Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/53

Rh accompany them on the morrow. He delegated his power to Captain Tovkach, and gave, along with it, a strict command to appear with his entire troop the very instant he should receive a message from him at the Syech. Although he was half-seas over, and the effects of his drinking-bout still lingered in his brain, he forget nothing; he even gave orders that the horses should be watered, their cribs filled, and that they should be fed with the largest and best wheat; and then he came into the house, fatigued with all his labours.

"Well, boys! We must sleep now, but tomorrow we shall do as God appoints. Don't prepare a bed for us! We need no bed; we'll sleep out doors."

Night had only just clasped the heavens in her embrace, but Taras always went to bed early. He threw himself down on a rug, and covered himself with a sheepskin coat; for the night air was quite sharp, and Bulba liked to be warmly covered when he was at home. He was soon snoring and the whole household speedily followed his example. All snored and grunted as they lay in different corners. The watchman went to sleep the first of all, because he had drunk more than any one else, in honour of his young masters' homecoming.

The poor mother alone slept not. She bent over the pillow of her darling boys as they lay side