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"What?" he answered, not recognizing Boris.

"I say, we've been in the front line! Our regiment attacked!"

said Boris with the happy smile seen on the faces of young men

who have been under fire for the first time.

Rostov stopped.

"Have you?" he said. "Well, how did it go?"

"We drove them back!" said Boris with animation, growing

talkative. "Can you imagine it?" and he began describing how the

Guards, having taken up their position and seeing troops before

them, thought they were Austrians, and all at once discovered

from the cannon balls discharged by those troops that they were

themselves in the front line and had unexpectedly to go into

action. Rostov without hearing Boris to the end spurred his

horse.

"Where are you off to?" asked Boris.

"With a message to His Majesty."