战争与和平(上)-第124章

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ntsman　who　had　been　quarrelling　came　riding　out　of　the　bushes　with　the　fox　on　the　crupper；　and　rode　towards　his　young　master。　He　took　off　his　cap　a　long　way　off　and　tried　as　he　came　up　to　speak　respectfully。　But　he　was　pale　and　gasping　for　breath；　and　his　face　was　wrathful。　One　of　his　eyes　was　blackened；　but　he　was　probably　not　aware　of　it。
“What　was　the　matter　over　there？”　asked　Nikolay。
“Why；　he　was　going　to　kill　the　fox　right　under　our　hounds’　noses！　And　my　bitch　it　was—the　mouse…coloured　one—that　had　got　hold　of　it。　You　can　go　and　have　me　up　for　it！　Snatching　hold　of　the　fox！　I　gave　him　one　with　the　fox。　Here　it　is　on　my　saddle。　Is　it　a　taste　of　this　you　want？”　said　the　huntsman；　pointing　to　his　hunting…knife　and　apparently　imagining　that　he　was　still　talking　to　his　enemy。
Nikolay　did　not　waste　words　on　the　man；　but　asking　his　sister　and　Petya　to　wait　for　him；　rode　over　to　where　the　hounds　and　the　men　of　the　enemy；　Ilagin；　were　gathered　together。
The　victorious　huntsman　rode　off　to　join　his　fellows；　and　there；　the　centre　of　a　sympathetic　and　inquisitive　crowd；　he　recounted　his　exploit。
The　point　was　that　Ilagin；　with　whom　the　Rostovs　had　some　quarrel　and　were　engaged　in　a　lawsuit；　was　hunting　over　places　that　by　old　custom　belonged　to　the　Rostovs；　and　now；　as　though　of　design；　had　sent　his　men　to　the　ravine　where　the　Rostovs　were；　and　had　allowed　his　man　to　snatch　a　fox　under　a　stranger’s　dogs。
Nikolay　had　never　seen　Ilagin；　but　he　had　heard　of　the　quarrelsomeness　and　obstinacy　of　their　neighbour；　and　rushing；　as　he　always　did；　to　an　extreme　in　his　judgments　and　feelings；　he　cordially　detested　him；　and　looked　upon　him　as　his　bitterest　foe。　Excited　and　angry；　he　rode　up　to　him　now；　grasping　his　whip　in　his　hand；　fully　prepared　to　take　the　most　energetic　and　desperate　measures　in　dealing　with　the　enemy。
He　had　scarcely　ridden　beyond　the　ridge　of　the　copse　when　he　saw　a　stout　gentleman　in　a　beaver　cap　riding　towards　him　on　a　handsome　raven　horse；　accompanied　by　two　grooms。
Instead　of　an　enemy　Nikolay　found　in　Ilagin　a　courteous　gentleman　of　imposing　appearance；　who　was　particularly　anxious　to　make　the　young　count’s　acquaintance。　Ilagin　took　off　his　beaver　cap　as　he　approached　Rostov；　and　said　that　he　greatly　regretted　what　had　occurred；　that　he　would　have　the　man　punished；　that　he　begged　the　count　to　let　them　be　better　acquainted；　and　offered　him　the　use　of　his　preserves　for　hunting。
Natasha　had　ridden　up　not　far　behind　her　brother；　in　some　excitement；　fearing　he　might　do　something　awful。　Seeing　that　the　opponents　were　exchanging　affable　greetings；　she　rode　up　to　them。　Ilagin　lifted　his　beaver　cap　higher　than　ever　to　Natasha；　and；　smiling　agreeably；　said　that　the　countess　was　indeed　a　Diana　both　in　her　passion　for　the　chase　and　her　beauty；　of　which　he　had　heard　so　much。
Ilagin；　to　efface　the　impression　of　his　huntsman’s　crime；　insisted　on　Rostov　coming　to　his　upland　a　verst　away；　which　he　preserved　for　his　own　shooting；　and　described　as　teeming　with　hares。　Nikolay　agreed；　and　the　whole　party；　its　numbers　now　doubled；　moved　on。　They　had　to　ride　through　the　fields　to　get　there。　The　huntsmen　moved　in　a　line；　and　the　gentry　rode　together。　The　uncle；　Rostov；　and　Ilagin　glanced　stealthily　at　each　other’s　dogs；　trying　not　to　be　observed　by　the　others；　and　looking　uneasily　for　rivals　likely　to　excel　their　own　dogs。
Rostov　was　particularly　struck　by　the　beauty　of　a　small　thoroughbred；　slender；　black　and　tan　bitch　of　Ilagin’s；　with　muscles　like　steel；　a　delicate　nose；　and　prominent　black　eyes。　He　had　heard　of　the　sporting　qualities　of　Ilagin’s　dogs；　and　in　that　handsome　bitch　he　saw　a　rival　of　his　Milka。
