in the world. And among all the ranks in the kurens they long
repeated, "To all the Christians in the world!"

The pails were empty, but the Cossacks still stood with their hands
uplifted. Although the eyes of all gleamed brightly with the wine,
they were thinking deeply. Not of greed or the spoils of war were they
thinking now, nor of who would be lucky enough to get ducats, fine
weapons, embroidered caftans, and Tcherkessian horses; but they
meditated like eagles perched upon the rocky crests of mountains, from
which the distant sea is visible, dotted, as with tiny birds, with
galleys, ships, and every sort of vessel, bounded only by the scarcely
visible lines of shore, with their ports like gnats and their forests
like fine grass. Like eagles they gazed out on all the plain, with
their fate darkling in the distance. All the plain, with its slopes
and roads, will be covered with their white projecting bones, lavishly
washed with their Cossack blood, and strewn with shattered waggons and
with broken swords and spears; the eagles will swoop down and tear out
their Cossack eyes. But there is one grand advantage: not a single
noble deed will be lost, and the Cossack glory will not vanish like
the tiniest grain of powder from a gun-barrel. The guitar-player with
grey beard falling upon his breast, and perhaps a white-headed old man
still full of ripe, manly strength will come, and will speak his low,
strong words of them. And their glory will resound through all the
world, and all who are born thereafter will speak of them; for the
word of power is carried afar, ringing like a booming brazen bell, in
which the maker has mingled much rich, pure silver, that is beautiful
sound may be borne far and wide through the cities, villages, huts,
and palaces, summoning all betimes to holy prayer.