Chapter 19

The youth stared at the land in front of him. Its foliages now seemed to veil powers and horrors. He was unaware of the machinery of orders that started the charge, although from the corners of his eyes he saw an officer, who looked like a boy a-horseback, come galloping, waving his hat. Suddenly he felt a straining and heaving among the men. The line fell slowly forward like a toppling wall, and, with a convulsive gasp that was intended for a cheer, the regiment began its journey. The youth was pushed and jostled for a moment before he understood the movement at all, but directly he lunged ahead and began to run.

The young man stared at the land ahead. The trees and plants now seemed to hide powerful, horrible things. He did not know about the orders that set the charge in motion. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw an officer galloping toward them, waving his hat. The officer looked like a boy on horseback. Suddenly, he felt the men around him straining and pushing forward. The line slowly fell forward like a toppling wall. With a sudden gasp meant to be a cheer, the regiment began its advance. The young man was pushed and jostled for a moment before he understood what was happening. Then he lunged forward 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 a goal. He had believed throughout that it was a mere question of getting over an unpleasant matter as quickly as possible, and he ran desperately, as if pursued for a 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 inflamed features surmounted by the dingy rag with its spot of blood, his wildly swinging rifle, and banging accouterments, he looked to be an insane soldier.

He fixed his eyes on a distant, prominent clump of trees where he expected to meet the enemy. He ran toward the trees as if they were a finish line. All along, he had believed he simply needed to get through an unpleasant ordeal as quickly as possible. So he ran desperately, as if he were being pursued for murder. His face was drawn tight with effort. His eyes were fixed in a fierce glare. His clothes were dirty and disordered, and his face was red and inflamed. A dingy rag with a spot of blood sat on his head. His rifle swung wildly, and his equipment banged against him. He looked like a soldier gone mad.

As the regiment swung from its position out into a cleared space the woods and thickets before it awakened. Yellow flames leaped toward it from many directions. The forest made a tremendous objection.

As the regiment moved from its position into a clearing, the woods and thickets ahead came alive. Yellow flames leaped toward the regiment from many directions. The forest protested with a tremendous roar.

The line lurched straight for a moment. Then the right wing swung forward; 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 line moved forward unevenly for a moment. Then the right wing surged ahead, only to be passed by the left. Next, the center rushed forward, and the regiment became a wedge-shaped mass. But a moment later, bushes, trees, and uneven ground broke up the regiment and scattered it into separate groups.

The youth, light-footed, was unconsciously 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. The song of the bullets was in the air and shells snarled among the treetops. One tumbled directly into the middle of a hurrying group and exploded in crimson fury. There was an instant spectacle of a man, almost over it, throwing up his hands to shield his eyes.

The young man moved lightly and found himself ahead without realizing it. He kept his eyes on the clump of trees. From all around the trees came the enemy’s fierce group cries. Small flames leaped from rifles among the trees. Bullets sang through the air, and shells snarled among the treetops. One shell fell directly into the middle of a group hurrying along and exploded in crimson fury. For an instant, a man almost directly over the shell could be seen throwing up his hands to shield his eyes.

Other men, punched by bullets, fell in grotesque agonies. The regiment left a coherent trail of bodies.

Other men were struck by bullets and fell in terrible, twisted agony. The regiment left a continuous trail of bodies.

They had passed into a clearer atmosphere. There was an effect like a revelation in the new appearance of the landscape. Some men working madly at a battery were plain to them, and the opposing infantry’s lines were defined by the gray walls and fringes of smoke.

They had entered clearer air. The landscape’s new appearance was like a revelation. They could clearly see some men working frantically at a battery of guns. Gray walls and fringes of smoke marked the opposing infantry’s lines.

It seemed to the youth that he saw everything. Each blade of the green grass was bold and clear. He thought that he was aware of every change in the thin, transparent vapor that floated idly in sheets. The brown or gray trunks of the trees showed each roughness of their surfaces. And the men of the regiment, with their starting eyes and sweating faces, running madly, or falling, as if thrown headlong, to queer, heaped-up corpses—all were comprehended. His mind took a mechanical but firm impression, so that afterward everything was pictured and explained to him, save why he himself was there.

