“What is this hurrah, theirs or ours?”
“I don't know; but it has come to a hand-to-hand fight, for the firing has ceased.”
At that moment, an officer followed by his Cossack galloped up to the porch, and slipped down from his horse.
“Where from?”
“From the bastion. The general is wanted.”
“Let us go. Well, now, what is it?”
“They have attacked the lodgements ... have taken them ... the French have brought up their heavy reserves ... they have attacked our forces ... there were only two battalions,” said the panting officer, who was the same that had come in the evening, drawing his breath with difficulty, but stepping to the door with perfect unconcern.
“Well, have they retreated?” inquired Galtsin.
“No,” answered the officer, angrily. “The battalion came up and beat them back; but the commander of the regiment is killed, and many officers, and I have been ordered to ask for re-enforcements....”
And with these words he and Kalugin went off to the general, whither we will not follow them.