第92章

第92章thefurtherforwardandthenearertotheenemyhewent,themoreorderlyandcheerfulhefoundthetroops.thegreatestdisorderanddepressionhadprevailedinthetransportforcesbeforeznaim,whichprinceandreyhadpassedthatmorning,tenverstsfromthefrench.atgruntetooacertainalarmandvaguedreadcouldbefelt.butthenearerprinceandreygottothefrenchline,themoreself-confidentwastheappearanceofourtroops.thesoldiers,intheirgreat-coats,stoodrangedinlineswiththeirsergeant,andthecaptainwascallingoverthemen,pokingthelastsoldierinthelineintheribs,andtellinghimtoholduphishand.soldiersweredottedallovertheplain,inglogsandbrushwood,andconstructingshanties,chattingtogether,andlaughinggood-humouredly.theyweresittingroundthefires,dressedandstripped,dryingshirtsandfoot-gear.ortheythrongedroundtheporridge-potsandcauldrons,brushingtheirbootsandtheircoats.inonecompanydinnerwasready,andthesoldiers,withgreedyfaces,watchedthesteamingpots,andwaitedforthesample,whichwasbeingtakeninawoodenbowltothecommissariatofficer,sittingonapieceofwoodfacinghisshanty.

inanothercompany—aluckyone,fornotallhadvodka—thesoldiersstoodinagrouproundabroad-shouldered,pock-markedsergeant,whowastiltingakegofvodka,andpouringitintothecoversofthecanteensheldouttohiminturn.thesoldiers,withreverentialfaces,liftedthecoverstotheirmouths,drainedthem,andlickingtheirlipsandrubbingthemwiththesleevesoftheircoats,theywalkedawaylookingmoregood-humouredthanbefore.everyfacewasassereneasthoughitwereallhappeningnotinsightoftheenemy,justbeforeanactioninwhichatleasthalfofthedetachmentmustcertainlybeleftonthefield,butsomewhereathomeinrussia,witheveryprospectofaquiethalting-place.princeandreyrodebythechasseurregiment,andasheadvancedintotheranksofthekievgrenadiers,stalwartfellowsallengagedinthesamepeacefulpursuits,notfarfromthecolonel’sshanty,standinghigherthantherest,hecameuponaplatoonofgrenadiers,beforewhomlayamanstrippednaked.twosoldierswereholdinghim,whiletwootherswerebrandishingsuppletwigsandbringingthemdownatregularintervalsontheman’sbareback.themanshriekedunnaturally.astoutmajorwaswalkingupanddowninfrontoftheplatoon,andregardlessofthescreams,hekeptsaying：“it’sadisgraceforasoldiertosteal;asoldiermustbehonest,honourable,andbrave,andtostealfromacomrade,hemustbewithouthonourindeed,amonster.again,again！”

andstillheheardthedullthudsandthedesperatebutaffectedscream.

“again,again,”themajorwassaying.

ayoungofficer,withanexpressionofbewildermentanddistressinhisface,walkedawayfromtheing,lookinginquiringlyattheadjutant.