Pagina 537 de 3800

The commander of the regiment turned to Prince Bagration,

entreating him to go back as it was too dangerous to remain where

they were. "Please, your excellency, for God's sake!" he kept

saying, glancing for support at an officer of the suite who

turned away from him. "There, you see!" and he drew attention to

the bullets whistling, singing, and hissing continually around

them. He spoke in the tone of entreaty and reproach that a

carpenter uses to a gentleman who has picked up an ax: "We are

used to it, but you, sir, will blister your hands." He spoke as

if those bullets could not kill him, and his half-closed eyes

gave still more persuasiveness to his words. The staff officer

joined in the colonel's appeals, but Bagration did not reply; he

only gave an order to cease firing and re-form, so as to give

room for the two approaching battalions.