战争与和平(上)-第41章

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all；”　he　added　in　a　tone　of　authority。
Prince　Andrey　could　not　help　smiling　as　he　glanced　at　Captain　Tushin。　Smiling；　without　a　word；　Tushin　shifted　from　one　bare　foot　to　the　other；　looking　inquiringly；　with　his　big；　shrewd；　and　good…natured　eyes；　from　Prince　Andrey　to　the　staff…officer。
“The　soldiers　say　it’s　easier　barefoot；”　said　Captain　Tushin；　smiling　shyly；　evidently　anxious　to　carry　off　his　awkward　position　in　a　jesting　tone。　But　before　he　had　uttered　the　words；　he　felt　that　his　joke　would　not　do　and　had　not　come　off。　He　was　in　confusion。
“Kindly　go　to　your　places；”　said　the　staff…officer；　trying　to　preserve　his　gravity。
Prince　Andrey　glanced　once　more　at　the　little　figure　of　the　artillery　officer。　There　was　something　peculiar　about　it；　utterly　unsoldierly；　rather　comic；　but　very　attractive。
The　staff…officer　and　Prince　Andrey　got　on　their　horses　and　rode　on。
Riding　out　beyond　the　village；　continually　meeting　or　overtaking　soldiers　and　officers　of　various　ranks；　they　saw　on　the　left　earthworks　being　thrown　up；　still　red　with　the　freshly　dug　clay。　Several　battalions　of　soldiers；　in　their　shirt…sleeves；　in　spite　of　the　cold　wind　were　toiling　like　white　ants　at　these　entrenchments；　from　the　trench　they　saw　spadefuls　of　red　clay　continually　being　thrown　out　by　unseen　hands。　They　rode　up　to　the　entrenchment；　examined　it；　and　were　riding　on　further。　Close　behind　the　entrenchment　they　came　upon　dozens　of　soldiers　continually　running　to　and　from　the　earthworks；　and　they　had　to　hold　their　noses　and　put　their　horses　to　a　gallop　to　get　by　the　pestilential　atmosphere　of　this　improvised　sewer。
“Voilà　l’agrément　des　camps；　monsieur　le　prince；”　said　the　staff…officer。　They　rode　up　the　opposite　hill。　From　that　hill　they　had　a　view　of　the　French。　Prince　Andrey　stopped　and　began　looking　closer　at　what　lay　before　them。
“You　see　here　is　where　our　battery　stands；”　said　the　staff…officer；　pointing　to　the　highest　point；　“commanded　by　that　queer　fellow　sitting　without　his　boots；　from　there　you　can　see　everything；　let　us　go　there；　prince。”
“I　am　very　grateful　to　you；　I’ll　go　on　alone　now；”　said　Prince　Andrey；　anxious　to　be　rid　of　the　staff…officer；　“don’t　trouble　yourself　further；　please。”
The　staff…officer　left　him；　and　Prince　Andrey　rode　on　alone。
The　further　forward　and　the　nearer　to　the　enemy　he　went；　the　more　orderly　and　cheerful　he　found　the　troops。　The　greatest　disorder　and　depression　had　prevailed　in　the　transport　forces　before　Znaim；　which　Prince　Andrey　had　passed　that　morning；　ten　versts　from　the　French。　At　Grunte　too　a　certain　alarm　and　vague　dread　could　be　felt。　But　the　nearer　Prince　Andrey　got　to　the　French　line；　the　more　self…confident　was　the　appearance　of　our　troops。　The　soldiers；　in　their　great…coats；　stood　ranged　in　lines　with　their　sergeant；　and　the　captain　was　calling　over　the　men；　poking　the　last　soldier　in　the　line　in　the　ribs；　and　telling　him　to　hold　up　his　hand。　Soldiers　were　dotted　all　over　the　plain；　dragging　logs　and　brushwood；　and　constructing　shanties；　chatting　together；　and　laughing　good…humouredly。　They　were　sitting　round　the　fires；　dressed　and　stripped；　drying　shirts　and　foot…gear。　Or　they　thronged　round　the　porridge…pots　and　cauldrons；　brushing　their　boots　and　their　coats。　In　one　company　dinner　was　ready；　and　the　soldiers；　with　greedy　faces；　watched　the　steaming　pots；　and　waited　for　the　sample；　which　was　being　taken　in　a　wooden　bowl　to　the　commissariat　officer；　sitting　on　a　piece　of　wood　facing　his　shanty。
