Thefriendcamestaggeringtohim。Therewassomefrightanddismayinhisvoice。\"Areyehallright，Fleming？Doyehfeelallright？Thereain’tnothin’th’matterwithyeh，Henry，isthere？\"
\"No，\"saidtheyouthwithdifficulty。Histhroatseemedfullofknobsandburs。
Theseincidentsmadetheyouthponder。Itwasrevealedtohimthathehadbeenabarbarian，abeast。Hehadfoughtlikeapaganwhode—
fendshisreligion。Regardingit，hesawthatitwasfine，wild，and，insomeways，easy。Hehadbeenatremendousfigure，nodoubt。Bythisstrugglehehadovercomeobstacleswhichhehadadmittedtobemountains。Theyhadfallenlikepaperpeaks，andhewasnowwhathecalledahero。Andhehadnotbeenawareofthepro—
cess。Hehadsleptand，awakening，foundhim—
selfaknight。
Helayandbaskedintheoccasionalstaresofhiscomrades。Theirfaceswerevariedinde—
greesofblacknessfromtheburnedpowder。
Somewereutterlysmudged。Theywerereek—
ingwithperspiration，andtheirbreathscamehardandwheezing。Andfromthesesoiledex—
pansestheypeeredathim。
\"Hotwork！Hotwork！\"criedthelieu—
tenantdeliriously。Hewalkedupanddown，restlessandeager。Sometimeshisvoicecouldbeheardinawild，incomprehensiblelaugh。
Whenhehadaparticularlyprofoundthoughtuponthescienceofwarhealwaysunconsciouslyaddressedhimselftotheyouth。
Therewassomegrimrejoicingbythemen。
\"Bythunder，Ibetthisarmy’llneverseeanothernewreg’mentlikeus！\"
\"Youbet！\"
\"Adog，awoman，an’awalnuttree，Th’moreyehbeat’em，th’bettertheybe！
That’slikeus。\"
\"Lostapilermen，theydid。Ifan’ol’womanswep’upth’woodsshe’dgitadustpanful。\"
\"Yes，an’ifshe’llcomearoundag’inin’boutan’hourshe’llgitapilemore。\"
Theforeststillboreitsburdenofclamor。
Fromoffunderthetreescametherollingclatterofthemusketry。Eachdistantthicketseemedastrangeporcupinewithquillsofflame。Acloudofdarksmoke，asfromsmolderingruins，wentuptowardthesunnowbrightandgayintheblue，enameledsky。
chapter18
CHAPTERXVIII。
THEraggedlinehadrespiteforsomemin—
utes，butduringitspausethestruggleintheforestbecamemagnifieduntilthetreesseemedtoquiverfromthefiringandthegroundtoshakefromtherushingofthemen。Thevoicesofthecannonweremingledinalongandinterminablerow。Itseemeddifficulttoliveinsuchanatmos—
phere。Thechestsofthemenstrainedforabitoffreshness，andtheirthroatscravedwater。
Therewasoneshotthroughthebody，whoraisedacryofbitterlamentationwhencamethislull。Perhapshehadbeencallingoutduringthefightingalso，butatthattimenoonehadheardhim。Butnowthementurnedatthewoe—
fulcomplaintsofhimupontheground。
\"Whoisit？Whoisit？\"
\"It’sJimmieRogers。JimmieRogers。\"
Whentheireyesfirstencounteredhimtherewasasuddenhalt，asiftheyfearedtogonear。
Hewasthrashingaboutinthegrass，twistinghis171
shudderingbodyintomanystrangepostures。
Hewasscreamingloudly。Thisinstant’shesita—
tionseemedtofillhimwithatremendous，fantas—
ticcontempt，andhedamnedtheminshriekedsentences。
Theyouth’sfriendhadageographicalillusionconcerningastream，andheobtainedpermissiontogoforsomewater。Immediatelycanteenswereshowereduponhim。\"Fillmine，willyeh？\"\"Bringmesome，too。\"\"Andme，too。\"
Hedeparted，ladened。Theyouthwentwithhisfriend，feelingadesiretothrowhisheatedbodyontothestreamand，soakingthere，drinkquarts。
Theymadeahurriedsearchforthesupposedstream，butdidnotfindit。\"Nowaterhere，\"
saidtheyouth。Theyturnedwithoutdelayandbegantoretracetheirsteps。
Fromtheirpositionastheyagainfacedto—
wardtheplaceofthefighting，theycouldofcoursecomprehendagreateramountofthebat—
tlethanwhentheirvisionshadbeenblurredbythehurlingsmokeoftheline。Theycouldseedarkstretcheswindingalongtheland，andononeclearedspacetherewasarowofgunsmak—
inggrayclouds，whichwerefilledwithlargeflashesoforange—coloredflame。Oversomefoli—
agetheycouldseetheroofofahouse。Onewin—
dow，glowingadeepmurderred，shonesquarelythroughtheleaves。Fromtheedificeatalllean—
ingtowerofsmokewentfarintothesky。
Lookingovertheirowntroops，theysawmixedmassesslowlygettingintoregularform。
Thesunlightmadetwinklingpointsofthebrightsteel。Tothereartherewasaglimpseofadis—
tantroadwayasitcurvedoveraslope。Itwascrowdedwithretreatinginfantry。Fromalltheinterwovenforestarosethesmokeandblusterofthebattle。Theairwasalwaysoccupiedbyablaring。
Nearwheretheystoodshellswereflip—flap—
pingandhooting。Occasionalbulletsbuzzedintheairandspangedintotreetrunks。Woundedmenandotherstragglerswereslinkingthroughthewoods。
Lookingdownanaisleofthegrove，theyouthandhiscompanionsawajanglinggeneralandhisstaffalmostrideuponawoundedman，whowascrawlingonhishandsandknees。Thegeneralreinedstronglyathischarger’sopenedandfoamymouthandguideditwithdexteroushorsemanshippasttheman。Thelatterscram—
bledinwildandtorturinghaste。Hisstrengthevidentlyfailedhimashereachedaplaceofsafety。Oneofhisarmssuddenlyweakened，andhefell，slidingoveruponhisback。Helaystretchedout，breathinggently。
Amomentlaterthesmall，creakingcavalcadewasdirectlyinfrontofthetwosoldiers。An—
otherofficer，ridingwiththeskillfulabandonofacowboy，gallopedhishorsetoapositiondirectlybeforethegeneral。Thetwounnoticedfootsol—
diersmadealittleshowofgoingon，buttheylingerednearinthedesiretooverhearthecon—
versation。Perhaps，theythought，somegreatinnerhistoricalthingswouldbesaid。
Thegeneral，whomtheboysknewasthecom—
manderoftheirdivision，lookedattheotherofficerandspokecoolly，asifhewerecriticisinghisclothes。\"Th’enemy’sformin’overthereforanothercharge，\"hesaid。\"It’llbedirectedagainstWhiterside，an’Ifearthey’llbreakthroughthereunlessweworklikethundert’stopthem。\"
Theothersworeathisrestivehorse，andthenclearedhisthroat。Hemadeagesturetowardhiscap。\"It’llbehellt’paystoppin’them，\"hesaidshortly。
\"Ipresumeso，\"remarkedthegeneral。Thenhebegantotalkrapidlyandinalowertone。Hefrequentlyillustratedhiswordswithapointingfinger。Thetwoinfantrymencouldhearnothinguntilfinallyheasked：\"Whattroopscanyouspare？\"
Theofficerwhorodelikeacowboyreflectedforaninstant。\"Well，\"hesaid，\"Ihadtoorderinth’12thtohelpth’76th，an’Ihaven’treallygotany。Butthere’sth’304th。Theyfightlikealot’amuledrivers。Icansparethembestofany。\"
Theyouthandhisfriendexchangedglancesofastonishment。
Thegeneralspokesharply。\"Get’emready，then。I’llwatchdevelopmentsfromhere，an’
sendyouwordwhent’startthem。It’llhappeninfiveminutes。\"
Astheotherofficertossedhisfingerstowardhiscapandwheelinghishorse，startedaway，thegeneralcalledouttohiminasobervoice：\"I
don’tbelievemanyofyourmuledriverswillgetback。\"
Theothershoutedsomethinginreply。Hesmiled。
Withscaredfaces，theyouthandhiscompan—
ionhurriedbacktotheline。
Thesehappeningshadoccupiedanincrediblyshorttime，yettheyouthfeltthatinthemhehadbeenmadeaged。Neweyesweregiventohim。
Andthemoststartlingthingwastolearnsud—
denlythathewasveryinsignificant。Theofficerspokeoftheregimentasifhereferredtoabroom。Somepartofthewoodsneededsweep—
ing，perhaps，andhemerelyindicatedabroominatoneproperlyindifferenttoitsfate。Itwaswar，nodoubt，butitappearedstrange。
Asthetwoboysapproachedtheline，thelieu—
tenantperceivedthemandswelledwithwrath。
\"Fleming——Wilson——howlongdoesittakeyehtogitwater，anyhow——whereyehbeento。\"
Buthisorationceasedashesawtheireyes，whichwerelargewithgreattales。\"We’regoin’
t’charge——we’regoin’t’charge！\"criedtheyouth’sfriend，hasteningwithhisnews。
\"Charge？\"saidthelieutenant。\"Charge？
Well，b’Gawd！Now，thisisrealfightin’。\"Overhissoiledcountenancetherewentaboastfulsmile。\"Charge？Well，b’Gawd！\"
Alittlegroupofsoldierssurroundedthetwoyouths。\"Arewe，sure’nough？Well，I’llbederned！Charge？Whatfer？Whatat？Wil—
son，you’relyin’。\"
\"Ihopetodie，\"saidtheyouth，pitchinghistonestothekeyofangryremonstrance。\"Sureasshooting，Itellyou。\"
Andhisfriendspokeinre—enforcement。\"Notbyablamesight，heain’tlyin’。Weheard’emtalkin’。\"
