战争与和平(上)-第123章

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he　dogs。　He　looked　again　to　the　right　and　saw　something　running　across　the　open　ground　towards　him。　“No；　it　can’t　be！”　thought　Rostov；　taking　a　deep　breath；　as　a　man　does　at　the　coming　of　what　he　has　long　been　hoping　for。　The　greatest　piece　of　luck　had　come　to　him；　and　so　simply；　without　noise；　or　flourish；　or　display　to　signalise　it。　Rostov　could　not　believe　his　eyes；　and　this　uncertainty　lasted　more　than　a　second。　The　wolf　was　running　forward；　he　leaped　clumsily　over　a　rut　that　lay　across　his　path。
It　was　an　old　wolf　with　a　grey　back　and　full；　reddish　belly。　He　was　running　without　haste；　plainly　feeling　secure　of　being　unseen。　Rostov　held　his　breath　and　looked　round　at　the　dogs。　They　were　lying　and　standing　about；　not　seeing　the　wolf　and　quite　unaware　of　him。　Old　Karay　had　his　head　turned　round；　and　was　angrily　searching　for　a　flea；　snapping　his　yellow　teeth　on　his　haunches。　“Loo！　loo！　loo！”　Rostov　whispered；　pouting　out　his　lips。　The　dogs　leaped　up；　jingling　the　iron　rings　of　the　leashes；　and　pricked　up　their　ears。　Karay　scratched　his　hind…leg　and　got　up；　pricking　up　his　ears　and　wagging　his　tail；　on　which　there　were　hanging　matted　locks　of　his　coat。
“Loose　them？　or　not　loose　them？”　Nikolay　said　to　himself　as　the　wolf　moved　away　from　the　copse　towards　him。　All　at　once　the　whole　physiognomy　of　the　wolf　was　transformed。　He　started；　seeing—probably　for　the　first　time—human　eyes　fixed　upon　him；　and；　turning　his　head　a　little　towards　Rostov；　stood　still；　in　doubt　whether　to　go　back　or　forward。　“Ay！　Never　mind；　forward！…”　the　wolf　seemed　to　be　saying　to　himself；　and　he　pushed　on　ahead；　without　looking　round；　softly　and　not　rapidly；　with　an　easy　but　resolute　movement。　“Loo！　loo！…”　Nikolay　cried　in　a　voice　not　his　own；　and　of　its　own　accord　his　gallant　horse　galloped　at　break…neck　pace　downhill；　and　leaped　over　the　watercourse　to　cut　off　the　wolf’s　retreat；　the　hounds　dashed　on　even　more　swiftly；　overtaking　it。
Nikolay　did　not　hear　his　own　cry；　he　had　no　consciousness　of　galloping；　he　saw　neither　the　dogs　nor　the　ground　over　which　he　galloped。　He　saw　nothing　but　the　wolf；　which；　quickening　its　pace；　was　bounding　in　the　same　direction　across　the　glade。　Foremost　of　the　hounds　was　the　black　and　tan；　broad…backed　bitch；　Milka；　and　she　was　getting　close　upon　him。　But　the　wolf　turned　a　sidelong　glance　upon　her；　and　instead　of　flying　at　him；　as　she　always　had　done；　Milka　suddenly　stopped　short；　her　fore…legs　held　stiffly　before　her　and　her　tail　in　the　air。
“Loo！　loo！　loo！”　shouted　Nikolay。
The　red　hound；　Lyubima；　darted　forward　from　behind　Milka；　dashed　headlong　at　the　wolf；　and　got　hold　of　him　by　the　hind…leg；　but　in　the　same　second　bounded　away　on　the　other　side　in　terror。　The　wolf　crouched；　gnashed　its　teeth；　rose　again；　and　bounded　forward；　followed　at　a　couple　of　yards’　distance　by　all　the　dogs：　they　did　not　try　to　get　closer。
“He’ll　get　away！　No；　it’s　impossible！”　thought　Nikolay；　still　shouting　in　a　husky　voice。
“Karay！　Loo！　loo！…”　he　kept　shouting；　looking　for　the　old　hound；　who　was　his　one　hope　now。
Karay；　straining　his　old　muscles　to　the　utmost；　and　watching　the　wolf　intently；　was　bounding　clumsily　away　from　the　beast；　to　cut　across　his　path　in　front　of　him。　But　it　was　plain　from　the　swiftness　of　the　wolf’s　course　and　the　slowness　of　the　hounds　that　Karay　was　out　in　his　reckoning。　Nikolay　saw　the　copse　not　far　now　ahead　of　him。　If　once　the　wolf　reached　it；　he　would　escape　to　a　certainty。　But　in　front　dogs　and　men　came　into　sight；　dashing　almost　straight　towards　the　wolf。　There　was　still　hope。　A　long；　young　hound；　not　one　of　the　Rostovs’—Nikolay　did　not　recognise　him—flew　from　in　front　straight　at　the　wolf；　and　almost　knocked　him　over。　The　wolf　got　up　again　with　a　surprising　rapidity　and　flew　at　the　young　hound；　his　teeth　clacked；　and　the　hound；　covered　with　blood　from　a　gash　in　his　side；　thrust　its　head　in　the　earth；　squealing　shrilly。