In　another　company—a　lucky　one；　for　not　all　had　vodka—the　soldiers　stood　in　a　group　round　a　broad…shouldered；　pock…marked　sergeant；　who　was　tilting　a　keg　of　vodka；　and　pouring　it　into　the　covers　of　the　canteens　held　out　to　him　in　turn。　The　soldiers；　with　reverential　faces；　lifted　the　covers　to　their　mouths；　drained　them；　and　licking　their　lips　and　rubbing　them　with　the　sleeves　of　their　coats；　they　walked　away　looking　more　good…humoured　than　before。　Every　face　was　as　serene　as　though　it　were　all　happening　not　in　sight　of　the　enemy；　just　before　an　action　in　which　at　least　half　of　the　detachment　must　certainly　be　left　on　the　field；　but　somewhere　at　home　in　Russia；　with　every　prospect　of　a　quiet　halting…place。　Prince　Andrey　rode　by　the　Chasseur　regiment；　and　as　he　advanced　into　the　ranks　of　the　Kiev　Grenadiers；　stalwart　fellows　all　engaged　in　the　same　peaceful　pursuits；　not　far　from　the　colonel’s　shanty；　standing　higher　than　the　rest；　he　came　upon　a　platoon　of　grenadiers；　before　whom　lay　a　man　stripped　naked。　Two　soldiers　were　holding　him；　while　two　others　were　brandishing　supple　twigs　and　bringing　them　down　at　regular　intervals　on　the　man’s　bare　back。　The　man　shrieked　unnaturally。　A　stout　major　was　walking　up　and　down　in　front　of　the　platoon；　and　regardless　of　the　screams；　he　kept　saying：　“It’s　a　disgrace　for　a　soldier　to　steal；　a　soldier　must　be　honest；　honourable；　and　brave；　and　to　steal　from　a　comrade；　he　must　be　without　honour　indeed；　a　monster。　Again；　again！”
And　still　he　heard　the　dull　thuds　and　the　desperate　but　affected　scream。
“Again；　again；”　the　major　was　saying。
A　young　officer；　with　an　expression　of　bewilderment　and　distress　in　his　face；　walked　away　from　the　flogging；　looking　inquiringly　at　the　adjutant。
Prince　Andrey；　coming　out　to　the　foremost　line；　rode　along　in　front　of　it。　Our　line　and　the　enemy’s　were　far　from　one　another　at　the　left　and　also　at　the　right　flank；　but　in　the　centre；　at　the　spot　where　in　the　morning　the　messengers　had　met；　the　lines　came　so　close　that　the　soldiers　of　the　two　armies　could　see　each　other’s　faces　and　talk　together。　Besides　these　soldiers；　whose　place　was　in　that　part　of　the　line；　many　others　had　gathered　there　from　both　sides；　and　they　were　laughing；　as　they　scrutinised　the　strange　and　novel　dress　and　aspect　of　their　foes。
Since　early　morning；　though　it　was　forbidden　to　go　up　to　the　line；　the　commanding　officers　could　not　keep　the　inquisitive　soldiers　back。　The　soldiers；　whose　post　was　in　that　part　of　the　line；　like　showmen　exhibiting　some　curiosity；　no　longer　looked　at　the　French；　but　made　observations　on　the　men　who　came　up　to　look；　and　waited　with　a　bored　face　to　be　relieved。　Prince　Andrey　stopped　to　look　carefully　at　the　French。
“Look’ee；　look’ee；”　one　soldier　was　saying　to　a　comrade；　pointing　to　a　Russian　musketeer；　who　had　gone　up　to　the　lines　with　an　officer　and　was　talking　warmly　and　rapidly　with　a　French　grenadier。　“I　say；　doesn’t　he　jabber　away　fine！　I　bet　the　Frenchy　can’t　keep　pace　with　him。　Now；　then；　Sidorov？”
“Wait　a　bit；　listen。　Aye；　it’s　fine！”　replied　Sidorov；　reputed　a　regular　scholar　at　talking　French。
The　soldier；　at　whom　they　had　pointed　laughing；　was　Dolohov。　Prince　Andrey　recognised　him　and　listened　to　what　he　was　saying。　Dolohov；　together　with　his　captain；　had　come　from　the　left　flank；　where　his　regiment　was　posted。
“Come；　again；　again！”　the　captain　urged；　craning　forward　and　trying　not　to　lose　a　syllable　of　the　conversation；　though　it　was　unintelligible　to　him。　“Please；　go　on。　What’s　he　saying？”
Dolohov　did　not　answer　the　captain；　he　had　been　drawn　into　a　hot　dispute　with　the　French　grenadier。　They　were　talking；　as　was　to　be　expected；　of　the　campaign。　The　Frenchman；　mixing　up　the　Austrians　and　the　Russians；　was　maintaining　that　the　Russians　had　been　defeated　and　had　been　fleeing　all　the　way　from　Ulm。　Dolohov　declared　that　the　Russians　had　never　been　defeated；　but　had　beaten　the　French。
“We　have　orders　to　drive　you　away　from　here；　and　we　shall　too；”　said　Dolohov。
