"No，bwother，Ihavegwownmustachesmyself，"saidDenisovonreadingthesedocuments，andhewrotetotheGermanthat，despitehisheartfeltdesiretoserveundersovaliantandrenownedageneral，hehadtoforgothatpleasurebecausehewasalreadyunderthecommandofthePolishgeneral。TothePolishgeneralherepliedtothesameeffect，informinghimthathewasalreadyunderthecommandoftheGerman。
Havingarrangedmattersthus，DenisovandDolokhovintended，withoutreportingmatterstothehighercommand，toattackandseizethatconvoywiththeirownsmallforces。OnOctober22itwasmovingfromthevillageofMikulinotothatofShamshevo。TotheleftoftheroadbetweenMikulinoandShamshevotherewerelargeforests，extendinginsomeplacesuptotheroaditselfthoughinothersamileormorebackfromit。ThroughtheseforestsDenisovandhispartyrodeallday，sometimeskeepingwellbackinthemandsometimescomingtotheveryedge，butneverlosingsightofthemovingFrench。Thatmorning，CossacksofDenisov’spartyhadseizedandcarriedoffintotheforesttwowagonsloadedwithcavalrysaddles，whichhadstuckinthemudnotfarfromMikulinowheretheforestranclosetotheroad。Sincethen，anduntilevening，thepartyhadthemovementsoftheFrenchwithoutattacking。ItwasnecessarytolettheFrenchreachShamshevoquietlywithoutalarmingthemandthen，afterjoiningDolokhovwhowastocomethateveningtoaconsultationatawatchman’shutintheforestlessthanamilefromShamshevo，tosurprisetheFrenchatdawn，fallinglikeanavalancheontheirheadsfromtwosides，androutandcapturethemallatoneblow。
Intheirrear，morethanamilefromMikulinowheretheforestcamerightuptotheroad，sixCossackswerepostedtoreportifanyfreshcolumnsofFrenchshouldshowthemselves。
BeyondShamshevo，Dolokhovwastoobservetheroadinthesameway，tofindoutatwhatdistancetherewereotherFrenchtroops。Theyreckonedthattheconvoyhadfifteenhundredmen。Denisovhadtwohundred，andDolokhovmighthaveasmanymore，butthedisparityofnumbersdidnotdeterDenisov。Allthathenowwantedtoknowwaswhattroopsthesewereandtolearnthathehadtocapturea"tongue"—thatis，amanfromtheenemycolumn。Thatmorning’sattackonthewagonshadbeenmadesohastilythattheFrenchmenwiththewagonshadallbeenkilled；onlyalittledrummerboyhadbeentakenalive，andashewasastragglerhecouldtellthemnothingdefiniteaboutthetroopsinthatcolumn。
Denisovconsidereditdangeroustomakeasecondattackforfearofputtingthewholecolumnonthealert，sohesentTikhonShcherbaty，apeasantofhisparty，toShamshevototryandseizeatleastoneoftheFrenchquartermasterswhohadbeensentoninadvance。
BK14CH4
CHAPTERIV
Itwasawarmrainyautumnday。Theskyandthehorizonwereboththecolorofmuddywater。Attimesasortofmistdescended，andthensuddenlyheavyslantingraincamedown。
Denisovinafeltcloakandasheepskincapfromwhichtherainrandownwasridingathinthoroughbredhorsewithsunkensides。
Likehishorse，whichturneditsheadandlaiditsearsback，heshrankfromthedrivingrainandgazedanxiouslybeforehim。Histhinfacewithitsshort，thickblackbeardlookedangry。
BesideDenisovrodeanesaul，*Denisov’sfellowworker，alsoinfeltcloakandsheepskincap，andridingalargesleekDonhorse。
*AcaptainofCossacks。
