战争与和平(上)-第36部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


d　on　with　the　waggon。
Then　came　some　hilarious　soldiers；　who　had　unmistakably　been　drinking。
“And　didn’t　he　up　with　the　butt　end　of　his　gun　and　give　him　one　right　in　the　teeth；”　one　soldier　was　saying　gleefully　with　a　wide　sweep　of　his　arm。
“It　just　was　a　delicious　ham；”　answered　the　other　with　a　chuckle。　And　they　passed　on；　so　that　Nesvitsky　never　knew　who　had　received　the　blow　in　his　teeth；　and　what　the　ham　had　to　do　with　it。
“Yes；　they’re　in　a　hurry　now！　When　he　let　fly　a　bit　of　cold　lead；　one　would　have　thought　they　were　all　being　killed；”　said　an　under　officer；　angrily　and　reproachfully。
“When　it　whizzed　by　me；　uncle；　the　bullet；”　said　a　young　soldier　with　a　huge　mouth；　scarcely　able　to　keep　from　laughing；　“I　turned　fairly　numb。　Upon　my　soul；　wasn’t　I　in　a　fright；　to　be　sure！”　said　the　soldier；　making　a　sort　of　boast　of　his　terror。
He；　too；　passed　on。　After　him　came　a　waggon　unlike　all　that　had　passed　over　before。　It　was　a　German　Vorspann　with　two　horses；　loaded；　it　seemed；　with　the　goods　of　a　whole　household。　The　horses　were　led　by　a　German；　and　behind　was　fastened　a　handsome；　brindled　cow　with　an　immense　udder。　On　piled…up　feather…beds　sat　a　woman　with　a　small　baby；　an　old　woman；　and　a　good…looking；　rosy…cheeked　German　girl。　They　were　evidently　country　people；　moving；　who　had　been　allowed　through　by　special　permit。　The　eyes　of　all　the　soldiers　were　turned　upon　the　women；　and；　while　the　waggon　moved　by；　a　step　at　a　time；　all　the　soldiers’　remarks　related　to　the　two　women。　Every　face　wore　almost　the　same　smile；　reflecting　indecent　ideas　about　the　women。
“Hey；　the　sausage；　he’s　moving　away！”
“Sell　us　your　missis；”　said　another　soldier；　addressing　the　German；　who　strode　along　with　downcast　eyes；　looking　wrathful　and　alarmed。
“See　how　she’s　dressed　herself　up！　Ah；　you　devils！”
“I　say；　wouldn’t　you　like　to　be　billeted　on　them；　Fedotov！”
“I　know　a　thing　or　two；　mate！”
“Where　are　you　going？”　asked　the　infantry　officer；　who　was　eating　an　apple。　He　too　was　half　smiling　and　staring　at　the　handsome　girl。　The　German；　shutting　his　eyes；　signified　that　he　did　not　understand。
“Take　it；　if　you　like；”　said　the　officer；　giving　the　girl　an　apple。　The　girl　smiled　and　took　it。　Nesvitsky；　like　all　the　men　on　the　bridge；　never　took　his　eyes　off　the　women　till　they　had　passed　by。　When　they　had　passed　by；　again　there　moved　by　the　same　soldiers；　with　the　same　talk；　and　at　last　all　came　to　a　standstill。　As　often　happens；　the　horses　in　a　convoy…waggon　became　unmanageable　at　the　end　of　the　bridge；　and　the　whole　crowd　had　to　wait。
“What　are　they　standing　still　for？　There’s　no　order　kept！”　said　the　soldiers。　“Where　are　you　shoving？”　“Damn　it！”　“Can’t　you　wait　a　little？”　“It’ll　be　a　bad　look…out　if　he　sets　light　to　the　bridge。”
“Look；　there’s　an　officer　jammed　in　too；”　the　soldiers　said　in　different　parts　of　the　stationary　crowd；　as　they　looked　about　them　and　kept　pressing　forward　to　the　end　of　the　bridge。　Looking　round　at　the　waters　of　the　Enns　under　the　bridge；　Nesvitsky　suddenly　heard　a　sound　new　to　him；　the　sound　of　something　rapidly　coming　nearer　…　something　big；　and　then　a　splash　in　the　water。
“Look　where　it　reaches　to！”　a　soldier　standing　near　said　sternly；　looking　round　at　the　sound。
“He’s　encouraging　us　to　get　on　quicker；”　said　another　uneasily。　The　crowd　moved　again。　Nesvitsky　grasped　that　it　was　a　cannon　ball。
