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Dolokhov who was in the midst of the crowd forced his way to the

edge of the dam, throwing two soldiers off their feet, and ran

onto the slippery ice that covered the millpool.

"Turn this way!" he shouted, jumping over the ice which creaked

under him; "turn this way!" he shouted to those with the gun. "It

bears!..."

The ice bore him but it swayed and creaked, and it was plain that

it would give way not only under a cannon or a crowd, but very

soon even under his weight alone. The men looked at him and

pressed to the bank, hesitating to step onto the ice. The general

on horseback at the entrance to the dam raised his hand and

opened his mouth to address Dolokhov. Suddenly a cannon ball

hissed so low above the crowd that everyone ducked. It flopped

into something moist, and the general fell from his horse in a

pool of blood. Nobody gave him a look or thought of raising him.