EsaulLovayskitheThirdwasatallmanasstraightasanarrow，pale—faced，fair—haired，withnarrowlighteyesandwithcalmself—satisfactioninhisfaceandbearing。Thoughitwasimpossibletosayinwhatthepeculiarityofthehorseandriderlay，yetatfirstglanceattheesaulandDenisovonesawthatthelatterwaswetanduncomfortableandwasamanmountedonahorse，whilelookingattheesaulonesawthathewasascomfortableandasmuchateaseasalwaysandthathewasnotamanwhohadmountedahorse，butamanwhowasonewithhishorse，abeingconsequentlypossessedoftwofoldstrength。
Alittleaheadofthemwalkedapeasantguide，wettotheskinandwearingagraypeasantcoatandawhiteknittedcap。
Alittlebehind，onapoor，small，leanKirghizmountwithanenormoustailandmaneandableedingmouth，rodeayoungofficerinablueFrenchovercoat。
Besidehimrodeanhussar，withaboyinatatteredFrenchuniformandbluecapbehindhimonthecrupperofhishorse。Theboyheldontothehussarwithcold，redhands，andraisinghiseyebrowsgazedabouthimwithsurprise。ThiswastheFrenchdrummerboycapturedthatmorning。
Behindthemalongthenarrow，sodden，cutupforestroadcamehussarsinthreesandfours，andthenCossacks：someinfeltcloaks，someinFrenchgreatcoats，andsomewithhorseclothsovertheirheads。Thehorses，beingdrenchedbytherain，alllookedblackwhetherchestnutorbay。Theirnecks，withtheirwet，close—clingingmanes，lookedstrangelythin。Steamrosefromthem。Clothes，saddles，reins，wereallwet，slippery，andsodden，likethegroundandthefallenleavesthatstrewedtheroad。Themensathuddleduptryingnottostir，soastowarmthewaterthathadtrickledtotheirbodiesandnotadmitthefreshcoldwaterthatwasleakinginundertheirseats，theirknees，andatthebackoftheirnecks。InthemidstoftheoutspreadlineofCossackstwowagons，drawnbyFrenchhorsesandbysaddledCossackhorsesthathadbeenhitchedoninfront，rumbledoverthetreestumpsandbranchesandsplashedthroughthewaterthatlayintheruts。
Denisov’shorseswervedasidetoavoidapoolinthetrackandbumpedhisrider’skneeagainstatree。
"Oh，thedevil！"exclaimedDenisovangrily，andshowinghisteethhestruckhishorsethreetimeswithhiswhip，splashinghimselfandhiscomradeswithmud。
Denisovwasoutofsortsbothbecauseoftherainandalsofromhungernoneofthemhadeatenanythingsincemorning，andyetmorebecausehestillhadnonewsfromDolokhovandthemansenttocapturea"tongue"hadnotreturned。
"There’llhardlybeanothersuchchancetofallonatransportastoday。It’stooriskytoattackthembyoneself，andifweputitofftillanotherdayoneofthebigguerrilladetachmentswillsnatchthepreyfromunderournoses，"thoughtDenisov，continuallypeeringforward，hopingtoseeamessengerfromDolokhov。
Oncomingtoapathintheforestalongwhichhecouldseefartotheright，Denisovstopped。
"There’ssomeonecoming，"saidhe。
TheesaullookedinthedirectionDenisovindicated。
"Therearetwo，anofficerandaCossack。Butitisnotpresupposablethatitisthelieutenantcolonelhimself，"saidtheesaul，whowasfondofusingwordstheCossacksdidnotknow。
Theapproachingridershavingdescendedadeclinewerenolongervisible，buttheyreappearedafewminuteslater。Infront，atawearygallopandusinghisleatherwhip，rodeanofficer，disheveledanddrenched，whosetrousershadworkeduptoabovehisknees。Behindhim，standinginthestirrups，trottedaCossack。Theofficer，averyyoungladwithabroadrosyfaceandkeenmerryeyes，gallopeduptoDenisovandhandedhimasoddenenvelope。
