"Oh, thedevil!" exclaimedDenisovangrily, andshowinghisteethhestruckhishorsethreetimeswithhiswhip, splashinghimselfandhiscomradeswithmud.
Denisovwasoutofsortsbothbecauseoftherainandalsofromhunger (noneofthemhadeatenanythingsincemorning), andyetmorebecausehestillhadnonewsfromDolokhovandthemansenttocapturea "tongue" hadnotreturned.
"There''stooriskytoattackthembyoneself, andifweputitofftillanotherdayoneofthebigguerrilladetachmentswillsnatchthepreyfromunderournoses," thoughtDenisov, continuallypeeringforward, hopingtoseeamessengerfromDolokhov.
Oncomingtoapathintheforestalongwhichhecouldseefartotheright, Denisovstopped.
"There'ssomeonecoming," saidhe.
TheesaullookedinthedirectionDenisovindicated.
"Therearetwo, ," saidtheesaul, whowasfondofusingwordstheCossacksdidnotknow.
Theapproachingridershavingdescendedadeclinewerenolongervisible, , atawearygallopandusinghisleatherwhip, rodeanofficer, disheveledanddrenched, , standinginthestirrups, , averyyoungladwithabroadrosyfaceandkeenmerryeyes, gallopeduptoDenisovandhandedhimasoddenenvelope.
"Fromthegeneral," saidtheofficer."Pleaseexcuseitsnotbeingquitedry."
Denisov, frowning, tooktheenvelopeandopenedit.
"There, theykepttellingus: 'It'sdangerous, it'sdangerous,'" saidtheofficer, addressingtheesaulwhileDenisovwasreadingthedispatch."ButKomarovandI"—hepointedtotheCossack—"....Butwhat'sthis?" heasked, noticingtheFrenchdrummerboy."Aprisoner? You'vealreadybeeninaction? MayIspeaktohim?"
