Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/206

200 ropes with their swords, removed the thick wolf-skins and horse-cloths, and drew forth the flasks and casks.

"Take it, all of you," said Bulba, "all of you, no matter how many there are, take it in whatever you have, a ladle or a bucket for watering the horses; or your sleeve, or your cap; but if you have nothing else, then simply hold your two fists under."

And all the kazáks seized something: one took a ladle, another a horse-bucket, another a sleeve, another a cap, and still another held out both his hands. Taras's servants, making their way among the ranks, poured out for all, from the casks and flasks. But Taras ordered them not to drink until he should give the signal for all to drink together. It was evident that he wished to say something. Taras knew that, no matter how strong in itself the good old wine might be, and however fitted to strengthen the spirit of man, yet if a suitable speech were linked with it, then the strength of the wine and of the spirit would be doubly great.

"I treat you, sir brothers!" thus spoke Bulba, "not in honour of your having made me your atamán, great as that honour is, nor to celebrate our parting from our comrades. No; both these would be fitting at a different time, but not such is