Chapter 18 Taras Bulba - Section IX

No one in the town knew that half the Zaporoches had set off after the Tartars.Only the sentinels, from the watchtower of the Town Hall, saw a part of the baggage wagons go behind the forest; but they thought the Cossacks were preparing an ambush; the French engineer thought the same.At the same time, the life of the head of the regiment proved that it was not unfounded, and there was a panic in the city about the lack of food reserves.According to the custom of past ages, armies never estimate how much food they need.They attempted a breakthrough, but half of the brave men who charged were immediately wiped out by the Cossacks, and the other half were driven back to the city without gaining anything.However, some Jews took advantage of the opportunity to break through and found out all the details: where did the Zaporoshis go, what they did, which commanders led them, which battalions they set off, and how many people there were. , how many were left, what they were planning to do—in short, after a few minutes, the townspeople found out everything.The spirits of the regiment captains cheered up, ready to fight to the death.Taras had already seen this from the movements and noises in the city. He ran about swiftly here and there, setting up, issuing orders and instructions, organizing all the detachments into three lines, and heavy vehicles. The wagons were piled up to form a fortress, and they surrounded them--with this method of warfare, the Zaporos could be kept in a difficult position.

①According to the narration later, this French engineer also served as an artillery adviser in the Polish army. He sent two battalions to lay an ambush; he had a part of the field fenced off with sharpened stakes, broken weapons, and splinters of spears, so that, at the right opportunity, the enemy might be The cavalry rushed there.When everything that had to be done was arranged, he spoke to the Cossacks, not to encourage and cheer them up, for he knew they were steadfast, but only because he wanted to speak his mind. "I want to tell you, folks, what our allyship is. You must have heard your father and grandfather say how our land is respected by all: the Greeks have long known our name. And we Tributes have been collected from Chalgrad, we have magnificent cities, churches, princes, princes of Russian blood, our own princes, but not Catholic demons heretics. Mohammedans have taken everything from us, Everything has gone to nothing. Only we are left alone, and our country is as lonely as us, like a widow who has lost her trustworthy husband! This is the time for us, my friends! Hands in solidarity! Our ally is built on this! There is no relationship more sacred than ally! A father loves his child, a mother loves her child, and a child loves both father and mother. But, my brethren, that's not the point, for beasts love their offspring too. But to be united firmly in spirit, not in blood, is what only man can do. Other nations have partners too, But there are no such companions as you see on Russian soil. Many of you have been wandering in foreign lands: look, there are people there! They are also created by God, and you can talk to them as you would talk to your own people. Conversation is the same; but when it comes to what is in the heart, you see: no, they are wise men, but not like us; they are men, but not like us! No, brother People, love like the Russians—not with reason or anything else, but with all that the giant has given you, all that you have, but..." said Taras, He waved his hand, shook his white-haired head, twirled his beard, and continued, "No, no one can love like this! I know that despicability is also prevalent in our country now." ;one hopes only for the bunches of crops, the piles of hay, the herds of horses, and the sealed mead in the cellar. People try to imitate god-knows Mohammedan customs; they hate the language of their country ; would not speak to one's own kind; sold one's own countrymen, as in the market-place with soulless cattle. To them the favor of a foreign king, let alone a king, is more precious than any friendship. The great Polish landowners whose yellow boots kicked them in the face would be flattered if they did them a little favor. But even the meanest man, even if he bows his knees and rolls on the ground covered in dust, brethren, There was always a little bit of Russian feeling in him too, which would awaken one day, and then he, the unfortunate man, would be beating his breast with his hands, pulling at his hair, cursing his mean life aloud, and preparing to spend his life in pain. To make amends for the disgraceful deed. Let everyone know what allyism is in the Russian state! If death is imminent, none of them can die like us!  … None People, not a single person! . . . Their cowardly nature does not allow them todo it! "

Thus said the captain, and when he had finished, he kept shaking his head, which was graying with concern for the Cossack cause.These words deeply moved all those who stood there, and penetrated to the depths of their hearts.Some elderly people in the procession bowed their gray-haired heads and remained motionless; tears rolled wearily in their old eyes; they slowly wiped them with their sleeves.Then, as if they had made an agreement, they all waved their hands and shook their seasoned heads at the same time. Obviously, old Taras reminded them of many of the most familiar and noble things that can be felt in a person's heart. It is through pain, labor, bravery, and all kinds of hardships in life that they have been tempered for a long time to become wise, or even if they don't understand these things, but to the joy of the old parents who gave birth to them, with their young pearly souls , also felt many things.

