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"Oh, my bower new...!" chimed in twenty voices, and the castanet

player, in spite of the burden of his equipment, rushed out to

the front and, walking backwards before the company, jerked his

shoulders and flourished his castanets as if threatening someone.

The soldiers, swinging their arms and keeping time spontaneously,

marched with long steps. Behind the company the sound of wheels,

the creaking of springs, and the tramp of horses' hoofs were

heard. Kutuzov and his suite were returning to the town. The

commander in chief made a sign that the men should continue to

march at ease, and he and all his suite showed pleasure at the

sound of the singing and the sight of the dancing soldier and the

gay and smartly marching men. In the second file from the right

flank, beside which the carriage passed the company, a blue-eyed

soldier involuntarily attracted notice.