittleones.
Thisprocedurecausedadiscussionamongthemen.
Somewishedtofightlikeduelists,believingittobecorrecttostanderectandbe,fromtheirfeettotheirforeheads,amark.
Theysaidtheyscornedthedevicesofthecautious.
Buttheothersscoffedinreply,andpointedtotheveteransontheflankswhowerediggingatthegroundliketerriers.
Inashorttimetherewasquiteabarricadealongtheregimentalfronts.
Directly,however,theywereorderedtowithdrawfromthatplace.
Thisastoundedtheyouth.Heforgothisstewingovertheadvancemovement.
“Well,then,whatdidtheymarchusoutherefor?”hedemandedofthetallsoldier.
Thelatterwithcalmfaithbeganaheavyexplanation,althoughhehadbeencompelledtoleavealittleprotectionofstonesanddirttowhichhehaddevotedmuchcareandskill.
Whentheregimentwasalignedinanotherpositioneachman’sregardforhissafetycausedanotherlineofsmallentrenchments.
Theyatetheirnoonmealbehindathirdone.Theyweremovedfromthisonealso.
Theyweremarchedfromplacetoplacewithapparentaimlessness.
Theyouthhadbeentaughtthatamanbecameanotherthinginbattle.Hesawhissalvationinsuchachange.
Hencethiswaitingwasanordealtohim.Hewasinafeverofimpatience.
Heconsideredthattherewasdenotedalackofpurposeonthepartofthegenerals.
Hebegantocomplaintothetallsoldier.
“Ican’tstandthismuchlonger,”hecried.
“Idon’tseewhatgooditdoestomakeuswearoutourlegsfornothin’.”
Hewishedtoreturntocamp,knowingthatthisaffairwasabluedemonstration;orelsetogointoabattleanddiscoverthathehadbeenafoolinhisdoubts,andwas,intruth,amanoftraditionalcourage.
Thestrainofpresentcircumstanceshefelttobeintolerable.
Thephilosophicaltallsoldiermeasuredasandwichofcrackerandporkandswalloweditinanonchalantmanner.
“Oh,Isupposewemustgoreconnoiteringaroundthecountryjesttokeep‘emfromgettingtooclose,ortodevelop‘em,orsomething.”
“Huh!”saidtheloudsoldier.
“Well,”criedtheyouth,stillfidgeting,“I’dratherdoanything‘mostthangotramping‘roundthecountryalldaydoingnogoodtonobodyandjesttiringourselvesout.”
“SowouldI,”saidtheloudsoldier.“Itain’tright.Itellyouifanybodywithanysensewasa-runnin’thisarmyit—”
“Oh,shutup!”roaredthetallprivate.“Youlittlefool.Youlittledamn’cuss.Youain’thadthattherecoatandthempantsonforsixmonths,andyetyoutalkasif—”
“Well,Iwantadosomefightinganyway,”interruptedtheother.“Ididn’tcomeheretowalk.Icould‘avewalkedtohome–‘roundan’‘roundthebarn,ifIjestwantedtowalk.”
Thetallone,red-faced,swallowedanothersandwichasiftakingpoisonindespair.
Butgradually,ashechewed,hisfacebecameagainquietandcontented.
Hecouldnotrageinfierceargumentinthepresenceofsuchsandwiches.
Duringhismealshealwaysworeanairofblissfulcontemplationofthefoodhehadswallowed.
Hisspiritseemedthentobecommuningwiththeviands.
Heacceptednewenvironmentandcircumstancewithgreatcoolness,eatingfromhishaversackateveryopportunity.
Onthemarchhewentalongwiththestrideofahunter,objectingtoneithergaitnordistance.
Andhehadnotraisedhisvoicewhenhehadbeenorderedawayfromthreelittleprotectivepilesofearthandstone,eachofwhichhadbeenanengineeringfeatworthyofbeingmadesacredtothenameofhisgrandmother.
Intheafternoon,theregimentwentoutoverthesamegroundithadtakeninthemorning.Thelandscapethenceasedtothreatentheyouth.Hehadbeenclosetoitandbecomefamiliarwithit.
When,however,theybegantopassintoanewregion,hisoldfearsofstupidityandincompetencereassailedhim,butthistimehedoggedlyletthembabble.
Hewasoccupiedwithhisproblem,andinhisdesperationheconcludedthatthestupiditydidnotgreatlymatter.
Oncehethoughthehadconcludedthatitwouldbebettertogetkilleddirectlyandendhistroubles.
Regardingdeaththusoutofthecornerofhiseye,heconceivedittobenothingbutrest,andhewasfilledwithamomentaryastonishmentthatheshouldhavemadeanextraordinarycommotionoverthemerematterofgettingkilled.
Hewoulddie;hewouldgotosomeplacewherehewouldbeunderstood.
Itwasuselesstoexpectappreciationofhisprofoundandfinesensefromsuchmenasthelieutenant.
Hemustlooktothegraveforcomprehension.
Theskirmishfireincreasedtoalongclatteringsound.Withitwasmingledfar-awaycheering.Abatteryspoke.
Directlytheyouthcouldseetheskirmishersrunning.
Theywerepursuedbythesoundofmusketryfire.
Afteratimethehot,dangerousflashesoftherifleswerevisible.
Smokecloudswentslowlyandinsolentlyacrossthefieldslikeobservantphantoms.
Thedinbecamecrescendo,liketheroarofanoncomingtrain.
Abrigadeaheadofthemandontherightwentintoactionwitharendingroar.Itwasasifithadexploded.
Andthereafteritlaystretchedinthedistancebehindalonggraywall,thatonewasobligedtolooktwiceattomakesurethatitwassmoke.
Theyouth,forgettinghisneatplanofgettingkilled,gazedspellbound.Hiseyesgrewwideandbusywiththeactionofthescene.Hismouthwasalittlewaysopen.
Ofasuddenhefeltaheavyandsadhandlaiduponhisshoulder.Awakeningfromhistranceofobservationheturnedandbeheldtheloudsoldier.
“It’smyfirstandlastbattle,oldboy,”saidthelatter,withintensegloom.Hewasquitepaleandhisgirlishlipwastrembling.
“Eh?”murmuredtheyouthingreatastonishment.
“It’smyfirstandlastbattle,oldboy,”continuedtheloudsoldier.“Somethingtellsme—”
“What?”
“I’magonecoonthisfirsttimeand—andIw-wantyoutotaketheseherethings—to—my—folks.”
Heendedinaquaveringsobofpityforhimself.
Hehandedtheyouthalittlepacketdoneupinayellowenvelope.
“Why,whatthedevil—”begantheyouthagain.
Buttheothergavehimaglanceasfromthedepthsofatomb,andraisedhislimphandinapropheticmannerandturnedaway.
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