The young man felt as though he could see everything. Every blade of green grass stood out clearly. He thought he noticed every change in the thin, transparent mist drifting lazily in sheets. Every rough patch on the brown or gray tree trunks was visible. He took in all the men of the regiment, too. Their eyes bulged and their faces were sweaty as they ran wildly or fell. They fell as if thrown headfirst onto strange piles of corpses. His mind recorded everything mechanically but firmly. Later, he could picture and understand it all, except why he himself was there.

But there was a frenzy made from this furious rush. The men, pitching forward insanely, had burst into cheerings, moblike and barbaric, but tuned in strange keys that can arouse the dullard and the stoic. It made a mad enthusiasm that, it seemed, would be incapable of checking itself before granite and brass. There was the delirium that encounters despair and death, and is heedless and blind to the odds. It is a temporary but sublime absence of selfishness. And because it was of this order was the reason, perhaps, why the youth wondered, afterward, what reasons he could have had for being there.

But the furious rush created a frenzy. The men charged forward wildly, cheering like a barbaric mob. Their cheers had strange notes that could stir even the dull and the stoic. They created a wild enthusiasm that seemed impossible to stop, even with granite and brass. It was the delirium that faces despair and death, heedless and blind to the odds. It is a brief but sublime freedom from selfishness. And because the frenzy was of this kind, perhaps, the youth later wondered what reasons he could have had for being there.

Presently the straining pace ate up the energies of the men. As if by agreement, the leaders began to slacken their speed. The volleys directed against them had had a seeming windlike effect. The regiment snorted and blew. Among some stolid trees it began to falter and hesitate. The men, staring intently, began to wait for some of the distant walls of smoke to move and disclose to them the scene. Since much of their strength and their breath had vanished, they returned to caution. They were become men again.

Soon, the grueling pace drained the men's energy. As if by agreement, the leaders began to slow down. The volleys fired at them seemed to have an effect like wind. The regiment snorted and panted. Among some solid, unmoving trees, the regiment began to falter and hesitate. The men stared intently, waiting for some of the distant walls of smoke to move and reveal the scene. Much of their strength and breath was gone, so they became cautious again. They were men again.

The youth had a vague belief that he had run miles, and he thought, in a way, that he was now in some new and unknown land.

The young man had a vague sense that he had run for miles. He felt, in a way, that he was now in a strange, unfamiliar land.

The moment the regiment ceased its advance the protesting splutter of musketry became a steadied roar. Long and accurate fringes of smoke spread out. From the top of a small hill came level belchings of yellow flame that caused an inhuman whistling in the air.

The moment the regiment stopped advancing, the protesting sputter of musket fire became a steady roar. Long, precise fringes of smoke spread out. From the top of a small hill, bursts of yellow flame shot straight out, causing an inhuman whistling in the air.

The men, halted, had opportunity to see some of their comrades dropping with moans and 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 regiment dwindle. They appeared dazed and stupid. This spectacle seemed to paralyze them, overcome them with a fatal fascination. They stared woodenly at the sights, and, lowering their eyes, looked from face to face. It was a strange pause, and a strange silence.

The men stopped and saw some of their comrades fall, moaning and screaming. A few lay at their feet, silent or wailing. For a moment, the men stood with their rifles loose in their hands and watched the regiment shrink. They looked dazed and stunned. The sight seemed to paralyze them, holding them in a deadly fascination. They stared blankly at the scene, then lowered their eyes and looked from face to face. It was a strange pause, and a strange silence.

Then, above the sounds of the outside commotion, arose the roar of the lieutenant. He strode suddenly forth, his infantile features black with rage.

Then the lieutenant’s roar rose above the noise outside. He suddenly strode forward, his babyish face dark with rage.

“Come on, yeh fools!” he bellowed. “Come on! Yeh can’t stay here. Yeh must come on.” He said more, but much of it could not be understood.

“Come on, you fools!” he shouted. “Come on! You can’t stay here. You have to come on.” He said more, but much of what he said could not be understood.

He started rapidly forward, with his head turned toward the men, “Come on,” he was shouting. The men stared with blank and yokel-like eyes at him. He was obliged to halt and retrace his steps. He stood then with his back to the enemy and delivered gigantic curses into the faces of the men. His body vibrated from the weight and force of his imprecations. And he could string oaths with the facility of a maiden who strings beads.