“Karay！　old　man！”　Nikolay　wailed。
The　old　dog；　with　the　tufts　of　matted　hair；　quivering　on　his　haunches；　had　succeeded；　thanks　to　the　delay；　in　cutting　across　the　wolf’s　line　of　advance；　and　was　now　five　paces　in　front　of　him。　The　wolf　stole　a　glance　at　Karay；　as　though　aware　of　his　danger；　and　tucking　his　tail　further　between　his　legs；　he　quickened　his　pace。　But　then—Nikolay　could　only　see　that　something　was　happening　with　Karay—the　hound　had　dashed　instantly　at　the　wolf　and　had　rolled　in　a　struggling　heap　with　him　into　the　watercourse　before　them。
The　moment　when　Nikolay　saw　the　dogs　struggling　with　the　wolf　in　the　watercourse；　saw　the　wolf’s　grey　coat　under　them；　his　outstretched　hind…leg；　his　head　gasping　in　terror；　and　his　ears　turned　back　（Karay　had　him　by　the　throat）—the　moment　when　Nikolay　saw　all　this　was　the　happiest　moment　of　his　life。　He　had　already　grasped　the　pommel　of　his　saddle　to　dismount　and　stab　the　wolf；　when　suddenly　the　beast’s　head　was　thrust　up　above　the　mass　of　dogs；　then　his　fore…legs　were　on　the　bank　of　the　watercourse。　The　wolf　clacked　his　teeth　（Karay　had　not　hold　of　his　throat　now）；　leaped　with　his　hind…legs　out　of　the　hollow；　and　with　his　tail　between　his　legs；　pushed　forward；　getting　away　from　the　dogs　again。　Karay；　his　hair　starting　up；　had　difficulty　in　getting　out　of　the　water…course；　he　seemed　to　be　bruised　or　wounded。　“My　God；　why　is　this！”　Nikolay　shouted　in　despair。　The　uncle’s　huntsman　galloped　across　the　line　of　the　wolf’s　advance　from　the　other　side；　and　again　his　hounds　stopped　the　wolf；　again　he　was　hemmed　in。
Nikolay；　his　groom；　the　uncle；　and　his　huntsman　pranced　about　the　beast　with　shouts　and　cries　of　“loo；”　every　minute　on　the　point　of　dismounting　when　the　wolf　crouched　back；　and　dashing　forward　again　every　time　the　wolf　shook　himself　free　and　moved　towards　the　copse；　where　his　safety　lay。
At　the　beginning　of　this　onset　Danilo；　hearing　the　hunters’　cries；　had　darted　out　of　the　copse。　He　saw　that　Karay　had　hold　of　the　wolf　and　checked　his　horse；　supposing　the　deed　was　done。　But　seeing　that　the　hunters　did　not　dismount　from　their　horses；　and　that　the　wolf　was　shaking　himself　free；　and　again　making　his　escape；　Danilo　galloped　his　own　horse；　not　towards　the　wolf；　but　in　a　straight　line　towards　the　copse；　to　cut　him　off；　as　Karay　had　done。　Thanks　to　this　man？uvre；　he　bore　straight　down　on　the　wolf　when　the　uncle’s　dogs　had　a　second　time　fallen　behind　him。
Danilo　galloped　up　in　silence；　holding　a　drawn　dagger　in　his　left　hand；　and　thrashing　the　heaving　sides　of　his　chestnut　horse　with　his　riding　whip；　as　though　it　were　a　flail。
Nikolay　neither　saw　nor　heard　Danilo　till　his　panting　chestnut　darted　close　by　him；　and　he　heard　the　sound　of　a　falling　body　and　saw　Danilo　lying　in　the　midst　of　the　dogs　on　the　wolf’s　back；　trying　to　get　him　by　the　ears。　It　was　obvious　to　the　dogs；　to　the　hunters；　and　to　the　wolf　that　all　was　over　now。　The　beast；　its　ears　drawn　back　in　terror；　tried　to　get　up；　but　the　dogs　clung　to　him。　Danilo；　as　he　got　up；　stumbled；　and　as　though　sinking　down　to　rest；　rolled　with　all　his　weight　on　the　wolf；　and　snatched　him　by　the　ears。　Nikolay　would　have　stabbed　him；　but　Danilo　whispered：　“Don’t；　we　will　string　him　up！”　and　shifting　his　position　he　put　his　foot　on　the　wolf’s　neck。　They　put　a　stick　in　the　wolf’s　jaws；　fastened　it；　as　it　were　bridling　him　with　a　leash；　and　tied　his　legs。　Danilo　swung　the　wolf　twice　from　side　to　side。　With　happy；　exhausted　faces　they　tied　the　great　wolf　alive　on　a　horse；　that　started　and　snorted　in　alarm　at　it；　and　with　all　the　dogs　trooping　after　and　whining　at　the　wolf；　they　brought　it　to　the　place　where　all　were　to　meet。　