第148章

第148章atfiveo’clockinthemorningitwasstillquitedark.thetroopsofthecentre,ofthereserves,andofbagration’srightflank,werestillatrest.butontheleftflankthecolumnsoftheinfantry,cavalry,andartillery,destinedtobethefirsttodescendfromtheheights,soastoattackthefrenchrightflank,and,accordingtoweierother’splan,todriveitbacktothebohemianmountains,werealreadyupandastir.thesmokefromthecamp-fires,intowhichtheywerethrowingeverythingsuperfluous,madetheeyessmart.itwascoldanddark.theofficerswerehurriedlydrinkingteaandeatingbreakfast;thesoldiersweremunchingbiscuits,stampingtheirfeetrhythmically,whiletheygatheredaboutthefireswarmingthemselves,andthrowingintotheblazeremainsofshanties,chairs,tables,wheels,tubs,everythingsuperfluousthattheycouldnottakeawaywiththem.austrianofficersweremovinginandoutamongtherussiantroops,comingeverywhereasheraldsoftheiradvance.assoonasanaustrianofficerappearednearacommandingofficer’squarters,theregimentbegantobestirthemselves;thesoldiersranfromthefires,thrustpipesintoboot-legs,bagsintoons,sawtotheirmuskets,andformedintoranks.theofficersbuttonedthemselvesup,putontheirsabresandpouches,andmovedupanddowntheranksshouting.thecommissariatmenandofficers’servantsharnessedthehorses,packedandtieduptheons.theadjutantsandtheofficersincommandofregimentsandbattalionsgotontheirhorses,crossedthemselves,gavefinalorders,exhortationsandcommissionstothemenwhoremainedbehindwiththeage,andthemonotonousthudofthousandsoffeetbegan.thecolumnsmoved,notknowingwheretheyweregoing,andunablefromthecrowdsroundthem,thesmoke,andthethickeningfog,toseeeithertheplacewhichtheywereleaving,orthatintowhichtheywereadvancing.

thesoldierinmovementisasmuchshutin,surrounded,drawnalongbyhisregiment,asthesailorisbyhisship.howevergreatadistancehetraverses,howeverstrange,unknown,anddangeroustheregionstowhichhepenetrates,allabouthim,asthesailorhasthedeckandmastsandingofhisship,hehasalwayseverywherethesamecomrades,thesameranks,thesamesergeantivanmitritch,thesameregimentaldogzhutchka,thesameofficers.thesoldierrarelycarestoknowintowhatregionhisshiphassailed;butonthedayofbattle—godknowshoworwhenceitcomes—theremaybeheardinthemoralworldofthetroopsasternernotethatsoundsattheapproachofsomethinggraveandsolemn,androusesthemtoacuriosityunusualinthem.ondaysofbattle,soldiersmakestrenuouseffortstoescapefromtheroutineoftheirregiment’sinterests,theylisten,watchintently,andgreedilyinquirewhatisbeingdonearoundthem.

thefoghadbecomesothickthatthoughitwasgrowinglight,theycouldnotseetenstepsinfrontofthem.busheslookedlikehugetrees,levelplaceslookedlikeravinesandslopes.anywhere,onanyside,theymightstumbleuponunseenenemiestenpacesfromthem.butforalongwhilethecolumnsmarchedoninthesamefog,goingdownhillanduphill,passinggardensandfences,innewandunknowncountry,withoutcomingupontheenemyanywhere.onthecontrary,thesoldiersbecameawarethatinfront,behind,onallsides,weretherussiancolumnsmovinginthesamedirection.everysoldierfeltcheeredatheartbyknowingthatwherehewasgoing,tothatunknownspotweregoingalsomany,manymoreofourmen.

“isay,thekurskieshavegoneon,”theyweresayingintheranks.

“stupendous,mylad,theforcesofourmenthataremettogether！lastnightilookedatthefiresburning,noendofthem.aregularmoscow！”

thoughnotoneoftheofficersincommandofthecolumnsrodeuptotheranksnortalkedtothesoldiers（thecommandingofficers,aswehaveseenatthecouncilofwar,wereoutofhumour,anddispleasedwiththeplansthathadbeenadopted,andsotheysimplycarriedouttheirorderswithoutexertingthemselvestoencouragethesoldiers）,yetthesoldiersmarchedoningoodspirits,astheyalwaysdowhenadvancingintoaction,especiallywhenontheoffensive.

butaftertheyhadbeenmarchingonforaboutanhourinthethickfog,agreatpartofthetroopshadtohalt,andanunpleasantimpressionofmismanagementandmisunderstandingspreadthroughtheranks.inwhatwaythatimpressionreachedthemitisverydifficulttodefine.butthereisnodoubtthatitdidreachthem,andwithextraordinarycorrectnessandrapidity,andspreadimperceptiblyandirresistibly,likewaterflowingoveravalley.hadtherussianarmybeenactingalone,withoutallies,possiblyitwouldhavetakenalongtimeforthisimpressionofmismanagementtobecomeageneralconviction.butasitwas,itwassoparticularlypleasantandnaturaltoascribethemismanagementtothesenselessgermans,andallbelievedthattherewassomedangerousmuddleduetoablunderonthepartofthesausage-makers.

“whataretheystoppingfor？blockeduptheway,eh？orhituponthefrenchatlast？”

“no,notheardso.there’dhavebeenfiring.afterhurryingustomarchoff,andwe’vemarchedoff—tostandinthemiddleofafieldfornosense—allthedamnedgermansmakingamuddleofit.thesenselessdevils！i’dhavesentthemoninfront.butnofear,theycrowdtotherear.andnowone’stostandwithnothingtoeat.”

“isay,willtheybequickthere？”

“thecavalryisblockinguptheroad,theysay,”saidanofficer.

“ah,thesedamnedgermans,theydon’tknowtheirowncountry,”saidanother.

“whichdivisionareyou？”shoutedanadjutant,ridingup.

“eighteenth.”

“thenwhyareyouhere？yououghttohavebeeninfrontlongago;youwon’tgettherenowbeforeevening.”