The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War

uch scoffing at the latter by those who had yesterday been firm adherents of his views, and there was even a little snee

irritating prolongation. The tale had created in him a great concern for himself. Now, with the newborn

himself was to go into the blaze, and then figuratively to watch his legs to discover their merits and faults. He reluctantly admitted that he could not sit still and with a me

idence, for he had known him since childhood, and from his intimate knowledge he did not see how he could be capable of anything that was beyond him, the youth. Still, he tho

ther who suspected himself. A sympathetic compari

y statement which looked in any way like a confession to those doubts which he privately acknowledged in himself. He was afraid to make an open declarati

lopment of the higher qualities in others. He could conceive of men going very insignificantly about the world bearing a load of courage unseen, and although he had known many of his comrades throug

ospective battle as of a drama they were about to witness, with nothing but eagerness

himself. He dinned reproaches at times. He was convicted by h

to perch tranquilly on the river bank, and leave him bowed down by the weight of a great problem. He wanted it settled forthwith. He could no

before the break of the day their uniforms glowed a deep purple hue. From across the river the red eyes were still peering. In the eastern sky there was a ye

moved like monsters. The regiment stood at rest for what seemed a long time. The youth grew impatient. I

nd the rolling crashes of an engagement come to his ears. Staring once at the red eyes across the river, he conceived them to be growing larg

, scarce breathing. The exciting clickety-click, as it grew louder and louder, seemed to be beating upon his soul. Presently a horseman with jangling e

over his shoulder, "Don't forget that box of cigars!" The colonel mumb

like one of those moving monsters wending with many feet. The air was heav

acks of all these huge crawling reptiles. From the road came

fell down, and as he reached for his rifle a comrade, unseeing, trod upon his hand. He of

sy strides. A dark regiment moved before them, and from behind a

upon the earth, the youth saw that the landscape was streaked with two long, thin, black columns which disappeared on the

oldier burst into praises of what he

and they congratulated themselves upon it. But there were others who said that the tall one's plan

debate. He could not hinder himself from dwelling upon it. He was despondent and sullen, and threw shi

thout bluster of smoke. A dun-colored cloud of dust float

ith 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

the blithe and merry speeches that went from rank to rank. The company wags

lsed whole files by his biting

med to forget their mission. Whole brigade

t. He was escaping with his prize when a young girl rushed from the house and grabbed the animal's mane.

men became so engrossed in this affair that they entirely ceased to remember their own large war. They jeered the piratical private,

nce, came bold advice.

e. The regiment rejoiced at his downfall. Loud and vociferous congratulations were

gments went into the fields to camp. Tents sprang up like strange

he evening he wandered a few paces into the gloom. From this little distance the many fires, with

a treetop. The liquid stillness of the night enveloping him made him feel vast pity for himself. There was a caress

d 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 c

s, and, upon turning his head, discovered th

ed down. "Why, hello, Henry; i

ing," said

"You're getting blue, my boy. You're looking thun

ng," said

em now!" As he spoke his boyish face was wreathed in a gleeful smile, and his voice had an

y, "They've licked us about every clip up to no

to this march a little whil

fighting at the end of it. What I hate is this getting moved here and moved there, with

s we'll get a plenty o

e. This time we're in for a big battle, and we've got the be

lk with an elastic step. He was sprightly, vigorous, fiery in his belief in success. He l

n he finally spoke his voice was as bitter as dreg

remarked with dignity; "I don't know. I s'pose I'll do as well as the rest. I'm going to

n't run when the time c

d one; "run?-of cou

en have thought they was going to do great things bef

I'm not going to skedaddle. The man that bets on my runni

th. "You ain't the bravest

ither. I said I was going to do my share of fighting-that's what I said. And I am, too. Who are you, anyhow. Yo

rade: "Well, you needn't git mad about it!" But

any mite of resemblance in their view points made him more miserable than before. No on

ed fear that would babble at his back and cause him to flee, while others were going coolly about their country's business. He admitted that he would not

ts, he could hear low, serene sentences. "I'll

on the white wall of his tent until, exhausted and il