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away。
On the French side； smoke rose among the groups that had cannons。 One puff； a second and a third almost at the same instant； and at the very moment when they heard the sound of the first shot； there rose the smoke of a fourth； two booms came one after another； then a third。
“Oh； oh！” moaned Nesvitsky； clutching at the hand of the officer of the suite； as though in intense pain。 “Look； a man has fallen； fallen； fallen！”
“Two； I think。”
“If I were Tsar； I’d never go to war；” said Nesvitsky； turning away。
The French cannons were speedily loaded again。 The infantry in their blue tunics were running towards the bridge。 Again the puffs of smoke rose at different intervals； and the grape…shot rattled and cracked on the bridge。 But this time Nesvitsky could not see what was happening at the bridge。 A thick cloud of smoke had risen from it。 The hussars had succeeded in setting fire to the bridge； and the French batteries were firing at them now； not to hinder them； but because their guns had been brought up and they had some one to fire at。
The French had time to fire three volleys of grape…shot before the hussars got back to their horses。 Two were badly aimed； and the shot flew over them； but the last volley fell in the middle of the group of hussars and knocked down three men。
Rostov； absorbed by his relations with Bogdanitch； stepped on the bridge； not knowing what he had to do。 There was no one to slash at with his sword （that was how he always pictured a battle to himself）； and he could be of no use in burning the bridge； because he had not brought with him any wisps of straw； like the other soldiers。 He stood and looked about him； when suddenly there was a rattle on the bridge； like a lot of nuts being scattered； and one of the hussars； the one standing nearest him； fell with a groan on the railing。 Rostov ran up to him with the others。 Again some one shouted。 “Stretchers！” Four men took hold of the hussar and began lifting him up。 “Oooo！ … Let me be； for Christ’s sake！” shrieked the wounded 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