Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/115

Rh All had, at once, abandoned the shore and the preparation of the boats; for a land-journey now lay before them, not a sea-voyage, and they needed horses and carts, not ships and kazák gulls. Now all, both young and old, wanted to go on the expedition; and it was decided, with the advice of the chiefs, the atamáns of the barracks, the Koshevói, and the will of the whole Zaporozhian army, to march straight to Poland, to avenge all the injury and disgrace to the Faith and to kazák renown, to seize booty from the cities, to start conflagrations in the villages and crops, and to spread their fame far abroad over the steppe. All immediately girded and armed themselves. The Koshevói grew two feet—and more—taller. He was no longer the timid executor of the frivolous wishes of a free people; he was the untrammelled master, he was a despot who understood only how to command. All the headstrong and uproarious knights stood in orderly ranks, with respectfully bowed heads, not venturing to lift their eyes when the Koshevói issued his orders; he gave them quietly, without shouting, without haste, but with pauses, like an old man deeply learned in kazák affairs, and putting into execution, not for the first time, a wisely-matured enterprise.

"Examine yourselves,—inspect yourselves