登陆注册
4793600000386

第386章

In former days Rostov had felt fear when he was going into an engagement; now he had not the slightest feeling of fear. He had not lost his fears from growing used to being under fire (one can never get accustomed to danger) but from gaining control of his feelings in face of danger. He had schooled himself when going into action to think of anything except what one would have supposed to be more interesting than anything else—the danger in store for him. Earnestly as he strove to do this, and bitterly as he reproached himself for cowardice, he could not at first succeed in this. But with years it had come of itself. He rode now beside Ilyin, between the birch-trees, stripping leaves off the twigs that met his hand, sometimes touching his horse’s side with his foot, handing the pipe he had finished to an hussar behind, without turning his head, all with as calm and careless an air as though he were out for a ride. He felt sorry to see the excited face of Ilyin, who talked a great deal nervously. He knew by experience the agonising state of anticipation of terror and of death, in which the cornet was plunged, and he knew that nothing but time could help him out of it.

As soon as the sun appeared in the clear strip of sky under the storm-clouds, the wind sank, as though not daring to spoil the beauty of the summer morning after the storm; the trees still dripped, but the drops fell vertically now—and all was hushed. The sun rose completely above the horizon, and vanished in a long, narrow cloud that hung over it. A few minutes later the sun showed even more brightly on the upper side of the cloud, tearing its edge. Everything grew bright and shining. And with the bright light, as though in response to it, rang out shots in front of them.

Rostov had not time to collect his thoughts and decide how far off these shots were, when an adjutant of Count Osterman-Tolstoy galloped up from Vitebsk, bringing the order to advance at full speed along the road.

The squadron overtook and passed the infantry and the battery, who were also quickening their pace. Then the hussars raced downhill, passed through an empty and deserted village, and trotted uphill again. The horses were beginning to get in a lather and the men looked flushed.

“Halt! in line!” said the officer in command of the division. “Left about face, walking pace!” sounded the command in advance.

And the hussars passed along the lines of the other troops to the left flank of the position, and halted behind our Uhlans, who formed the front line. On the right was a dense column of our infantry—they formed the reserves; on the hill above them, in the pure, clear air, in the brilliant, slanting, morning sunshine, could be seen our cannons on the very horizon line. In front, beyond a hollow dale, could be seen the enemy’s columns and cannons. In the dale could be heard our advance pickets, already keeping up a lively interchange of shots with the enemy.

Rostov felt his spirits rise at those sounds, so long unheard, as though they had been the liveliest music. Trap-ta-ta-tap! rang out several shots, first together, then in rapid succession. All sank into silence again, and again there was a sound as of popping squibs.

The hussars remained for about an hour in the same spot. The cannons began firing. Count Osterman, with his suite behind the squadron, rode up; he stopped to say a word to the colonel of the regiment, and rode off to the cannons on the hill.

After Osterman had ridden away, the command rang out among the Uhlans, “Form in column; make ready to charge!” The infantry in front parted in two to let the cavalry pass through. The Uhlans galloped off, the streamers on their lances waving, and trotted downhill towards the French cavalry, who came into sight below on the left.

As soon as the Uhlans had started downhill, the hussars received the order to ride off uphill to cover the battery. Just as the hussars were moving into the place of the Uhlans, there came flying from the out-posts some cannon-balls, hissing and whistling out of the distance, and hitting nothing.

This sound, which he had not heard for so long, had an even more inspiriting and cheering effect on Rostov than the report of the muskets. Drawing himself up, he surveyed the field of battle, as it opened out before him riding uphill, and his whole heart went with the movements of the Uhlans. They were swooping down close upon the French dragoons; there was some confusion yonder in the smoke, and five minutes later the Uhlans were dashing back, not towards the spot where they had been posted, but more to the left. Between the ranks of Uhlans on the chestnut horses, and in a great mass behind them, could be seen blue French dragoons on grey horses.

同类推荐
  • The Wouldbegoods

    The Wouldbegoods

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

    THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Frances Waldeaux

    Frances Waldeaux

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 麟儿报

    麟儿报

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雪峰义存禅师语录

    雪峰义存禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 今生系之只待今生

    今生系之只待今生

    陆繁星望着那张66分的试卷,一阵鬼哭狼嚎,无奈之下只好,“闵衍,江湖救急啊~”。闵衍其实不想理的,但是他看着她那“悲催暗淡无神两眼发黑眼泪汪汪”的大眼睛后,摇了摇头。“我真是怕了你了。” 对,怕了你天天这样磨我,如果有一天,我不在你身边,或者,你不在我身边,我会不会疯,你会不会崩溃。
  • 秋平叶界

    秋平叶界

    玄幻修炼亦如人间生活。闭关密室五情闭绝,哪有人间酸甜苦辣、荡气长存般自在。万般体验过后,方知自己已然处在平安世界!王秋为线,贯穿七星山域兴盛之全局。
  • 金匮翼