"Fromthegeneral，"saidtheofficer。"Pleaseexcuseitsnotbeingquitedry。"
Denisov，frowning，tooktheenvelopeandopenedit。
"There，theykepttellingus：’It’sdangerous，it’sdangerous，’"
saidtheofficer，addressingtheesaulwhileDenisovwasreadingthedispatch。"ButKomarovandI"—hepointedtotheCossack—"wereprepared。Wehaveeachofustwopistols……Butwhat’sthis？"heasked，noticingtheFrenchdrummerboy。"Aprisoner？You’vealreadybeeninaction？MayIspeaktohim？"
"Wostov！Petya！"exclaimedDenisov，havingrunthroughthedispatch。
"Whydidn’tyousaywhoyouwere？"andturningwithasmileheheldouthishandtothelad。
TheofficerwasPetyaRostov。
AllthewayPetyahadbeenpreparinghimselftobehavewithDenisovasbefittedagrownupmanandanofficer—withouthintingattheirpreviousacquaintance。ButassoonasDenisovsmiledathimPetyabrightenedup，blushedwithpleasure，forgottheofficialmannerhehadbeenrehearsing，andbegantellinghimhowhehadalreadybeeninabattlenearVyazmaandhowacertainhussarhaddistinguishedhimselfthere。
"Well，Iamgladtoseeyou，"Denisovinterruptedhim，andhisfaceagainassumeditsanxiousexpression。
"MichaelFeoklitych，"saidhetotheesaul，"thisisagainfwomthatGerman，youknow。He"—heindicatedPetya—"isservingunderhim。"
AndDenisovtoldtheesaulthatthedispatchjustdeliveredwasarepetitionoftheGermangeneral’sdemandthatheshouldjoinforceswithhimforanattackonthetransport。
"Ifwedon’ttakeittomowwow，he’llsnatchitfwomunderournoses，"headded。
WhileDenisovwastalkingtotheesaul，Petya—abashedbyDenisov’scoldtoneandsupposingthatitwasduetotheconditionofhistrousers—furtivelytriedtopullthemdownunderhisgreatcoatsothatnooneshouldnoticeit，whilemaintainingasmartialanairaspossible。
"Willtherebeanyorders，yourhonor？"heaskedDenisov，holdinghishandatthesaluteandresumingthegameofadjutantandgeneralforwhichhehadpreparedhimself，"orshallIremainwithyourhonor？"
"Orders？"Denisovrepeatedthoughtfully。"Butcanyoustaytilltomowwow？"
"Oh，please……MayIstaywithyou？"criedPetya。
"But，justwhatdidthegenewaltellyou？Toweturnatonce？"
askedDenisov。
Petyablushed。
"Hegavemenoinstructions。IthinkIcould？"hereturned，inquiringly。
"Well，allwight，"saidDenisov。
Andturningtohismenhedirectedapartytogoontothehaltingplacearrangednearthewatchman’shutintheforest，andtoldtheofficerontheKirghizhorsewhoperformedthedutiesofanadjutant
togoandfindoutwhereDolokhovwasandwhetherhewouldcomethatevening。DenisovhimselfintendedgoingwiththeesaulandPetyatotheedgeoftheforestwhereitreachedouttoShamshevo，tohavealookatthepartoftheFrenchbivouactheyweretoattacknextday。
"Well，oldfellow，"saidhetothepeasantguide，"leadustoShamshevo。"
Denisov，Petya，andtheesaul，accompaniedbysomeCossacksandthehussarwhohadtheprisoner，rodetotheleftacrossaravinetotheedgeoftheforest。
BK14CH5
CHAPTERV
Therainhadstopped，andonlythemistwasfallinganddropsfromthetrees。Denisov，theesaul，andPetyarodesilently，followingthepeasantintheknittedcapwho，steppinglightlywithoutturnedtoesandmovingnoiselesslyinhisbastshoesovertherootsandwetleaves，silentlyledthemtotheedgeoftheforest。
