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senal； of such importance to the army； is in danger。 From the reports received from General Wintzengerode； I see that a corps of the enemy； ten thousand strong； is marching along the Petersburg road。 Another； numbering some thousands； is already close upon Dmitrov。 A third is advancing along the Vladimir road。 A fourth force of considerable strength is stationed between Ruza and Mozhaisk。 Napoleon himself was in Moscow on the 25th。 In face of these facts； with the enemy’s forces split up into these detached bodies； and Napoleon himself with his guards in Moscow； is it possible that the enemy’s forces confronting you are too strong to permit of your acting on the offensive？ One may； with far more probability； assume that you are being pursued by detachments； or at most a corps by far inferior to the army under your command。 It would seem that taking advantage of these circumstances； you might with advantage have attacked forces inferior in strength to your army； and have destroyed them； or at least have forced them to retreat； and have kept in our hands a considerable part of the province now occupied by the enemy； and thereby have averted all danger from Tula and the other towns of the interior。 You will be responsible； if the enemy is able to send a considerable body of men to Petersburg； to menace that capital； in which it has been impossible to keep any great number of troops； for with the army under your command； acting with energy and decision； you have ample means at your disposal for averting such a calamity。 Recollect that you have still to answer to your humiliated country for the loss of Moscow。 You have had experience of my readiness to reward you。 That readiness is no less now； but Russia and I have the right to expect from you all the energy； decision； and success； which your intellect； your military talents； and the valour of the troops under your command should guarantee us。”
But while this letter； proving that the change in the relative strength of the armies was by now reflected in opinion at Petersburg； was on its road； Kutuzov had been unable to hold the army back； and a battle had already been fought。
On the 2nd of October； a Cossack； Shapovalov； out scouting； shot one hare and wounded a second。 Shapovalov was led on in pursuit of the game far into the forest； and came across the left flank of Murat’s army； which was encamped and quite off guard。 The Cossack told his comrades with laughter the tale of how he had all but fallen into the hands of the French。 The ensign； who heard the story； repeated it to his superior officer。 The Cossack was sent for and questioned。 The officers of the Cossacks wanted to take advantage of this to carry off some horses from the French； but one of them； who was intimate with some of the higher authorities in the army； mentioned the incident to a general on the staff。 On the staff the position of late had been strained to the utmost。 A few days previously； Yermolov had gone to Bennigsen and besought him to use his influence with the commander…in…chief to bring about an attack。
“If I did not know you； I should suppose you did not desire that result。 I have only to advise one course for his highness to be sure to adopt the opposite one；” answered Bennigsen。
The news brought by the Cossack； confirmed by scouts； proved conclusively that the time was ripe。 The strained string broke； and the wheels of the clock whirred； and the chimes began to strike。 In spite of all his supposed power； his intellect； his experience； and his knowledge of men； Kutuzov； taking into consideration the note from Bennigsen； who was sending a personal report on the subject to the Tsar； the desire expressed by all the generals alike； the desire assumed by them to be the Tsar’s wish； and the news brought by the Cossack； could hold back the inevitable movement no longer； and gave orders for what he regarded as useless and mischievous—gave his assent； in fact； to the accomplished fact。
Chapter 4
THE NOTE submitted by Bennigsen； and the report sent in by the Cossacks of the enemy’s left flank being unguarded； were simply the last straws that showed the inevitability of giving the signal for advance； and it was arranged to advance to attack on the 5th of October。
On the morning of the 4th； Kutuzov signed the disposition of the forces。 Toll read it to Yermolov； proposing that he should superintend the further instructions for carrying it out。
“Very good； very good； I haven’t time just now；” said Yermolov； and he hurried out of the cottage。 The arrangement of the troops as drawn up by Toll was an excellent one。 The disposition had been written out； as at Austerlitz； though not in German：
“The First Column marches here and there； the Second Column occupies this place；” and so on。
On paper all these columns were in their proper place at a fixed time and annihilated the enemy。 Everything had been； as in all such cases； carefully thought of； and as in all such cases not a single column did reach its right place at the right time。 When a sufficient number of copies of the disposition were ready； an officer was summoned and sent off to give them to Yermolov； that he might see that instructions were given in accordance with them。 A young officer of the horseguards； in waiting on Kutuzov； set off for Yermolov’s quarters； delighted at the importance of the commission with which he was intrusted。
“Not at home；” Yermolov’s servant told him。 The officer of the horseguards set off to the quarters of the general； with whom Yermolov was often to be found。
“Not here； nor the general either；” he was told。
The officer mounted his horse again and rode off to another general’s。
“No； not at home。”
“If only I don’t get into trouble for the delay！ How annoying！” thought the officer。
He rode all over the camp。 One man told him he had seen Yermolov riding away in company with some other generals； another said he was sure to be at home again by now。 The officer was hunting him till six o’clock in the evening without stopping for dinner。 Yermolov was nowhere to be found； and no one knew where he was。 The officer took a hasty meal at a comrade’s； and trotted back to the advance guard to see Miloradovitch。 Miloradovitch； too； was not at home； but there he was told that he was at a ball at General Kikin’s and that； most likely； Yermolov was there too。
“But where is that？”
“At Etchkino； that way；” said an officer of the Cossacks； pointing out to him a country house in the far distance。
“Out there！ beyond our lines！”
“Two regiments of our fellows have been sent out to the outposts； and there is a spree going on there now； fine doings！ Two bands； three choruses of singers。”
The officer rode out beyond our lines to Etchkino。 While yet a long way off； he heard the gay sounds of a soldier’s dance tune sung in chorus。
“In the meadows … in the meadows；” he heard with a whistle and string music； drowned from time to time in a roar of voices。 The officer’s spirits； too； rose at these sounds； but at the same time he was in terror lest he should be held responsible for having so long delayed giving the important message intrusted to him。 It was by now nearly nine o’clock。 He dismounted and wa