战争与和平(上)-第35章

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nded　man；　but　still　they　lifted　him　up　and　laid　him　on　a　stretcher。　Nikolay　Rostov　turned　away；　and　began　staring　into　the　distance；　at　the　waters　of　the　Danube；　at　the　sky；　at　the　sun；　as　though　he　were　searching　for　something。　How　fair　that　sky　seemed；　how　blue　and　calm　and　deep。　How　brilliant　and　triumphant　seemed　the　setting　sun。　With　what　an　enticing　glimmer　shone　the　water　of　the　faraway　Danube。　And　fairer　still　were　the　far…away　mountains　that　showed　blue　beyond　the　Danube；　the　nunnery；　the　mysterious　gorges；　the　pine　forests；　filled　with　mist　to　the　tree…tops　…　there　all　was　peace　and　happiness。…　“There　is　nothing；　nothing　I　could　wish　for；　if　only　I　were　there；”　thought　Rostov。　“In　myself　alone　and　in　that　sunshine　there　is　so　much　happiness；　while　here　…　groans；　agonies；　and　this　uncertainty；　this　hurry。…　Here　they　are　shouting　something　again　and　again；　all　of　them　are　running　back　somewhere；　and　I’m　running　with　them；　and　here　is　it；　it；　death　hanging　over　me；　all　round　me。…　One　instant；　and　I　shall　never　see　that　sunshine；　that　water；　that　mountain　gorge　again。…”　At　that　moment　the　sun　went　behind　the　clouds；　more　stretchers　came　into　view　ahead　of　Rostov。　And　the　terror　of　death　and　of　the　stretchers；　and　the　loss　of　the　sunshine　and　life；　all　blended　into　one　sensation　of　sickening　fear。
“Good　God；　Thou　who　art　in　that　sky；　save　and　forgive；　and　protect　me；”　Rostov　whispered　to　himself。
The　hussars　ran　back　to　their　horses；　their　voices　grew　louder　and　more　assured；　the　stretchers　disappeared　from　sight。
“Well；　lad；　so　you’ve　had　a　sniff　of　powder！”　Vaska　Denisov　shouted　in　his　ear。
“It’s　all　over；　but　I　am　a　coward；　yes；　I　am　a　coward；”　thought　Rostov；　and　with　a　heavy　sigh　he　took　his　Rook；　who　had　begun　to　go　lame　of　one　leg；　from　the　man　who　held　him　and　began　mounting。
“What　was　that—grape…shot？”　he　asked　of　Denisov。
“Yes；　and　something　like　it　too；”　cried　Denisov；　“they　worked　their　guns　in　fine　style。　But　it’s　a　nasty　business。　A　cavalry　attack’s　a　pleasant　thing—slash　away　at　the　dogs；　but　this　is　for　all　the　devil　like　aiming　at　a　target。”
And　Denisov　rode　away　to　a　group　standing　not　far　from　Rostov；　consisting　of　the　colonel；　Nesvitsky；　Zherkov；　and　the　officer　of　the　suite。
“It　seems　as　if　no　one　noticed　it；　though；”　Rostov　thought　to　himself。　And　indeed　no　one　had　noticed　it　at　all；　for　every　one　was　familiar　with　the　feeling　that　the　ensign；　never　before　under　fire；　was　experiencing　for　the　first　time。
“Now　you’ll　have　something　to　talk　about；”　said　Zherkov；　“they’ll　be　promoting　me　a　sub…lieutenant　before　I　know　where　I　am；　eh？”
“Inform　the　prince　that　I　have　burnt　the　bridge；”　said　the　colonel；　in　a　cheerful　and　triumphant　tone。
“And　if　he　inquires　with　what　losses？”
“Not　worth　mentioning；”　boomed　the　colonel；　“two　hussars　wounded　and　one　stark　dead　on　the　spot；”　he　said；　with　undisguised　cheerfulness。　The　German　was　unable　to　repress　a　smile　of　satisfaction　as　he　sonorously　enunciated　the　idiomatic　Russian　colloquialism　of　the　last　phrase。


Chapter　9
PURSUED　by　the　French　army　of　a　hundred　thousand　men　under　the　command　of　Bonaparte；　received　with　hostility　by　the　inhabitants；　losing　confidence　in　their　allies；　suffering　from　shortness　of　supplies；　and　forced　to　act　under　circumstances　unlike　anything　that　had　been　foreseen；　the　Russian　army　of　thirty…five　thousand　men；　under　the　command　of　Kutuzov；　beat　a　hasty　retreat　to　the　lower　ground　about　the　Danube。　There　they　halted；　and　were　overtaken　by　the　enemy；　and　fought　a　few　rear…guard　skirmishes；　avoiding　an　engagement；　except　in　so　far　as　it　was　necessary　to　secure　a　retreat　without　the　loss　of　their　baggage　and　guns。　