战争与和平(上)-第171章

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　after　the　hare；　the　harriers；　who　were　not　on　leash；　rushed　from　all　sides　towards　the　hounds　or　after　the　hare。　The　whippers…in；　who　had　been　moving　so　deliberately；　galloped　over　the　country　getting　the　dogs　together；　with　shouts　of　“stop！”　while　the　huntsmen　directed　their　course　with　shouts　of　“o　…　o　…　ahoy！”　Nikolay；　Natasha；　and　the　uncle　and　Ilagin；　who　had　been　hitherto　so　composed；　flew　ahead；　reckless　of　how　or　where　they　went；　seeing　nothing　but　the　dogs　and　the　hare；　and　afraid　of　nothing　but　losing　sight　for　an　instant　of　the　course。　The　hare　turned　out　to　be　a　fleet　and　strong　one。　When　he　jumped　up　he　did　not　at　once　race　off；　but　cocked　up　his　ears；　listening　to　the　shouts　and　tramp　of　hoofs；　that　came　from　all　sides　at　once。　He　took　a　dozen　bounds　not　very　swiftly；　letting　the　dogs　gain　on　him；　but　at　last　choosing　his　direction；　and　grasping　his　danger；　he　put　his　ears　back；　and　dashed　off　at　full　speed。　He　had　been　crouching　in　the　stubble；　but　the　green　field　was　in　front　of　him；　and　there　it　was　marshy　ground。　The　two　dogs　of　the　groom　who　had　started　him　were　the　nearest　and　the　first　to　be　on　the　scent　after　him。　But　they　had　not　got　near　him；　when　Ilagin’s　black　and　tan　Yerza　flew　ahead　of　them；　got　within　a　yard；　pounced　on　him　with　fearful　swiftness；　aiming　at　the　hare’s　tail；　and　rolled　over；　thinking　she　had　hold　of　him。　The　hare　arched　his　back；　and　bounded　off　more　nimbly　than　ever。　The　broad…backed；　black　and　tan　Milka　flew　ahead　of　Yerza；　and　began　rapidly　gaining　on　the　hare。
“Milashka！　little　mother！”　Nikolay　shouted　triumphantly。　Milka　seemed　on　the　point　of　pouncing　on　the　hare；　but　she　overtook　him　and　flew　beyond。　The　hare　doubled　back。　Again　the　graceful　Yerza　dashed　at　him；　and　kept　close　to　the　hare’s　tail；　as　though　measuring　the　distance；　so　as　not　to　miss　getting　hold　of　the　hare；　by　the　haunch　this　time。
“Yerzinka；　little　sister！”　wailed　Ilagin；　in　a　voice　unlike　his　own。　Yerza　did　not　heed　his　appeals。　At　the　very　moment　when　she　seemed　about　to　seize　the　hare；　he　doubled　and　darted　away　to　the　ditch　between　the　stubble　and　the　green　field。　Again　Yerza　and　Milka；　running　side　by　side；　like　a　pair　of　horses；　flew　after　the　hare；　the　hare　was　better　off　in　the　ditch；　the　dogs　could　not　gain　on　him　so　quickly。
“Rugay！　Rugayushka！　Forward—quick　march；”　another　voice　shouted　this　time。　And　Rugay；　the　uncle’s　red；　broad…shouldered　dog；　stretching　out　and　curving　his　back；　caught　up　the　two　foremost　dogs；　pushed　ahead　of　them；　flung　himself　with　complete　self…abandonment　right　on　the　hare；　turned　him　out　of　the　ditch　into　the　green　field；　flung　himself　still　more　viciously　on　him　once　more；　sinking　up　to　his　knees　in　the　swampy　ground；　and　all　that　could　be　seen　was　the　dog　rolling　over　with　the　hare；　covering　his　back　with　mud。　The　dogs　formed　a　star…shaped　figure　round　him。　A　moment　later　all　the　party　pulled　their　horses　up　round　the　crowding　dogs。　The　uncle　alone　dismounted　in　a　rapture　of　delight；　and　cutting　off　the　feet；　shaking　the　hare　for　the　blood　to　drip　off；　he　looked　about　him；　his　eyes　restless　with　excitement；　and　his　hands　and　legs　moving　nervously。　He　went　on　talking；　regardless　of　what　or　to　whom　he　spoke。　“That’s　something　like；　quick　march　…　there’s　a　dog　for　you　…　he　outstripped　them　all　…　if　they　cost　a　thousand　or　they　cost　a　rouble　…　forward；　quick　march；　and　no　mistake！”　he　kept　saying；　panting　and　looking　wrathfully　about　him；　as　though　he　were　abusing　some　one；　as　though　they　had　all　been　his　enemies；　had　insulted　him；　and　he　had　only　now　at　last　succeeded　in　paying　them　out。　“So　much　for　your　thousand　rouble　dogs—forward；　quick　march！　Rugay；　here’s　the　foot；”　he　said；　dropping　the　dog　the　hare’s　muddy　foot；　which　he　had　just　cut　off；　“you’ve　deserved　it—forward；　quick　march！”
“She　wore　herself　out—ran　it　down　three　times　all　alone；”　Nikolay　was　saying；　listening　to　no　one；　and　heedless　whether　he　were　heard　or　not。
“To　be　sure；　cutting　in　sideways　like　that！”　Ilagin’s　groom　was　saying。