Theycaughtsightoftwomountedfiguresashortdistancefromthem。Onewasthecoloneloftheregimentandtheotherwastheofficerwhohadreceivedordersfromthecommanderofthedivision。Theyweregesticulatingateachother。
Thesoldier，pointingatthem，interpretedthescene。
Onemanhadafinalobjection：\"Howcouldyehhear’emtalkin’？\"Butthemen，foralargepart，nodded，admittingthatpreviouslythetwofriendshadspokentruth。
Theysettledbackintoreposefulattitudeswithairsofhavingacceptedthematter。Andtheymuseduponit，withahundredvarietiesofexpression。Itwasanengrossingthingtothinkabout。Manytightenedtheirbeltscarefullyandhitchedattheirtrousers。
Amomentlatertheofficersbegantobustleamongthemen，pushingthemintoamorecom—
pactmassandintoabetteralignment。Theychasedthosethatstraggledandfumedatafewmenwhoseemedtoshowbytheirattitudesthattheyhaddecidedtoremainatthatspot。Theywerelikecriticalshepherdsstrugglingwithsheep。
Presently，theregimentseemedtodrawitselfupandheaveadeepbreath。Noneofthemen’sfacesweremirrorsoflargethoughts。Thesol—
dierswerebendedandstoopedlikesprintersbe—
foreasignal。Manypairsofglintingeyespeeredfromthegrimyfacestowardthecurtainsofthedeeperwoods。Theyseemedtobeengagedindeepcalculationsoftimeanddistance。
Theyweresurroundedbythenoisesofthemonstrousaltercationbetweenthetwoarmies。
Theworldwasfullyinterestedinothermatters。
Apparently，theregimenthaditssmallaffairtoitself。
Theyouth，turning，shotaquick，inquiringglanceathisfriend。Thelatterreturnedtohimthesamemanneroflook。Theyweretheonlyoneswhopossessedaninnerknowledge。\"Muledrivers——hellt’pay——don’tbelievemanywillgetback。\"Itwasanironicalsecret。Still，theysawnohesitationineachother’sfaces，andtheynod—
dedamuteandunprotestingassentwhenashag—
gymannearthemsaidinameekvoice：\"We’llgitswallowed。\"
chapter19
CHAPTERXIX。
THEyouthstaredatthelandinfrontofhim。
Itsfoliagesnowseemedtoveilpowersandhor—
rors。Hewasunawareofthemachineryofordersthatstartedthecharge，althoughfromthecor—
nersofhiseyeshesawanofficer，wholookedlikeaboya—horseback，comegalloping，wavinghishat。Suddenlyhefeltastrainingandheavingamongthemen。Thelinefellslowlyforwardlikeatopplingwall，and，withaconvulsivegaspthatwasintendedforacheer，theregimentbeganitsjourney。Theyouthwaspushedandjostledforamomentbeforeheunderstoodthemove—
mentatall，butdirectlyhelungedaheadandbegantorun。
Hefixedhiseyeuponadistantandpromi—
nentclumpoftreeswherehehadconcludedtheenemyweretobemet，andherantowarditastowardagoal。Hehadbelievedthroughoutthatitwasamerequestionofgettingoveranunpleas—
antmatterasquicklyaspossible，andheran179
desperately，asifpursuedforamurder。Hisfacewasdrawnhardandtightwiththestressofhisendeavor。Hiseyeswerefixedinaluridglare。Andwithhissoiledanddisordereddress，hisredandinflamedfeaturessurmountedbythedingyragwithitsspotofblood，hiswildlyswingingrifleandbangingaccouterments，helookedtobeaninsanesoldier。
Astheregimentswungfromitspositionoutintoaclearedspacethewoodsandthicketsbe—
foreitawakened。Yellowflamesleapedtowarditfrommanydirections。Theforestmadeatre—
mendousobjection。
Thelinelurchedstraightforamoment。Thentherightwingswungforward;itinturnwassurpassedbytheleft。Afterwardthecentercareeredtothefrontuntiltheregimentwasawedge—shapedmass，butaninstantlatertheoppositionofthebushes，trees，andunevenplacesonthegroundsplitthecommandandscattereditintodetachedclusters。
Theyouth，light—footed，wasunconsciouslyinadvance。Hiseyesstillkeptnoteoftheclumpoftrees。Fromallplacesnearittheclannishyelloftheenemycouldbeheard。Thelittleflamesofriflesleapedfromit。Thesongofthebulletswasintheairandshellssnarledamongthetree—
tops。Onetumbleddirectlyintothemiddleofahurryinggroupandexplodedincrimsonfury。
Therewasaninstant’sspectacleofaman，almostoverit，throwinguphishandstoshieldhiseyes。
Othermen，punchedbybullets，fellingro—
tesqueagonies。Theregimentleftacoherenttrailofbodies。
Theyhadpassedintoacleareratmosphere。
Therewasaneffectlikearevelationinthenewappearanceofthelandscape。Somemenwork—
ingmadlyatabatterywereplaintothem，andtheopposinginfantry’slinesweredefinedbythegraywallsandfringesofsmoke。
Itseemedtotheyouththathesawevery—
thing。Eachbladeofthegreengrasswasboldandclear。Hethoughtthathewasawareofeverychangeinthethin，transparentvaporthatfloatedidlyinsheets。Thebrownorgraytrunksofthetreesshowedeachroughnessoftheirsur—
faces。Andthemenoftheregiment，withtheirstartingeyesandsweatingfaces，runningmadly，orfalling，asifthrownheadlong，toqueer，heaped—upcorpses——allwerecomprehended。Hismindtookamechanicalbutfirmimpression，sothatafterwardeverythingwaspicturedandex—
plainedtohim，savewhyhehimselfwasthere。
Buttherewasafrenzymadefromthisfuriousrush。Themen，pitchingforwardinsanely，hadburstintocheerings，moblikeandbarbaric，buttunedinstrangekeysthatcanarousethedullardandthestoic。Itmadeamadenthusiasmthat，itseemed，wouldbeincapableofcheckingitselfbeforegraniteandbrass。Therewasthedeli—
riumthatencountersdespairanddeath，andisheedlessandblindtotheodds。Itisatemporarybutsublimeabsenceofselfishness。Andbecauseitwasofthisorderwasthereason，perhaps，whytheyouthwondered，afterward，whatreasonshecouldhavehadforbeingthere。
Presentlythestrainingpaceateuptheener—
giesofthemen。Asifbyagreement，theleadersbegantoslackentheirspeed。Thevolleysdi—
rectedagainstthemhadhadaseemingwindlikeeffect。Theregimentsnortedandblew。Amongsomestolidtreesitbegantofalterandhesitate。
Themen，staringintently，begantowaitforsomeofthedistantwallsofsmoketomoveanddis—
closetothemthescene。Sincemuchoftheirstrengthandtheirbreathhadvanished，theyre—
turnedtocaution。Theywerebecomemenagain。
Theyouthhadavaguebeliefthathehadrunmiles，andhethought，inaway，thathewasnowinsomenewandunknownland。
Themomenttheregimentceaseditsadvancetheprotestingsplutterofmusketrybecameasteadiedroar。Longandaccuratefringesofsmokespreadout。Fromthetopofasmallhillcamelevelbelchingsofyellowflamethatcausedaninhumanwhistlingintheair。
Themen，halted，hadopportunitytoseesomeoftheircomradesdroppingwithmoansandshrieks。Afewlayunderfoot，stillorwailing。
Andnowforaninstantthemenstood，theirriflesslackintheirhands，andwatchedtheregimentdwindle。Theyappeareddazedandstupid。Thisspectacleseemedtoparalyzethem，overcomethemwithafatalfascination。Theystaredwood—
enlyatthesights，and，loweringtheireyes，lookedfromfacetoface。Itwasastrangepause，andastrangesilence。
Then，abovethesoundsoftheoutsidecommo—
tion，arosetheroarofthelieutenant。Hestrodesuddenlyforth，hisinfantilefeaturesblackwithrage。
\"Comeon，yehfools！\"hebellowed。\"Comeon！Yehcan’tstayhere。Yehmustcomeon。\"
Hesaidmore，butmuchofitcouldnotbeunder—
stood。
Hestartedrapidlyforward，withhisheadturnedtowardthemen。\"Comeon，\"hewasshouting。Themenstaredwithblankandyokel—
likeeyesathim。Hewasobligedtohaltandretracehissteps。Hestoodthenwithhisbacktotheenemyanddeliveredgiganticcursesintothefacesofthemen。Hisbodyvibratedfromtheweightandforceofhisimprecations。Andhecouldstringoathswiththefacilityofamaidenwhostringsbeads。
Thefriendoftheyoutharoused。Lurchingsuddenlyforwardanddroppingtohisknees，hefiredanangryshotatthepersistentwoods。Thisactionawakenedthemen。Theyhuddlednomorelikesheep。Theyseemedsuddenlytobe—
thinkthemoftheirweapons，andatoncecom—
mencedfiring。Belaboredbytheirofficers，theybegantomoveforward。Theregiment，involvedlikeacartinvolvedinmudandmuddle，startedunevenlywithmanyjoltsandjerks。Themenstoppednoweveryfewpacestofireandload，andinthismannermovedslowlyonfromtreestotrees。
Theflamingoppositionintheirfrontgrewwiththeiradvanceuntilitseemedthatallfor—
wardwayswerebarredbythethinleapingtongues，andofftotherightanominousdemon—
strationcouldsometimesbedimlydiscerned。
Thesmokelatelygeneratedwasinconfusingcloudsthatmadeitdifficultfortheregimenttoproceedwithintelligence。Ashepassedthrougheachcurlingmasstheyouthwonderedwhatwouldconfronthimonthefartherside。