    金匮翼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 贩私酒的老回回

    贩私酒的老回回

    伏天的北京城,象个大蒸笼,热得人没处藏没处躲的!只有一清早才凉快会儿,可偏偏有人在这个时候不睡会儿舒服觉。不信您看看安定门外护城河北岸早已人影绰绰了。这里有梨园子弟对着城墙“啊啊啊”、“咿咿咿”喊嗓子的,有一步三晃提笼架鸟的老少爷儿们,有撇哧辣嘴胳膊上架鹰的,有围树转圈儿走八卦的,有两手划圈儿练太极的,也有舞剑耍大刀的……。等老阳儿一冒嘴,这些人就渐渐地散了。可那紧傍护城河边儿上的“雨来散”茶馆该座儿多起来!
  • 不良世子妃

    不良世子妃

    大婚之日那混蛋相公不见了踪影,她忍。相公喜欢逛窑子睡美人,成,睡就睡吧。婆婆作威作福,好吧,让就让吧。皇后欺压,婆婆刁难,郡主叫板,这些她都不在乎。但是,当她们把注意打到那个温润如玉的男子身上时,她佟卿歌终于怒了。
  • 解读科技难题(科学探索的真相)

    解读科技难题(科学探索的真相)

    科学是人类进步的第一推动力,而科学知识的普及则是实现这一推动的必由之路。在新的时代,社会的进步、科技的发展、人们生活水平的不断提高,为我们读者的科普教育提供了新的契机。抓住这个契机,大力普及科学知识,增强科学探索精神,这是科学普及的关键。
  • 人心难测

    人心难测

    张冬雨的话让周小川打了个激灵,他看着张冬雨怀里抱着的血肉模糊的白雪,满腔悲愤地看向刘思诚,这个混蛋,竟然骗他!周小川彻底懵了。周小川想不明白,他怎么会错得这么离谱。邹宁海才是真心实意帮助他的人,他却怀疑、仇视他,刘思诚佛口蛇心,他竟然对他惟命是从,现在好了,他彻底人财两空了,还得进监狱……刘思诚同样懊恼,本来,他此次行动是做了充分准备的,戴了假发贴了胡须,连装钱的袋子都准备好了。他早就知道周小川找了个很有钱的女朋友,听周小川说今天他要去接张冬雨去登记,他就冒充周小川之名,把等在路边、抱着白猫的张冬雨骗到了车上,然后在半路上绑好张冬雨并拍照,用张冬雨的微信向周小川发勒索信息。
  • 武林里的一个侠盗

    武林里的一个侠盗

    “悲风冷雨月正昏,莫笑君子入寒门。曾为红颜追情笑,如今已是梁上人。”与其说小偷是他的职业,倒不如说是他的爱好。偷东西并不会给他带来罪恶感,他喜欢逍遥自在但又不缺银子花的生活,小偷倒似乎是最适合他的职业了,江湖上的人也都因他这种放浪不羁的个性给他起了个“盗痞”的称号,而我想要讲的,也就是他的故事...
  • 妖主太腹黑

    妖主太腹黑

    夜心雪是不是前世的她杀人如麻作恶多端。所以,当魂归异世的时候。她才会变成了手无缚鸡之力,任人拿捏的软柿子?不管怎么说,前世的她好歹也是黑帮的大姐大,冷艳动人。怎么一到异世就完全颠覆。一张天真无辜的娃娃脸,不管做什么表情都十分的委屈可怜。天,传出去,她还要不要在这世界上混了。【精彩片段抢先看】“夜长老,我挑选她。”某不知名的家族子弟竟然在挑战会上点名夜心雪。竟然让人唏嘘不已,堂堂一个幻灵之力几段的法师竟然挑战一个手无缚鸡之力的女孩子。这一场决斗,结果好像已经很明显了。夜心雪微眯着双眼,暗道,难道她看起来就那么好欺负?【精彩片段抢先看】“夜族长,请问你们应该怎么给我们一个交代,夜心雪竟然将我的孙子打成重伤,这一笔账该要怎么算。”某族族长挑衅的看着夜族族长,同时也看向了夜心雪,眼神在她的身上不停的打量着。“爷爷,那个男人想要对我做出不轨的事情,更何况,就我这样子,怎么可能把一个大男人打成这个样子,你们就算想要陷害我们夜家,也要找个正当的借口吧。”夜心雪抽泣的说着,那摸样有多可怜就多可怜,实际地下暗自肺腑,怎么样,老娘就打了你怎么样,有本事咬我啊。【有爱的领养榜开启啦】某若是亲妈,所以不管是嫁女儿还是怎么的。都要风风光光的。所以下面是文章人物,大家踊跃的领养哦。夜心雪☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆由liangbing521亲领养端木轩☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆烈☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆由潇湘天若然领养,哈哈咱有爱的夫君雪倾城☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆雪色☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆黑瑟☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆……还有很多人物没有出来,等出场了再列出啦,哈哈。=================================、198710837【这是我和几个朋友联合的读者群】喜欢这本书的亲们可以加入群号,敲门砖是【夜心雪】推荐绯儿的新文:男宠女,女护男。绝世佳宠,宠爱无极限。有兴趣的朋友可以点击去看看,保证不会失望的。【推荐好友的美文】极品仙尊:优质妾儿:绯色暗夜:重生之纨绔千金:◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆一等丑颜:错桃花:感谢我看素材网免费提供封面支持!
  • 道德真经解

    道德真经解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。