Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/123

Rh Zaporozhtzi," said the Koshevói, "that he has nothing to fear; the kazáks, so far, are only lighting and smoking their pipes." And the magnificent abbey was soon wrapped in the devouring flames, and its colossal Gothic windows gazed grimly through the waves of fire as they parted. Fleeing throngs of monks, women and Jews suddenly flooded those towns where there was any hope in the garrison and the town-defences. The belated succour, despatched from time to time by the Government, consisting of a few small regiments, either could not find them, or, seized with fright, turned tail at the very first encounter, and fled on their swift horses. So it came to pass that many of the royal commanders, who had conquered in former battles, resolved to unite their forces, and present a front to the Zaporozhtzi.

And here, more than all, did our young kazáks, who avoided robbery, cupidity and a weak enemy, and were burning with the desire to distinguish themselves in the presence of the chiefs, endeavour to measure themselves in single combat with a warlike and boastful Lyakh, prancing on his spirited horse, with the sleeves of his jacket thrown back and streaming in the wind. This science was inspiriting; they had already won for themselves many horse-trappings, valuable swords, and guns. In a single month, the newly-fledged birds had