Heascendedanincline，stopped，lookedabouthim，andadvancedtowherethescreenoftreeswaslessdense。Onreachingalargeoaktreethathadnotyetsheditsleaves，hestoppedandbeckonedmysteriouslytothemwithhishand。
DenisovandPetyarodeuptohim。FromthespotwherethepeasantwasstandingtheycouldseetheFrench。Immediatelybeyondtheforest，onadownwardslope，layafieldofspringrye。Totheright，beyondasteepravine，wasasmallvillageandalandowner’shousewithabrokenroof。Inthevillage，inthehouse，inthegarden，bythewell，bythepond，overalltherisingground，andallalongtheroaduphillfromthebridgeleadingtothevillage，notmorethanfivehundredyardsaway，crowdsofmencouldbeseenthroughtheshimmeringmist。
Theirun—Russianshoutingattheirhorseswhichwerestraininguphillwiththecarts，andtheircallstooneanother，couldbeclearlyheard。
"Bwingtheprisonerhere，"saidDenisovinalowvoice，nottakinghiseyesofftheFrench。
ACossackdismounted，liftedtheboydown，andtookhimtoDenisov。PointingtotheFrenchtroops，Denisovaskedhimwhattheseandthoseofthemwere。Theboy，thrustinghiscoldhandsintohispocketsandliftinghiseyebrows，lookedatDenisovinaffright，butinspiteofanevidentdesiretosayallheknewgaveconfusedanswers，merelyassentingtoeverythingDenisovaskedhim。Denisovturnedawayfromhimfrowningandaddressedtheesaul，conveyinghisownconjecturestohim。
Petya，rapidlyturninghishead，lookednowatthedrummerboy，nowatDenisov，nowattheesaul，andnowattheFrenchinthevillageandalongtheroad，tryingnottomissanythingofimportance。
"WhetherDolokhovcomesornot，wemustseizeit，eh？"saidDenisovwithamerrysparkleinhiseyes。
"Itisaverysuitablespot，"saidtheesaul。
"We’llsendtheinfantwydownbytheswamps，"Denisovcontinued。
"They’llcweepuptothegarden；you’llwideupfwomtherewiththeCossacks"—hepointedtoaspotintheforestbeyondthevillage—"andIwithmyhussarsfwomhere。Andatthesignalshot……"
"Thehollowisimpassable—there’saswampthere，"saidtheesaul。
"Thehorseswouldsink。Wemustrideroundmoretotheleft……"
Whiletheyweretalkinginundertonesthecrackofashotsoundedfromthelowgroundbythepond，apuffofwhitesmokeappeared，thenanother，andthesoundofhundredsofseeminglymerryFrenchvoicesshoutingtogethercameupfromtheslope。ForamomentDenisovandtheesauldrewback。Theyweresonearthattheythoughttheywerethecauseofthefiringandshouting。Butthefiringandshoutingdidnotrelatetothem。Downbelow，amanwearingsomethingredwasrunningthroughthemarsh。TheFrenchwereevidentlyfiringandshoutingathim。
"Why，that’sourTikhon，"saidtheesaul。
"Soitis！Itis！"
"Thewascal！"saidDenisov。
"He’llgetaway！"saidtheesaul，screwinguphiseyes。
ThemanwhomtheycalledTikhon，havingruntothestream，plungedinsothatthewatersplashedintheair，and，havingdisappearedforaninstant，scrambledoutonallfours，allblackwiththewet，andranon。TheFrenchwhohadbeenpursuinghimstopped。
"Smart，that！"saidtheesaul。
"Whatabeast！"saidDenisovwithhisformerlookofvexation。"Whathashebeendoingallthistime？"
"Whoishe？"askedPetya。
"He’sourplastun。Isenthimtocapturea’tongue。’"
"Oh，yes，"saidPetya，noddingatthefirstwordsDenisovutteredasifheunderstooditall，thoughhereallydidnotunderstandanythingofit。