In　the　middle　of　a　sedate　conversation　about　the　crops　of　the　year；　started　by　Ilagin；　Nikolay　pointed　out　the　black　and　tan　bitch。
“You　have　a　fine　bitch　there！”　he　said；　in　a　careless　tone。　“Is　she　clever？”
“That　one？　Yes；　she’s　a　good　beast—she　can　catch　a　hare；”　Ilagin　said　indifferently　of　his　black　and　tan　Yerza；　a　bitch　for　whom　he　had　a　year　before　given　a　neighbour　three　families　of　house…serfs。　“So　they　don’t　brag　of　their　thrashing；　count；”　he　went　on；　taking　up　their　previous　conversation。　And　feeling　it　only　polite　to　repay　the　young　count’s　compliment；　Ilagin　scanned　his　dogs；　and　pitched　on　Milka；　whose　broad　back　caught　his　eye。
“That’s　a　good　black　and　tan　you　have　there—a　fine　one！”　he　said。
“Yes；　she’s　all　right；　she　can　run；”　answered　Nikolay。　“Oh；　if　only　a　good　big　hare　would　run　into　the　field；　I　would　show　you　what　she’s　like！”　he　thought；　and　turning　to　his　groom；　he　said　he　would　give　a　rouble　to　any　one　who　would　unearth　a　hare。
“I　can’t　understand；”　Ilagin　went　on；　“how　it　is　other　sportsmen　are　so　envious　over　game　and　dogs。　I　will　tell　you　for　myself；　count。　I　enjoy　hunting；　as　you　know；　the　chase　in　such　company…what　could　be　more　delightful”　（he　doffed　his　beaver　cap　again　to　Natasha）；　“but　this　reckoning　up　of　the　skins　one　has　carried　off—I　don’t　care　about　that。”
“Oh　no！”
“Nor　could　I　be　chagrined　at　my　dog’s　being　outdone　by　another　man’s—all　I　care　about　is　the　chase　itself；　eh；　count？　And　so　I　consider…”
“Oh；…ho…ho；”　sounded　at　that　moment　in　a　prolonged　call　from　one　of　the　grooms。　He　was　standing　on　a　knoll　in　the　stubble　with　his　whip　held　up；　and　he　called　once　more；　“O…ho…aho！”　（This　call；　and　the　lifted　whip；　meant　that　he　saw　a　hare　squatting　before　him。）
“Ah；　he　has　started　a　hare；　I　fancy；”　said　Ilagin　carelessly。　“Well；　let　us　course　it；　count！”
“Yes；　we　must…but　what　do　you　say；　together？”　answered　Nikolay；　looking　intently　at　Yerza　and　the　uncle’s　red　Rugay；　the　two　rivals　against　whom　he　had　never　before　had　a　chance　of　putting　his　dogs。　“What　if　they　outdo　my　Milka　from　the　first？”　he　thought；　riding　by　the　uncle　and　Ilagin　towards　the　hare。
“Is　it　full…grown？”　asked　Ilagin；　going　up　to　the　groom　who　had　started　it；　and　looking　about　him　with　some　excitement；　as　he　whistled　to　his　Yerza。…　“And　you；　Mihail　Nikanoritch？”　he　said　to　the　uncle。
The　uncle　rode　on；　looking　sullen。
“What’s　the　use　of　my　competing　with　you？　Why；　your　dogs—you　have　paid　a　village　for　each　of　them；　they’re　worth　thousands。　You　try　yours　against　each　other；　and　I’ll　look　on！”
“Rugay！　Hey；　hey；”　he　shouted。　“Rugayushka！”　he　added；　involuntarily　expressing　his　tenderness；　and　the　hope　he　put　in　the　red　dog　by　this　affectionate　diminutive。　Natasha　saw　and　felt　the　emotion　concealed　by　the　two　elderly　men　and　by　her　brother；　and　was　herself　excited　by　it。　The　groom　on　the　knoll　was　standing　with　his　whip　lifted；　the　gentlemen　rode　up　to　him　at　a　walking　pace；　the　pack　were　on　the　rim　of　the　horizon；　moving　away　from　the　hare；　the　rest　of　the　hunting　party　too　were　riding　away。　Everything　was　done　slowly　and　deliberately。
“Which　way　is　its　head？”　asked　Nikolay；　after　riding　a　hundred　paces　towards　the　groom。　But　before　the　groom　had　time　to　answer；　the　hare；　who　had　been　sniffing　in　the　ground　the　frost　coming　next　morning；　leapt　up　from　its　squatting　posture。　The　pack　of　hounds　on　leashes　flew　baying　downhill　after　the　hare；　the　harriers；　who　were　not　on　leash；　rushed　from　all　sides　towards　the　hounds　or　after　the　hare。　The　whippers…in；　who　had　been　moving　so　deliberately；　galloped　over　the　country　getting　the　dogs　together；　with　shouts　of　“stop！”　while　the　huntsmen　directed　their　course　with　shouts　of　“o　…　o　…　ahoy！”　