战争与和平(上)-第53节

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een　repelled　or　his　regiment　had　been　beaten　by　the　attack。　All　he　knew　was　that　at　the　beginning　of　the　action　balls　and　grenades　had　begun　flying　all　about　his　regiment；　and　killing　men；　that　then　some　one　had　shouted　“cavalry；”　and　our　men　had　begun　firing。　And　they　were　firing　still；　though　not　now　at　the　cavalry；　who　had　disappeared；　but　at　the　French　infantry；　who　had　made　their　appearance　in　the　hollow　and　were　firing　at　our　men。　Prince　Bagration　nodded　his　head　to　betoken　that　all　this　was　exactly　what　he　had　desired　and　expected。　Turning　to　an　adjutant；　he　commanded　him　to　bring　down　from　the　hill　the　two　battalions　of　the　Sixth　Chasseurs；　by　whom　they　had　just　come。　Prince　Andrey　was　struck　at　that　instant　by　the　change　that　had　come　over　Prince　Bagration’s　face。　His　face　wore　the　look　of　concentrated　and　happy　determination；　which　may　be　seen　in　a　man　who　in　a　hot　day　takes　the　final　run　before　a　header　into　the　water。　The　lustreless；　sleepy　look　in　the　eyes；　the　affectation　of　profound　thought　had　gone。　The　round；　hard；　eagle　eyes　looked　ecstatically　and　rather　disdainfully　before　him；　obviously　not　resting　on　anything；　though　there　was　still　the　same　deliberation　in　his　measured　movements。
The　colonel　addressed　a　protest　to　Prince　Bagration；　urging　him　to　go　back；　as　there　it　was　too　dangerous　for　him。　“I　beg　of　you；　your　excellency；　for　God’s　sake！”　he　kept　on　saying；　looking　for　support　to　the　officer　of　the　suite；　who　only　turned　away　from　him。
“Only　look；　your　excellency！”　He　called　his　attention　to　the　bullets　which　were　continually　whizzing；　singing；　and　hissing　about　them。　He　spoke　in　the　tone　of　protest　and　entreaty　with　which　a　carpenter　speaks　to　a　gentleman　who　has　picked　up　a　hatchet。　“We　are　used　to　it；　but　you　may　blister　your　fingers。”　He　talked　as　though　these　bullets　could　not　kill　him；　and　his　half…closed　eyes　gave　a　still　more　persuasive　effect　to　his　words。　The　staff…officer　added　his　protests　to　the　colonel；　but　Bagration　made　them　no　answer。　He　merely　gave　the　order　to　cease　firing；　and　to　form　so　as　to　make　room　for　the　two　battalions　of　reinforcements。　Just　as　he　was　speaking　the　cloud　of　smoke　covering　the　hollow　was　lifted　as　by　an　unseen　hand　and　blown　by　the　rising　wind　from　right　to　left。　and　the　opposite　hill　came　into　sight　with　the　French　moving　across　it。　All　eyes　instinctively　fastened　on　that　French　column　moving　down　upon　them　and　winding　in　and　out　over　the　ups　and　downs　of　the　ground。　Already　they　could　see　the　fur　caps　of　the　soldiers；　could　distinguish　officers　from　privates；　could　see　their　flag　flapping　against　its　staff。
“How　well　they’re　marching；”　said　some　one　in　Bagration’s　suite。
The　front　part　of　the　column　was　already　dipping　down　into　the　hollow。　The　engagement　would　take　place　then　on　the　nearer　side　of　the　slope…
The　remnants　of　the　regiment　that　had　already　been　in　action；　forming　hurriedly；　drew　off　to　the　right；　the　two　battalions　of　the　Sixth　Chasseurs　marched　up　in　good　order；　driving　the　last　stragglers　before　them　They　had　not　yet　reached　Bagration；　but　the　heavy；　weighty　tread　could　be　heard　of　the　whole　mass　keeping　step。　On　the　left　flank；　nearest　of　all　to　Bagration；　marched　the　captain；　a　round…faced　imposing…looking　man；　with　a　foolish　and　happy　expression　of　face。　It　was　the　same　infantry　officer　who　had　run　out　of　the　shanty　after　Tushin。　He　was　obviously　thinking　of　nothing　at　the　moment；　but　that　he　was　marching　before　his　commander　in　fine　style。　With　the　complacency　of　a　man　on　parade；　he　stepped　springing　on　his　muscular　legs；　drawing　himself　up　without　the　slightest　effort；　as　though　he　were　swinging；　and　this　easy　elasticity　was　a　striking　contrast　to　the　heavy　tread　of　the　soldiers　keeping　step　with　him。　He　wore　hanging　by　his　leg　an　unsheathed；　slender；　narrow　sword　（a　small　bent　sabre；　more　like　a　toy　than　a　weapon）；　and　looking　about　him；　now　at　the　commander；　now　behind；　he　turned　his　whole　powerful　frame　round　without　getting　out　of　step。　It　looked　as　though　all　the　force　of　his　soul　was　directed　to　marching　by　his　commander　in　the　best　style　possible。　And　conscious　that　he　was　accomplishing　this；　he　was　happy。　“Left　…　left　…　left　…”　he　seemed　to　be　inwardly　repeating　at　each　alternate　step。　And　the　wall　of　soldierly　figures；　weighed　down　by　their　knapsacks　and　guns；　with　their　faces　all　grave　in　different　ways；　moved　by　in　the　same　rhythm；　as　though　each　of　the　hundreds　of　soldiers　were　repeating　mentally　at　each　alternate　step；　“Left　…　left　…　left　…”　A　stout　major　skirted　a　bush　on　the　road；　puffing　and　shifting　his　step。　A　soldier；　who　had　dropped　behind；　trotted　after　the　company；　looking　panic…stricken　at　his　own　defection。　A　cannon　ball；　whizzing　through　the　air；　flew　over　the　heads　of　Prince　Bagration　and　his　suite；　and　in　time　to　the　same　rhythm；　“Left　…　left　…”　it　fell　into　the　column。
