“Whose company？” Prince Bagration asked of the artilleryman standing at the ammunition boxes。
He asked in words： “Whose company？” but what he was really asking was； “You’re not in a panic here？” And the artilleryman understood that。
“Captain Tushin’s； your excellency；” the red…haired； freckled artilleryman sang out in a cheerful voice； as he ducked forward。
“To be sure； to be sure；” said Bagration； pondering something； and he rode by the platforms up to the end cannon。 Just as he reached it； a shot boomed from the cannon； deafening him and his suite； and in the smoke that suddenly enveloped the cannon the artillerymen could be seen hauling at the cannon； dragging and rolling it back to its former position。 A broad…shouldered； gigantic soldier； gunner number one； with a mop； darted up to the wheel and planted himself； his legs wide apart； while number two； with a shaking hand； put the charge into the cannon’s mouth； a small man with stooping shoulders； the officer Tushin； stumbling against the cannon； dashed forward； not noticing the general； and looked out； shading his eyes with his little hand。
“Another two points higher； and it will be just right；” he shouted in a shrill voice； to which he tried to give a swaggering note utterly out of keeping with his figure。 “Two！” he piped。 “Smash away； Medvyedev！”
Bagration called to the officer； and Tushin went up to the general； putting three fingers to the peak of his cap with a timid and awkward gesture； more like a priest blessing some one than a soldier saluting。 Though Tushin’s guns had been intended to cannonade the valley； he was throwing shells over the village of Sch？ngraben； in part of which immense masses of French soldiers were moving out。
No one had given Tushin instructions at what or with what to fire； and after consulting his sergeant； Zaharchenko； for whom he had a great respect； he had decided that it would be a good thing to set fire to the village。 “Very good！” Bagration said； on the officer’s submitting that he had done so； and he began scrutinising the whole field of battle that lay unfolded before him。 He seemed to be considering something。 The French had advanced nearest on the right side。 In the hollow where the stream flowed； below the eminence on which the Kiev regiment was stationed； could be heard a continual roll and crash of guns； the din of which was overwhelming。 And much further to the right； behind the dragoons； the officer of the suite pointed out to Bagration a column of French outflanking our flank。 On the left the horizon was bounded by the copse close by。 Prince Bagration gave orders for two battalions from the centre to go to the right to reinforce the flank。 The officer of the suite ventured to observe to the prince that the removal of these battalions would leave the cannon unprotected。 Prince Bagration turned to the officer of the suite and stared at him with his lustreless eyes in silence。 Prince Andrey thought that the officer’s observation was a very just one； and that really there was nothing to be said in reply。 But at that instant an adjutant galloped up with a message from the colonel of the regiment in the hollow that immense masses of the French were coming down upon them； that his men were in disorder and retreating upon the Kiev grenadiers。 Prince Bagration nodded to signify his assent and approval。 He rode at a walking pace to the right； and sent an adjutant to the dragoons with orders to attack the French。 But the adjutant returned half an hour later with the news that the colonel of the dragoons had already retired beyond the ravine； as a destructive fire had been opened upon him； and he was losing his men for nothing； and so he had concentrated his men in the wood。
“Very good！” said Bagration。
Just as he was leaving the battery； shots had been heard in the wood on the left too； and as it was too far to the left flank for him to go himself； Prince Bagration despatched Zherkov to tell the senior general—the general whose regiment had been inspected by Kutuzov at Braunau—to retreat as rapidly as possible beyond the ravine； as the right flank would probably not long be able to detain the enemy。 Tushin； and the battalion that was to have defended his battery； was forgotten。 Prince Andrey listened carefully to Prince Bagration’s colloquies with the commanding officers； and to the orders he gave them； and noticed； to his astonishment； that no orders were really given by him at all； but that Prince Bagration confined himself to trying to appear as though everything that was being done of necessity； by chance； or at the will of individual officers； was all done； if not by his order； at least in accordance with his intentions。 Prince Andrey observed； however； that； thanks to the tact shown by Prince Bagration； notwithstanding that what was done was due to chance； and not dependent on the commander’s will； his presence was of the greatest value。 Commanding officers； who rode up to Bagration looking distraught； regained their composure； soldiers and officers greeted him cheerfully； recovered their spirits in his presence； and were unmistakably anxious to display their pluck before him。
