Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/187

Rh his Umantzi, saying, "Keep off! keep further away from the wall, brother nobles! 'Tis not well to approach them too closely." And he spoke truly; for from the ramparts there began to rain and pour down everything which came to hand, and a great many were struck. At that moment, the Koshevói rode up, and praised Ostap, saying, "He's a new atamán, but he's leading the army like an old one." Old Bulba glanced round to see who the new atamán might be, and beheld Ostap sitting on his horse at the head of the Umantzi, his cap cocked on one ear, and the atamán's staff in his hand.

"Who ever saw the like!" he exclaimed, as he gazed at him; and the old man rejoiced, and began to thank all the Umantzi for the honour they had conferred on his son.

The kazáks retired again, and were preparing to go into camp; but the Lyakhs showed themselves again on the city ramparts with tattered mantles. There was clotted blood on many rich kaftans, and the beautiful bronze helmets were covered with dust.

"Have you bound us?" shouted the Zaporozhtzi to them from below.

"I'll give it to you!" shouted back the fat Colonel from above, shaking a rope at them; and the weary, dust-covered warriors ceased not to