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

avens, they had won after all! The imbecile line had

e fight. A yellow fog lay wallowing on the treetops. From beneath

and angry. He felt tha

iece to rescue itself if possible. Later the officers could fit the little pieces together again, and make a battle front. If none of the little pieces were wise enough to save themselves from the flurry of death at such a time, wh

betrayed him. He had been overturned and crushed by their lack of sense in holding the position, when intelligent deliberation would have convinced them that it was impossible. He, the enligh

n camp. His mind heard howls of derision. Their density wou

eet of an iron injustice. He had proceeded with wisdom and from the most righte

owed head, his brain in a tumult of agony and despair. When he looked loweringly up, quivering at each sound, his eyes had

olved to bury himself. He wished to get out of hearin

ere torn from the barks of trees. The swishing saplings tried to make known his presence to the world. He could not conciliate the forest. As he made his way, it was always calling out protestations. When he separated embraces o

nt, blazed among the trees. The insects were making rhythmical noises. They seemed to be grinding their teeth

death. It seemed now t

religion of peace. It would die if its timid eyes were compelled to see

ing fear. High in a treetop he stopped, and, poking his head cauti

d not stand stolidly baring his furry belly to the missile, and die with an upward glance at the sympathetic heavens. On the contrary, he had fled as fast as his legs could carry him; and he was

ch his feet to keep from the oily mire. Pausing at one time to look about him he saw, ou

hes made a noise that drowned the sounds of cannon. He walked

chapel. He softly pushed the green doors aside and entered. Pine ne

topped, horror-stricken

was now faded to a melancholy shade of green. The eyes, staring at the youth, had changed to the dull hue to be seen on the side of a dead fish. The mouth was

dead man and the living man exchanged a long look. Then the youth cautiously put one hand behind him and brought it against a tree. Leaning upon this he

feet, too, caught aggravatingly in brambles; and with it all he received a subtle sugg

nheeding the underbrush. He was pursued by a sight of the black ants swar

stened. He imagined some strange voice would come from

moved soughingly in a soft wind. A sad si