战争与和平(上)-第71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！


re　bushes　here；”　said　the　voice　of　an　hussar；　by　whom　Rostov　was　riding　as　he　fell　asleep。　Rostov　lifted　his　head；　which　had　dropped　on　to　his　horse’s　mane；　and　pulled　up　beside　the　hussar。　He　could　not　shake　off　the　youthful；　childish　drowsiness　that　overcame　him。　“But；　I　say；　what　was　I　thinking？　I　mustn’t　forget。　How　I　am　going　to　speak　to　the　Emperor？　No；　not　that—that’s　to…morrow。　Yes；　yes！　Natasha；　attacks；　tacks　us；—whom？　The　hussars。　Ah；　the　hussars　with　their　moustaches　…　Along　the　Tversky　boulevard　rode　that　hussar　with　the　moustaches；　I　was　thinking　of　him　too　just　opposite　Guryev’s　house。…　Old　Guryev。…　Ah；　a　fine　fellow；　Denisov！　But　that’s　all　nonsense。　The　great　thing　is　that　the　Emperor’s　here　now。　How　he　looked　at　me　and　longed　to　say　something；　but　he　did　not　dare。…　No；　it　was　I　did　not　dare。　But　that’s　nonsense；　and　the　great　thing　is　not　to　forget　something　important　I　was　thinking　of；　yes。　Natasha；　attacks　us；　yes；　yes；　yes。　That’s　right。”　And　again　he　dropped　with　his　head　on　his　horse’s　neck。　All　at　once　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　was　being　fired　at。　“What？　what？…　Cut　them　down！　What？”　Rostov　was　saying；　as　he　wakened　up。　At　the　instant　that　he　opened　his　eyes；　Rostov　heard　in　front；　over　where　the　enemy　were；　the　prolonged　shouting　of　thousands　of　voices。　His　horse　and　the　horse　of　the　hussar　near　him　pricked　up　their　ears　at　these　shouts。　Over　where　the　shouts　came　from；　a　light　was　lighted　and　put　out；　then　another；　and　all　along　the　line　of　the　French　troops　on　the　hillside　fires　were　lighted　and　the　shouts　grew　louder　and　louder。　Rostov　heard　the　sound　of　French　words　though　he　could　not　distinguish　them。　He　could　only　hear：　aaaa！　and　rrrr！
“What　is　it？　What　do　you　think？”　Rostov　said　to　the　hussar　near　him。　“That’s　in　the　enemy’s　camp　surely？”
The　hussar　made　no　reply。
“Why；　don’t　you　hear　it？”　Rostov　asked　again；　after　waiting　some　time　for　a　reply。
“Who　can　tell；　your　honour？”　the　hussar　answered　reluctantly。
“From　the　direction　it　must　be　the　enemy；”　Rostov　said　again。
“May　be　’tis；　and　may　be　not；”　said　the　hussar；　“it’s　dark。　Now！　steady；”　he　shouted　to　his　horse；　who　fidgeted。　Rostov’s　horse　too　was　restless；　and　pawed　the　frozen　ground　as　it　listened　to　the　shouts　and　looked　at　the　lights。　The　shouting　grew　louder　and　passed　into　a　mingled　roar　that　could　only　be　produced　by　an　army　of　several　thousands。　The　lights　stretched　further　and　further　probably　along　the　line　of　the　French　camp。　Rostov　was　not　sleepy　now。　The　gay；　triumphant　shouts　in　the　enemy’s　army　had　a　rousing　effect　on　him。　“Vive　l’Empereur！　l’Empereur！”　Rostov　could　hear　distinctly　now。
“Not　far　off；　beyond　the　stream　it　must　be；”　he　said　to　the　hussar　near　him。
The　hussar　merely　sighed　without　replying；　and　cleared　his　throat　angrily。　They　heard　the　thud　of　a　horse　trotting　along　the　line　of　hussars；　and　there　suddenly　sprang　up　out　of　the　night　mist；　looking　huge　as　an　elephant；　the　figure　of　a　sergeant　of　hussars。
“Your　honour；　the　generals！”　said　the　sergeant；　riding　up　to　Rostov。　Rostov；　still　looking　away　towards　the　lights　and　shouts；　rode　with　the　sergeant　to　meet　several　men　galloping　along　the　line。　One　was　on　a　white　horse。　Prince　Bagration　with　Prince　Dolgorukov　and　his　adjutant　had　ridden　out　to　look　at　the　strange　demonstration　of　lights　and　shouts　in　the　enemy’s　army。　Rostov；　going　up　to　Bagration；　reported　what　he　had　heard　and　seen　to　him；　and　joined　the　adjutants；　listening　to　what　the　generals　were　saying。
