第18章

Kirdyanga, a very old but wise Cossack, had been sitting for some time in his kuren, as if he knew nothing of what was going on.

"What is it, gentles? What do you wish?" he inquired.

"Come, they have chosen you for Koschevoi."

"Have mercy, gentles!" said Kirdyanga."How can I be worthy of such honour? Why should I be made Koschevoi? I have not sufficient capacity to fill such a post.Could no better person be found in all the army?""Come, I say!" shouted the Zaporozhtzi.Two of them seized him by the arms; and in spite of his planting his feet firmly they finally dragged him to the square, accompanying his progress with shouts, blows from behind with their fists, kicks, and exhortations."Don't hold back, you son of Satan! Accept the honour, you dog, when it is given!" In this manner Kirdyanga was conducted into the ring of Cossacks.

"How now, gentles?" announced those who had brought him, "are you agreed that this Cossack shall be your Koschevoi?""We are all agreed!" shouted the throng, and the whole plain trembled for a long time afterwards from the shout.

One of the chiefs took the staff and brought it to the newly elected Koschevoi.Kirdyanga, in accordance with custom, immediately refused it.The chief offered it a second time; Kirdyanga again refused it, and then, at the third offer, accepted the staff.A cry of approbation rang out from the crowd, and again the whole plain resounded afar with the Cossacks' shout.Then there stepped out from among the people the four oldest of them all, white-bearded, white-haired Cossacks; though there were no very old men in the Setch, for none of the Zaporozhtzi ever died in their beds.Taking each a handful of earth, which recent rain had converted into mud, they laid it on Kirdyanga's head.The wet earth trickled down from his head on to his moustache and cheeks and smeared his whole face.But Kirdyanga stood immovable in his place, and thanked the Cossacks for the honour shown him.

Thus ended the noisy election, concerning which we cannot say whether it was as pleasing to the others as it was to Bulba; by means of it he had revenged himself on the former Koschevoi.Moreover, Kirdyanga was an old comrade, and had been with him on the same expeditions by sea and land, sharing the toils and hardships of war.The crowd immediately dispersed to celebrate the election, and such revelry ensued as Ostap and Andrii had not yet beheld.The taverns were attacked and mead, corn-brandy, and beer seized without payment, the owners being only too glad to escape with whole skins themselves.The whole night passed amid shouts, songs, and rejoicings; and the rising moon gazed long at troops of musicians traversing the streets with guitars, flutes, tambourines, and the church choir, who were kept in the Setch to sing in church and glorify the deeds of the Zaporozhtzi.

At length drunkenness and fatigue began to overpower even these strong heads, and here and there a Cossack could be seen to fall to the ground, embracing a comrade in fraternal fashion; whilst maudlin, and even weeping, the latter rolled upon the earth with him.Here a whole group would lie down in a heap; there a man would choose the most comfortable position and stretch himself out on a log of wood.The last, and strongest, still uttered some incoherent speeches; finally even they, yielding to the power of intoxication, flung themselves down and all the Setch slept.