Book Nine: 1812 - Chapter XIV

by Leo Tolstoy

　　It was nearly three o'clock but no one was yet asleep, when thequartermaster appeared with an order to move on to the little townof Ostrovna. Still laughing and talking, the officers beganhurriedly getting ready and again boiled again boiled some muddy waterin the samovar. But Rostov went off to his squadron without waitingfor tea. Day was breaking, the rain had ceased, and the clouds weredispersing. It felt damp and cold, especially in clothes that werestill moist. As they left the tavern in the twilight of the dawn,Rostov and Ilyin both glanced under the wet and glistening leatherhood of the doctor's cart, from under the apron of which his feet weresticking out, and in the middle of which his wife's nightcap wasvisible and her sleepy breathing audible.

　　"She really is a dear little thing," said Rostov to Ilyin, who wasfollowing him.

　　"A charming woman!" said Ilyin, with all the gravity of a boy ofsixteen.

　　Half an hour later the squadron was lined up on the road. Thecommand was heard to "mount" and the soldiers crossed themselves andmounted. Rostov riding in front gave the order "Forward!" and thehussars, with clanking sabers and subdued talk, their horses' hoofssplashing in the mud, defiled in fours and moved along the broadroad planted with birch trees on each side, following the infantry anda battery that had gone on in front.

　　Tattered, blue-purple clouds, reddening in the east, were scuddingbefore the wind. It was growing lighter and lighter. That curlygrass which always grows by country roadsides became clearlyvisible, still wet with the night's rain; the drooping branches of thebirches, also wet, swayed in the wind and flung down bright drops ofwater to one side. The soldiers' faces were more and more clearlyvisible. Rostov, always closely followed by Ilyin, rode along the sideof the road between two rows of birch trees.

　　When campaigning, Rostov allowed himself the indulgence of ridingnot a regimental but a Cossack horse. A judge of horses and asportsman, he had lately procured himself a large, fine, mettlesome,Donets horse, dun-colored, with light mane and tail, and when herode it no one could outgallop him. To ride this horse was apleasure to him, and he thought of the horse, of the morning, of thedoctor's wife, but not once of the impending danger.

　　Formerly, when going into action, Rostov had felt afraid; now he hadnot the least feeling of fear. He was fearless, not because he hadgrown used to being under fire (one cannot grow used to danger), butbecause he had learned how to manage his thoughts when in danger. Hehad grown accustomed when going into action to think about anythingbut what would seem most likely to interest him- the impending danger.During the first period of his service, hard as he tried and much ashe reproached himself with cowardice, he had not been able to do this,but with time it had come of itself. Now he rode beside Ilyin underthe birch trees, occasionally plucking leaves from a branch that methis hand, sometimes touching his horse's side with his foot, or,without turning round, handing a pipe he had finished to an hussarriding behind him, with as calm and careless an air as though hewere merely out for a ride. He glanced with pity at the excited faceof Ilyin, who talked much and in great agitation. He knew fromexperience the tormenting expectation of terror and death the cornetwas suffering and knew that only time could help him.

　　As soon as the sun appeared in a clear strip of sky beneath theclouds, the wind fell, as if it dared not spoil the beauty of thesummer morning after the storm; drops still continued to fall, butvertically now, and all was still. The whole sun appeared on thehorizon and disappeared behind a long narrow cloud that hung above it.A few minutes later it reappeared brighter still from behind the topof the cloud, tearing its edge. Everything grew bright andglittered. And with that light, and as if in reply to it, came thesound of guns ahead of them.

　　Before Rostov had had time to consider and determine the distance ofthat firing, Count Ostermann-Tolstoy's adjutant came galloping fromVitebsk with orders to advance at a trot along the road.

　　The squadron overtook and passed the infantry and the battery- whichhad also quickened their pace- rode down a hill, and passing throughan empty and deserted village again ascended. The horses began tolather and the men to flush.

　　"Halt! Dress your ranks!" the order of the regimental commanderwas heard ahead. "Forward by the left. Walk, march!" came the orderfrom in front.

　　And the hussars, passing along the line of troops on the leftflank of our position, halted behind our Uhlans who were in thefront line. To the right stood our infantry in a dense column: theywere the reserve. Higher up the hill, on the very horizon, our gunswere visible through the wonderfully clear air, brightly illuminatedby slanting morning sunbeams. In front, beyond a hollow dale, could beseen the enemy's columns and guns. Our advanced line, already inaction, could be heard briskly exchanging shots with the enemy inthe dale.

　　At these sounds, long unheard, Rostov's spirits rose, as at thestrains of the merriest music. Trap-ta-ta-tap! cracked the shots,now together, now several quickly one after another. Again all wassilent and then again it sounded as if someone were walking ondetonators and exploding them.

　　The hussars remained in the same place for about an hour. Acannonade began. Count Ostermann with his suite rode up behind thesquadron, halted, spoke to the commander of the regiment, and rodeup the hill to the guns.

　　After Ostermann had gone, a command rang out to the Uhlans.

　　"Form column! Prepare to charge!"

　　The infantry in front of them parted into platoons to allow thecavalry to pass. The Uhlans started, the streamers on their spearsfluttering, and trotted downhill toward the French cavalry which wasseen below to the left.

　　As soon as the Uhlans descended the hill, the hussars were orderedup the hill to support the battery. As they took the places vacated bythe Uhlans, bullets came from the front, whining and whistling, butfell spent without taking effect.

　　The sounds, which he had not heard for so long, had an even morepleasurable and exhilarating effect on Rostov than the previous soundsof firing. Drawing himself up, he viewed the field of battle openingout before him from the hill, and with his whole soul followed themovement of the Uhlans. They swooped down close to the Frenchdragoons, something confused happened there amid the smoke, and fiveminutes later our Uhlans were galloping back, not to the place theyhad occupied but more to the left, and among the orange-colored Uhlanson chestnut horses and behind them, in a large group, blue Frenchdragoons on gray horses could be seen.