The enemy army was beating drums and blowing trumpets, and had rushed out of the city. The nobles were surrounded by countless servants, with their hands on their hips, and they rode forward.The Fatty United Captain issued an attack order.So they began to rush towards the Cossack army's line in a dense manner, aiming at the matchlock guns, shouting menacingly, their eyes were shining, and their bronze helmets were shining.When the Cossacks saw that they were approaching the range of the bullets, they all fired their matchlocks about seven prongs long, and kept firing.The loud snapping sound spread far and wide to the surrounding fields and throats, and merged into a continuous rumbling sound; the whole field was shrouded in gunpowder smoke; Without taking a breath: those in the rear just loaded their guns and handed their guns to those in the front, which surprised the enemy. non-stop.In the thick smoke that surrounded the armies on both sides, it was not clear how the ranks fell one after another; but the Poles felt that the bullets were flying densely, and things were getting worse; as they retreated, When I wanted to avoid the gunpowder and take a look at the surrounding situation, I found that many people were no longer in my team.But on the Cossack side perhaps only two or three out of a hundred were killed.The Cossacks continued to fire without stopping for a minute.Even the foreign engineer was amazed by this tactic he had never seen before, and said to everyone on the spot: "These Zaporoches are really brave men who are not afraid of death! Whoever wants to fight in other countries This is how wars are fought!" Then he proposed turning the cannons immediately on the enemy's lines.Several cast-iron cannons opened their mouths and roared heavily; the earth trembled, echoing in the distance, and the whole field was shrouded in double-dense gunpowder smoke.In the squares and streets of towns and cities near and far, the smell of gunpowder could be smelled.However, the gunners were too accurate, and the scorching shells flew out in an arc that was too high.They made a terrible beckoning sound in the air, flew over the heads of the enemy troops, and sank far into the ground,

① Spread your fingers apart, the distance from your thumb to your little finger. Holes were blasted, causing the black soil to fly high in the air.The French engineer, scratching his hair in anxiety at the sight of this poor method of bombardment, was compelled to dispatch the cannon himself, despite the flying Cossack bullets. Taras saw from a distance that the whole Nezamainov and Steprikiv battalions were about to suffer, and he shouted: "Get out of the baggage wagons, and get on your horses!" It wasn't that Ostap rushed into the middle of the enemy line, the Cossacks had no time to do so; he took the fuse from six gunners, but was unable to take the fuse from four others.The Poles drove him back.At this moment, the foreign captain himself took the fuse in his hand, and was about to light one of the largest cannons, such as no Cossack had ever seen before.It opened its mouth wide, showing a hideous and terrifying appearance, and brought thousands of deaths from it.It roared, and three others followed, and four times shook the earth where the chimneys chimed,--much sorrow they brought!Old mothers will beat their old breasts with bony hands and shed tears of mourning for more than one Cossack: in Glukhov, Nemirov, Chernigov and other cities, will More than one widow will be left, and the lover will go to the market every day, and catch all the passers-by, and discern the eyes of every one of them, to see if there is one among them who is lovelier than all.But many armies pass through the city, and among them there can never be one more lovable than all.

Half of Nezhamaynov's battalion disappeared as if they had never existed!The plentiful ears of wheat, shining brightly like gold coins, were suddenly destroyed by a hailstorm, and thus they were spoiled and killed. How angry the Cossacks are!How excited everyone is!With what agitation Kukubenko, the commander of the battalion, felt when he saw that the best half of his battalion were no longer alive!He led the remaining Mrs. Nezamaino under his command into the center of the enemy formation.In a blaze of rage, he went like Chebele to anyone he met, dismounted many of the cavalry, pierced them with spears, and then leaped up to the gunners and captured the A cannon.He saw that the captain of the Uman battalion was busy with his hands and feet, and Stepan Guska had already seized the main gun.He left these Cossacks alone, and led his subordinates into another dense crowd of enemies.Wherever Mrs. Nezamaino walked, she made a way out, and wherever they turned, she cleared a street!Seeing that the enemy's ranks became thinner, the Poles fell down row by row!Next to the baggage cart is Fufushangxunke, in front is Chelie Weichenko, next to the farther baggage cart is Jiaoge Jialenko, and behind him is branch captain Verdihevis special.Gjalenko had already picked up two Polish noblemen on their spears, and finally, he went to attack the stubborn third man.It was a cunning and strong Pole, with splendid harness, and leading fifty-one servants.He flung himself at Kogyalenko, knocked him to the ground, swung his saber over his head, and shouted: "None of you dog Cossacks is my match!"

