第225章

第225章inaprilthearmywasexcitedbythenewsofthearrivalofthetsar.rostovdidnoteedinbeingpresentatthereviewthetsarheldatbartenstein;thepavlogradhussarswereattheadvanceposts,alongwayinfrontofbartenstein.

theywerebivouacking.denisovandrostovwerelivinginamudhutdugoutbythesoldiersforthem,androofedwithbranchesandturf.thehutwasmadeafterapatternthathadjustcomeintofashionamongthesoldiers.atrenchwasdugoutanellandahalfinbreadth,twoellsindepth,andthreeandahalfinlength.atoneendofthetrenchstepswerescoopedout,andtheseformedtheentranceandtheapproach.thetrenchitselfwastheroom,andinittheluckyofficers,suchasthecaptain,hadaplanklyingonpilesatthefurtherendawayfromthesteps—thiswasthetable.onbothsidesofthetrenchtheearthhadbeenthrownup,andthesemoundsmadethetwobedsandthesofa.theroofwassoconstructedthatonecouldstanduprightinthemiddle,andonthebedsitwaspossibletosit,ifonemovedupclosetothetable.denisov,whoalwaysfaredluxuriously,becausethesoldiersofhissquadronwerefondofhim,hadaboardnailedupinthefrontpartoftheroof,andintheboardabrokenbutcementedwindowpane.whenitwasverycold,theyusedtobringred-hotembersfromthesoldiers’camp-firesinabentsheetofironandsetthemnearthesteps（inthedrawing-room,asdenisovcalledthatpartofthehut）,andthismadeitsowarmthattheofficers,ofwhomtherewerealwaysanumberwithdenisovandrostov,usedtositwithnothingbuttheirshirtson.

inaprilrostovhadbeenonduty.ateighto’clockinthemorning,oncominghomeafterasleeplessnight,hesentforhotembers,changedhisrain-soakedunderclothes,saidhisprayers,dranksometea,warmedhimself,putthingstidyinhiscornerandonthetable,andwithawind-beaten,heatedface,andwithonlyhisshirton,laydownonhisback,foldinghishandsbehindhishead.hewasengagedinagreeablemeditations,reflectingthathewouldbesuretobepromotedforthelastreconnoitringexpedition,andwasexpectingdenisovtocomein.hewantedtotalktohim.

behindthehutheheardtheresoundingroarofdenisov,unmistakablyirritated.rostovmovedtothewindowtoseetowhomhewasspeaking,andsawthequartermaster,toptcheenko.

“itoldyounottoletthemstuffthemselveswiththatroot—mary’swhatdoyoucallit！”denisovwasroaring.“why,isawitmyself,lazartchukwaspullingitupinthefield.”

“ididgivetheorder,yourhonour;theywon’theedit,”answeredthequartermaster.

rostovlaydownagainonhisbed,andthoughtcontentedly：“lethimseetothingsnow;he’sfussingaboutwhileihavedonemywork,andiamlyinghere—it’ssplendid！”throughthewallhecouldhearnowsomeonebesidesthequartermasterspeaking.lavrushka,denisov’ssmartrogueofavalet,wastellinghimsomethingaboutsometransports,biscuitsandoxen,hehadseen,whileonthelook-outforprovisions.

againhehearddenisov’sshoutfromfurtheraway,andthewords：“saddle！secondplatoon！”

“wherearetheyoffto？”thoughtrostov.

fiveminuteslaterdenisovcameintothehut,clamberedwithmuddyfeetonthebed,angrilylightedhispipe,scatteredaboutallhisbelongings,putonhisriding-whipandsword,andwasgoingoutofthehut.inreplytorostov’squestion,wherewashegoing？heansweredangrilyandvaguelythathehadbusinesstoseeafter.

“godbemyjudge,then,andourgraciousemperor！”saiddenisov,ashewentout.outsidethehutrostovheardthehoofsofseveralhorsessplashingthroughthemud.rostovdidnoteventroublehimselftofindoutwheredenisovwasgoing.gettingwarmthroughinhiscorner,hefellasleep,anditwasonlytowardseveningthathecameoutofthehut.denisovhadnotyetcomeback.theweatherhadcleared;nearthenexthuttwoofficerswereplayingquoits,withalaughstickingbigradishesforpegsinthesoftmuddyearth.rostovjoinedthem.inthemiddleofagametheofficerssawtransportonsdrivinguptothem,somefifteenhussarsonleanhorsesrodebehindthem.thetransportons,escortedbythehussars,droveuptothepicketropes,andacrowdofhussarssurroundedthem.

“there,look！denisovwasalwaysfrettingaboutit,”saidrostov;“hereareprovisionscomeatlast.”

“hightime,too！”saidtheofficers.“won’tthesoldiersbepleased！”

alittlebehindthehussarsrodedenisov,accompaniedbytwoinfantryofficers,withwhomhewasinconversation.rostovwenttomeetthem.

“iwarnyou,captain,”oneoftheofficerswassaying,athin,littleman,visiblywrathful.

“well,ihavetoldyou,iwon’tgivethemup,”answereddenisov.

“youwillhavetoanswerforit,captain.it’smutiny—carryingofftransportsfromyourownarmy！ourmenhavehadnofoodfortwodays.”

“minehavehadnothingforafortnight,”answereddenisov.

“it’sbrigandage;youwillanswerforit,sir！”repeatedtheinfantryofficer,raisinghisvoice.

“butwhydoyoukeeppesteringme？eh？”roareddenisov,suddenlygettingfurious.“it’siwillhavetoanswerforit,andnotyou;andyou’dbetternotcryouttillyou’rehurt.beoff！”heshoutedattheofficers.

“allright！”thelittleofficerresponded,nottheleastintimidated,andnotmovingaway.“it’srobbery,soitellyou.…”

“gotothedevil,quickmarch,whileyou’resafeandsound.”anddenisovmovedtowardstheofficer.

“allright,allright,”saidtheofficerthreateningly;andheturnedhishorseandtrottedaway,swayinginthesaddle.