“You　had　better　take　care　you　are　not　all　captured　with　all　your　Cossacks；”　said　the　French　grenadier。
Spectators　and　listeners　on　the　French　side　laughed。
“We　shall　make　you　dance；　as　you　danced　in　Suvorov’s　day”　（on　vous　fera　danser）；　said　Dolohov。
“What　is　he　prating　about？”　said　a　Frenchman。
“Ancient　history；”　said　another；　guessing　that　the　allusion　was　to　former　wars。　“The　Emperor　will　show　your　Suvorov；　like　the　others。…”
“Bonaparte　…”　Dolohov　was　beginning；　but　the　Frenchman　interrupted　him。
“Not　Bonaparte。　He　is　the　Emperor！　Sacré　nom　…”　he　said　angrily。
“Damnation　to　him；　your　Emperor！”
And　Dolohov　swore　a　coarse　soldier’s　oath　in　Russian；　and；　shouldering　his　gun；　walked　away。
“Come　along；　Ivan　Lukitch；”　he　said　to　his　captain。
“So　that’s　how　they　talk　French；”　said　the　soldiers　in　the　line。　“Now　then；　you；　Sidorov。”　Sidorov　winked；　and；　turning　to　the　French；　he　fell　to　gabbling　disconnected　syllables　very　rapidly。
“Kari…ma…la…ta…fa…sa…fi…mu…ter…kess…ka；”　he　jabbered；　trying　to　give　the　most　expressive　intonation　to　his　voice。
“Ho；　ho；　ho！　ha　ha！　ha　ha！　Oh！　oo！”　the　soldiers　burst　into　a　roar　of　such　hearty；　good…humoured　laughter；　in　which　the　French　line　too　could　not　keep　from　joining；　that　after　it　it　seemed　as　though　they　must　unload　their　guns；　blow　up　their　ammunition；　and　all　hurry　away　back　to　their　homes。　But　the　guns　remained　loaded；　the　port…holes　in　the　houses　and　earthworks　looked　out　as　menacingly　as　ever；　and　the　cannons；　taken　off　their　platforms；　confronted　one　another　as　before。


Chapter　16
AFTER　MAKING　A　CIRCUIT　round　the　whole　line　of　the　army；　from　the　right　flank　to　the　left；　Prince　Andrey　rode　up　to　that　battery　from　which　the　staff…officer　told　him　that　the　whole　field　could　be　seen。　Here　he　dismounted　and　stood　by　the　end　of　one　of　the　four　cannons；　which　had　been　taken　off　their　platforms。　An　artilleryman　on　sentinel　duty　in　front　of　the　cannons　was　just　confronting　the　officer；　but　at　a　sign　being　made　to　him；　he　renewed　his　regular；　monotonous　pacing。　Behind　the　cannons　stood　their　platforms；　and　still　further　behind；　the　picket…ropes　and　camp…fires　of　the　artillerymen。　To　the　left；　not　far　from　the　end　cannon；　was　a　little　newly　rigged…up　shanty；　from　which　came　the　sounds　of　offices’　voices　in　eager　conversation。　From　the　battery　there　was　in　fact　a　view　of　almost　the　whole　disposition　of　the　Russian　forces；　and　the　greater　part　of　the　enemy’s。　Directly　facing　the　battery　on　the　skyline　of　the　opposite　hill　could　be　seen　the　village　of　Sch？ngraben；　to　the　left　and　to　the　right　could　be　discerned　in　three　places　through　the　smoke　of　the　camp…fires　masses　of　the　French　troops；　of　which　the　greater　number　were　undoubtedly　in　the　village　itself　and　behind　the　hill。　To　the　left　of　the　village　there　was　something　in　the　smoke　that　looked　like　a　battery；　but　it　could　not　be　made　out　clearly　by　the　naked　eye。　Our　right　flank　was　stationed　on　a　rather　steep　eminence；　which　dominated　the　French　position。　About　it　were　disposed　our　infantry　regiments；　and　on　the　very　ridge　could　be　seen　dragoons。　In　the　centre；　where　was　placed　Tushin’s　battery；　from　which　Prince　Andrey　was　surveying　the　position；　there　was　the　most　sloping　and　direct　descent　to　the　stream　that　separated　us　from　Sch？ngraben。　On　the　left　our　troops　were　close　to　a　copse；　where　there　was　the　smoke　of　the　camp…fires　of　our　infantry；　chopping　wood　in　it。　The　French　line　was　wider　than　ours；　and　it　was　obviously　easy　for　the　French　to　outflank　us　on　both　sides。　Behind　our　position　was　a　precipitous　and　deep　ravine；　down　which　it　would　be　difficult　to　retreat　with　artillery　and　cavalry。　Prince　Andrey　leaned　his　elbow　on　the　cannon；　and　taking　out　a　note…book；　sketched　for　himself　a　plan