War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy [425]
The sun had only just appeared in the clear space under a cloud when the wind died, as if not daring to ruin this lovely summer morning after the storm; the drops were still falling, vertically now, and all became still. The sun came out completely, appeared on the horizon, and vanished into the long, narrow cloud that stood above it. A few minutes later, the sun appeared still more brightly on the upper edge of the cloud, tearing its edge. Everything lit up and glistened. And along with this light, as if in response to it, cannon fire rang out ahead.
Before Rostov had time to think and determine how far away those shots were, Count Ostermann-Tolstoy’s adjutant came galloping from Vitebsk with orders to proceed down the road at a trot.
The squadron overtook the infantry and artillery, which also speeded up, went down a hill and, passing through some empty, deserted village, rode uphill again. The horses began to lather, the men’s faces became flushed.
“Halt! Dress ranks!” rang out the order of the division commander ahead.
“Column right, march!” came the command from ahead.
And the hussars, following the line of troops, went to the left flank position and stopped behind our uhlans, who stood in the front line. To their right our infantry stood in a dense column—this was the reserve; higher up the hill, in the perfectly clear air, in the slanting, bright morning light, just on the horizon—our cannon could be seen. Ahead, beyond a hollow, the enemy’s columns and cannon could be seen. In the hollow, our front line, which had already gone into action, could be heard merrily exchanging clacks with the enemy.
As if by the sounds of the most cheerful music, Rostov felt cheered at heart by these sounds, which he had not heard for so long. Trap-ta-ta-tap!—several shots clapped out, now together, now in rapid succession. Then all fell silent, and then came the crackling again, as if someone was walking on firecrackers.
The hussars stood for about an hour in the same place. A cannonade began. Count Ostermann and his suite rode up behind the squadron, stopped, talked with the commander of the regiment, and rode off towards the cannon on the hill.
After Ostermann rode off, a command to the uhlans was heard:
“Column, form up for the attack!” The infantry ahead of them doubled up their platoons to let the cavalry pass by. The uhlans set off, pennants flying on their lances, and trotted downhill towards the French cavalry, which had appeared at the foot of the hill to the left.
As soon as the uhlans had gone down the hill, the hussars were ordered to move up the hill to cover the battery. While the hussars took the place of the uhlans, bullets came flying from the front line, whining and whistling, missing their aim by far.
This sound, which he had not heard for a long time, had a still more joyful and rousing effect on Rostov than the previous sounds of shooting. Drawing himself up, he surveyed the battlefield that opened out from the hill, and participated wholeheartedly in the movements of the uhlans. The uhlans flew down close to the French dragoons, something became confused there in the smoke, and five minutes later the uhlans came racing back, not to the place where they had been, but more to the left. Among the orange uhlans on chestnut horses, and behind them in a large mass, the blue French dragoons on gray horses could be seen.
XV
Rostov, with his keen hunter’s eye, was one of the first to see these blue French dragoons pursuing our uhlans. Closer and closer came the disorderly crowds of uhlans and the French dragoons pursuing them. It was already possible to see how these men, who looked small at the foot of the hill, clashed together, chased each other, and waved their arms or sabers.
Rostov watched what was happening before him as if it was a hunting scene. He sensed intuitively that if he were now to