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At nine in the morning, he heard firing in front and shouts of

hurrah, and saw wounded being brought back (there were not many

of them), and at last he saw how a whole detachment of French

cavalry was brought in, convoyed by a sotnya of Cossacks.

Evidently the affair was over and, though not big, had been a

successful engagement. The men and officers returning spoke of a

brilliant victory, of the occupation of the town of Wischau and

the capture of a whole French squadron. The day was bright and

sunny after a sharp night frost, and the cheerful glitter of that

autumn day was in keeping with the news of victory which was

conveyed, not only by the tales of those who had taken part in

it, but also by the joyful expression on the faces of soldiers,

officers, generals, and adjutants, as they passed Rostov going or

coming. And Nicholas, who had vainly suffered all the dread that

precedes a battle and had spent that happy day in inactivity, was

all the more depressed.