Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/57

Rh scarlet cloth, was confined by a flowered belt; embossed Turkish pistols were thrust into the belt; their swords clanged at their heels. Their faces, already slightly sunburned, seemed to have grown handsomer and whiter; their little black moustaches now set off more distinctly both their pallor and their strong, healthy, youthful complexions. Very handsome were they, beneath their black sheepskin caps, with golden crowns.

When their poor mother saw them she could not utter a word, and tears stood in her eyes.

"All ready there, now, sons! No time to waste!" said Bulba, at last. "Now we must all sit down together, In accordance with our Christian custom before a journey."

All seated themselves, not excepting the servants, who had been standing respectfully at the door.

"Now, Mother, bless your children," said Bulba. "Pray God that they may always fight bravely, always uphold knightly honour, always defend the faith of Christ; and if not, that they may perish, and their breath be no longer in the world.—Come to your mother, my boys; a mother's prayer saves on land and sea."

The mother, weak as all mothers are, embraced them, drew out two small holy images, and sobbing, hung one round each neck—"May God's