TikhonShcherbatywasoneofthemostindispensablemenintheirband。HewasapeasantfromPokrovsk，neartheriverGzhat。WhenDenisovhadcometoPokrovskatthebeginningofhisoperationsandhadasusualsummonedthevillageelderandaskedhimwhatheknewabouttheFrench，theelder，asthoughshieldinghimself，hadreplied，asallvillageeldersdid，thathehadneitherseennorheardanythingofthem。ButwhenDenisovexplainedthathispurposewastokilltheFrench，andaskedifnoFrenchhadstrayedthatway，theelderrepliedthatsome"more—orderers"hadreallybeenattheirvillage，butthatTikhonShcherbatywastheonlymanwhodealtwithsuchmatters。
DenisovhadTikhoncalledand，havingpraisedhimforhisactivity，saidafewwordsintheelder’spresenceaboutloyaltytotheTsarandthecountryandthehatredoftheFrenchthatallsonsofthefatherlandshouldcherish。
"Wedon’tdotheFrenchanyharm，"saidTikhon，evidentlyfrightenedbyDenisov’swords。"Weonlyfooledaboutwiththeladsforfun，youknow！Wekilledascoreorsoof’more—orderers，’butwedidnoharmelse……"
NextdaywhenDenisovhadleftPokrovsk，havingquiteforgottenaboutthispeasant，itwasreportedtohimthatTikhonhadattachedhimselftotheirpartyandaskedtobeallowedtoremainwithit。
Denisovgaveorderstolethimdoso。
Tikhon，whoatfirstdidroughwork，layingcampfires，fetchingwater，flayingdeadhorses，andsoon，soonshowedagreatlikingandaptitudeforpartisanwarfare。AtnighthewouldgooutforbootyandalwaysbroughtbackFrenchclothingandweapons，andwhentoldtowouldbringinFrenchcaptivesalso。DenisovthenrelievedhimfromdrudgeryandbegantakinghimwithhimwhenhewentoutonexpeditionsandhadhimenrolledamongtheCossacks。
Tikhondidnotlikeriding，andalwayswentonfoot，neverlaggingbehindthecavalry。Hewasarmedwithamusketoonwhichhecarriedratherasajoke，apikeandanax，whichlatterheusedasawolfusesitsteeth，withequalcasepickingfleasoutofitsfurorcrunchingthickbones。Tikhonwithequalaccuracywouldsplitlogswithblowsatarm’slength，orholdingtheheadoftheaxwouldcutthinlittlepegsorcarvespoons。InDenisov’spartyheheldapeculiarandexceptionalposition。Whenanythingparticularlydifficultornastyhadtobedone—topushacartoutofthemudwithone’sshoulders，pullahorseoutofaswampbyitstail，skinit，slinkinamongtheFrench，orwalkmorethanthirtymilesinaday—everybodypointedlaughinglyatTikhon。
"Itwon’thurtthatdevil—he’sasstrongasahorse！"theysaidofhim。
OnceaFrenchmanTikhonwastryingtocapturefiredapistolathimandshothiminthefleshypartoftheback。ThatwoundwhichTikhontreatedonlywithinternalandexternalapplicationsofvodkawasthesubjectoftheliveliestjokesbythewholedetachment—
jokesinwhichTikhonreadilyjoined。
"Hallo，mate！Neveragain？Gaveyouatwist？"theCossackswouldbanterhim。AndTikhon，purposelywrithingandmakingfaces，pretendedtobeangryandsworeattheFrenchwiththefunniestcurses。TheonlyeffectofthisincidentonTikhonwasthatafterbeingwoundedheseldombroughtinprisoners。