“Take　my　word　for　it；”　Prince　Dolgorukov　was　saying　to　Bagration；　“it’s　nothing　but　a　trick；　they　have　retreated　and　ordered　the　rearguard　to　light　fires　and　make　a　noise　to　deceive　us。”
“I　doubt　it；”　said　Bagration；　“since　evening　I　have　seen　them　on　that　knoll；　if　they　had　retreated；　they　would　have　withdrawn　from　there　too。　Monsieur　l’officier；”　Prince　Bagration　turned　to　Rostov；　“are　the　enemy’s　pickets　still　there？”
“They　were　there　this　evening；　but　now　I　can’t　be　sure；　your　excellency。　Shall　I　go　with　some　hussars　and　see？”　said　Rostov。
Bagration　stood　still；　and　before　answering；　tried　to　make　out　Rostov’s　face　in　the　mist。
“Well；　go　and　see；”　he　said　after　a　brief　pause。
“Yes；　sir。”
Rostov　put　spurs　to　his　horse；　called　up　the　sergeant　Fedtchenko；　and　two　other　hussars；　told　them　to　ride　after　him；　and　trotted　off　downhill　in　the　direction　of　the　shouting；　which　still　continued。　Rostov　felt　both　dread　and　joy　in　riding　alone　with　three　hussars　into　that　mysterious　and　dangerous；　misty　distance；　where　no　one　had　been　before　him。　Bagration　shouted　to　him　from　the　hill　not　to　go　beyond　the　stream；　but　Rostov　made　as　though　he　had　not　heard　his　words；　and　rode　on　without　stopping；　further　and　further；　continually　mistaking　bushes　for　trees　and　ravines　for　men；　and　continually　discovering　his　mistakes。　As　he　galloped　downhill　he　lost　sight　both　of　our　men　and　the　enemy；　but　more　loudly　and　distinctly　he　heard　the　shouts　of　the　French。　In　the　valley　he　saw　ahead　of　him　something　that　looked　like　a　river；　but　when　he　had　ridden　up　to　it；　he　found　out　it　was　a　road。　As　he　got　out　on　the　road　he　pulled　up　his　horse；　hesitating　whether　to　go　along　it　or　to　cut　across　it；　and　ride　over　the　black　field　up　the　hillside。　To　follow　the　road；　which　showed　lighter　in　the　mist；　was　more　dangerous；　because　figures　could　be　more　easily　descried　upon　it。　“Follow　me；”　he　said；　“cut　across　the　road；”　and　began　galloping　up　the　hill　towards　the　point　where　the　French　picket　had　been　in　the　evening。
“Your　honour；　here　he　is！”　said　one　of　the　hussars　behind；　and　before　Rostov　had　time　to　make　out　something　that　rose　up　suddenly　black　in　the　mist；　there　was　a　flash　of　light；　the　crack　of　a　shot　and　a　bullet；　that　seemed　whining　a　complaint；　whizzed　high　in　the　air　and　flew　away　out　of　hearing。　Another　shot　missed　fire；　but　there　was　a　flash　in　the　pan。　Rostov　turned　his　horse’s　head　and　galloped　back。　He　heard　four　more　shots　at　varying　intervals；　and　four　more　bullets　whistled　in　varying　tones　somewhere　in　the　mist。　Rostov　held　in　his　horse；　who　seemed　inspirited；　as　he　was　himself　by　the　shots；　and　rode　back　at　a　walkingpace。　“Now；　then；　some　more；　now　then；　more！”　a　sort　of　light…hearted　voice　murmured　in　his　soul。　But　there　were　no　more　shots。　Only　as　he　approached　Bagration；　Rostov　put　his　horse　into　a　gallop　again；　and　with　his　hand　to　his　cap；　rode　up　to　him。
Dolgorukov　was　still　insisting　on　his　opinion　that　the　French　were　retreating；　and　had　only　lighted　fires　to　mislead　them。　“What　does　it　prove？”　he　was　saying；　as　Rostov　rode　up　to　them。　“They　might　have　retreated　and　left　pickets。”
“It’s　clear　they　have　not　all　retired；　prince；”　said　Bagration。　“We　must　wait　till　morning；　to…morrow　we　shall　know　all　about　it。”
