Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/213

 IX

O one in the city knew that one-half of the kazáks had gone in pursuit of the Tatárs. From the tower of the Magistracy all the sentinels observed was, that a part of the wagons had been dragged into the forest: but they thought the kazáks were preparing an ambush; so, also, thought the French engineer. Meanwhile, the Koshevói's words proved to be not devoid of foundation, and a scarcity of provisions arose in the city.

In accordance with the custom of past centuries, the troops did not separate as much as was necessary. They tried to make a sortie; but half the venturesome men were instantly slain by the kazáks, and the other half driven into the city with no result. But the Jews availed themselves of the opportunity to find out everything: whither and why the Zaporozhtzi had departed, and with what leaders, and which particular kuréns, and their number, and how many had remained on the spot, and what they intended to do: in short, within a few minutes, everything was known in the city.

The colonels took courage and prepared to offer