Nikolay；　Natasha；　and　the　uncle　and　Ilagin；　who　had　been　hitherto　so　composed；　flew　ahead；　reckless　of　how　or　where　they　went；　seeing　nothing　but　the　dogs　and　the　hare；　and　afraid　of　nothing　but　losing　sight　for　an　instant　of　the　course。　The　hare　turned　out　to　be　a　fleet　and　strong　one。　When　he　jumped　up　he　did　not　at　once　race　off；　but　cocked　up　his　ears；　listening　to　the　shouts　and　tramp　of　hoofs；　that　came　from　all　sides　at　once。　He　took　a　dozen　bounds　not　very　swiftly；　letting　the　dogs　gain　on　him；　but　at　last　choosing　his　direction；　and　grasping　his　danger；　he　put　his　ears　back；　and　dashed　off　at　full　speed。　He　had　been　crouching　in　the　stubble；　but　the　green　field　was　in　front　of　him；　and　there　it　was　marshy　ground。　The　two　dogs　of　the　groom　who　had　started　him　were　the　nearest　and　the　first　to　be　on　the　scent　after　him。　But　they　had　not　got　near　him；　when　Ilagin’s　black　and　tan　Yerza　flew　ahead　of　them；　got　within　a　yard；　pounced　on　him　with　fearful　swiftness；　aiming　at　the　hare’s　tail；　and　rolled　over；　thinking　she　had　hold　of　him。　The　hare　arched　his　back；　and　bounded　off　more　nimbly　than　ever。　The　broad…backed；　black　and　tan　Milka　flew　ahead　of　Yerza；　and　began　rapidly　gaining　on　the　hare。
“Milashka！　little　mother！”　Nikolay　shouted　triumphantly。　Milka　seemed　on　the　point　of　pouncing　on　the　hare；　but　she　overtook　him　and　flew　beyond。　The　hare　doubled　back。　Again　the　graceful　Yerza　dashed　at　him；　and　kept　close　to　the　hare’s　tail；　as　though　measuring　the　distance；　so　as　not　to　miss　getting　hold　of　the　hare；　by　the　haunch　this　time。
“Yerzinka；　little　sister！”　wailed　Ilagin；　in　a　voice　unlike　his　own。　Yerza　did　not　heed　his　appeals。　At　the　very　moment　when　she　seemed　about　to　seize　the　hare；　he　doubled　and　darted　away　to　the　ditch　between　the　stubble　and　the　green　field。　Again　Yerza　and　Milka；　running　side　by　side；　like　a　pair　of　horses；　flew　after　the　hare；　the　hare　was　better　off　in　the　ditch；　the　dogs　could　not　gain　on　him　so　quickly。
“Rugay！　Rugayushka！　Forward—quick　march；”　another　voice　shouted　this　time。　And　Rugay；　the　uncle’s　red；　broad…shouldered　dog；　stretching　out　and　curving　his　back；　caught　up　the　two　foremost　dogs；　pushed　ahead　of　them；　flung　himself　with　complete　self…abandonment　right　on　the　hare；　turned　him　out　of　the　ditch　into　the　green　field；　flung　himself　still　more　viciously　on　him　once　more；　sinking　up　to　his　knees　in　the　swampy　ground；　and　all　that　could　be　seen　was　the　dog　rolling　over　with　the　hare；　covering　his　back　with　mud。　The　dogs　formed　a　star…shaped　figure　round　him。　A　moment　later　all　the　party　pulled　their　horses　up　round　the　crowding　dogs。　The　uncle　alone　dismounted　in　a　rapture　of　delight；　and　cutting　off　the　feet；　shaking　the　hare　for　the　blood　to　drip　off；　he　looked　about　him；　his　eyes　restless　with　excitement；　and　his　hands　and　legs　moving　nervously。　He　went　on　talking；　regardless　of　what　or　to　whom　he　spoke。　“That’s　something　like；　quick　march　…　there’s　a　dog　for　you　…　he　outstripped　them　all　…　if　they　cost　a　thousand　or　they　cost　a　rouble　…　forward；　quick　march；　and　no　mistake！”　he　kept　saying；　panting　and　looking　wrathfully　about　him；　as　though　he　were　abusing　some　one；　as　though　they　had　all　been　his　enemies；　had　insulted　him；　and　he　had　only　now　at　last　succeeded　in　paying　them　out。　“So　much　for　your　thousand　rouble　dogs—forward；　quick　march！　Rugay；　here’s　the　foot；”　he　said；　dropping　the　dog　the　hare’s　muddy　foot；　which　he　had　just　cut　off；　“you’ve　deserved　it—forward；　quick　march！”
“She　wore　herself　out—ran　it　down　three　times　all　alone；”　Nikolay　was　saying；　listening　to　no　one；　and　heedless　whether　he　were　heard　or　not。
“To　be　sure；　cutting　in　sideways　like　that！”　Ilagin’s　groom　was　saying。
“Why；　when　it　had　been　missed　like　that；　and　once　down；　any　yard…dog　could　catch　it　of　course；”　said　Ilagin；　at　the　same