He rushed forward, his head turned toward the men. “Come on,” he shouted. The men stared at him with blank, vacant eyes, like country bumpkins. He had to stop and go back. Then he stood with his back to the enemy and hurled enormous curses into the men’s faces. His body shook with the weight and force of his curses. He could string together oaths as easily as a young woman strings beads.

The friend of the youth aroused. Lurching suddenly forward and dropping to his knees, he fired an angry shot at the persistent woods. This action awakened the men. They huddled no more like sheep. They seemed suddenly to bethink themselves of their weapons, and at once commenced firing. Belabored by their officers, they began to move forward. The regiment, involved like a cart involved in mud and muddle, started unevenly with many jolts and jerks. The men stopped now every few paces to fire and load, and in this manner moved slowly on from trees to trees.

The youth's friend sprang into action. He lurched forward, dropped to his knees, and fired an angry shot at the relentless woods. His action stirred the men. They no longer huddled like sheep. They seemed suddenly to remember their weapons and began firing at once. Urged on by their officers, they began to move forward. Like a cart stuck in mud and confusion, the regiment started unevenly, with many jolts and jerks. Every few paces, the men stopped to fire and reload. In this way, they moved slowly from tree to tree.

The flaming opposition in their front grew with their advance until it seemed that all forward ways were barred by the thin leaping tongues, and off to the right an ominous demonstration could sometimes be dimly discerned. The smoke lately generated was in confusing clouds that made it difficult for the regiment to proceed with intelligence. As he passed through each curling mass the youth wondered what would confront him on the farther side.

The blazing resistance ahead grew as they advanced. Soon, the thin, leaping tongues of flame seemed to block every way forward. Off to the right, an ominous show of force could sometimes be dimly seen. Newly formed smoke hung in confusing clouds, making it hard for the regiment to know where it was going. As the young man passed through each swirling cloud, he wondered what would face him on the other side.

The command went painfully forward until an open space interposed between them and the lurid lines. Here, crouching and cowering behind some trees, the men clung with desperation, as if threatened by a wave. They looked wild-eyed, and as if amazed at this furious disturbance they had stirred. In the storm there was an ironical expression of their importance. The faces of the men, too, showed a lack of a certain feeling of responsibility for being there. It was as if they had been driven. It was the dominant animal failing to remember in the supreme moments the forceful causes of various superficial qualities. The whole affair seemed incomprehensible to many of them.

The unit struggled forward until an open space lay between the men and the glowing lines. There, they crouched and cowered behind trees, clinging to them desperately, as if threatened by a wave. Their eyes were wild, and they seemed amazed by the furious disturbance they had stirred up. The storm was an ironic expression of their importance. Their faces also showed little sense of responsibility for being there. It was as if they had been driven there. The animal in them had taken over, making them forget, at this critical moment, the powerful causes behind various outward appearances. The whole affair seemed incomprehensible to many of them.

As they halted thus the lieutenant again began to bellow profanely. Regardless of the vindictive threats of the bullets, he went about coaxing, berating, and bedamning. His lips, that were habitually in a soft and childlike curve, were now writhed into unholy contortions. He swore by all possible deities.

As they stopped, the lieutenant began shouting curses again. Ignoring the bullets that threatened him, he went among the men, coaxing, scolding, and cursing them. His lips usually curved softly, like a child’s, but now they twisted into ungodly shapes. He swore by every possible god.

Once he grabbed the youth by the arm. “Come on, yeh lunkhead!” he roared. “Come on! We’ll all git killed if we stay here. We’ve on’y got t’ go across that lot. An’ then”—the remainder of his idea disappeared in a blue haze of curses.

Once, he grabbed the youth by the arm. “Come on, you idiot!” he roared. “Come on! We’ll all get killed if we stay here. We only have to cross that field. And then…” The rest of his thought disappeared in a cloud of curses.

The youth stretched forth his arm. “Cross there?” His mouth was puckered in doubt and awe.

The young man stretched out his arm. “Cross there?” His mouth puckered with doubt and awe.

“Certainly. Jest ’cross th’ lot! We can’t stay here,” screamed the lieutenant. He poked his face close to the youth and waved his bandaged hand. “Come on!” Presently he grappled with him as if for a wrestling bout. It was as if he planned to drag the youth by the ear on to the assault.