Thecommandwentpainfullyforwarduntilanopenspaceinterposedbetweenthemandtheluridlines。Here，crouchingandcoweringbe—
hindsometrees，themenclungwithdesperation，asifthreatenedbyawave。Theylookedwild—
eyed，andasifamazedatthisfuriousdisturbancetheyhadstirred。Inthestormtherewasanironicalexpressionoftheirimportance。Thefacesofthemen，too，showedalackofacertainfeelingofresponsibilityforbeingthere。Itwasasiftheyhadbeendriven。Itwasthedominantanimalfailingtorememberinthesuprememo—
mentstheforcefulcausesofvarioussuperficialqualities。Thewholeaffairseemedincompre—
hensibletomanyofthem。
Astheyhaltedthusthelieutenantagainbe—
gantobellowprofanely。Regardlessofthevin—
dictivethreatsofthebullets，hewentaboutcoaxing，berating，andbedamning。Hislips，thatwerehabituallyinasoftandchildlikecurve，werenowwrithedintounholycontortions。Hesworebyallpossibledeities。
Oncehegrabbedtheyouthbythearm。
\"Comeon，yehlunkhead！\"heroared。\"Comeon！We’llallgitkilledifwestayhere。We’veon’ygott’goacrossthatlot。An’then\"——theremainderofhisideadisappearedinabluehazeofcurses。
Theyouthstretchedforthhisarm。\"Crossthere？\"Hismouthwaspuckeredindoubtandawe。
\"Certainly。Jest’crossth’lot！Wecan’tstayhere，\"screamedthelieutenant。Hepokedhisfaceclosetotheyouthandwavedhisban—
dagedhand。\"Comeon！\"Presentlyhegrap—
pledwithhimasifforawrestlingbout。Itwasasifheplannedtodragtheyouthbytheearontotheassault。
Theprivatefeltasuddenunspeakableindig—
nationagainsthisofficer。Hewrenchedfiercelyandshookhimoff。
\"Comeonherself，then，\"heyelled。Therewasabitterchallengeinhisvoice。
Theygallopedtogetherdowntheregimentalfront。Thefriendscrambledafterthem。Infrontofthecolorsthethreemenbegantobawl：
\"Comeon！comeon！\"Theydancedandgy—
ratedliketorturedsavages。
Theflag，obedienttotheseappeals，bendeditsglitteringformandswepttowardthem。Themenwaveredinindecisionforamoment，andthenwithalong，wailfulcrythedilapidatedregimentsurgedforwardandbeganitsnewjourney。
Overthefieldwentthescurryingmass。Itwasahandfulofmensplatteredintothefacesoftheenemy。Towarditinstantlysprangtheyel—
lowtongues。Avastquantityofbluesmokehungbeforethem。Amightybangingmadeearsvalueless。
Theyouthranlikeamadmantoreachthewoodsbeforeabulletcoulddiscoverhim。Heduckedhisheadlow，likeafootballplayer。Inhishastehiseyesalmostclosed，andthescenewasawildblur。Pulsatingsalivastoodatthecornersofhismouth。
Withinhim，ashehurledhimselfforward，wasbornalove，adespairingfondnessforthisflagwhichwasnearhim。Itwasacreationofbeautyandinvulnerability。Itwasagoddess，radiant，thatbendeditsformwithanimperiousgesturetohim。Itwasawoman，redandwhite，hatingandloving，thatcalledhimwiththevoiceofhishopes。Becausenoharmcouldcometoitheen—
doweditwithpower。Hekeptnear，asifitcouldbeasaveroflives，andanimploringcrywentfromhismind。
Inthemadscramblehewasawarethatthecolorsergeantflinchedsuddenly，asifstruckbyabludgeon。Hefaltered，andthenbecamemotion—
less，saveforhisquiveringknees。
Hemadeaspringandaclutchatthepole。
Atthesameinstanthisfriendgrabbeditfromtheotherside。Theyjerkedatit，stoutandfurious，butthecolorsergeantwasdead，andthecorpsewouldnotrelinquishitstrust。Foramomenttherewasagrimencounter。Thedeadman，swingingwithbendedback，seemedtobeobsti—
natelytugging，inludicrousandawfulways，forthepossessionoftheflag。
Itwaspastinaninstantoftime。Theywrenchedtheflagfuriouslyfromthedeadman，and，astheyturnedagain，thecorpseswayedfor—
wardwithbowedhead。Onearmswunghigh，andthecurvedhandfellwithheavyprotestonthefriend’sunheedingshoulder。
chapter20
CHAPTERXX。
WHENthetwoyouthsturnedwiththeflagtheysawthatmuchoftheregimenthadcrum—
bledaway，andthedejectedremnantwascomingslowlyback。Themen，havinghurledthemselvesinprojectilefashion，hadpresentlyexpendedtheirforces。Theyslowlyretreated，withtheirfacesstilltowardthesplutteringwoods，andtheirhotriflesstillreplyingtothedin。Severalofficersweregivingorders，theirvoiceskeyedtoscreams。
\"Whereinhellyehgoin’？\"thelieutenantwasaskinginasarcastichowl。Andared—beardedofficer，whosevoiceoftriplebrasscouldplainlybeheard，wascommanding：\"Shootinto’em！
Shootinto’em，Gawddamntheirsouls！\"Therewasameleeofscreeches，inwhichthemenwereorderedtodoconflictingandimpossiblethings。
Theyouthandhisfriendhadasmallscuffleovertheflag。\"Giveitt’me！\"\"No，letmekeepit！\"Eachfeltsatisfiedwiththeother’spos—
sessionofit，buteachfeltboundtodeclare，by189
anoffertocarrytheemblem，hiswillingnesstofurtherriskhimself。Theyouthroughlypushedhisfriendaway。
Theregimentfellbacktothestolidtrees。
Thereithaltedforamomenttoblazeatsomedarkformsthathadbeguntostealuponitstrack。
Presentlyitresumeditsmarchagain，curvingamongthetreetrunks。Bythetimethedepletedregimenthadagainreachedthefirstopenspacetheywerereceivingafastandmercilessfire。
Thereseemedtobemobsallaboutthem。
Thegreaterpartofthemen，discouraged，theirspiritswornbytheturmoil，actedasifstunned。Theyacceptedthepeltingofthebul—
letswithbowedandwearyheads。Itwasofnopurposetostriveagainstwalls。Itwasofnousetobatterthemselvesagainstgranite。Andfromthisconsciousnessthattheyhadattemptedtoconqueranunconquerablethingthereseemedtoariseafeelingthattheyhadbeenbetrayed。
Theygloweredwithbentbrows，butdanger—
ously，uponsomeoftheofficers，moreparticu—
larlyuponthered—beardedonewiththevoiceoftriplebrass。
However，therearoftheregimentwasfringedwithmen，whocontinuedtoshootirritablyattheadvancingfoes。Theyseemedresolvedtomakeeverytrouble。Theyouthfullieutenantwasper—
hapsthelastmaninthedisorderedmass。Hisforgottenbackwastowardtheenemy。Hehadbeenshotinthearm。Ithungstraightandrigid。
Occasionallyhewouldceasetorememberit，andbeabouttoemphasizeanoathwithasweepinggesture。Themultipliedpaincausedhimtoswearwithincrediblepower。
Theyouthwentalongwithslipping，uncertainfeet。Hekeptwatchfuleyesrearward。Ascowlofmortificationandragewasuponhisface。Hehadthoughtofafinerevengeupontheofficerwhohadreferredtohimandhisfellowsasmuledrivers。Buthesawthatitcouldnotcometopass。Hisdreamshadcollapsedwhenthemuledrivers，dwindlingrapidly，hadwaveredandhes—
itatedonthelittleclearing，andthenhadrecoiled。
Andnowtheretreatofthemuledriverswasamarchofshametohim。
Adagger—pointedgazefromwithouthisblack—
enedfacewasheldtowardtheenemy，buthisgreaterhatredwasrivetedupontheman，who，notknowinghim，hadcalledhimamuledriver。
Whenheknewthatheandhiscomradeshadfailedtodoanythinginsuccessfulwaysthatmightbringthelittlepangsofakindofremorseupontheofficer，theyouthallowedtherageofthebaf—
fledtopossesshim。Thiscoldofficeruponamonument，whodroppedepithetsunconcernedlydown，wouldbefinerasadeadman，hethought。
Sogrievousdidhethinkitthathecouldneverpossessthesecretrighttotaunttrulyinanswer。
Hehadpicturedredlettersofcuriousrevenge。
\"WeAREmuledrivers，arewe？\"Andnowhewascompelledtothrowthemaway。
Hepresentlywrappedhisheartinthecloakofhisprideandkepttheflagerect。Heha—
ranguedhisfellows，pushingagainsttheirchestswithhisfreehand。Tothoseheknewwellhemadefranticappeals，beseechingthembyname。
Betweenhimandthelieutenant，scoldingandneartolosinghismindwithrage，therewasfeltasubtlefellowshipandequality。Theysupportedeachotherinallmannerofhoarse，howlingpro—
tests。
Buttheregimentwasamachinerundown。
Thetwomenbabbledataforcelessthing。Thesoldierswhohadhearttogoslowlywerecon—
tinuallyshakenintheirresolvesbyaknowledgethatcomradeswereslippingwithspeedbacktothelines。Itwasdifficulttothinkofreputationwhenotherswerethinkingofskins。Woundedmenwereleftcryingonthisblackjourney。
Thesmokefringesandflamesblusteredal—
ways。Theyouth，peeringoncethroughasud—
denriftinacloud，sawabrownmassoftroops，interwovenandmagnifieduntiltheyappearedtobethousands。Afierce—huedflagflashedbeforehisvision。