“Hey；　Cossack；　give　me　my　horse！”　he　said。　“Now　then；　stand　aside！　stand　aside！　make　way！”
With　a　mighty　effort　he　succeeded　in　getting　to　his　horse。　Shouting　continually；　he　moved　forward。　The　soldiers　pressed　together　to　make　way　for　him；　but　jammed　upon　him　again；　so　that　they　squeezed　his　leg；　and　those　nearest　him　were　not　to　blame；　for　they　were　pressed　forward　even　more　violently　from　behind。
“Nesvitsky！　Nesvitsky！　You；　old　chap！”　he　heard　a　husky　voice　shouting　from　behind　at　that　instant。
Nesvitsky　looked　round　and　saw；　fifteen　paces　away；　separated　from　him　by　a　living　mass　of　moving　infantry；　the　red　and　black　and　tousled　face　of　Vaska　Denisov　with　a　forage…cap　on　the　back　of　his　head；　and　a　pelisse　swung　jauntily　over　his　shoulder。
“Tell　them　to　make　way；　the　damned　devils！”　roared　Denisov；　who　was　evidently　in　a　great　state　of　excitement。　He　rolled　his　flashing；　coal…black　eyes；　showing　the　bloodshot　whites；　and　waved　a　sheathed　sword；　which　he　held　in　a　bare　hand　as　red　as　his　face。
“Eh！　Vaska！”　Nesvitsky　responded　joyfully。　“But　what　are　you　about？”
“The　squadron　can’t　advance！”　roared　Vaska　Denisov；　viciously　showing　his　white　teeth；　and　spurring　his　handsome；　raven　thoroughbred　“Bedouin；”　which；　twitching　its　ears　at　the　bayonets　against　which　it　pricked　itself；　snorting　and　shooting　froth　from　its　bit；　tramped　with　metallic　clang　on　the　boards　of　the　bridge；　and　seemed　ready　to　leap　over　the　railings；　if　its　rider　would　let　it。
“What　next！　like　sheep！　for　all　the　world　like　sheep；　back　…　make　way！　…　Stand　there！　go　to　the　devil　with　the　waggon！　I’ll　cut　you　down　with　my　sword！”　he　roared；　actually　drawing　his　sword　out　of　the　sheath　and　beginning　to　brandish　it。
The　soldiers；　with　terrified　faces；　squeezed　together；　and　Denisov　joined　Nesvitsky。
“How　is　it　you’re　not　drunk　to…day？”　said　Nesvitsky；　when　he　came　up。
“They　don’t　even　give　us　time　to　drink！”　answered　Vaska　Denisov。　“They’ve　been　dragging　the　regiment　to　and　fro　the　whole　day。　Fighting’s　all　very　well；　but　who　the　devil’s　to　know　what　this　is！”
“How　smart　you　are　to…day！”　said　Nesvitsky；　looking　at　his　new　pelisse　and　fur　saddle…cloth。
Denisov　smiled；　pulled　out　of　his　sabretache　a　handkerchief　that　diffused　a　smell　of　scent；　and　put　it　to　Nesvitsky’s　nose。
“To　be　sure；　I’m　going　into　action！　I’ve　shaved；　and　cleaned　my　teeth　and　scented　myself！”
Nesvitsky’s　imposing　figure；　accompanied　by　his　Cossack；　and　the　determination　of　Denisov；　waving　his　sword　and　shouting　desperately；　produced　so　much　effect　that　they　stopped　the　infantry　and　got　to　the　other　end　of　the　bridge。　Nesvitsky　found　at　the　entry　the　colonel；　to　whom　he　had　to　deliver　the　command；　and　having　executed　his　commission　he　rode　back。
Having　cleared　the　way　for　him；　Denisov　stopped　at　the　entrance　of　the　bridge。　Carelessly　holding　in　his　horse；　who　neighed　to　get　to　his　companions；　and　stamped　with　its　foot；　he　looked　at　the　squadron　moving　towards　him。　The　clang　of　the　hoofs　on　the　boards　of　the　bridge　sounded　as　though　several　horses　were　galloping；　and　the　squadron；　with　the　officers　in　front；　drew　out　four　men　abreast　across　the　bridge　and　began　emerging　on　the　other　side。
The　infantry　soldiers；　who　had　been　forced　to　stop；　crowding　in　the　trampled　mud　of　the　bridge；　looked　at　the　clean；　smart　hussars；　passing　them　in　good　order；　with　that　special　feeling　of　aloofness　and　irony　with　which　different　branches　of　the　service　usually　meet。
