Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/165

 VII

OISE and movement were rife in the camp of the Zaporozhtzi. At first no one could explain the true reason why the army had managed to enter the city. Afterwards it appeared that the Pereyaslavsky barrack, encamped before the side gate of the city, had been dead drunk; so it was no wonder that half of the men had been killed, and the other half bound before they knew what it was all about. While the neighbouring kuréns, aroused by the uproar, were grasping their weapons, the army had already passed through the gate, and the rear ranks fired upon the sleepy and only half-sober Zaporozhtzi, who were pressing in disorder upon them.

The Koshevói ordered all to be assembled; and when all were standing in a ring, and had removed their caps and become quiet, he said: "Just see, brother nobles, what happened last night! See what drunkenness has led to! See what an insult the enemy has put upon us! Evidently, it is so arranged with us, that if one kindly doubles your allowance, then you are ready to get drunk, and the