“Why；　when　it　had　been　missed　like　that；　and　once　down；　any　yard…dog　could　catch　it　of　course；”　said　Ilagin；　at　the　same　moment；　red　and　breathless　from　the　gallop　and　the　excitement。　At　the　same　time　Natasha；　without　taking　breath；　gave　vent　to　her　delight　and　excitement　in　a　shriek　so　shrill　that　it　set　every　one’s　ears　tingling。　In　that　shriek　she　expressed　just　what　the　others　were　expressing　by　talking　all　at　once。　And　her　shriek　was　so　strange　that　she　must　have　been　ashamed　of　that　wild　scream；　and　the　others　must　have　been　surprised　at　it　at　any　other　time。　The　uncle　himself　twisted　up　the　hare；　flung　him　neatly　and　smartly　across　his　horse’s　back；　seeming　to　reproach　them　all　by　this　gesture；　and　with　an　air　of　not　caring　to　speak　to　any　one；　he　mounted　his　bay　and　rode　away。　All　but　he；　dispirited　and　disappointed；　rode　on；　and　it　was　some　time　before　they　could　recover　their　previous　affectation　of　indifference。　For　a　long　time　after　they　stared　at　the　red　dog；　Rugay；　who　with　his　round　back　spattered　with　mud；　and　clinking　the　rings　of　his　leash；　walked　with　the　serene　air　of　a　conqueror　behind　the　uncle’s　horse。
“I’m　like　all　the　rest　till　it’s　a　question　of　coursing　a　hare；　but　then　you　had　better　look　out！”　was　what　Nikolay　fancied　the　dog’s　air　expressed。
When　the　uncle　rode　up　to　Nikolay　a　good　deal　later；　and　addressed　a　remark　to　him；　he　felt　flattered　at　the　uncle’s　deigning　to　speak　to　him　after　what　had　happened。


Chapter　7
WHEN　ILAGIN　TOOK　LEAVE　of　them　in　the　evening；　Nikolay　found　himself　so　great　a　distance　from　home　that　he　accepted　the　uncle’s　invitation　to　stop　hunting　and　to　stay　the　night　at　the　uncle’s　little　place；　Mihailovka。
“And　if　you　all　come　to　me—forward；　quick　march！”　said　the　uncle；　“it　would　be　even　better；　you　see；　the　weather’s　damp；　you　could　rest；　and　the　little　countess　could　be　driven　back　in　a　trap。”　The　invitation　was　accepted；　a　huntsman　was　sent　to　Otradnoe　for　a　trap；　and　Nikolay；　Natasha；　and　Petya　rode　to　the　uncle’s　house。
Five　men　servants—little　and　big—ran　out　on　to　the　front　steps　to　meet　their　master。　Dozens　of　women；　old　and　big　and　little；　popped　out　at　the　back　entrance　to　have　a　look　at　the　huntsmen　as　they　arrived。　The　presence　of　Natasha—a　woman；　a　lady；　on　horseback—excited　the　curiosity　of　the　uncle’s　house…serfs　to　such　a　pitch　that　many　of　them　went　up　to　her；　stared　her　in　the　face；　and；　unrestrained　by　her　presence；　made　remarks　about　her；　as　though　she　were　some　prodigy　on　show；　not　a　human　being；　and　not　capable　of　hearing　and　understanding　what　was　said　about　her。
“Arinka；　look…ée；　she　sits　sideways！　Sits　on　so；　while　her　skirt　flies　about。…　And　look　at　the　little　horn！”
“Sakes　alive！　and　the　knife　too。…”
“A　regular　Tatar　woman！”
“How　do　you　manage　not　to　tumble　off？”　said　the　forwardest　of　them；　addressing　Natasha　boldly。
The　uncle　got　off　his　horse　at　the　steps　of　his　little　wooden　house；　which　was　shut　in　by　an　overgrown　garden。　Looking　from　one　to　another　of　his　household；　he　shouted　peremptorily　to　those　who　were　not　wanted　to　retire；　and　for　the　others　to　do　all　that　was　needed　for　the　reception　of　his　guests。
They　all　ran　off　in　different　directions。　The　uncle　helped　Natasha　to　dismount；　and　gave　her　his　arm　up　the　shaky；　plank　steps。
Inside；　the　house；　with　boarded；　unplastered　walls；　was　not　very　clean；　there　was　nothing　to　show　that　the　chief　aim　of　the　persons　living　in　it　was　the　removal　of　every　spot；　yet　there　were　not　signs　of　neglect。　There　was　a　smell　of　fresh　apples　in　the　entry；　and　the　walls　were　hung　with　foxskins　and　wolfskins。
The　uncle　led　his　guests　through　the　vestibule　into　a　little　hall　with　a　folding…table　and　red　chairs；　then　into　a　drawing…room　with　a　round　birchwood　table　and　a　sofa；　and　then　into　his　study；　with　a　ragged　sofa；　a　threadbare　carpet；　and　portraits　of　Suvorov；　of　his　father　and　mother；　and　of　himself　in　military　uniform。　The　study　smelt　strongly　of　tobacco　and　dogs。　In　the　study　the　uncle　asked　his　guests　to　sit　down　and　make　themselves　at　home；　and　he　left　them。　Rugay　came　in；　his　back　still　covered　with　mud；　and　lay　on　the　sofa；　cleaning　himself　with　his　tongue　and