“They’re　a　smart　lot！　They　ought　to　be　on　the　Podnovinsky！”
“They’re　a　great　deal　of　use！　They’re　only　for　show！”　said　another。
“Infantry；　don’t　you　kick　up　a　dust！”　jested　a　hussar；　whose　horse；　prancing；　sent　a　spurt　of　mud　on　an　infantry　soldier。
“I　should　like　to　see　you　after　two　long　marches　with　the　knapsack　on　your　shoulder。　Your　frogs　would　be　a　bit　shabby；”　said　the　foot…soldier；　rubbing　the　mud　off　his　face　with　his　sleeve；　“perched　up　there　you’re　more　like　a　bird　than　a　man！”
“Wouldn’t　you　like　to　be　popped　on　a　horse；　Zikin；　you’d　make　an　elegant　rider；”　jested　a　corporal　at　a　thin　soldier；　bowed　down　by　the　weight　of　his　knapsack。
“Put　a　stick　between　your　legs　and　you’d　have　a　horse　to　suit　you；”　responded　the　hussar。


Chapter　8
THE　REST　of　the　infantry　pressed　together　into　a　funnel　shape　at　the　entrance　of　the　bridge；　and　hastily　marched　across　it。　At　last　all　the　baggage…waggons　had　passed　over；　the　crush　was　less；　and　the　last　battalion　were　stepping　on　to　the　bridge。　Only　the　hussars　of　Denisov’s　squadron　were　left　on　the　further　side　of　the　river　facing　the　enemy。　The　enemy；　visible　in　the　distance　from　the　opposite　mountain；　could　not　yet　be　seen　from　the　bridge　below；　as；　from　the　valley；　through　which　the　river　flowed；　the　horizon　was　bounded　by　rising　ground　not　more　than　half　a　mile　away。　In　front　lay　a　waste　plain　dotted　here　and　there　with　handfuls　of　our　scouting　Cossacks。　Suddenly　on　the　road；　where　it　ran　up　the　rising　ground　opposite；　troops　came　into　sight　wearing　blue　tunics　and　accompanied　by　artillery。　They　were　the　French。　A　scouting　party　of　Cossacks　trotted　away　down　the　hillside。　Though　the　officers　and　the　men　of　Denisov’s　squadron　tried　to　talk　of　other　things；　and　to　look　in　other　directions；　they　all　thought　continually　of　nothing　else　but　what　was　there　on　the　hillside；　and　kept　constantly　glancing　towards　the　dark　patches　they　saw　coming　into　sight　on　the　sky…line；　and　recognised　as　the　enemy’s　forces。　The　weather　had　cleared　again　after　midday；　and　the　sun　shone　brilliantly　as　it　began　to　go　down　over　the　Danube　and　the　dark　mountains　that　encircle　it。　The　air　was　still；　and　from　the　hillside　there　floated　across　from　time　to　time　the　sound　of　bugles　and　of　the　shouts　of　the　enemy。　Between　the　squadron　and　the　enemy　there　was　no　one　now　but　a　few　scouting　parties。　An　empty　plain；　about　six　hundred　yards　across；　separated　them　from　the　hostile　troops。　The　enemy　had　ceased　firing；　and　that　made　even　more　keenly　felt　the　stern　menace　of　that　inaccessible；　unassailable　borderland　that　was　the　dividing…line　between　the　two　hostile　armies。
“One　step　across　that　line；　that　suggests　the　line　dividing　the　living　from　the　dead；　and　unknown　sufferings　and　death。　And　what　is　there？　and　who　is　there？　there；　beyond　that　field　and　that　tree　and　the　roofs　with　the　sunlight　on　them？　No　one　knows；　and　one　longs　to　know　and　dreads　crossing　that　line；　and　longs　to　cross　it；　and　one　knows　that　sooner　or　later　one　will　have　to　cross　it　and　find　out　what　there　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　line；　just　as　one　must　inevitably　find　out　what　is　on　the　other　side　of　death。　Yet　one　is　strong　and　well　and　cheerful　and　nervously　excited；　and　surrounded　by　men　as　strong　in　the　same　irritable　excitement。”　That　is　how　every　man；　even　if　he　does　not　think；　feels　in　the　sight　of　the　enemy；　and　that　f