" 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.