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eral instances。
“Nothing new； but that the soldiers give themselves up to robbery and plunder。 October 9th。
“Robbery and pillage continue。 There is a band of robbers in our district； which would need strong guards to arrest it。 October 11th。
“The Emperor is exceedingly displeased that； in spite of the strict orders to stop pillage； bands of marauders from the guards are continually returning to the Kremlin。 In the Old Guards； the disorder and pillaging have been more violent than ever last night and to…day。 The Emperor sees； with regret； that the picked soldiers； appointed to guard his person； who should set an example to the rest； are losing discipline to such a degree as to break into the cellars and stores prepared for the army。 Others are so degraded that they refuse to obey sentinels and officers on guard； abuse them； and strike them。
“The chief marshal of the palace complains bitterly that； in spite of repeated prohibitions； the soldiers continue to commit nuisances in all the courtyards； and even before the Emperor’s own windows。”
The army； like a herd of cattle run wild； and trampling underfoot the fodder that might have saved them from starvation； was falling to pieces； and getting nearer to its ruin with every day it remained in Moscow。
But it did not move。
It only started running when it was seized by panic fear at the capture of a transport on the Smolensk road and the battle of Tarutino。 The news of the battle of Tarutino reached Napoleon unexpectedly in the middle of a review； and aroused in him—so Thiers tells us—a desire to punish the Russians； and he gave the order for departure that all the army was clamouring for。
In their flight from Moscow； the soldiers carried with them all the plunder they had collected。 Napoleon； too； carried off his own private trésor。 Seeing the great train of waggons； loaded with the booty of the army； Napoleon was alarmed （as Thiers tells us）。 But with his military experience； he did not order all unnecessary waggons of goods to be burnt； as he had done with a marshal’s baggage on the way to Moscow。 He gazed at those carts and carriages； filled with soldiers； and said that it was very well； that those conveyances would come in useful for provisions； the sick； and the wounded。
The plight of the army was like the plight of a wounded beast； that feels its death at hand； and knows not what it is doing。 Studying the intricate man？uvres and schemes of Napoleon and his army from the time of entering Moscow up to the time of the destruction of that army is much like watching the death struggles and convulsions of a beast mortally wounded。 Very often the wounded creature； hearing a stir； rushes to meet the hunter’s shot； runs forward and back again； and itself hastens its end。 Napoleon under the pressure of his army did likewise。 Panic…stricken at the rumour of the battle of Tarutino； like a wild beast； the army made a rush towards the shot； reached the hunter； and ran back again； and at last； like every wild creature took the old familiar track； that was the worst and most disastrous way for it。
Napoleon is represented to us as the leader in all this movement； just as the figurehead in the prow of a ship to the savage seems the force that guides the ship on its course。 Napoleon in his activity all this time was like a child； sitting in a carriage； pulling the straps within it； and fancying he is moving it along。
Chapter 11
EARLY in the morning of the 6th of October； Pierre came out of the shed； and when he went back； he stood in the doorway； playing with the long bandy…legged； purplish…grey dog； that jumped about him。 This dog lived in their shed； sleeping with Karataev； though it sometimes went off on its own account into the town； and came back again。 It had probably never belonged to any one； and now it had no master； and no name。 The French called it Azor； the soldier who told stories called it Femgalka； Karataev called it “Grey…coat；” and sometimes “Floppy。” The lack of a master； of a name； of any particular breed； and even of a definite colour； by no means troubled the purplish…grey dog。 Its fluffy tail stood up firm and round like a plume； its bandy legs served it so well that often； as though disdaining to use all four； it would hold one hind…leg gracefully up； and run very quickly and smartly on three paws。 Everything was a source of satisfaction to it。 At one moment； it was barking with joy； then it would bask in the sun； with a dreamy and thoughtful air； then it would frolic about； playing with a chip or a straw。
Pierre’s attire now consisted of a dirty； tattered shirt； the sole relic left of his previous wardrobe； a pair of soldier’s drawers； tied with string round the ankles by Karataev’s advice； for the sake of warmth； a full peasant’s coat and a peasant’s cap。 Physically Pierre had changed greatly during this period。 He no longer seemed stout； though he still had that look of solidity and strength that was characteristic of the Bezuhov family。 The lower part of his face was overgrown with beard and moustaches； his long； tangled hair； swarming with lice； formed a mat of curls on his head。 His eyes had a look of firmness； calm； and alert readiness； such as had never been seen in Pierre’s face before。 All his old slackness； which had shown even in his eyes； was replaced now by a vigorous； alert look of readiness for action and for resistance。 His feet were bare。
Pierre looked over the meadow； across which waggons and men on horseback were moving that morning； then far away beyond the river； then at the dog； who was pretending to be meaning to bite him in earnest； then at his bare feet； which he shifted with pleasure from one position to another； moving the dirty； thick； big toes。 And every time he looked at his bare feet； a smile of eager self…satisfaction flitted across his face。 The sight of those bare feet reminded him of all he had passed through and learned during this time； and the thought of that was sweet to him。
The weather had for several days been still and clear； with light frosts in the mornings—the so…called “old granny’s summer。”
It was warm out of doors in the sunshine； and that warmth was particularly pleasant； with the bracing freshness of the morning frost still in the air。
Over everything； over all objects near and far； lay that magical； crystal…clear brightness； which is only seen at that time in the autumn。 In the distance could be seen the Sparrow Hills； with the village； the church； and the great white house。 And the leafless trees； and the sand and the stones and roofs of the houses； the green spire of the church； and the angles of the white house in the distance； all stood out in the most delicate outlines with unnatural distinctness in the limpid air。 Close at hand stood the familiar ruins of a half…burnt mansion； occupied by French soldiers； with lilac bushes still dark…green by the fence。 And even this charred and ruined house； which looked revoltingly hideous in bad weather； had a sort of soothing comeliness in the clear； still brightness。
A French corporal； in a smoking…cap； with his coat comfortably unbuttoned； came round the corner of the shed； with a short pipe between his teeth； and with a friendly win