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of the guns； and in the pure morning air the slanting rays of the sun； behind Pierre on the left； shed on it a brilliant light full of gold and pink tones； and broken up by long； dark shadows。 The distant forests that bounded the scene lay in a crescent on the horizon； looking as though carved out of some precious yellow…green stone； and through their midst behind Valuev ran the great Smolensk road； all covered with troops。 In the foreground lay golden fields and copses glittering in the sun。 Everywhere； to right； to left； and in front were soldiers。 The whole scene was inspiriting； impressive； and unexpected； but what struck Pierre most of all was the aspect of the field of battle itself； of Borodino； and the hollow on both sides of the Kolotcha。
About the Kolotcha； in Borodino； and both sides of it； especially to the left where the Voina runs through swampy ground into the Kolotcha； a mist still hung over the scene； melting； parting； shimmering with light in the bright sunshine； and giving fairy…like beauty to the shapes seen through it。 The smoke of the guns mingled with this mist； and everywhere gleams of sunlight sparkled in it from the water； from the dew； from the bayonets of the soldiers crowding on the river banks and in Borodino。 Through this mist could be seen a white church； here and there roofs of cottages in Borodino； and fitful glimpses came of compact masses of soldiers； and green ammunition…boxes and cannons。 And the whole scene moved； or seemed to move； as the mist and smoke trailed over the wide plain。 In this low ground about Borodino in the mist； and above it； and especially along the whole line to the left； in the copses； in the meadows below； and on the tops of the heights； clouds of smoke were incessantly springing out of nothing； now singly； now several at once； then at longer intervals； then in rapid succession。 These clouds of smoke； puffing； rolling； melting into one another； and sundering apart； trailed all across the wide plain。 These puffs of smoke； and the reports that followed them； were； strange to say； what gave the chief charm to the scene。
“Poooff！” suddenly there flew up a round； compact ball of smoke； with shades of purple； grey； and milk…white in it； and “booom！” followed the roar of the cannon a minute later。
“Pooff…pooff！” two clouds of smoke rose； meeting and mingling into one； and “boom…boom；” the sound repeated what the eye had seen。
Pierre looked round at the first puff of smoke； which he had seen a second before a round； compact ball； and already in its place were wreaths of smoke trailing away to one side； and “pooff”…（then a pause） “pooff…pooff”—three more flew up； and another four at once； and at the same intervals after each other “boom…boom…boom…boom；” rang out the sonorous； resolute； unfailing sounds。 At one moment it seemed that those clouds of smoke were scudding across the plain； at the next； that they were stationary； and the copses； fields； and glittering bayonets were flying by them。 From the left side these great clouds of smoke were incessantly flying over the fields and bushes； with the stately roar resounding after each of them。 Still nearer； in the low meadows and copses； there darted up from the musket…fire tiny puffs that hardly formed into balls of smoke； and each of these； too； had its tiny report echoing after it。 Tra…ta…ta…ta sounded the crack of the muskets at frequent intervals； but thin and irregular in comparison with the rhythmic roar of the cannon。
Pierre longed to be there in the midst of the smoke； the glittering bayonets； the movement； and the noise。 He looked round at Kutuzov and his suite to compare his own impression with that of others。 All like him were looking before them at the field； and； he fancied； with the same feeling。 Every face now was lighted up by that latent heat of feeling that Pierre had noticed the day before； and understood perfectly after his talk with Prince Andrey。
“Go； my dear fellow； go； and Christ be with you！” said Kutuzov； never taking his eyes off the field of battle； to a general standing beside him。 The general； who received this order； ran by Pierre down the descent from the mound。
“To ride across！…” the general said coldly and severely； in answer to a question from one of the staff。
“And I too； I too；” thought Pierre； and he went in the same direction。
The general mounted a horse； led up to him by a Cossack。 Pierre went up to the groom； who was holding his horses。 Asking him which was the quietest； Pierre got on it； clutched at the horse’s mane； pressed his heels into the beast’s stomach； and feeling that his spectacles were slipping off； and that he was incapable of letting go of the mane and the reins； he galloped after the general； followed by smiles from the staff officers staring at him from the mound。
Chapter 31
THE GENERAL after whom Pierre galloped trotted downhill； turned off sharply to the left； and Pierre； losing sight of him； galloped into the middle of a battalion of infantry marching ahead of him。 He tried to get away from them； turning to left and to right； but there were soldiers everywhere； all with the same anxious faces； preoccupied with some unseen； but evidently serious； business。 They all looked with the same expression of annoyed inquiry at the stout man in the white hat； who was； for some unknown reason； trampling them under his horse’s feet。
“What does he want to ride into the middle of a battalion for？” one man shouted at him。 Another gave his horse a shove with the butt…end of his gun； and Pierre； leaning over on the saddle…bow； and scarcely able to hold in his rearing horse； galloped out to where there was open space in front of the soldiers。
Ahead of him he saw a bridge； and at the bridge stood the soldiers firing。 Pierre rode towards them。 Though he did not know it； he rode up to the bridge over the Kolotcha； between Gorky and Borodino； which was attacked by the French in one of the first actions。 Pierre saw there was a bridge in front of him； and that the soldiers were doing something in the smoke on both sides of the bridge； and in the meadow among the new…mown hay he had noticed the day before。 But in spite of the unceasing fire going on there； he had no notion that this was the very centre of the battle。 He did not notice the bullets whizzing on all sides； and the shells flying over him； he did not see the enemy on the other side of the river； and it was a long time before he saw the killed and wounded； though many fell close to him。 He gazed about him with a smile still on his face。
“What’s that fellow doing in front of the line？” some one shouted at him again。
“To the left；” “to the right；” men shouted to him。 Pierre turned to the right； and unwittingly rode up to an adjutant of General Raevsky’s； with whom he was acquainted。 The adjutant glanced wrathfully at Pierre； and he； too； was apparently about to shout at him； but recognising him； he nodded。
“How did you come here？” he said； and galloped on。 Pierre； feeling out of place and of no use； and afraid of getting in some one’s way again； galloped after him。
“What is it； here？ Can I go with you？” he asked。
“In a minute； in a minute；” answered the adjutant； and gallopin