“The　picket’s　on　the　hill；　your　excellency；　still　where　it　was　in　the　evening；”　Rostov　announced；　his　hand　to　his　cap；　unable　to　restrain　the　smile　of　delight　that　had　been　called　up　by　his　expedition　and　the　whiz　of　the　bullets。
“Very　good；　very　good；”　said　Bagration；　“I　thank　you；　monsieur　l’officier。”
“Your　excellency；”　said　Rostov；　“may　I　ask　a　favour？”
“What　is　it？”
“To…morrow　our　squadron　is　ordered　to　the　rear；　may　I　beg　you　to　attach　me　to　the　first　squadron？”
“What’s　your　name？”
“Count　Rostov。”
“Ah；　very　good！　You　may　stay　in　attendance　on　me。”
“Ilya　Andreitch’s　son？”　said　Dolgorukov。　But　Rostov　made　him　no　reply。
“So　I　may　reckon　on　it；　your　excellency。”
“I　will　give　the　order。”
“To…morrow；　very　likely；　they　will　send　me　with　some　message　to　the　Emperor；”　he　thought。　“Thank　God！”
The　shouts　and　lights　in　the　enemy’s　army　had　been　due　to　the　fact　that　while　Napoleon’s　proclamation　had　been　read　to　the　troops；　the　Emperor　had　himself　ridden　among　the　bivouacs。　The　soldiers　on　seeing　the　Emperor　had　lighted　wisps　of　straw　and　run　after　him；　shouting；　“Vive　l’Empereur！”　Napoleon’s　proclamation　was　as　follows：—
“Soldiers！　The　Russian　army　is　coming　to　meet　you；　to　avenge　the　Austrian　army；　the　army　of　Ulm。　They　are　the　forces　you　have　defeated　at　Hollabrunn；　and　have　been　pursuing　ever　since　up　to　this　place。　The　position　we　occupy　is　a　powerful　one；　and　while　they　will　march　to　out…flank　me　on　the　right；　they　will　expose　their　flank　to　me！　Soldiers！　I　will　myself　lead　your　battalions。　I　will　keep　out　of　fire；　if　you；　with　your　habitual　bravery；　carry　defeat　and　disorder　into　the　ranks　of　the　enemy。　But　if　victory　is　for　one　moment　doubtful；　you　will　see　your　Emperor　exposed　to　the　enemy’s　hottest　attack；　for　there　can　be　no　uncertainty　of　victory；　especially　on　this　day；　when　it　is　a　question　of　the　honour　of　the　French　infantry；　on　which　rests　the　honour　of　our　nation。　Do　not；　on　the　pretext　of　removing　the　wounded；　break　the　order　of　the　ranks！　Let　every　man　be　fully　penetrated　by　the　idea　that　we　must　subdue　these　minions　of　England；　who　are　inspired　by　such　hatred　of　our　country。　This　victory　will　conclude　our　campaign；　and　we　can　return　to　winter　quarters；　where　we　shall　be　reinforced　by　fresh　forces　now　being　formed　in　France；　and　then　the　peace　I　shall　conclude　will　be　one　worthy　of　my　people；　of　you　and　me。
“NAPOLEON。”


Chapter　14
AT　FIVE　O’CLOCK　in　the　morning　it　was　still　quite　dark。　The　troops　of　the　centre；　of　the　reserves；　and　of　Bagration’s　right　flank；　were　still　at　rest。　But　on　the　left　flank　the　columns　of　the　infantry；　cavalry；　and　artillery；　destined　to　be　the　first　to　descend　from　the　heights；　so　as　to　attack　the　French　right　flank；　and；　according　to　Weierother’s　plan；　to　drive　it　back　to　the　Bohemian　mountains；　were　already　up　and　astir。　The　smoke　from　the　camp…fires；　into　which　they　were　throwing　everything　superfluous；　made　the　eyes　smart。　It　was　cold　and　dark。　The　officers　were　hurriedly　drinking　tea　and　eating　breakfast；　the　soldiers　were　munching　biscuits；　stamping　their　feet　rhythmically；　while　they　gathered　about　the　fires　warming　themselves；　and　throwing　into　the　blaze　remains　of　shanties；　chairs；　tables；　wheels；　tubs；　everything　superfluous　that　they　could　not　take　away　with　them。　Austrian　officers　were　moving　in　and　out　among　the　Russian　troops；　coming　everywhere　as　heralds　of　their　advance。　As　soon　as　an　Austria