Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/217

Rh to shake his head, which had grown silver in kazák affairs. All who stood there were deeply affected by this speech, which went to their very hearts. The oldest in the ranks stood motionless, their grey heads drooping earthward: a tear gathered quietly in their aged eyes; they slowly wiped it away with their sleeve, and then all, as with one consent, waved their hands in the air at the same moment, and shook their experienced heads. For it was evident that Taras had reminded them of many of the best-known and finest points of the heart in a man who has become wise through suffering, toil, daring, and every earthly misfortune, or, though unknown to them, of many things felt by young, pearly spirits, to the eternal joy of the parents who bore them.

But the enemy's troops were already marching out of the city, to the thunder of kettledrums and trumpets; and the noble lords, with arms akimbo, rode forth surrounded by innumerable retinues. The fat Colonel was giving orders. And they began to advance briskly on the kazák camps, threateningly aiming their arquebuses, with eyes flashing and brazen armour glittering. As soon as the kazáks perceived that they had arrived within gunshot, they let fly all together with their seven-palm arquebuses, and continued to fire without cessation.