Hewasthebravestandmostusefulmanintheparty。Noonefoundmoreopportunitiesforattacking，noonecapturedorkilledmoreFrenchmen，andconsequentlyhewasmadethebuffoonofalltheCossacksandhussarsandwillinglyacceptedthatrole。NowhehadbeensentbyDenisovovernighttoShamshevotocapturea"tongue。"ButwhetherbecausehehadnotbeencontenttotakeonlyoneFrenchmanorbecausehehadsleptthroughthenight，hehadcreptbydayintosomebushesrightamongtheFrenchand，asDenisovhadwitnessedfromabove，hadbeendetectedbythem。
BK14CH6
CHAPTERVI
Aftertalkingforsometimewiththeesaulaboutnextday’sattack，whichnow，seeinghowneartheyweretotheFrench，heseemedtohavedefinitelydecidedon，Denisovturnedhishorseandrodeback。
"Now，mylad，we’llgoandgetdwy，"hesaidtoPetya。
AstheyapproachedthewatchhouseDenisovstopped，peeringintotheforest。Amongthetreesamanwithlonglegsandlong，swingingarms，wearingashortjacket，bastshoes，andaKazanhat，wasapproachingwithlong，lightsteps。Hehadamusketoonoverhisshoulderandanaxstuckinhisgirdle。WhenheespiedDenisovhehastilythrewsomethingintothebushes，removedhissoddenhatbyitsfloppybrim，andapproachedhiscommander。ItwasTikhon。Hiswrinkledandpockmarkedfaceandnarrowlittleeyesbeamedwithself—satisfiedmerriment。HeliftedhisheadhighandgazedatDenisovasifrepressingalaugh。
"Well，wheredidyoudisappearto？"inquiredDenisov。
"WheredidIdisappearto？IwenttogetFrenchmen，"answeredTikhonboldlyandhurriedly，inahuskybutmelodiousbassvoice。
"Whydidyoupushyourselfintherebydaylight？Youass！Well，whyhaven’tyoutakenone？"
"Oh，Itookoneallright，"saidTikhon。
"Whereishe？"
"Yousee，Itookhimfirstthingatdawn，"Tikhoncontinued，spreadingouthisflatfeetwithoutturnedtoesintheirbastshoes。
"Itookhimintotheforest。ThenIseehe’snogoodandthinkI’llgoandfetchalikelierone。"
"Yousee？……Whatawogue—it’sjustasIthought，"saidDenisovtotheesaul。"Whydidn’tyoubwingthatone？"
"Whatwasthegoodofbringinghim？"Tikhoninterruptedhastilyandangrily—"thatonewouldn’thavedoneforyou。AsifIdon’tknowwhatsortyouwant！"
"Whatabwuteyouare！……Well？"
"Iwentforanotherone，"Tikhoncontinued，"andIcreptlikethisthroughthewoodandlaydown。"Hesuddenlylaydownonhisstomachwithasupplemovementtoshowhowhehaddoneit。"OneturnedupandIgrabbedhim，likethis。"Hejumpedupquicklyandlightly。
"’Comealongtothecolonel，’Isaid。Hestartsyelling，andsuddenlytherewerefourofthem。Theyrushedatmewiththeirlittleswords。SoIwentforthemwithmyax，thisway：’Whatareyouupto？’saysI。’Christbewithyou！’"shoutedTikhon，wavinghisarmswithanangryscowlandthrowingouthischest。
"Yes，wesawfromthehillhowyoutooktoyourheelsthroughthepuddles！"saidtheesaul，screwinguphisglitteringeyes。
Petyabadlywantedtolaugh，butnoticedthattheyallrefrainedfromlaughing。HeturnedhiseyesrapidlyfromTikhon’sfacetotheesaul’sandDenisov’s，unabletomakeoutwhatitallmeant。
"Don’tplaythefool！"saidDenisov，coughingangrily。"Whydidn’tyoubwingthefirstone？"
Tikhonscratchedhisbackwithonehandandhisheadwiththeother，thensuddenlyhiswholefaceexpandedintoabeaming，foolishgrin，disclosingagapwherehehadlostatooththatwaswhyhewascalledShcherbaty—thegap—toothed。Denisovsmiled，andPetyaburstintoapealofmerrylaughterinwhichTikhonhimselfjoined。
"Oh，buthewasaregulargood—for—nothing，"saidTikho...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：
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