"Here's the opponent!" said Mosey Shiloh, and the prancing horse charged forward.He is a fat and strong Cossack who has served as the captain more than once to command operations at sea and has suffered various disasters.The Upper Turks seized them near Trebizon, and sent them all as slaves to the galleon, and chained them hand and foot, and gave them nothing to eat for weeks, except They drink disgusting sea water.The poor slaves endured and endured all suffering, just so as not to betray the Orthodox faith.Captain Mosi Shiloh could bear it no longer, trampled upon his feet the sacred dogma, and wrapped the loathsome turban round his sinful head, and gained the confidence of the Turkish general as steward of the ship and lord of all the slaves. steward.The poor slaves were very saddened to hear this news, for they knew that if one of their own had betrayed their faith and joined the oppressor, it would have been more miserable under his hands than at the hands of all other non-Christians. and painful.And indeed it is.Mosey Shiloh lined up the three of them and put new chains on them, and bound them tight with thick ropes till their bones were bared;The Cossacks have long praised the exploits of Mosi Shilo.He was originally going to be elected as the head of the regiment, but he is a very strange person.Sometimes he does things that the wisest man can't think of, and sometimes he's so stupid it's hard to believe.He spent all his property on drink, squandered it, owed a lot to all the people in the Setch, and stole like a thief: he stole all the harness from other camps at night. Come out and bet on the hotel owner for a drink.For this disgraceful act, they took him to the market place, tied him to a post, and put a thick stick by his side, so that every passerby could beat him as well as he could.However, the Zaporosh people remembered his previous achievements, and no one had the heart to beat him with a thick stick.Mosi Shilo was such a Cossack.

"I'm coming to kill you!" he said, lunging at the man.How fiercely they fought!Both shoulder pads and heart guards were bent.The enemy Poles fell under his armor, and the blade touched his flesh: the Cossack's shirt was stained crimson.But Shiloh paid no attention to this, swung his veined arm (a stubby arm with tremendous strength), and unexpectedly hit him on the head. The bronze helmet flew out, and the Pole shook. After a while, he fell to the ground with a bang, and Hilo ran up and slapped the fallen person back, forth, left, and right.Cossack, don't kill the enemy, you'd better turn around!Chisak did not turn, and the slain man's servant stabbed him in the neck with a small knife.Shiloh turned back and was about to grab the daring fellow, but he had disappeared in the smoke, and there was a bang of arquebus in all directions.Hilo staggered a few steps, feeling that his injury was fatal.He fell to the ground, put his hand on the wound, turned to his companions and said: "Farewell, brethren, mates! May Orthodox Russia live forever, and keep the eternal honor!" Then closed his weak Eyes, the soul of the Cossack flew out of the stubborn body.But over there, Chadrazhini had already arrived with his men on the prancing horse, the battalion captain Verdichwest broke through the enemy's encirclement, and Balaban also rushed forward.

"How are you, folks?" Taras said, greeting several battalion captains. "Is there still powder in the powder cartridge? Has the Cossacks not lost their strength? Haven't the Cossacks lost their temper?" "There's still powder in the powder, father. The Cossacks haven't lost their strength! The Cossacks haven't lost their temper!" The Cossacks rushed forward and completely disrupted the enemy's line.The short regiment captain beat a drum and issued a call for assembly, ordering to unfurl eight colorful rotating flags to gather his subordinates scattered far across the field.All the Poles ran up to the banner; but before they had formed into formation, the battalion captain Kukubenko led his subordinate Mrs. Nikonmaino and rushed into the enemy line again, and went straight to the captain of the pregnant regiment. Pounce on him.Unable to resist, the captain of the regiment turned his horse's head and galloped on all fours; Kukubenko pursued him from a distance across the field, preventing him from joining the ranks.Stepan Guska saw this from the flanking detachment, and with the lasso in his hand, with his head bent on the horse's neck, he rushed at him quickly, and, seeing the opportunity, threw the noose over on his neck.The regimental captain blushed, grabbed the rope handle with both hands, desperately trying to break it, but he couldn't hold back the opponent stabbed hard, and the deadly spear pierced his stomach.He was nailed to the ground and just stayed there.But Gusca was not lucky!No sooner had the Cossacks turned their heads than Stepan Guska was raised on four spears.The poor man only had time to utter the words: "May all the enemies be slain, and the land of Russia will celebrate every year! ..." After saying this, he died.

