The Red Drip Of Courage

Author : Stephen Crane
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781980255369
Total Pages : 95 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (553 download)

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Download or read book The Red Badge of Courage (Annotated) written by Stephen Crane and published by . This book was released on 2018-02-11 with total page 95 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an annotated version of the book1. contains an updated biography of the author at the end of the book for a better understanding of the text.2. This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errorsThe cold passed reluctantly from the earth, and the retiring fogsrevealed an army stretched out on the hills, resting. As the landscapechanged from brown to green, the army awakened, and began to tremblewith eagerness at the noise of rumors. It cast its eyes upon theroads, which were growing from long troughs of liquid mud to properthoroughfares. A river, amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks,purled at the army's feet; and at night, when the stream had become ofa sorrowful blackness, one could see across it the red, eyelike gleamof hostile camp-fires set in the low brows of distant hills.Once a certain tall soldier developed virtues and went resolutely towash a shirt. He came flying back from a brook waving his garmentbannerlike. He was swelled with a tale he had heard from a reliablefriend, who had heard it from a truthful cavalryman, who had heard itfrom his trustworthy brother, one of the orderlies at divisionheadquarters. He adopted the important air of a herald in red and gold."We're goin' t' move t'morrah--sure," he said pompously to a group inthe company street. "We're goin' 'way up the river, cut across, an'come around in behint 'em."To his attentive audience he drew a loud and elaborate plan of a verybrilliant campaign. When he had finished, the blue-clothed menscattered into small arguing groups between the rows of squat brownhuts. A negro teamster who had been dancing upon a cracker box withthe hilarious encouragement of twoscore soldiers was deserted. He satmournfully down. Smoke drifted lazily from a multitude of quaintchimneys."It's a lie! that's all it is--a thunderin' lie!" said another privateloudly. His smooth face was flushed, and his hands were thrust sulkilyinto his trouser's pockets. He took the matter as an affront to him."I don't believe the derned old army's ever going to move. We're set.I've got ready to move eight times in the last two weeks, and we ain'tmoved yet."The tall soldier felt called upon to defend the truth of a rumor hehimself had introduced. He and the loud one came near to fighting overit.A corporal began to swear before the assemblage. He had just put acostly board floor in his house, he said. During the early spring hehad refrained from adding extensively to the comfort of his environmentbecause he had felt that the army might start on the march at anymoment. Of late, however, he had been impressed that they were in asort of eternal camp.Many of the men engaged in a spirited debate. One outlined in apeculiarly lucid manner all the plans of the commanding general. Hewas opposed by men who advocated that there were other plans ofcampaign. They clamored at each other, numbers making futile bids forthe popular attention. Meanwhile, the soldier who had fetched therumor bustled about with much importance. He was continually assailedby questions."What's up, Jim?""Th'army's goin' t' move.""Ah, what yeh talkin' about? How yeh know it is?""Well, yeh kin b'lieve me er not, jest as yeh like. I don't care ahang."There was much food for thought in the manner in which he replied. Hecame near to convincing them by disdaining to produce proofs. Theygrew much excited over it.There was a youthful private who listened with eager ears to the wordsof the tall soldier and to the varied comments of his comrades. Afterreceiving a fill of discussions concerning marches and attacks, he wentto his hut and crawled through an intricate hole that served it as adoor. He wished to be alone with some new thoughts that had latelycome to him.He lay down on a wide bunk that stretched