There　were　actions　at　Lambach；　at　Amsteten；　and　at　Melk；　but　in　spite　of　the　courage　and　stubbornness—acknowledged　even　by　the　enemy—with　which　the　Russians　fought；　the　only　consequence　of　these　engagements　was　a　still　more　rapid　retreat。　The　Austrian　troops　that　had　escaped　being　taken　at　Ulm；　and　had　joined　Kutuzov’s　forces　at　Braunau；　now　parted　from　the　Russian　army；　and　Kutuzov　was　left　unsupported　with　his　weak　and　exhausted　forces。　The　defence　of　Vienna　could　no　longer　be　dreamed　of。　Instead　of　the　elaborately　planned　campaign　of　attack；　in　accordance　with　the　principles　of　the　modern　science　of　strategy；　the　plan　of　which　had　been　communicated　to　Kutuzov　during　his　sojourn　in　Vienna　by　the　Austrian　Hofkriegsrath；　the　sole　aim—almost　a　hopeless　one—that　remained　now　for　Kutuzov　was　to　avoid　losing　his　army；　like　Mack　at　Ulm；　and　to　effect　a　junction　with　the　fresh　troops　marching　from　Russia。
On　the　28th　of　October；　Kutuzov　took　his　army　across　to　the　left　bank　of　the　Danube；　and　then　for　the　first　time　halted；　leaving　the　Danube　between　his　army　and　the　greater　part　of　the　enemy’s　forces。　On　the　30th　he　attacked　Mortier’s　division；　which　was　on　the　left　bank　of　the　Danube；　and　defeated　it。　In　this　action　for　the　first　time　trophies　were　taken—a　flag；　cannons；　and　two　of　the　enemy’s　generals。　For　the　first　time；　after　retreating　for　a　fortnight；　the　Russian　troops　had　halted；　and　after　fighting　had　not　merely　kept　the　field　of　battle；　but　had　driven　the　French　off　it。　Although　the　troops　were　without　clothing　and　exhausted；　and　had　lost　a　third　of　their　strength　in　wounded；　killed；　and　missing；　although　they　had　left　their　sick　and　wounded　behind　on　the　other　side　of　the　Danube；　with　a　letter　from　Kutuzov　commending　them　to　the　humanity　of　the　enemy；　although　the　great　hospitals　and　houses　in　Krems　could　not　contain　all　the　sick　and　wounded；—in　spite　of　all　that；　the　halt　before　Krems　and　the　victory　over　Mortier　had　greatly　raised　the　spirits　of　the　troops。　Throughout　the　whole　army；　and　also　at　headquarters；　there　were　the　most　cheerful　but　groundless　rumours　of　the　near　approach　of　the　columns　from　Russia；　of　some　victory　gained　by　the　Austrians；　and　of　the　retreat　of　Bonaparte　panic…stricken。
Prince　Andrey　had　been　during　the　engagement　in　attendance　on　the　Austrian　general　Schmidt；　who　was　killed　in　the　battle。　His　horse　had　been　wounded　under　him；　and　he　had　himself　received　a　slight　wound　on　his　arm　from　a　bullet。　As　a　mark　of　special　favour　on　the　part　of　the　commander…in…chief；　he　was　sent　with　the　news　of　this　victory　to　the　Austrian　court；　now　at　Brünn；　as　Vienna　was　threatened　by　the　French。　On　the　night　of　the　battle；　excited；　but　not　weary　（though　Prince　Andrey　did　not　look　robustly　built；　he　could　bear　fatigue　better　than　very　strong　men）；　he　had　ridden　with　a　despatch　from　Dohturov　to　Krems　to　Kutuzov。　The　same　night　he　had　been　sent　on　with　a　special　despatch　to　Brünn。　This　commission；　apart　from　its　reward；　meant　an　important　step　in　promotion。
The　night　was　dark　and　starlit；　the　road　looked　black　in　the　white　snow　that　had　fallen　on　the　day　of　the　battle。　With　his　mind　filled　with　impressions　of　the　battle；　joyful　anticipations　of　the　effect　that　would　be　produced　by　the　news　of　the　victory；　and　recollections　of　the　farewells　of　the　commander…in…chief　and　his　comrades；　Prince　Andrey　trotted　along　in　a　light　posting　cart；　with　the　sensations　of　a　man　who；　after　long　waiting；　has　at　last　attained　the　first　instalment　of　some　coveted　happiness。　As　soon　as　he　closed　his　eyes；　the　firing　of　guns　and　cannons　was　echoing　in　his　ears；　and　that　sound　blended　with　the　rattle　of　the　wheels　and　the　sensation　of　victory。　At　one　moment　he　would　begin　to　dream　that　the　Russians　were　flying；　that　he　was　himself　slain；　but　he　waked　up　in　haste；　and　with　fresh　happiness　realised　anew　that　that　was　all　unreal；　and　that　it　was　the　French；　on　the　contrary；　who　were　put　to　flight。　He　recalled　again　all　the　details　of　the　victory；　his　own　calm　manliness　during　the　battle；　and；　reassured；　he　began　to　doze。…　The　dark；　starlit　night　was　followed　by　a　bright　and　sunny　morning。　The　snow　was　thawing　in　the　sun；　the　horses　galloped　quickly；　and　new　and　different…looking　forests；　fields；　and　trees　flew　by　on　both　sides　of　the　road　alike。