Immediately，asiftheupliftingofthesmokehadbeenprearranged，thediscoveredtroopsburstintoaraspingyell，andahundredflamesjettedtowardtheretreatingband。Arollinggraycloudagaininterposedastheregimentdog—
gedlyreplied。Theyouthhadtodependagainuponhismisusedears，whichweretremblingandbuzzingfromthemeleeofmusketryandyells。
Thewayseemedeternal。Inthecloudedhazemenbecamepanicstrickenwiththethoughtthattheregimenthadlostitspath，andwasproceed—
inginaperilousdirection。Oncethemenwhoheadedthewildprocessionturnedandcamepush—
ingbackagainsttheircomrades，screamingthattheywerebeingfireduponfrompointswhichtheyhadconsideredtobetowardtheirownlines。
Atthiscryahystericalfearanddismaybesetthetroops。Asoldier，whoheretoforehadbeenam—
bitioustomaketheregimentintoawiselittlebandthatwouldproceedcalmlyamidthehuge—
appearingdifficulties，suddenlysankdownandburiedhisfaceinhisarmswithanairofbowingtoadoom。Fromanotherashrilllamentationrangoutfilledwithprofaneallusionstoageneral。
Menranhitherandthither，seekingwiththeireyesroadsofescape。Withsereneregularity，asifcontrolledbyaschedule，bulletsbuffedintomen。
Theyouthwalkedstolidlyintothemidstofthemob，andwithhisflaginhishandstookastandasifheexpectedanattempttopushhimtotheground。Heunconsciouslyassumedtheatti—
tudeofthecolorbearerinthefightofthepre—
cedingday。Hepassedoverhisbrowahandthattrembled。Hisbreathdidnotcomefreely。
Hewaschokingduringthissmallwaitforthecrisis。
Hisfriendcametohim。\"Well，Henry，I
guessthisisgood—by——John。\"
\"Oh，shutup，youdamnedfool！\"repliedtheyouth，andhewouldnotlookattheother。
Theofficerslaboredlikepoliticianstobeatthemassintoapropercircletofacethemen—
aces。Thegroundwasunevenandtorn。Themencurledintodepressionsandfittedthem—
selvessnuglybehindwhateverwouldfrustrateabullet。
Theyouthnotedwithvaguesurprisethatthelieutenantwasstandingmutelywithhislegsfarapartandhisswordheldinthemannerofacane。
Theyouthwonderedwhathadhappenedtohisvocalorgansthathenomorecursed。
Therewassomethingcuriousinthislittlein—
tentpauseofthelieutenant。Hewaslikeababewhich，havingweptitsfill，raisesitseyesandfixesuponadistanttoy。Hewasengrossedinthiscontemplation，andthesoftunderlipquiveredfromself—whisperedwords。
Somelazyandignorantsmokecurledslowly。
Themen，hidingfromthebullets，waitedanx—
iouslyforittoliftanddisclosetheplightoftheregiment。
Thesilentranksweresuddenlythrilledbytheeagervoiceoftheyouthfullieutenantbawlingout：\"Heretheycome！Rightontous，b’Gawd！\"Hisfurtherwordswerelostinaroarofwickedthunderfromthemen’srifles。
Theyouth’seyeshadinstantlyturnedinthedirectionindicatedbytheawakenedandagitatedlieutenant，andhehadseenthehazeoftreacherydisclosingabodyofsoldiersoftheenemy。Theyweresonearthathecouldseetheirfeatures。
Therewasarecognitionashelookedatthetypesoffaces。Alsoheperceivedwithdimamazementthattheiruniformswererathergayineffect，beinglightgray，accentedwithabrilliant—huedfacing。Too，theclothesseemednew。
Thesetroopshadapparentlybeengoingfor—
wardwithcaution，theirriflesheldinreadiness，whentheyouthfullieutenanthaddiscoveredthemandtheirmovementhadbeeninterruptedbythevolleyfromtheblueregiment。Fromthemoment’sglimpse，itwasderivedthattheyhadbeenunawareoftheproximityoftheirdark—
suitedfoesorhadmistakenthedirection。Al—
mostinstantlytheywereshututterlyfromtheyouth’ssightbythesmokefromtheenergeticriflesofhiscompanions。Hestrainedhisvisiontolearntheaccomplishmentofthevolley，butthesmokehungbeforehim。
Thetwobodiesoftroopsexchangedblowsinthemannerofapairofboxers。Thefastangryfiringswentbackandforth。Themeninbluewereintentwiththedespairoftheircircum—
stancesandtheyseizedupontherevengetobehadatcloserange。Theirthunderswelledloudandvaliant。Theircurvingfrontbristledwithflashesandtheplaceresoundedwiththeclangoroftheirramrods。Theyouthduckedanddodgedforatimeandachievedafewunsatisfactoryviewsoftheenemy。Thereappearedtobemanyofthemandtheywerereplyingswiftly。Theyseemedmovingtowardtheblueregiment，stepbystep。Heseatedhimselfgloomilyonthegroundwithhisflagbetweenhisknees。
Ashenotedthevicious，wolfliketemperofhiscomradeshehadasweetthoughtthatiftheenemywasabouttoswallowtheregimentalbroomasalargeprisoner，itcouldatleasthavetheconsolationofgoingdownwithbristlesfor—
ward。
Buttheblowsoftheantagonistbegantogrowmoreweak。Fewerbulletsrippedtheair，andfinally，whenthemenslackenedtolearnofthefight，theycouldseeonlydark，floatingsmoke。Theregimentlaystillandgazed。Pres—
entlysomechancewhimcametothepesteringblur，anditbegantocoilheavilyaway。Themensawagroundvacantoffighters。Itwouldhavebeenanemptystageifitwerenotforafewcorpsesthatlaythrownandtwistedintofantasticshapesuponthesward。
Atsightofthistableau，manyofthemeninbluesprangfrombehindtheircoversandmadeanungainlydanceofjoy。Theireyesburnedandahoarsecheerofelationbrokefromtheirdrylips。
Ithadbeguntoseemtothemthateventsweretryingtoprovethattheywereimpotent。Theselittlebattleshadevidentlyendeavoredtodemon—
stratethatthemencouldnotfightwell。Whenonthevergeofsubmissiontotheseopinions，thesmallduelhadshowedthemthatthepropor—
tionswerenotimpossible，andbyittheyhadrevengedthemselvesupontheirmisgivingsanduponthefoe。
Theimpetusofenthusiasmwastheirsagain。
Theygazedaboutthemwithlooksofupliftedpride，feelingnewtrustinthegrim，alwaysconfidentweaponsintheirhands。Andtheyweremen。
chapter21
CHAPTERXXI。
PRESENTLYtheyknewthatnofiringthreat—
enedthem。Allwaysseemedoncemoreopenedtothem。Thedustybluelinesoftheirfriendsweredisclosedashortdistanceaway。Inthedistancethereweremanycolossalnoises，butinallthispartofthefieldtherewasasuddenstillness。
Theyperceivedthattheywerefree。Thedepletedbanddrewalongbreathofreliefandgathereditselfintoabunchtocompleteitstrip。
Inthislastlengthofjourneythemenbegantoshowstrangeemotions。Theyhurriedwithnervousfear。Somewhohadbeendarkandun—
falteringinthegrimmestmomentsnowcouldnotconcealananxietythatmadethemfrantic。Itwasperhapsthattheydreadedtobekilledininsignificantwaysafterthetimesforpropermilitarydeathshadpassed。Or，perhaps，theythoughtitwouldbetooironicaltogetkilledat199
theportalsofsafety。Withbackwardlooksofperturbation，theyhastened。
Astheyapproachedtheirownlinestherewassomesarcasmexhibitedonthepartofagauntandbronzedregimentthatlayrestingintheshadeoftrees。Questionswerewaftedtothem。
\"Whereth’hellyehbeen？\"
\"Whatyehcomin’backfer？\"
\"Whydidn’tyehstaythere？\"
\"Wasitwarmoutthere，sonny？\"
\"Goin’homenow，boys？\"
Oneshoutedintauntingmimicry：\"Oh，mother，comequickan’lookatth’sojers！\"
Therewasnoreplyfromthebruisedandbat—
teredregiment，savethatonemanmadebroad—
castchallengestofistfightsandthered—beardedofficerwalkedrathernearandglaredingreatswashbucklerstyleatatallcaptainintheotherregiment。Butthelieutenantsuppressedthemanwhowishedtofistfight，andthetallcap—
tain，flushingatthelittlefanfareofthered—
beardedone，wasobligedtolookintentlyatsometrees。
Theyouth’stenderfleshwasdeeplystungbytheseremarks。Fromunderhiscreasedbrowshegloweredwithhateatthemockers。Hemeditateduponafewrevenges。Still，manyintheregimenthungtheirheadsincriminalfashion，sothatitcametopassthatthementrudgedwithsuddenheaviness，asiftheyboreupontheirbendedshouldersthecoffinoftheirhonor。Andtheyouthfullieutenant，recollectinghimself，be—
gantomuttersoftlyinblackcurses。
Theyturnedwhentheyarrivedattheiroldpositiontoregardthegroundoverwhichtheyhadcharged。
Theyouthinthiscontemplationwassmittenwithalargeastonishment。Hediscoveredthatthedistances，ascomparedwiththebrilliantmeasuringsofhismind，weretrivialandridicu—
lous。Thestolidtrees，wheremuchhadtakenplace，seemedincrediblynear。Thetime，too，nowthathereflected，hesawtohavebeenshort。
