TowardtheendofthebattleofBorodino, Pierre, havingrundownfromRaevski'sbatteryasecondtime, madehiswaythroughagullytoKnyazkovowithacrowdofsoldiers, reachedthedressingstation, andseeingbloodandhearingcriesandgroanshurriedon, stillentangledinthecrowdsofsoldiers.
.
Thoughshellsandbulletsdidnotwhistleovertheroadalongwhichhewasgoing, , exhausted, andsometimesstrangelyindifferentfaces, thesameblood, thesamesoldiers' overcoats, thesamesoundsoffiringwhich, thoughdistantnow, stillarousedterror, andbesidesthistherewerethefoulairandthedust.
HavinggoneacoupleofmilesalongtheMozhayskroad, Pierresatdownbytheroadside.
Duskhadfallen, , , , havingbroughtsomefirewood, settleddownnearhimandbeganlightingafire.
Thesoldiers, whothrewsidelongglancesatPierre, , takingnonoticeofhim.
"Andwhomayyoube?" oneofthemsuddenlyaskedPierre, evidentlymeaningwhatPierrehimselfhadinmind, namely: "Ifyouwanttoeatwe'llgiveyousomefood, onlyletusknowwhetheryouareanhonestman."
"I, I..." saidPierre, feelingitnecessarytominimizehissocialpositionasmuchaspossiblesoastobenearertothesoldiersandbetterunderstoodbythem."ByrightsIamamilitiaofficer, ."
"Therenow!" saidoneofthesoldiers.
Anothershookhishead.
"Wouldyoulikealittlemash?" thefirstsoldierasked, andhandedPierreawoodenspoonafterlickingitclean.
Pierresatdownbythefireandbeganeatingthemash, astheycalledthefoodinthecauldron, , helpinghimselftolargespoonfulsandchewingoneafteranother, hisfacewaslitupbythefireandthesoldierslookedathiminsilence.
"Wherehaveyoutogoto? Tellus!" saidoneofthem.
