Pagina 392 de 3800

"I've seen him myself!"

"What? Saw the real Mack? With hands and feet?"

"Into action! Into action! Bring him a bottle for such news! But

how did you come here?"

"I've been sent back to the regiment all on account of that

devil, Mack. An Austrian general complained of me. I

congratulated him on Mack's arrival... What's the matter, Rostov?

You look as if you'd just come out of a hot bath."

"Oh, my dear fellow, we're in such a stew here these last two

days."

The regimental adjutant came in and confirmed the news brought by

Zherkov. They were under orders to advance next day.

"We're going into action, gentlemen!"

"Well, thank God! We've been sitting here too long!"

CHAPTER VI

Kutuzov fell back toward Vienna, destroying behind him the

bridges over the rivers Inn (at Braunau) and Traun (near Linz).

On October 23 the Russian troops were crossing the river Enns. At

midday the Russian baggage train, the artillery, and columns of

troops were defiling through the town of Enns on both sides of

the bridge.