Chapter 18
AFTER RIDING up to the highest point of our right flank； Prince Bagration began to go downhill； where a continuous roll of musketry was heard and nothing could be seen for the smoke。 The nearer they got to the hollow the less they could see； and the more distinctly could be felt the nearness of the actual battlefield。 They began to meet wounded men。 Two soldiers were dragging one along； supporting him on each side。 His head was covered with blood； he had no cap； and was coughing and spitting。 The bullet had apparently entered his mouth or throat。 Another one came towards them； walking pluckily alone without his gun； groaning aloud and wringing his hands from the pain of a wound from which the blood was flowing； as though from a bottle； over his greatcoat。 His face looked more frightened than in pain。 He had been wounded only a moment before。 Crossing the road； they began going down a deep descent； and on the slope they saw several men lying on the ground。 They were met by a crowd of soldiers； among them some who were not wounded。 The soldiers were hurrying up the hill； gasping for breath； and in spite of the general’s presence； they were talking loudly together and gesticulating with their arms。 In the smoke ahead of them they could see now rows of grey coats； and the commanding officer； seeing Bagration； ran after the group of retreating soldiers； calling upon them to come back。 Bagration rode up to the ranks； along which there was here and there a rapid snapping of shots drowning the talk of the soldiers and the shouts of the officers。 The whole air was reeking with smoke。 The soldiers’ faces were all full of excitement and smudged with powder。 Some were plugging with their ramrods； others were putting powder on the touch…pans； and getting charges out of their pouches； others were firing their guns。 But it was impossible to see at whom they were firing from the smoke； which the wind did not lift。 The pleasant hum and whiz of the bullets was repeated pretty rapidly。 “What is it？” wondered Prince Andrey； as he rode up to the crowd of soldiers。 “It can’t be the line； for they are all crowded together； it can’t be an attacking party； for they are not moving； it can’t be a square； they are not standing like one。”
A thin； weak…looking colonel； apparently an old man； with an amiable smile； and eyelids that half…covered his old…looking eyes and gave him a mild air； rode up to Prince Bagration and received him as though he were welcoming an honoured guest into his house。 He announced to Prince Bagration that his regiment had had to face a cavalry attack of the French； that though the attack had been repulsed； the regiment had lost more than half of its men。 The colonel said that the attack had been repulsed； supposing that to be the proper military term for what had happened； but he did not really know himself what had been taking place during that half hour in the troops under his command； and could not have said with any certainty whether the attack had been repelled or his regiment had been beaten by the attack。 All he knew was that at the beginning of the action balls and grenades had begun flying all about his regiment； and killing men； that then some one had shouted “cavalry；” and our men had begun firing。 And they were firing still； though not now at the cavalry； who had disappeared； but at the French infantry； who had made their appearance in the hollow and were firing at our men。 Prince Bagration nodded his head to betoken that all this was exactly what he had desired and expected。 Turning to an adjutant； he commanded him to bring down from the hill the two battalions of the Sixth Chasseurs； by whom they had just come。 Prince Andrey was struck at that instant by the change that had come over Prince Bagration’s face。 His face wore the look of concentrated and happy determination； which may be seen in a man who in a hot day takes the final run before a header into the water。 The lustreless； sleepy look in the eyes； the affectation of profound thought had gone。 The round； hard； eagle eyes looked ecstatically and rather disdainfully before him； obviously not resting on anything； though there was still the same deliberation in his measured movements。
The colonel addressed a protest to Prince Bagration； urging him to go back； as there it was too dangerous for him。 “I beg of you； your excellency； for God’s sake！” he kept on saying； looking for support to the officer of the suite； who only turned away from him。
“Only look； your excellency！” He called his attention to the bullets which were continually whizzing； singing； and hissing about them。 He spoke in the tone of protest and entreaty with which a carpenter speaks to a gentleman who has picked up a hatchet。 “We are used to it； but you may blister your fingers。” He talked as though these bullets could not kill him； and his half…closed eyes gave a still more persuasive effect to his words。 The staff…officer added his protests to the colonel； but Bagration made them no answer。 He merely gave the order to cease firing； and to form so as to make room for t