Hewonderedatthenumberofemotionsandeventsthathadbeencrowdedintosuchlittlespaces。Elfinthoughtsmusthaveexaggeratedandenlargedeverything，hesaid。
Itseemed，then，thattherewasbitterjusticeinthespeechesofthegauntandbronzedvet—
erans。Heveiledaglanceofdisdainathisfel—
lowswhostrewedtheground，chokingwithdust，redfromperspiration，misty—eyed，disheveled。
Theyweregulpingattheircanteens，fiercetowringeverymiteofwaterfromthem，andtheypolishedattheirswollenandwateryfeatureswithcoatsleevesandbunchesofgrass。
However，totheyouththerewasaconsider—
ablejoyinmusinguponhisperformancesduringthecharge。Hehadhadverylittletimepre—
viouslyinwhichtoappreciatehimself，sothattherewasnowmuchsatisfactioninquietlythink—
ingofhisactions。Herecalledbitsofcolorthatintheflurryhadstampedthemselvesunawaresuponhisengagedsenses。
Astheregimentlayheavingfromitshotexer—
tionstheofficerwhohadnamedthemasmuledriverscamegallopingalongtheline。Hehadlosthiscap。Histousledhairstreamedwildly，andhisfacewasdarkwithvexationandwrath。
Histemperwasdisplayedwithmoreclearnessbythewayinwhichhemanagedhishorse。Hejerkedandwrenchedsavagelyathisbridle，stop—
pingthehard—breathinganimalwithafuriouspullnearthecoloneloftheregiment。Heim—
mediatelyexplodedinreproacheswhichcameunbiddentotheearsofthemen。Theyweresuddenlyalert，beingalwayscuriousaboutblackwordsbetweenofficers。
\"Oh，thunder，MacChesnay，whatanawfulbullyoumadeofthisthing！\"begantheofficer。
Heattemptedlowtones，buthisindignationcausedcertainofthementolearnthesenseofhiswords。\"Whatanawfulmessyoumade！
GoodLord，man，youstoppedaboutahun—
dredfeetthissideofaveryprettysuccess！Ifyourmenhadgoneahundredfeetfartheryouwouldhavemadeagreatcharge，butasitis——whatalotofmuddiggersyou’vegotany—
way！\"
Themen，listeningwithbatedbreath，nowturnedtheircuriouseyesuponthecolonel。
Theyhadaragamuffininterestinthisaffair。
Thecolonelwasseentostraightenhisformandputonehandforthinoratoricalfashion。
Heworeaninjuredair;itwasasifadeaconhadbeenaccusedofstealing。Themenwerewigglinginanecstasyofexcitement。
Butofasuddenthecolonel’smannerchangedfromthatofadeacontothatofaFrenchman。
Heshruggedhisshoulders。\"Oh，well，general，wewentasfaraswecould，\"hesaidcalmly。
\"Asfarasyoucould？Didyou，b’Gawd？\"
snortedtheother。\"Well，thatwasn’tveryfar，wasit？\"headded，withaglanceofcoldcon—
temptintotheother’seyes。\"Notveryfar，I
think。YouwereintendedtomakeadiversioninfavorofWhiterside。Howwellyousucceededyourownearscannowtellyou。\"Hewheeledhishorseandrodestifflyaway。
Thecolonel，biddentohearthejarringnoisesofanengagementinthewoodstotheleft，brokeoutinvaguedamnations。
Thelieutenant，whohadlistenedwithanairofimpotentragetotheinterview，spokesuddenlyinfirmandundauntedtones。\"Idon’tcarewhatamanis——whetherheisageneralorwhat——ifhesaysth’boysdidn’tputupagoodfightouttherehe’sadamnedfool。\"
\"Lieutenant，\"beganthecolonel，severely，\"thisismyownaffair，andI’lltroubleyou——\"
Thelieutenantmadeanobedientgesture。
\"Allright，colonel，allright，\"hesaid。Hesatdownwithanairofbeingcontentwithhim—
self。
Thenewsthattheregimenthadbeenre—
proachedwentalongtheline。Foratimethemenwerebewilderedbyit。\"Goodthunder！\"
theyejaculated，staringatthevanishingformofthegeneral。Theyconceivedittobeahugemistake。
Presently，however，theybegantobelievethatintruththeireffortshadbeencalledlight。Theyouthcouldseethisconvictionweighupontheentireregimentuntilthemenwerelikecuffedandcursedanimals，butwithalrebellious。
Thefriend，withagrievanceinhiseye，wenttotheyouth。\"Iwonderwhathedoeswant，\"hesaid。\"Hemustthinkwewentouttherean’playedmarbles！Ineverseesechaman！\"
Theyouthdevelopedatranquilphilosophyforthesemomentsofirritation。\"Oh，well，\"herejoined，\"heprobablydidn’tseenothingofitatallandgotmadasblazes，andconcludedwewerealotofsheep，justbecausewedidn’tdowhathewanteddone。It’sapityoldGrandpaHender—
songotkilledyestirday——he’dhaveknownthatwedidourbestandfoughtgood。It’sjustourawfulluck，that’swhat。\"
\"Ishouldsayso，\"repliedthefriend。Heseemedtobedeeplywoundedataninjustice。
\"Ishouldsaywedidhaveawfulluck！There’snofuninfightin’ferpeoplewheneverythingyehdo——nomatterwhat——ain’tdoneright。I
haveanotiont’staybehindnexttimean’let’emtaketheirol’chargean’got’th’devilwithit。\"
Theyouthspokesoothinglytohiscomrade。
\"Well，webothdidgood。I’dliketoseethefoolwhat’dsaywebothdidn’tdoasgoodaswecould！\"
\"Ofcoursewedid，\"declaredthefriendstoutly。\"An’I’dbreakth’feller’sneckifhewasasbigasachurch。Butwe’reallright，anyhow，forIheardonefellersaythatwetwofitth’bestinth’reg’ment，an’theyhadagreatargument’boutit。Anotherfeller，’acourse，hehadt’upan’sayitwasalie——heseenallwhatwasgoin’
onan’heneverseenusfromth’beginnin’t’th’
end。An’alotmorestruckinan’sesitwasn’talie——wedidfightlikethunder，an’theygiveusquiteasend—off。ButthisiswhatIcan’tstand——theseeverlastin’ol’soldiers，titterin’an’
laughin’，an’thenthatgeneral，he’scrazy。\"
Theyouthexclaimedwithsuddenexaspera—
tion：\"He’salunkhead！Hemakesmemad。
Iwishhe’dcomealongnexttime。We’dshow’imwhat——\"
Heceasedbecauseseveralmenhadcomehurryingup。Theirfacesexpressedabringingofgreatnews。
\"OFlem，yehjestoughtaheard！\"criedone，eagerly。
\"Heardwhat？\"saidtheyouth。
\"Yehjestoughtaheard！\"repeatedtheother，andhearrangedhimselftotellhistidings。Theothersmadeanexcitedcircle。\"Well，sir，th’
colonelmetyourlieutenantrightbyus——itwasdamnedestthingIeverheard——an’heses：’Ahem！
ahem！’heses。’Mr。Hasbrouck！’heses，’byth’way，whowasthatladwhatcarriedth’flag？’
heses。There，Flemin’，whatd’yehthink’athat？’Whowasth’ladwhatcarriedth’flag？’
heses，an’th’lieutenant，hespeaksuprightaway：’That’sFlemin’，an’he’sajimhickey，’heses，rightaway。What？Isayhedid。’Ajim—
hickey，’heses——those’rhiswords。Hedid，too。
Isayhedid。IfyoukintellthisstorybetterthanIkin，goaheadan’tellit。Well，then，keepyermouthshet。Th’lieutenant，heses：’He’sajimhickey，’an’th’colonel，heses：’Ahem！ahem！
heis，indeed，averygoodmant’have，ahem！Hekep’th’flag’wayt’th’front。Isaw’im。He’sagoodun，’sesth’colonel。’Youbet，’sesth’lieu—
tenant，’hean’afellernamedWilsonwasatth’
head’ath’charge，an’howlin’likeIndiansallth’
time，’heses。’Head’ath’chargeallth’time，’
heses。’AfellernamedWilson，’heses。There，Wilson，m’boy，putthatinaletteran’sendithumt’yermother，hay？’AfellernamedWil—
son，’heses。An’th’colonel，heses：’Werethey，indeed？Ahem！ahem！Mysakes！’heses。’Atth’head’ath’reg’ment？’heses。’Theywere，’
sesth’lieutenant。’Mysakes！’sesth’colonel。
Heses：’Well，well，well，’heses，’thosetwobabies？’’Theywere，’sesth’lieutenant。
’Well，well，’sesth’colonel，’theydeservet’bemajorgenerals，’heses。’Theydeservet’bemajor—generals。’
Theyouthandhisfriendhadsaid：\"Huh！\"
\"Yerlyin’，Thompson。\"\"Oh，got’blazes！\"
\"Heneversedit。\"\"Oh，whatalie！\"\"Huh！\"
Butdespitetheseyouthfulscoffingsandembar—
rassments，theyknewthattheirfacesweredeeplyflushingfromthrillsofpleasure。Theyex—
changedasecretglanceofjoyandcongratula—
tion。
Theyspeedilyforgotmanythings。Thepastheldnopicturesoferroranddisappointment。
Theywereveryhappy，andtheirheartsswelledwithgratefulaffectionforthecolonelandtheyouthfullieutenant。
chapter22
CHAPTERXXII。
WHENthewoodsagainbegantopourforththedark—huedmassesoftheenemytheyouthfeltsereneself—confidence。Hesmiledbrieflywhenhesawmendodgeandduckatthelongscreech—
ingsofshellsthatwerethrowningianthandfulsoverthem。Hestood，erectandtranquil，watch—
ingtheattackbeginagainstapartofthelinethatmadeabluecurvealongthesideofanadja—
centhill。Hisvisionbeingunmolestedbysmokefromtheriflesofhiscompanions，hehadoppor—
tunitiestoseepartsofthehardfight。Itwasarelieftoperceiveatlastfromwhencecamesomeofthesenoiseswhichhadbeenroaredintohisears。
Offashortwayhesawtworegimentsfight—
ingalittleseparatebattlewithtwootherregi—