The Cossacks looked back, and over there, the Cossack Meterika rushed over from the flank, punched the Poles, and beat them one by one; Captain Neverecki led his men to fight from the other flank. Come here; beside the baggage-cart, Tsakrudiguba is fighting with an enemy in a circle; and at a further distance, beside the baggage-cart, a third Besalenko has driven back a large group of enemies.Beside the other baggage carts, someone fought on board. "How are you, folks?" The captain of the Talas Regiment rode past in front of everyone and said hello, "Is there still gunpowder in the powder cartridge? Are the Cossacks still strong? Are the Cossacks still not discouraged?"

"There's still powder in the powder-pot, father; the Cossacks are still strong; the Cossacks are not discouraged!" However, it was too late to say, and soon, Bauvjug fell off the baggage cart.A bullet hit him right in the heart, and with his last breath the old man said, "I do not regret leaving this world. May God ①As explained above, there are three people with the same surname Bessalenko. Give everyone such an ending, let Russia be famous through the ages! "Then, Bauvjug's soul flew to the sky to tell the long-gone old people how people in Russia were good at fighting, and what is more gratifying, how they were good at fighting and dying for the sacred belief. After a while, Balaban, the battalion captain, also fell to the ground.He suffered three fatal wounds: a spear, a bullet, and a heavy double-edged knife.He was the h.i.+p of the bravest of the Cossacks; he was a captain and performed many feats in sea expeditions, but the most distinguished was the raid on the coast of Anatolia.They had robbed them of gold coins, valuable Turkish cloths, silks, and ornaments of every kind, but they met disaster on their way home: these lovely people were caught in the bullets of the Turks.As soon as the enemy ship opened fire on them, half of the sampans were whirled and capsized, and more than one person was drowned in the water, but the reeds tied to the sides saved these sampans from being completely destroyed. sunk.Balaban rowed out as fast as he could, straight toward where the sun was shining, so that they would be out of sight of the Turkish ships.Afterwards they spent all night bailing out the boat with spoons and hats, repaired the places where the bullets had pierced; tore the trousers of the Cossacks to make sails, and managed to escape the fastest Turkish ships.Not only did they return to the Setchi unharmed, but they also brought a gold-embroidered cassock to the master of the Mesigorsky Monastery in Kyiv, and a set of sterling silver cassocks to the Church of Our Lady established in the Zaporosh region. Iconic clothing.Later, the multi-stringed harpsichord musicians continued to sing the praises of the Cossacks for a long time.Feeling the agony of his death now, he sank his head, and whispered, "I think, brethren, I died a good death: killed seven, pierced nine with the long knife; trampled many, I can't remember how many people were killed by bullets. May Russia always prosper and prosper!..." After finishing speaking, his soul flew away. Cossacks, Cossacks!Don't hand over the noblest flower of your army!Kukubenko has been surrounded, and there are only seven people left in the entire Nezhamainov battalion, and even these seven people are barely resisting, and they can only parry: the captain's clothes are already stained. Aetaras of Blood saw him in danger, and rushed to help him.However, the Cossacks came too late: before the enemies who surrounded him were beaten back, the spear had pierced his heart, and he slumped into the arms of the Cossacks who embraced him, and his youthful blood flowed like a stream. It popped up like a careless servant who brought precious wine out of a cellar in a glass vessel, accidentally slipped his hand in their mouths, smashed the precious bottle to pieces, spilled the wine on the floor, and tripped his master. He ran forward in two steps, scratching his hair anxiously. He treasured this wine for the happiest moment in his life, and prepared for one day, if God allows him to meet his companions in his youth in his twilight years.They can drink and chat together, reminiscing about the past days. It was not like now, when it was more exciting to have fun. ...Kukubenko glanced around and said: "Thank God for allowing me to die in front of you, friends! May our descendants live better than us, and the Russia loved by Christ will last forever!" So the young The soul flew out.The angels took him in their arms and carried him to heaven.He will live happily there. "Kukubenko, sit at my right hand!" Christ would say to him, "you have not betrayed the righteousness of your allies, you have done no mean thing, you have not brought anyone into misfortune, you have