the red acorn-第16部分

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hat　his　bark　was　worse　than　his　bite；　because　no　reasonable　bite　could　ever　be　so　bad　as　his　bark。　　They　even　suggested　calling　him　〃Peruvian　Bark；〃　because　a　visit　to　his　quarters　was　worse　than　a　strong　does　of　quinia。

〃Yeth；　that'th　good；〃　said　the　lisping　wit　of　the　crowd。　　〃Evely　bite　ith　a　bit；　ain't　it？　　And　the　wortht　mutht　be　a　bitter；　ath　he　ith。〃

The　Colonel　believed　tha　the　whole　duty　of　man　consisted　in　loving　the　army　regulations；　and　in　keeping　their　commandments。　　The　best　part　of　all　virtue　was　to　observe　them　to　the　letter；　the　most　abhorrent　form　of　vice；　to　violate　or　disregard　even　their　minor　precepts。

His　feelings　were　continually　lacerated　by　contact　with　volunteers；　who　cared　next　to　nothing　for　the　FORM　of　war…making；　but　everything　for　its　spirit；　and　the　martinet　heart　within　him　was　bruised　and　sore　when　he　came　upon　the　ground　to　inspect　the　regiment。

Alspaugh's　blundering　in　bringing　the　company　into　line　awakened　this　ire　from　a　passivity　to　activity。

〃I'll　have　that　dunderhead's　shoulder…straps　off　inside　of　a　fortnight；〃　he　muttered　between　his　teeth。

The　unhappy　Lietenant's　inability　to　even　stand　properly　during　the　parade；　or　repeat　an　order　intensified　his　rage。　　When　the　parade　was　dismissed　the　officers；　as　usual；　sheathed　their　swords；　and　forming　a　line　with　the　Adjutant　in　the　center；　marched　forward　to　teh　commanding　and　inspecting　officers；　and　saluted。　　Then　the　wrath　of　the　old　Inspector　became　vocable。

〃What　in　God's　name；〃　he　roared；　fixing　his　glance　upon　Alspaugh　so　unmistakably　that　enve　the　latter's　rainbow…clad　girls；　who　had　crowded　up　closely；　could　not　make　a　mistake　as　to　the　victim　of　the　expletives。　　〃What　in　God's　name；　sir；〃　repeated　the　old　fellow　with　purpling　face；　〃do　you　mean　by　bringing　your　company　on　to　the　ground　in　that　absurd　way；　sir？　　Did　you　think；　sir；　that　it　was　a　hod　of　brickwith　which　I　have　no　doubt　you　are　most　familiarthat　you　could　dump　down　any　place　and　any　how；　sir？　　Such　misconduct　is　simply　disgraceful；　sir；　I'd　have　you　know。　　Simply　disgraceful；　sir。〃

He　paused　for　breath；　but　Alspaugh　had　no　word　of　defense　to　offer。

〃And　what　do　you　mean；　sir；〃　resumed　the　Inspector；　after　inflating　his　lungs　for　another　gust；　〃what　in　the　name　of　all　the　piebald　circus　clowns　that　ever　jiggered　around　on　sawdust；　do　you　mean　by　coming　on　parade　dressed　like　the　ringmaster　of　a　traveling　monkey…show；　sir？　　Haven't　you　any　more　idea　of　the　honor　of　wearing　a　United　States　swordthe　noblest　weapon　on　earth；　sirthan　to　make　yourself　look　like　the　drum…major　of　a　band　of　nigger　minstrels；　sir！　　A　United　States　officer　ought　to　be　ashamed　to　make　a　damned　harlequin　of　himself；　sir。　　I'd　have　you　to　understand　that　most　distinctly；　sir！〃

The　Inspector's　stock　of　breath；　alas；　was　not　so　ample　as　in　the　far…off　days　when　his　sturdy　shoulders　bore　the　modest　single…bar；　instead　of　the　proud　spread　eagle　of　the　present。　　Even　had　it　been；　the　explosive　energy　of　his　speech　would　have　speedily　exhausted　it。　　Compelled　to　stop　to　pump　in　a　fresh　supply；　the　Colonel　of　the　regiment　took　advantage　of　the　pause　to　whisper　in　his　ear：

〃Don't　be　too　rough　on　him；　please。　　He's　a　good　man　but　green。　Promoted　from　the　ranks　for　courage　in　action。　　First　appearance　on　parade。　　He'll　do　better　if　given　a　chance。〃

The　Inspector's　anger　was　mollified。　　Addressing　himself　to　all　the　officers；　he　continued　in　a　milder　tone：

〃Gentlemen；　you　seem　to　be　making　progress　in　acquiring　a　knowledge　of　your　duties；　though　you　have　a　world　of　things　yet　to　learn。　I　shall　say　so　in　my　report　to　the　General。　　You　can　go　to　your　quarters。〃

