Page:Zakhar Berkut(1944).djvu/131

 stockades, the youths easily shot their arrows at the Mongols.

Maxim went from post to post devising ways and means for more efficient defense and heartening his comrades with words and example. “Let’s hold our own, comrades!” said he. “The Tukholians will soon hear the noise of battle or someone may chance by and see what is going on here and we will be sent assistance.”

The battle had raged for half an hour. The Mongols shot and swore wrathfully at the “Rus dogs” not so much because they would not surrender but because they dared to so boldly and fortunately defend themselves.

Tuhar Wolf now conferred with the Mongolian leaders to determine upon some plan by which to make a resolute, finishing attack.

“Let us rush in upon them!” said one.

“No, an onrush is too hard, let’s keep on shooting until we shoot them all down!” said another.

“Wait,” said Tuhar Wolf, “there will be a time for both. Just now we are most concerned with how to drive them away from their lesser posts. My advice is to gather our center as if for a charge to distract their attention and at the same time let the flanks converge on both sides of the yard to the walls of the unguarded additions. Those walls are without windows but when our men take their stand there, they will nonetheless be able to inflict a lot of damage on the enemy.”

The officers readily agreed to this suggestion for they were entirely unfamilarunfamiliar [sic] with any tactics other than those used in ordinary battle in the open fields and consequently were incapable of handling such situations.

The Mongolian force stood at attention, in battle formation. Weapons clanged, swords and battle-axes flashed in the sun. Firmly and boldly the Tukholian youths also grasped their weapons, making ready for a hard struggle. While the