preserved and defended my Church. "Kukubenko's death was very sad for everyone.The ranks of the Cossacks had become very sparse: many brave men had died; but the Cossacks persisted and fought bravely. "How are you, folks?" Peras greeted the surviving soldiers of the sub-battalion, "Is there still gunpowder in the powder cartridge? Are the sabers not blunt? Are the Cossacks not tired? Are the Cossacks not discouraged?" ?" "There's still enough gunpowder, old man! The saber still works; the Cossacks are not tired; the Cossacks are not discouraged!" So the Cossacks advanced again, as if they had suffered no losses at all.Only three battalion captains were left alive.Rivers of blood flowed everywhere; the corpses of Cossacks and enemies were piled high on bridges.Taras looked up at the sky, and saw a flock of white falcons flying in the sky.Alas, they can have a big meal!Over there, the enemy lifted the Medgeria on the point of the spear.The head of the second Bessalenko rolled off, still rolling his eyes.Okhlim Guska, who had been divided into four parts, collapsed and fell to the ground with a slight grunt. "Hi!" said Taras, waving the handkerchief.Ostap understood the meaning of the signal, jumped out of the ambush, and bravely attacked the cavalry.The Poles were overwhelmed by the valiant attack, and Ostap pursued them, and drove them as far as the stakes and broken spears in the ground.The horses stumbled one after another, and the man overturned over the horse's head and fell down.At this time, the Corson people standing in the last row behind the baggage car saw that the enemy had already walked within the range of the bullets, so Mudi fired his arquebus.All the Poles were confused and bewildered, and the Cossacks cheered up.We are victorious! The cries of the Zaporoshi people "came from all directions", trumpets blew, and the banner of victory fluttered in the wind.The defeated Poles ran and hid. "Blind, no, this is not necessarily a complete victory." Taras said, looking at the city wall, and he was right. The gates of the city were opened, and out came a troop of mule cavalry, the best of all cavalry regiments.All the knights have the same tall brown horses produced by Carbas.In the front was a warrior more clever and handsome than all: his black hair hung down from under his brass helmet;When Taras saw that it was Andrei, he was at a loss.But at this moment, Andrei, surrounded by the passion and fire of war, eager to return the gift tied to his arm, flew like the most beautiful, swiftest, youngest thin-legged dog of the pack. Running forward, as soon as an experienced hunter urges it to move forward, it draws two straight lines in the air without touching the ground. A dozen times out of my enthusiasm has overtaken the chased rabbit!Old Taras stopped to see how he would kill and cut a bloody path for himself, rushing left and right, killing randomly for a while.Taras couldn't bear it any longer, and shouted: "What's the matter?... Hit your own people?... Damn bastard! How dare you hit your own people?..." However, Andrei couldn't tell who was standing in front of him. Who, whether it is his own or someone else, he can't see at all.What he saw was a mane, a mane!Long, long hair, breasts as white as swans by the river, neck and shoulders as clear as snow, and everything created for crazy kisses! "Hey, boys! Just lure him into the forest, just lure him in!" cried Taras.Immediately thirty vigorous Cossacks volunteered to seduce him.Straightening their tall hats, they galloped at once to stop the hussars.They attacked the enemy's vanguard from the flank, hit them hard, cut off their communication with the follow-up troops, and then divided their troops to break down one by one. As soon as the horse was shot, everyone immediately turned the horse's head and slipped away.How exasperated Andrei was!How the blood of youth rushes through his veins!He clamped the horse with his sharp spurs, and chased after those Cossacks at full speed, without turning around to look back, not knowing that there were only twenty people behind him who could keep up with him.At this moment the Cossacks galloped straight into the forest.Andrei rushed forward on horseback, and was just about to overtake Golokbejanko, when suddenly someone's strong hand grabbed his horse's reins.Andrei looked back: standing in front of him was Taras!He trembled all over, and suddenly his face turned pale... He was like a primary school student who inadvertently angered a classmate, and was hit on the forehead by the classmate with a ruler. He burst out like a ball of fire, jumped over the stool madly, and chased the terrified classmate. It would be a pleasure to tear him into pieces, but unexpectedly the teacher suddenly walked into the classroom; bumping into his arms: the crazy impulse subsided in an instant, and