The　wolfhounds　had　captured　two　cubs；　and　the　greyhounds　three。　The　party　met　together　to　show　their　booty　and　tell　their　stories；　and　every　one　went　to　look　at　the　big　wolf；　which　with　its　heavy…browed　head　hanging　downward　and　the　stick　in　its　teeth；　gazed　with　its　great；　glassy　eyes　at　the　crowd　of　dogs　and　men　around　it。　When　they　touched　him；　his　fastened　legs　quivered　and　he　looked　wildly　and　yet　simply　at　all　of　them。　Count　Ilya　Andreitch　too　went　up　and　touched　the　wolf。
“Oh；　what　a　great　beast！”　he　said。　“He’s　an　old　one；　eh？”　he　asked　Danilo；　who　was　standing　near　him。
“That　he　is；　your　excellency；”　answered　Danilo；　hurriedly　taking　off　his　cap。
The　count　remembered　the　wolf　he　had　let　slip　and　Danilo’s　outburst。
“You　have　a　hot　temper　though；　my　man；”　said　the　count。
Danilo　said　nothing；　but　he　shyly　smiled　a　smile　of　childlike　sweetness　and　amiability。


Chapter　6
THE　OLD　COUNT　went　home。　Natasha　and　Petya　promised　to　follow　immediately。　The　hunting　party　went　on　further　as　it　was　still　early。　In　the　middle　of　the　day　they　set　the　hounds　into　a　ravine　covered　with　thickly　growing　young　copse。　Nikolay；　standing　on　the　stubble　land　above；　could　see　all　his　party。
Facing　Nikolay　on　the　opposite　side　was　a　field　of　green　corn；　and　there　stood　his　huntsman；　alone　in　a　hollow　behind　a　nut　bush。　As　soon　as　they　loosed　the　hounds；　Nikolay　heard　a　hound　he　knew—Voltorn—give　tongue　at　intervals；　other　hounds　joined　him；　pausing　now　and　then；　and　taking　up　the　cry　again。　A　moment　later　he　heard　from　the　ravine　the　cry　that　they　were　on　the　scent　of　a　fox；　and　all　the　pack　joining　together　made　for　the　opening　towards　the　green　corn　away　from　Nikolay。
He　saw　the　whippers…in　in　their　red　caps　galloping　along　the　edge　of　the　overgrown　ravine；　he　could　see　the　dogs　even；　and　was　every　instant　expecting　the　fox　to　come　into　sight　on　the　further　side　among　the　green　corn。
The　huntsman　standing　in　the　hollow　started　off　and　let　his　dogs　go；　and　Nikolay　saw　the　red；　uncouth…looking　fox　hurrying　along　close　to　the　ground；　with　its　bushy　tail；　through　the　green　corn。　The　dogs　bore　down　on　it。　And　now　they　were　getting　close；　and　now　the　fox　was　beginning　to　wind　in　circles　between　them；　making　the　circles　more　and　more　rapidly；　and　sweeping　its　bushy　brush　around　it；　when　all　of　a　sudden　a　strange　white　dog　flew　down　upon　it；　and　was　followed　by　a　black　one；　and　everything　was　confusion；　and　the　dogs　formed　a　star…shaped　figure　round　it；　scarcely　moving；　with　their　heads　together；　and　their　tails　out。　Two　huntsmen　galloped　down　to　the　dogs；　one　in　a　red　cap；　the　other；　a　stranger；　in　a　green　coat。
“What’s　the　meaning　of　it？”　wondered　Nikolay。　“Where　did　that　huntsman　spring　from？　That’s　not　uncle’s　man。”
The　huntsmen　got　the　fox；　and　remained　a　long　while　standing　on　foot　there；　without　hanging　the　fox　on　the　saddle。
He　could　see　the　horses　with　their　snaffles　jutting　up　standing　close　by　the　huntsmen；　and　the　dogs　lying　down。　The　huntsmen　were　waving　their　arms　and　doing　something　with　the　fox。　A　horn　was　sounded—the　signal　agreed　upon　in　case　of　a　dispute。
“That’s　Ilagin’s　huntsman　getting　up　a　row　of　some　sort　with　our　Ivan；”　said　Nikolay’s　groom。
Nikolay　sent　the　groom　to　call　his　sister　and　Petya　to　come　to　him；　and　rode　at　a　walking　pace　towards　the　spot　where　the　whippers…in　were　getting　the　hounds　together。　Several　of　the　party　galloped　to　the　scene　of　the　squabble。
Nikolay　dismounted；　and；　with　Natasha　and　Petya；　who　had　ridden　up；　he　stood　by　the　hounds　waiting　to　hear　how　the　difficulty　was　settled。　The　huntsman　who　had　been　quarrelling　came　riding　out　of　the　bushes　with　the　fox　on　the　crupper；　and　rode