Stephen Crane: The Red Badge of Courage

17. CHAPTER XVII. (continued)

There was some grim rejoicing by the men. "By thunder, I bet this army'll never see another new reg'ment like us!" "You bet!"

"A dog, a woman, an' a walnut tree, Th' more yeh beat 'em, th' better they be!

That's like us."

"Lost a piler men, they did. If an' ol' woman swep' up th' woods she'd git a dustpanful."

"Yes, an' if she'll come around ag'in in 'bout an' hour she'll git a pile more."

The forest still bore its burden of clamor. From off under the trees came the rolling clatter of the musketry. Each distant thicket seemed a strange porcupine with quills of flame. A cloud of dark smoke, as from smoldering ruins, went up toward the sun now bright and gay in the blue, enameled sky.