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of itself。 He rode now beside Ilyin； between the birch…trees； stripping leaves off the twigs that met his hand； sometimes touching his horse’s side with his foot； handing the pipe he had finished to an hussar behind； without turning his head； all with as calm and careless an air as though he were out for a ride。 He felt sorry to see the excited face of Ilyin； who talked a great deal nervously。 He knew by experience the agonising state of anticipation of terror and of death； in which the cornet was plunged； and he knew that nothing but time could help him out of it。
As soon as the sun appeared in the clear strip of sky under the storm…clouds； the wind sank； as though not daring to spoil the beauty of the summer morning after the storm； the trees still dripped； but the drops fell vertically now—and all was hushed。 The sun rose completely above the horizon； and vanished in a long； narrow cloud that hung over it。 A few minutes later the sun showed even more brightly on the upper side of the cloud； tearing its edge。 Everything grew bright and shining。 And with the bright light； as though in response to it； rang out shots in front of them。
Rostov had not time to collect his thoughts and decide how far off these shots were； when an adjutant of Count Osterman…Tolstoy galloped up from Vitebsk； bringing the order to advance at full speed along the road。
The squadron overtook and passed the infantry and the battery； who were also quickening their pace。 Then the hussars raced downhill； passed through an empty and deserted village； and trotted uphill again。 The horses were beginning to get in a lather and the men looked flushed。
“Halt！ in line！” said the officer in command of the division。 “Left about face； walking pace！” sounded the command in advance。
And the hussars passed along the lines of the other troops to the left flank of the position； and halted behind our Uhlans； who formed the front line。 On the right was a dense column of our infantry—they formed the reserves； on the hill above them； in the pure； clear air； in the brilliant； slanting； morning sunshine； could be seen our cannons on the very horizon line。 In front； beyond a hollow dale； could be seen the enemy’s columns and cannons。 In the dale could be heard our advance pickets； already keeping up a lively interchange of shots with the enemy。
Rostov felt his spirits rise at those sounds； so long unheard； as though they had been the liveliest music。 Trap…ta…ta…tap！ rang out several shots； first together； then in rapid succession。 All sank into silence again； and again there was a sound as of popping squibs。
The hussars remained for about an hour in the same spot。 The cannons began firing。 Count Osterman； with his suite behind the squadron； rode up； he stopped to say a word to the colonel of the regiment； and rode off to the cannons on the hill。
After Osterman had ridden away； the command rang out among the Uhlans； “Form in column； make ready to charge！” The infantry in front parted in two to let the cavalry pass through。 The Uhlans galloped off； the streamers on their lances waving； and trotted downhill towards the French cavalry； who came into sight below on the left。
As soon as the Uhlans had started downhill； the hussars received the order to ride off uphill to cover the battery。 Just as the hussars were moving into the place of the Uhlans； there came flying from the out…posts some cannon…balls； hissing and whistling out of the distance； and hitting nothing。
This sound； which he had not heard for so long； had an even more inspiriting and cheering effect on Rostov than the report of the muskets。 Drawing himself up； he surveyed the field of battle； as it opened out before him riding uphill； and his whole heart went with the movements of the Uhlans。 They were swooping down close upon the French dragoons； there was some confusion yonder in the smoke； and five minutes later the Uhlans were dashing back； not towards the spot where they had been posted； but more to the left。 Between the ranks of Uhlans on the chestnut horses； and in a great mass behind them； could be seen blue French dragoons on grey horses。
Chapter 15
ROSTOV； with his keen sportsman’s eye； was one of the first to descry these blue dragoons pursuing our Uhlans。 Nearer and nearer flew the disordered crowds of the Uhlans and the French dragoons in pursuit of them。 He could see now separate figures； looking small at the bottom of the hill； fighting； overtaking one another； and waving their arms and their swords。
Rostov gazed at what was passing before him as at a hunt。 He felt instinctively that if he were to charge with his hussars on the French dragoons now； they could not stand their ground； but if he were to charge it must be that very minute or it would be too late。 He looked round。 The captain standing beside him had his eyes too fixed on the cavalry below。
“Andrey Sevastianitch；” said Rostov； “we could close them in； surely …”
“And a smart job； too；” said the captain； “and indeed …”
Rostov； without waiting for his answer； set spurs to his horse and galloped off in front of his squadron。 Before he had time to give the command； the whole squadron； sharing his feeling； flew after him。 Rostov himself could not have said how or why he did it。 He did it all； as he did everything in a wolf hunt； without thinking or considering。 He saw that the dragoons were near； that they were galloping in no order； he knew they could not stand their ground； he knew there was only one minute to act in； which would not return if he let it slip。 The cannon balls were hissing and whistling so inspiritingly about him； his horse pulled so eagerly forward that he could not resist it。 He spurred his horse； shouted the command； and the same instant flew full trot down…hill towards the dragoons； hearing the tramp of his squadron behind him。 As they dashed downhill； the trot insensibly passed into a gallop that became swifter and swifter； as they drew nearer their Uhlans and the French dragoons pursuing them。 The dragoons were close now。 The foremost； seeing the hussars； began turning back； the hindmost halted。 With the same feeling with which he had dashed off to cut off the wolf’s escape； Rostov； letting his Don horse go at his utmost speed； galloped to cut off the broken ranks of the dragoons。 One Uhlan halted； another； on foot； flung himself to the ground to avoid being knocked down； a riderless horse was carried along with the hussars。 Almost all the dragoons were galloping back。 Rostov picked out one of them on a grey horse and flew after him。 On the way he rode straight at a bush； his gallant horse cleared it； and Nikolay was hardly straight in the saddle again when he saw in a few seconds he would overtake the enemy he had pitched upon as his aim。 The Frenchman； probably an officer from his uniform； sat crouched upon his grey horse； and urging it on with his sword。 In another instant Rostov’s horse dashed up against the grey horse’s hindquarters； almost knocking it over； and at the same second Rostov； not knowing why he did so； raised his sword； and aimed a blow at the Frenchman。
The instant he did this all Rostov’s eagerness suddenly vanished。 The officer fell to the ground； not so much from