ments。Itwasinaclearedspace，wearingaset—
apartlook。Theywereblazingasifuponawager，givingandtakingtremendousblows。
Thefiringswereincrediblyfierceandrapid。
209
Theseintentregimentsapparentlywereobliviousofalllargerpurposesofwar，andweresluggingeachotherasifatamatchedgame。
Inanotherdirectionhesawamagnificentbrigadegoingwiththeevidentintentionofdriv—
ingtheenemyfromawood。Theypassedinoutofsightandpresentlytherewasamostawe—in—
spiringracketinthewood。Thenoisewasun—
speakable。Havingstirredthisprodigiousup—
roar，and，apparently，findingittooprodigious，thebrigade，afteralittletime，camemarchingairilyoutagainwithitsfineformationinnowisedisturbed。Therewerenotracesofspeedinitsmovements。Thebrigadewasjauntyandseemedtopointaproudthumbattheyellingwood。
Onaslopetothelefttherewasalongrowofguns，gruffandmaddened，denouncingtheenemy，who，downthroughthewoods，wereformingforanotherattackinthepitilessmo—
notonyofconflicts。Theroundreddischargesfromthegunsmadeacrimsonflareandahigh，thicksmoke。Occasionalglimpsescouldbecaughtofgroupsofthetoilingartillerymen。Intherearofthisrowofgunsstoodahouse，calmandwhite，amidburstingshells。Acongregationofhorses，tiedtoalongrailing，weretuggingfrenziedlyattheirbridles。Menwererunninghitherandthither。
Thedetachedbattlebetweenthefourregi—
mentslastedforsometime。Therechancedtobenointerference，andtheysettledtheirdisputebythemselves。Theystrucksavagelyandpow—
erfullyateachotherforaperiodofminutes，andthenthelighter—huedregimentsfalteredanddrewback，leavingthedark—bluelinesshouting。
Theyouthcouldseethetwoflagsshakingwithlaughteramidthesmokeremnants。
Presentlytherewasastillness，pregnantwithmeaning。Thebluelinesshiftedandchangedatrifleandstaredexpectantlyatthesilentwoodsandfieldsbeforethem。Thehushwassolemnandchurchlike，saveforadistantbatterythat，evidentlyunabletoremainquiet，sentafaintrollingthunderovertheground。Itirritated，likethenoisesofunimpressedboys。Themenimaginedthatitwouldpreventtheirperchedearsfromhearingthefirstwordsofthenewbattle。
Ofasuddenthegunsonthesloperoaredoutamessageofwarning。Asplutteringsoundhadbeguninthewoods。Itswelledwithamazingspeedtoaprofoundclamorthatinvolvedtheearthinnoises。Thesplittingcrashessweptalongthelinesuntilaninterminableroarwasdeveloped。Tothoseinthemidstofititbecameadinfittedtotheuniverse。Itwasthewhirringandthumpingofgiganticmachinery，complica—
tionsamongthesmallerstars。Theyouth’searswerefilledup。Theywereincapableofhearingmore。
Onaninclineoverwhicharoadwoundhesawwildanddesperaterushesofmenperpet—
uallybackwardandforwardinriotoussurges。
Thesepartsoftheopposingarmiesweretwolongwavesthatpitcheduponeachothermadlyatdictatedpoints。Toandfrotheyswelled。
Sometimes，onesidebyitsyellsandcheerswouldproclaimdecisiveblows，butamomentlatertheothersidewouldbeallyellsandcheers。
Oncetheyouthsawasprayoflightformsgoinhoundlikeleapstowardthewavingbluelines。
Therewasmuchhowling，andpresentlyitwentawaywithavastmouthfulofprisoners。Again，hesawabluewavedashwithsuchthunderousforceagainstagrayobstructionthatitseemedtocleartheearthofitandleavenothingbuttrampledsod。Andalwaysintheirswiftanddeadlyrushestoandfrothemenscreamedandyelledlikemaniacs。
Particularpiecesoffenceorsecurepositionsbehindcollectionsoftreeswerewrangledover，asgoldthronesorpearlbedsteads。Thereweredesperatelungesatthesechosenspotsseeminglyeveryinstant，andmostofthemwerebandiedlikelighttoysbetweenthecontendingforces。Theyouthcouldnottellfromthebattleflagsflyinglikecrimsonfoaminmanydirectionswhichcolorofclothwaswinning。
Hisemaciatedregimentbustledforthwithundiminishedfiercenesswhenitstimecame。
Whenassaultedagainbybullets，themenburstoutinabarbariccryofrageandpain。Theybenttheirheadsinaimsofintenthatredbehindtheprojectedhammersoftheirguns。
Theirramrodsclangedloudwithfuryastheireagerarmspoundedthecartridgesintotheriflebarrels。Thefrontoftheregimentwasasmoke—
wallpenetratedbytheflashingpointsofyellowandred。
Wallowinginthefight，theywereinanastonishinglyshorttimeresmudged。Theysurpassedinstainanddirtalltheirpreviousap—
pearances。Movingtoandfrowithstrainedexertion，jabberingthewhile，theywere，withtheirswayingbodies，blackfaces，andglowingeyes，likestrangeanduglyfriendsjiggingheavilyinthesmoke。
Thelieutenant，returningfromatourafterabandage，producedfromahiddenreceptacleofhismindnewandportentousoathssuitedtotheemergency。Stringsofexpletivesheswunglashlikeoverthebacksofhismen，anditwasevidentthathispreviouseffortshadinnowiseimpairedhisresources。
Theyouth，stillthebearerofthecolors，didnotfeelhisidleness。Hewasdeeplyabsorbedasaspectator。Thecrashandswingofthegreatdramamadehimleanforward，intent—eyed，hisfaceworkinginsmallcontortions。Sometimesheprattled，wordscomingunconsciouslyfromhimingrotesqueexclamations。Hedidnotknowthathebreathed;thattheflaghungsilentlyoverhim，soabsorbedwashe。
Aformidablelineoftheenemycamewithindangerousrange。Theycouldbeseenplainly——
tall，gauntmenwithexcitedfacesrunningwithlongstridestowardawanderingfence。
Atsightofthisdangerthemensuddenlyceasedtheircursingmonotone。Therewasaninstantofstrainedsilencebeforetheythrewuptheirriflesandfiredaplumpingvolleyatthefoes。Therehadbeennoordergiven;themen，uponrecognizingthemenace，hadimmedi—
atelyletdrivetheirflockofbulletswithoutwait—
ingforwordofcommand。
Buttheenemywerequicktogaintheprotec—
tionofthewanderinglineoffence。Theysliddownbehinditwithremarkablecelerity，andfromthispositiontheybeganbrisklytosliceupthebluemen。
Theselatterbracedtheirenergiesforagreatstruggle。Often，whiteclinchedteethshonefromtheduskyfaces。Manyheadssurgedtoandfro，floatinguponapaleseaofsmoke。
Thosebehindthefencefrequentlyshoutedandyelpedintauntsandgibelikecries，buttheregi—
mentmaintainedastressedsilence。Perhaps，atthisnewassaultthemenrecalledthefactthattheyhadbeennamedmuddiggers，anditmadetheirsituationthricebitter。Theywerebreath—
lesslyintentuponkeepingthegroundandthrust—
ingawaytherejoicingbodyoftheenemy。Theyfoughtswiftlyandwithadespairingsavagenessdenotedintheirexpressions。
Theyouthhadresolvednottobudgewhat—
evershouldhappen。Somearrowsofscornthathadburiedthemselvesinhishearthadgeneratedstrangeandunspeakablehatred。Itwascleartohimthathisfinalandabsoluterevengewastobeachievedbyhisdeadbodylying，tornandgluttering，uponthefield。Thiswastobeapoignantretaliationupontheofficerwhohadsaid\"muledrivers，\"andlater\"muddiggers，\"
forinallthewildgraspingsofhismindforaunitresponsibleforhissufferingsandcommo—
tionshealwaysseizeduponthemanwhohaddubbedhimwrongly。Anditwashisidea，vaguelyformulated，thathiscorpsewouldbeforthoseeyesagreatandsaltreproach。
Theregimentbledextravagantly。Gruntingbundlesofbluebegantodrop。Theorderlysergeantoftheyouth’scompanywasshotthroughthecheeks。Itssupportsbeinginjured，hisjawhungafardown，disclosinginthewidecavernofhismouthapulsingmassofbloodandteeth。
Andwithitallhemadeattemptstocryout。
Inhisendeavortherewasadreadfulearnestness，asifheconceivedthatonegreatshriekwouldmakehimwell。
Theyouthsawhimpresentlygorearward。
Hisstrengthseemedinnowiseimpaired。Heranswiftly，castingwildglancesforsuccor。
Othersfelldownaboutthefeetoftheircom—
panions。Someofthewoundedcrawledoutandaway，butmanylaystill，theirbodiestwistedintoimpossibleshapes。
Theyouthlookedonceforhisfriend。Hesawavehementyoungman，powder—smearedandfrowzled，whomheknewtobehim。Thelieu—
tenant，also，wasunscathedinhispositionattherear。Hehadcontinuedtocurse，butitwasnowwiththeairofamanwhowasusinghislastboxofoaths。
Forthefireoftheregimenthadbeguntowaneanddrip。Therobustvoice，thathadcomestrangelyfromthethinranks，wasgrowingrapidlyweak。
chapter23
CHAPTERXXIII。
THEcolonelcamerunningalongbackoftheline。Therewereotherofficersfollowinghim。