At　one　of　the　stations　he　overtook　a　convoy　of　Russian　wounded。　The　Russian　officer　in　charge　of　the　transport　lay　lolling　back　in　the　foremost　cart；　and　was　shouting　coarse　abuse　at　a　soldier。　In　each　of　the　long　German　Vorspanns　six　or　more　pale；　bandaged；　and　dirty　wounded　men　were　being　jolted　over　the　stony　roads。　Some　of　them　were　talking　（he　caught　the　sound　of　Russian　words）；　others　were　eating　bread；　the　most　severely　wounded　gazed　dumbly　at　the　posting　cart　trotting　by；　with　the　languid　interest　of　sick　children。
Prince　Andrey　told　the　driver　to　stop；　and　asked　a　soldier　in　what　battle　they　had　been　wounded。
“The　day　before　yesterday　on　the　Danube；”　answered　the　soldier。　Prince　Andrey　took　out　his　purse　and　gave　the　soldier　three　gold　pieces。
“For　all；”　he　added；　addressing　the　officer　as　he　came　up。　“Get　well；　lads；”　he　said　to　the　soldiers；　“there’s　a　lot　to　do　yet。”
“What　news？”　asked　the　officer；　evidently　anxious　to　get　into　conversation。
“Good　news！　Forward！”　he　called　to　the　driver；　and　galloped　on。
It　was　quite　dark　when　Prince　Andrey　rode　into　Br？nn；　and　saw　himself　surrounded　by　high　houses；　lighted　shops；　the　lighted　windows　of　houses；　and　street　lamps；　handsome　carriages　noisily　rolling　over　the　pavement；　and　all　that　atmosphere　of　a　great　town　full　of　life；　which　is　so　attractive　to　a　soldier　after　camp。　In　spite　of　the　rapid　drive　and　sleepless　night；　Prince　Andrey　felt　even　more　alert；　as　he　drove　up　to　the　palace；　than　he　had　on　the　previous　evening。　Only　his　eyes　glittered　with　a　feverish　brilliance；　and　his　ideas　followed　one　another　with　extreme　rapidity　and　clearness。　He　vividly　pictured　again　all　the　details　of　the　battle；　not　in　confusion；　but　definitely；　in　condensed　shape；　as　he　meant　to　present　them　to　the　Emperor　Francis。　He　vividly　imagined　the　casual　questions　that　might　be　put　to　him　and　the　answers　he　would　make　to　them。　He　imagined　that　he　would　be　at　once　presented　to　the　Emperor。　But　at　the　chief　entrance　of　the　palace　an　official　ran　out　to　meet　him；　and　learning　that　he　was　a　special　messenger；　led　him　to　another　entrance。
“Turning　to　the　right　out　of　the　corridor；　Euer　Hochgeboren；　you　will　find　the　adjutant　on　duty；”　the　official　said　to　him。　“He　will　conduct　you　to　the　minister　of　war。”
The　adjutant　on　duty；　meeting　Prince　Andrey；　asked　him　to　wait；　and　went　into　the　war　minister。　Five　minutes　later　the　adjutant　returned；　and　with　marked　courtesy；　bowing　and　ushering　Prince　Andrey　before　him；　he　led　him　across　the　corridor　to　the　private　room　of　the　war　minister。　The　adjutant；　by　his　elaborately　formal　courtesy；　seemed　to　wish　to　guard　himself　from　any　attempt　at　familiarity　on　the　part　of　the　Russian　adjutant。　The　joyous　feeling　of　Prince　Andrey　was　considerably　damped　as　he　approached　the　door　of　the　minister’s　room。　He　felt　slighted；　and　the　feeling　of　being　slighted　passed　instantaneously　without　his　being　aware　of　it　himself—into　a　feeling　of　disdain；　which　was　quite　uncalled　for。　His　subtle　brain　at　the　same　instant　supplied　him　with　the　point　of　view　from　which　he　had　the　right　to　feel　disdain　both　of　the　adjutant　and　the　minister　of　war。　“No　doubt　it　seems　to　them　a　very　simple　matter　to　win　victories；　never　having　smelt　powder！”　he　thought。　His　eyelids　droope