“Close　the　ranks！”　rang　out　the　jaunty　voice　of　the　captain。　The　soldiers　marched　in　a　half　circle　round　something　in　the　place　where　the　ball　had　fallen；　and　an　old　cavalryman；　an　under　officer；　lingered　behind　near　the　dead；　and　overtaking　his　line；　changed　feet　with　a　hop；　got　into　step；　and　looked　angrily　about　him。　“Left　…　left　…　left　…”　seemed　to　echo　out　of　the　menacing　silence　and　the　monotonous　sound　of　the　simultaneous　tread　of　the　feet　on　the　ground。
“Well　done；　lads！”　said　Prince　Bagration。
“For　your　ex　…　slen；　slen；　slency！”　rang　out　along　the　ranks。　A　surly…looking　soldier；　marching　on　the　left；　turned　his　eyes　on　Bagration　as　he　shouted；　with　an　expression　that　seemed　to　say；　“We　know　that　without　telling。”　Another；　opening　his　mouth　wide；　shouted　without　glancing　round；　and　marched　on；　as　though　afraid　of　letting　his　attention　stray。　The　order　was　given　to　halt　and　take　off　their　knapsacks。
Bagration　rode　round　the　ranks　of　men　who　had　marched　by　him；　and　then　dismounted　from　his　horse。　He　gave　the　reins　to　a　Cossack；　took　off　his　cloak　and　handed　it　to　him；　stretched　his　legs　and　set　his　cap　straight　on　his　head。　The　French　column　with　the　officers　in　front　came　into　sight　under　the　hill。
“With　God’s　help！”　cried　Bagration　in　a　resolute；　sonorous　voice。　He　turned　for　one　instant　to　the　front　line；　and　swinging　his　arms　a　little；　with　the　awkward；　lumbering　gait　of　a　man　always　on　horseback；　he　walked　forward　over　the　uneven　ground。　Prince　Andrey　felt　that　some　unseen　force　was　drawing　him　forward；　and　he　had　a　sensation　of　great　happiness。
The　French　were　near。　Already　Prince　Andrey；　walking　beside　Bagration；　could　distinguish　clearly　the　sashes；　the　red　epaulettes；　even　the　faces　of　the　French。　（He　saw　distinctly　one　bandy…legged　old　French　officer；　wearing　Hessian　boots；　who　was　getting　up　the　hill　with　difficulty；　taking　hold　of　the　bushes。）　Prince　Bagration　gave　no　new　command；　and　still　marched　in　front　of　the　ranks　in　the　same　silence。　Suddenly　there　was　the　snap　of　a　shot　among　the　French；　another　and　a　third　…　and　smoke　rose　and　firing　rang　out　in　all　the　broken…up　ranks　of　the　enemy。　Several　of　our　men　fell；　among　them　the　round…faced　officer；　who　had　been　marching　so　carefully　and　complacently。　But　at　the　very　instant　of　the　first　shot；　Bagration　looked　round　and　shouted；　“Hurrah！”　“Hurra　…　a　…　a　…　ah！”　rang　out　along　our　lines　in　a　prolonged　roar；　and　out…stripping　Prince　Bagration　and　one　another；　in　no　order；　but　in　an　eager　and　joyous　crowd；　our　men　ran　downhill　after　the　routed　French。


Chapter　19
THE　ATTACK　of　the　Sixth　Chasseurs　covered　the　retreat　of　the　right　flank。　In　the　centre　Tushin’s　forgotten　battery　had　succeeded　in　setting　fire　to　Sch？ngraben　and　delaying　the　advance　of　the　French。　The　French　stayed　to　put　out　the　fire；　which　was　fanned　by　the　wind；　and　this　gave　time　for　the　Russians　to　retreat。　The　retreat　of　the　centre　beyond　the　ravine　was　hurried　and　noisy；　but　the　different　companies　kept　apart。　But　the　left　flank；　which　consisted　of　the　Azovsky　and　Podolosky　infantry　and　the　Pavlograd　hussars；　was　simultaneously　attacked　in　front　and　surrounded　by　the　cream　of　the　French　army　under　Lannes；　and　was　thrown　into　disorder。　Bagration　had　sent　Zherkov　to　the　general　in　command　of　the　left　flank　with　orders　to　retreat　immediately。
Zherkov；　keeping　his　hand　still　at　his　cap；　had　briskly　started　his　horse　and　galloped　off。　But　no　sooner　had　he　ridden　out　of　Bagration’s　sight　than　his　courage　failed　him。　He　was　overtaken　by　a　panic　he　could　not　contend　against；　and　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　go　where　there　was　danger。
After　galloping　some　distance　towards　the　troops　of　the　left　flank；　he　rode　not　forward　where　he　heard　firing；　but　off　to　look　for　the　general　and　the　officers　in　a　direction　where　they　could　not　by　any　possibility　be；　and　so　it　was　that　he　did　not　deliver　the　message。
The　command　of　the　left　flank　belonged　by　right　of　seniority　to　the　general　of　the　regiment　in　which　Dolohov　was　serving—the　regiment　which　Kutuzov　had　inspected　before　Braunau。　But　the　command　of　the　extreme　left　flank　had　been　entrusted　to　the　colonel　of　the　Pavlograd　hussars；　in　which　Rostov　was　serving。　Hence　arose　a　misunderstanding。　Both　commanding　officers　were　intensely　exasperated　with　one　another；　and　at　a　time　when　fighting　had　been　going　on　a　long