\"Wemustcharge’m！\"theyshouted。\"Wemustcharge’m！\"theycriedwithresentfulvoices，asifanticipatingarebellionagainstthisplanbythemen。
Theyouth，uponhearingtheshouts，begantostudythedistancebetweenhimandtheenemy。
Hemadevaguecalculations。Hesawthattobefirmsoldierstheymustgoforward。Itwouldbedeathtostayinthepresentplace，andwithallthecircumstancestogobackwardwouldexalttoomanyothers。Theirhopewastopushthegallingfoesawayfromthefence。
Heexpectedthathiscompanions，wearyandstiffened，wouldhavetobedriventothisassault，butasheturnedtowardthemheperceivedwithacertainsurprisethattheyweregivingquickandunqualifiedexpressionsofassent。Therewasanominous，clangingoverturetothecharge217
whentheshaftsofthebayonetsrattledupontheriflebarrels。Attheyelledwordsofcommandthesoldierssprangforwardineagerleaps。
Therewasnewandunexpectedforceinthemovementoftheregiment。Aknowledgeofitsfadedandjadedconditionmadethechargeap—
pearlikeaparoxysm，adisplayofthestrengththatcomesbeforeafinalfeebleness。Themenscamperedininsanefeverofhaste，racingasiftoachieveasuddensuccessbeforeanexhilaratingfluidshouldleavethem。Itwasablindandde—
spairingrushbythecollectionofmenindustyandtatteredblue，overagreenswardandunderasapphiresky，towardafence，dimlyoutlinedinsmoke，frombehindwhichsplutteredthefierceriflesofenemies。
Theyouthkeptthebrightcolorstothefront。
Hewaswavinghisfreearminfuriouscircles，thewhileshriekingmadcallsandappeals，urgingonthosethatdidnotneedtobeurged，foritseemedthatthemobofbluemenhurlingthem—
selvesonthedangerousgroupofrifleswereagaingrownsuddenlywildwithanenthusiasmofunselfishness。Fromthemanyfiringsstartingtowardthem，itlookedasiftheywouldmerelysucceedinmakingagreatsprinklingofcorpsesonthegrassbetweentheirformerpositionandthefence。Buttheywereinastateoffrenzy，perhapsbecauseofforgottenvanities，anditmadeanexhibitionofsublimerecklessness。Therewasnoobviousquestioning，norfigurings，nordia—
grams。Therewas，apparently，noconsideredloopholes。Itappearedthattheswiftwingsoftheirdesireswouldhaveshatteredagainsttheirongatesoftheimpossible。
Hehimselffeltthedaringspiritofasavagereligionmad。Hewascapableofprofoundsacri—
fices，atremendousdeath。Hehadnotimefordissections，butheknewthathethoughtofthebulletsonlyasthingsthatcouldpreventhimfromreachingtheplaceofhisendeavor。Thereweresubtleflashingsofjoywithinhimthatthusshouldbehismind。
Hestrainedallhisstrength。Hiseyesightwasshakenanddazzledbythetensionofthoughtandmuscle。Hedidnotseeanythingexceptingthemistofsmokegashedbythelittleknivesoffire，butheknewthatinitlaytheagedfenceofavanishedfarmerprotectingthesnuggledbodiesofthegraymen。
Asheranathoughtoftheshockofcontactgleamedinhismind。Heexpectedagreatcon—
cussionwhenthetwobodiesoftroopscrashedtogether。Thisbecameapartofhiswildbattlemadness。Hecouldfeeltheonwardswingoftheregimentabouthimandheconceivedofathun—
derous，crushingblowthatwouldprostratetheresistanceandspreadconsternationandamaze—
mentformiles。Theflyingregimentwasgoingtohaveacatapultianeffect。Thisdreammadehimrunfasteramonghiscomrades，whoweregivingventtohoarseandfranticcheers。
Butpresentlyhecouldseethatmanyofthemeningraydidnotintendtoabidetheblow。
Thesmoke，rolling，disclosedmenwhoran，theirfacesstillturned。Thesegrewtoacrowd，whoretiredstubbornly。Individualswheeledfre—
quentlytosendabulletatthebluewave。
Butatonepartofthelinetherewasagrimandobdurategroupthatmadenomovement。
Theyweresettledfirmlydownbehindpostsandrails。Aflag，ruffledandfierce，wavedoverthemandtheirriflesdinnedfiercely。
Thebluewhirlofmengotverynear，untilitseemedthatintruththerewouldbeacloseandfrightfulscuffle。Therewasanexpresseddisdainintheoppositionofthelittlegroup，thatchangedthemeaningofthecheersofthemeninblue。Theybecameyellsofwrath，directed，personal。Thecriesofthetwopartieswerenowinsoundaninterchangeofscathinginsults。
Theyinblueshowedtheirteeth;theireyesshoneallwhite。Theylaunchedthemselvesasatthethroatsofthosewhostoodresisting。Thespacebetweendwindledtoaninsignificantdis—
tance。
Theyouthhadcenteredthegazeofhissouluponthatotherflag。Itspossessionwouldbehighpride。Itwouldexpressbloodyminglings，nearblows。Hehadagigantichatredforthosewhomadegreatdifficultiesandcomplications。
Theycausedittobeasacravedtreasureofmy—
thology，hungamidtasksandcontrivancesofdanger。
Heplungedlikeamadhorseatit。Hewasresolveditshouldnotescapeifwildblowsanddaringsofblowscouldseizeit。Hisownem—
blem，quiveringandaflare，waswingingtowardtheother。Itseemedtherewouldshortlybeanencounterofstrangebeaksandclaws，asofeagles。
Theswirlingbodyofbluemencametoasuddenhaltatcloseanddisastrousrangeandroaredaswiftvolley。Thegroupingraywassplitandbrokenbythisfire，butitsriddledbodystillfought。Themeninblueyelledagainandrushedinuponit。
Theyouth，inhisleapings，saw，asthroughamist，apictureoffourorfivemenstretcheduponthegroundorwrithingupontheirkneeswithbowedheadsasiftheyhadbeenstrickenbyboltsfromthesky。Totteringamongthemwastherivalcolorbearer，whomtheyouthsawhadbeenbittenvitallybythebulletsofthelastformidablevolley。Heperceivedthismanfightingalaststruggle，thestruggleofonewhoselegsaregraspedbydemons。Itwasaghastlybattle。
Overhisfacewasthebleachofdeath，butsetuponitwasthedarkandhardlinesofdesperatepurpose。Withthisterriblegrinofresolutionhehuggedhispreciousflagtohimandwasstum—
blingandstaggeringinhisdesigntogothewaythatledtosafetyforit。
Buthiswoundsalwaysmadeitseemthathisfeetwereretarded，held，andhefoughtagrimfight，aswithinvisibleghoulsfastenedgreedilyuponhislimbs。Thoseinadvanceofthescam—
peringbluemen，howlingcheers，leapedatthefence。Thedespairofthelostwasinhiseyesasheglancedbackatthem。
Theyouth’sfriendwentovertheobstructioninatumblingheapandsprangattheflagasapantheratprey。Hepulledatitand，wrench—
ingitfree，swungupitsredbrilliancywithamadcryofexultationevenasthecolorbearer，gasping，lurchedoverinafinalthroeand，stiff—
eningconvulsively，turnedhisdeadfacetotheground。Therewasmuchblooduponthegrassblades。
Attheplaceofsuccesstherebeganmorewildclamoringsofcheers。Themengesticulatedandbellowedinanecstasy。Whentheyspokeitwasasiftheyconsideredtheirlistenertobeamileaway。Whathatsandcapswerelefttothemtheyoftenslunghighintheair。
Atonepartofthelinefourmenhadbeenswoopedupon，andtheynowsatasprisoners。
Somebluemenwereabouttheminaneagerandcuriouscircle。Thesoldiershadtrappedstrangebirds，andtherewasanexamination。Aflurryoffastquestionswasintheair。
Oneoftheprisonerswasnursingasuperficialwoundinthefoot。Hecuddledit，baby—wise，buthelookedupfromitoftentocursewithanastonishingutterabandonstraightatthenosesofhiscaptors。Heconsignedthemtoredregions;
hecalleduponthepestilentialwrathofstrangegods。Andwithitallhewassingularlyfreefromrecognitionofthefinerpointsofthecon—
ductofprisonersofwar。Itwasasifaclumsyclodhadtroduponhistoeandheconceivedittobehisprivilege，hisduty，tousedeep，resentfuloaths。
Another，whowasaboyinyears，tookhisplightwithgreatcalmnessandapparentgoodnature。Heconversedwiththemeninblue，studyingtheirfaceswithhisbrightandkeeneyes。Theyspokeofbattlesandconditions。
Therewasanacuteinterestinalltheirfacesdur—
ingthisexchangeofviewpoints。Itseemedagreatsatisfactiontohearvoicesfromwhereallhadbeendarknessandspeculation。
Thethirdcaptivesatwithamorosecounte—
nance。Hepreservedastoicalandcoldattitude。
Toalladvanceshemadeonereplywithoutvaria—
tion，\"Ah，got’hell！\"
Thelastofthefourwasalwayssilentand，forthemostpart，kepthisfaceturnedinun—
molesteddirections。Fromtheviewstheyouthreceivedheseemedtobeinastateofabsolutedejection。Shamewasuponhim，andwithitprofoundregretthathewas，perhaps，nomoretobecountedintheranksofhisfellows。Theyouthcoulddetectnoexpressionthatwouldallowhimtobelievethattheotherwasgivingathoughttohisnarrowedfuture，thepictureddungeons，perhaps，andstarvationsandbrutali—