the futile anger disappeared.Like the elementary school student, Andrei's anger disappeared in an instant, as if it had never happened before.He saw only an old father before him. "Well, what shall we do now?" said Taras, looking straight into his eyes. However, Andre could not answer, but just stood, looking at the ground. "Well, son, did your Polish master take advantage of you?" Andre didn't answer. "You're willing to betray like this? You betray your faith? You betray your own people? Stop and get off your horse!" He rolled off his horse with the obedience of a child, and stood half dead before Taras. "Stop, don't move! I gave birth to you, and I will kill you!" said Taras, taking a step back and taking the gun from his shoulder. Andrei was as pale as a piece of cloth; his lips could be seen quivering slightly, whose name he was calling; but it was not the name of the fatherland, or mother, or brother, it was a beautiful Polish woman name.Taras fired. Like an ear of grain cut by a sickle, or like a lamb whose heart has been pierced by a deadly iron blade, he hangs his head, and finally rolls down on the grass without saying a word. The man who had killed his son stood there, staring long at the breathless body.He was beautiful even in death: his handsome face, which not so long ago was full of strength and irresistible vigor for women, still showed a charming beauty, and his black eyebrows were like black on a mourning dress. Like velvet, it set off his pale face. "How can he not be a Cossack?" said Taras. "Tall body, black eyebrows, face of a nobleman, fighting with unworthy valor! He is finished, disgraced It's over, like a mean dog!" "Father, what did you do? Did you kill him?" At this moment Ostap came running up on horseback. Taras shook his head. Ostap gazed carefully into the dead man's eyes.He felt sorry for his younger brother, so he said: "Father, let's bury him decently, don't let the enemy insult him, don't let the ferocious birds tear his body apart." "If we don't bury him, someone else will!" said Taras. "Women will mourn him and comfort him!" He thought for a minute or two, debating whether to leave him alone, to be devoured by the insatiable wolves, or to take advantage of his chivalrous valor, in which a brave man should always be heroic and heroic, Treat him with respect.At this moment, he saw Golokbejanko running towards him on horseback: "Oops, Captain, the Poles have strengthened, and new troops are here to support them!..." Guoluo Kebeijianke hadn't finished speaking yet, and Fufushenke arrived on a galloping horse again: "Oops, Captain, the new force has arrived again..." Before Fu Fuchu had finished speaking, Besarenko came running on foot without even riding a horse: "Where are you, father? The Cossacks are looking for you. The battalion commander Neverichki was killed, Zadorozhni was killed, and Cherevichenko was killed. But the Cossacks continued to resist and did not see you." Wouldn't want to die; wish you'd come and see them a moment before they die." "Get on the horse, Ostap!" Taras said, and galloped away like lightning, in order to see the Cossacks again, to see them once more, so that they could see their regiment captain before they died. However, before they ran out of the forest, the enemy had surrounded the forest from all sides, and cavalry with sabers and spears could be found everywhere among the trees. "Ostap! . . . Ostap, don't back off! . . . " cried Taras, drawing his sword himself, and going straight to anyone he encountered.Suddenly six people rushed towards Ostap; however, it was evident that they had not come at an auspicious time: one lost his head; The fourth man was the bravest. He bowed his head and let the flying bullets pass. The fiery bullet hit the horse's chest. Ba cavalry crushed to death below.Well played son! ... well played, Ostap! ………. cried Taras, "I am following you!" ..." While shouting, he kept repelling the attacking enemies. Taras folded and killed, aiming at the heads of each enemy, but his eyes were always looking at Ostap in front of him. , I saw at least eight enemies wrestling with Ostap. A fight started. "Ostap! ... Ostap, don't back down! ... But the enemy had already defeated Ostap; one man threw a noose around his neck, tied Ostap up, and carried him away. "Oh, Ostap, Ostap! . . . " cried Taras, rushing towards him like a cabbage, and slaying those who approached him and those who dared to stop him:" Oh, Ostap, Ostap!... But at that very moment, something like a heavy boulder overwhelmed him. Everything whirled and tumbled before his eyes. In an instant, the human head , the spear, the smoke, the light of the fire, the leafy boughs, all in one heap, flashed before him, and shone in his eyes. And he was like a felled oak. With a thud He fell to the ground. A mist obscured his eyes.