“Certainly. Just across the lot! We can’t stay here,” screamed the lieutenant. He put his face close to the youth’s and waved his bandaged hand. “Come on!” Then he grabbed the youth as if they were about to wrestle. It was as if he planned to drag the youth into the attack by the ear.

The private felt a sudden unspeakable indignation against his officer. He wrenched fiercely and shook him off.

The private felt a sudden anger toward his officer that he could not put into words. He twisted fiercely and shook him off.

“Come on yerself, then,” he yelled. There was a bitter challenge in his voice.

“Come on yourself, then,” he yelled. His voice held a bitter challenge.

They galloped together down the regimental front. The friend scrambled after them. In front of the colors the three men began to bawl: “Come on! come on!” They danced and gyrated like tortured savages.

They galloped together along the front of the regiment. The friend scrambled after them. In front of the regimental flag, the three men began to shout: “Come on! Come on!” They danced and spun like tortured savages.

The flag, obedient to these appeals, bended its glittering form and swept toward them. The men wavered in indecision for a moment, and then with a long, wailful cry the dilapidated regiment surged forward and began its new journey.

The flag seemed to obey their appeals, bending its glittering form and sweeping toward them. The men hesitated for a moment. Then, with a long, mournful cry, the battered regiment surged forward and began its new journey.

Over the field went the scurrying mass. It was a handful of men splattered into the faces of the enemy. Toward it instantly sprang the yellow tongues. A vast quantity of blue smoke hung before them. A mighty banging made ears valueless.

The men rushed across the field. A handful of them scattered into the faces of the enemy. Yellow tongues of flame instantly sprang toward them. A huge cloud of blue smoke hung in front of them. The thunderous banging made it impossible to hear.

The youth ran like a madman to reach the woods before a bullet could discover him. He ducked his head low, like a football player. In his haste his eyes almost closed, and the scene was a wild blur. Pulsating saliva stood at the corners of his mouth.

The young man ran like a madman, trying to reach the woods before a bullet could find him. He ducked his head low, like a football player. In his rush, his eyes almost closed, and everything became a wild blur. Saliva pulsed at the corners of his mouth.

Within him, as he hurled himself forward, was born a love, a despairing fondness for this flag which was near him. It was a creation of beauty and invulnerability. It was a goddess, radiant, that bended its form with an imperious gesture to him. It was a woman, red and white, hating and loving, that called him with the voice of his hopes. Because no harm could come to it he endowed it with power. He kept near, as if it could be a saver of lives, and an imploring cry went from his mind.

As he rushed forward, he felt a love, a desperate fondness, for the flag near him. It was beautiful and invulnerable. It was a radiant goddess, bending toward him with a commanding gesture. It was a woman, red and white, hating and loving, calling to him in the voice of his hopes. Because nothing could harm the flag, he gave it power. He stayed close to it, as if it could save lives, and a pleading cry rose in his mind.

In the mad scramble he was aware that the color sergeant flinched suddenly, as if struck by a bludgeon. He faltered, and then became motionless, save for his quivering knees. He made a spring and a clutch at the pole. At the same instant his friend grabbed it from the other side. They jerked at it, stout and furious, but the color sergeant was dead, and the corpse would not relinquish its trust. For a moment there was a grim encounter. The dead man, swinging with bended back, seemed to be obstinately tugging, in ludicrous and awful ways, for the possession of the flag.

In the frantic scramble, he saw the color sergeant flinch suddenly, as if struck by a club. The sergeant staggered, then stood motionless, except for his trembling knees. He sprang forward and grabbed the flagpole. At the same instant, his friend grabbed it from the other side. They pulled at it fiercely with all their strength, but the color sergeant was dead. His body would not give up the flag entrusted to him. For a moment, there was a grim struggle. The dead man swung with his back bent, seeming to pull stubbornly at the flag in ways both ridiculous and horrifying.

It was past in an instant of time. They wrenched the flag furiously from the dead man, and, as they turned again, the corpse swayed forward with bowed head. One arm swung high, and the curved hand fell with heavy protest on the friend’s unheeding shoulder.

It was over in an instant. They furiously pulled the flag from the dead man. As they turned again, the body swayed forward, its head bowed. One arm swung high, and the curved hand fell heavily on the shoulder of the friend, who took no notice.