ties，liabletotheimagination。Alltobeseenwasshameforcaptivityandregretfortherighttoantagonize。
Afterthemenhadcelebratedsufficientlytheysettleddownbehindtheoldrailfence，ontheoppositesidetotheonefromwhichtheirfoeshadbeendriven。Afewshotperfunctorilyatdistantmarks。
Therewassomelonggrass。Theyouthnestledinitandrested，makingaconvenientrailsupporttheflag。Hisfriend，jubilantandglori—
fied，holdinghistreasurewithvanity，cametohimthere。Theysatsidebysideandcongratu—
latedeachother。
chapter24
CHAPTERXXIV。
THEroaringsthathadstretchedinalonglineofsoundacrossthefaceoftheforestbegantogrowintermittentandweaker。Thestentorianspeechesoftheartillerycontinuedinsomedis—
tantencounter，butthecrashesofthemusketryhadalmostceased。Theyouthandhisfriendofasuddenlookedup，feelingadeadenedformofdistressatthewaningofthesenoises，whichhadbecomeapartoflife。Theycouldseechangesgoingonamongthetroops。Thereweremarch—
ingsthiswayandthatway。Abatterywheeledleisurely。Onthecrestofasmallhillwasthethickgleamofmanydepartingmuskets。
Theyoutharose。\"Well，whatnow，Iwon—
der？\"hesaid。Byhistoneheseemedtobepreparingtoresentsomenewmonstrosityinthewayofdinsandsmashes。Heshadedhiseyeswithhisgrimyhandandgazedoverthefield。
Hisfriendalsoaroseandstared。\"Ibet226
we’regoin’t’gitalongoutofthisan’backoverth’river，\"saidhe。
\"Well，Iswan！\"saidtheyouth。
Theywaited，watching。Withinalittlewhiletheregimentreceivedorderstoretraceitsway。
Themengotupgruntingfromthegrass，regret—
tingthesoftrepose。Theyjerkedtheirstiffenedlegs，andstretchedtheirarmsovertheirheads。
Onemansworeasherubbedhiseyes。Theyallgroaned\"OLord！\"Theyhadasmanyobjec—
tionstothischangeastheywouldhavehadtoaproposalforanewbattle。
Theytrampledslowlybackoverthefieldacrosswhichtheyhadruninamadscamper。
Theregimentmarcheduntilithadjoineditsfellows。Thereformedbrigade，incolumn，aimedthroughawoodattheroad。Directlytheywereinamassofdust—coveredtroops，andweretrudgingalonginawayparalleltotheenemy’slinesasthesehadbeendefinedbythepreviousturmoil。
Theypassedwithinviewofastolidwhitehouse，andsawinfrontofitgroupsoftheircom—
radeslyinginwaitbehindaneatbreastwork。A
rowofgunswereboomingatadistantenemy。
Shellsthrowninreplywereraisingcloudsofdustandsplinters。Horsemendashedalongthelineofintrenchments。
Atthispointofitsmarchthedivisioncurvedawayfromthefieldandwentwindingoffinthedirectionoftheriver。Whenthesignificanceofthismovementhadimpresseditselfupontheyouthheturnedhisheadandlookedoverhisshouldertowardthetrampledanddebris—strewedground。Hebreathedabreathofnewsatisfac—
tion。Hefinallynudgedhisfriend。\"Well，it’sallover，\"hesaidtohim。
Hisfriendgazedbackward。\"B’Gawd，itis，\"heassented。Theymused。
Foratimetheyouthwasobligedtoreflectinapuzzledanduncertainway。Hismindwasundergoingasubtlechange。Ittookmomentsforittocastoffitsbattlefulwaysandresumeitsaccustomedcourseofthought。Graduallyhisbrainemergedfromthecloggedclouds，andatlasthewasenabledtomorecloselycompre—
hendhimselfandcircumstance。
Heunderstoodthenthattheexistenceofshotandcounter—shotwasinthepast。Hehaddweltinalandofstrange，squallingupheavalsandhadcomeforth。Hehadbeenwheretherewasredofbloodandblackofpassion，andhewases—
caped。Hisfirstthoughtsweregiventorejoic—
ingsatthisfact。
Laterhebegantostudyhisdeeds，hisfail—
ures，andhisachievements。Thus，freshfromsceneswheremanyofhisusualmachinesofre—
flectionhadbeenidle，fromwherehehadpro—
ceededsheeplike，hestruggledtomarshalallhisacts。
Atlasttheymarchedbeforehimclearly。
Fromthispresentviewpointhewasenabledtolookupontheminspectatorfashionandtocriticisethemwithsomecorrectness，forhisnewconditionhadalreadydefeatedcertainsym—
pathies。
Regardinghisprocessionofmemoryhefeltgleefulandunregretting，forinithispublicdeedswereparadedingreatandshiningprominence。
Thoseperformanceswhichhadbeenwitnessedbyhisfellowsmarchednowinwidepurpleandgold，havingvariousdeflections。Theywentgaylywithmusic。Itwaspleasuretowatchthesethings。Hespentdelightfulminutesviewingthegildedimagesofmemory。
Hesawthathewasgood。Herecalledwithathrillofjoytherespectfulcommentsofhisfel—
lowsuponhisconduct。
Nevertheless，theghostofhisflightfromthefirstengagementappearedtohimanddanced。Thereweresmallshoutingsinhisbrainaboutthesematters。Foramomentheblushed，andthelightofhissoulflickeredwithshame。
Aspecterofreproachcametohim。Thereloomedthedoggingmemoryofthetatteredsoldier——hewho，goredbybulletsandfaintforblood，hadfrettedconcerninganimaginedwoundinanother;hewhohadloanedhislastofstrengthandintellectforthetallsoldier;hewho，blindwithwearinessandpain，hadbeendesertedinthefield。
Foraninstantawretchedchillofsweatwasuponhimatthethoughtthathemightbedetectedinthething。Ashestoodpersistentlybeforehisvision，hegaveventtoacryofsharpirritationandagony。
Hisfriendturned。\"What’sthematter，Henry？\"hedemanded。Theyouth’sreplywasanoutburstofcrimsonoaths。
Ashemarchedalongthelittlebranch—hungroadwayamonghisprattlingcompanionsthisvisionofcrueltybroodedoverhim。Itclungnearhimalwaysanddarkenedhisviewofthesedeedsinpurpleandgold。Whicheverwayhisthoughtsturnedtheywerefollowedbythesomberphantomofthedesertioninthefields。
Helookedstealthilyathiscompanions，feelingsurethattheymustdiscerninhisfaceevidencesofthispursuit。Buttheywereploddinginraggedarray，discussingwithquicktonguestheaccomplishmentsofthelatebattle。
\"Oh，ifamanshouldcomeupan’askme，I’dsaywegotadumgoodlickin’。\"
\"Lickin’——inyereye！Weain’tlicked，sonny。
We’regoin’downhereaways，swingaroun’，an’
comeinbehint’em。\"
\"Oh，hush，withyourcomin’inbehint’em。
I’veseenall’athatIwanta。Don’ttellmeaboutcomin’inbehint——\"
\"BillSmithers，heseshe’dratherbeenintenhundredbattlesthanbeeninthatheluvahospital。Hesestheygotshootin’inth’night—
time，an’shellsdroppedplumamong’eminth’
hospital。Hesessechhollerin’heneversee。\"
\"Hasbrouck？He’sth’bestoff’cerinthisherereg’ment。He’sawhale。\"
\"Didn’tItellyehwe’dcomearoun’inbehint’em？Didn’tItellyehso？We——\"
\"Oh，shetyehmouth！\"
Foratimethispursuingrecollectionofthetatteredmantookallelationfromtheyouth’sveins。Hesawhisvividerror，andhewasafraidthatitwouldstandbeforehimallhislife。Hetooknoshareinthechatterofhiscomrades，nordidhelookatthemorknowthem，savewhenhefeltsuddensuspicionthattheywereseeinghisthoughtsandscrutinizingeachdetailofthescenewiththetatteredsoldier。
Yetgraduallyhemusteredforcetoputthesinatadistance。Andatlasthiseyesseemedtoopentosomenewways。Hefoundthathecouldlookbackuponthebrassandbombastofhisearliergospelsandseethemtruly。Hewasgleefulwhenhediscoveredthathenowdespisedthem。
Withthisconvictioncameastoreofassur—
ance。Hefeltaquietmanhood，nonassertivebutofsturdyandstrongblood。Heknewthathewouldnomorequailbeforehisguideswher—
evertheyshouldpoint。Hehadbeentotouchthegreatdeath，andfoundthat，afterall，itwasbutthegreatdeath。Hewasaman。
Soitcametopassthatashetrudgedfromtheplaceofbloodandwrathhissoulchanged。
Hecamefromhotplowsharestoprospectsofclovertranquilly，anditwasasifhotplowshareswerenot。Scarsfadedasflowers。
Itrained。Theprocessionofwearysoldiersbecameabedraggledtrain，despondentandmuttering，marchingwithchurningeffortinatroughofliquidbrownmudunderalow，wretchedsky。Yettheyouthsmiled，forhesawthattheworldwasaworldforhim，thoughmanydiscoveredittobemadeofoathsandwalkingsticks。Hehadridhimselfoftheredsicknessofbattle。Thesultrynightmarewasinthepast。
Hehadbeenananimalblisteredandsweatingintheheatandpainofwar。Heturnednowwithalover’sthirsttoimagesoftranquilskies，freshmeadows，coolbrooks——anexistenceofsoftandeternalpeace。
Overtheriveragoldenrayofsuncamethroughthehostsofleadenrainclouds。