The　line　of　officers　dissolved；　and　the　spectators　began　to　melt　away。　　Alspaugh's　assurance　rose　buoyantly　the　moment　that　the　pressure　was　removed。　　He　raised　his　eyes　from　the　ground；　and　looked　for　the　young　ladies。　　They　had　turned　their　backs　and　were　leaving　the　ground。　　He　hastened　after　them；　fabricating　as　he　walked　an　explanation；　based　on　personal　jealousy；　of　the　Inspector's　treatment　of　him。　　He　was　within　a　step　of　overtaking　them　when　he　heard　one　say；　with　toss　of　flaunting　ribbons；　and　hoidenish　giggle：

〃Did　you　EVER　see　ANY…body　wilt　as　Alspaugh　did　when　old　Bite…Your…Head…Off…In…a…Minute　was　jawing　him？　　It　was　so　awfully　FUNNY　that　I　just　thought　I　SHOULD　DIE。〃

The　sentence　ended　with　the　picturesque　rapid　CRESCENDO　employed　by　maidens　of　her　type　in　describing　a　convulsive　experience。

〃Just　didn't　he；〃　joined　in　another。　　〃I　never　saw　ANY…thing　so　funny　in　all　my　BORN　DAYS。　　I　was　AFRAID　to　look　at　either　one　of　YOU；　I　knew　if　I　DID　I　would　BURST　RIGHT　OUT　laughing。　　I　couldn't've　HELPED　itI　know　I　COULDN'T；　if　I'd'a　knowed　I'd'a　DIED　the　next　MINUTE。〃

〃This　would　seem　to　be　a　pretty　good　time　to　drop　the　fellow；〃　added　the　third　girl；　reflectively。

Alspaugh　turned　and　went　in　another　direction。　　At　the　9　o'clock　roll…call　he　informed　the　company　that　the　Inspector　was　well　pleased　with　its　appearance　on　parade。





Chapter　VIII。　　The　Tedium　of　Camp。




　　　　　　And　you；　good　yeoman；　Whose　limbs　were　made　in　England；　show　us　here　The　mettle　of　your　pasture；　let　us　swear　That　you　are　worth　your　breeding。　Henry　V。


To　really　enjoy　life　in　a　Camp　of　Instruction　requires　a　peculiar　cast　of　mind。　　It　requires　a　genuine　liking　for　a　tread…mill　round　of　merely　mechanical　duties；　it　requiers　a　taste　for　rising　in　the　chill　and　cheerless　dawn；　at　the　unwelcome　summons　of　〃reveille；〃　to　a　long　day　filled　with　a　tiresome　routine　of　laborious　drills　alternating　with　tedious　roll…calls；　and　wearisome　parades　and　inspections；　it　requires　pleased　contentment　with　walks　continually　cut　short　by　the　camp…guard；　and　with　amusements　limited　to　rough　horse…play　on　the　parade…ground；　and　dull　games　of　cards　by　sputtering　candles　in　the　tent。

As　these　be　tastes　and　preferences　notably　absent　from　the　mind　of　the　average　young　man；　our　volunteers　usually　regard　their　experience　in　Camp　of　Instruction　as　among　the　most　unpleasant　of　their　war　memories。

These　were　the　trials　that　tested　Harry　Glen's　resolution　sorely。　When　he　enlisted　with　the　intention　of　redeeming　himself；　he　naturally　expected　that　the　opportunity　he　desired　would　be　given　by　a　prompt　march　to　the　field；　and　a　speedy　entrance　into　an　engagement。　　He　nerved　himself　strenuously　for　the　dredful　ordeal　of　battle；　but　this　became　a　continually　receding　point。　　The　bitter　defeat　at　Bull　Run　was　bearing　fruit　in　months　of　painstaking　preparation　before　venturing　upon　another　collision。

Day　by　day　he　saw　the　chance　of　retrieving　his　reputation　apparently　more　remote。　　Meanwhile　discouragements　and　annoyances　grew　continually　more　plentiful　and　irksome。　　He　painfully　learned　that　the　most　disagreeable　part　of　war　is　not　the　trial　of　battle；　but　the　daily　sacrifices　of　personal　liberty；　tastes；　feelings　and　conveniences　involved　in　camp…life；　and　in　the　reduction　of　one's　cherished　individuality　to　the　dead…level　of　a　passive；　obedient；　will…less　private　soldier。

〃I　do　wish　the　regiment　would　get　orders　to　move！〃　said　almost　hourly　each　one　of　a　half…million　impatient　youths　fretting　in　Camps　of　Instruction　through　the