data entry - 14/07/2023 03:50 EDT

Whether Dolohov comes or not, we or not, we must seize it, eh? said Denisov with a merry sparkle in his eyes. It's a verry suitable spot, said the esaul. we ll send the infantry down by the swamps, Denisov continued, they ll cweep up to the garden you ll wide up from there with the Cossacks he pointed to a spot in the forest beyond the village. and I with my hussar fwom here. And at the signal shot... the hollow is impassable there's a swamp there said the esaul. The horses would sink. we must ride round more to the left...While they were talking in undertones the crack of a shot sounded from the low ground by pond, a puff of white smoke appeared, then another, and the sound of hundreds of seemingly merry French voices shouting together camp up from the slope. for a moment Denisov and the esaul drew back. they were so near that they thought they were the cause of the firing and shouting. But the firing and shouting did not relate to the. down below, a man wearing something red was running through the marsh. The French were evidently firing and shouting at him. Why that's our Tikhon, said the esaul so it is It is the wascal said Denisov. He ll get away said the esaul screwing up his eyes. the man whom they called Tikhon, having run to the stream, plunged in so that the water splashed in the air, and, having disappeared for an instant, scrambled out on all fours all black with the wet and ran on. The French who had been pursuing him stopped. Smart, that said the esaul What a beast said Denisov with his former look of vexation. What has he been doing all this time. who is he asked Petya. He's our plastun. I sent him to capture a tongue. Oh yes said Petya nodding at the first words Denisov uttered as if the understood it all though he really did not understand. anything of it. Tikhon shcherbaty was one of the most indispensable men in their band. He was a peasant from pokrovsk near the river Ghate when Denisov had come to pokrovsk at the beginning of his operations and had as usual summoned the village. elder and asked him what he knew about the French, the elder as though shielding himself had replied as all village elders did that, he had neither seen nor heard anything of the. But when Denisov explained that his purpose was to kill the French and asked if no French had strayed that way the elder replied that some more orderers had really been at their village but that Tikhon shcherbaty was the only man who dealt with such matters. Denisov had Tikhon called and, having praised him for his activity said a few words in the elder's presence about loyalty to the Tsar and the country and the hatred of the French that all sons of the fatherlands should cherish. We don't do the French any harm said Tikhon evidently frightened by Denisov's words. We only fooled about with the lads for fun you know we killed a score or so of more orderers but we did no harm else. Next day when Denisov had left Pokrovsk having quite forgotten about this peasant, it was reported to him that Tikhon had attached himself to their party.