"Here lives Kuchum's servant, Atik Murza Kachara. He has a large force, and he says that he will not surrender the town." Ermák gathered the Cossacks, and said: "Boys, if we do not take this town, the Tartars will rejoice, and will not let us pass on. The more we strike them with terror, the easier will it be. Land all, and attack them all at once!" So they did. There were many Tartars there, and they were brave. When the Cossacks rushed at them, the Tartars began to shoot their arrows. They covered the Cossacks with them. Some were killed, and some wounded. The Cossacks became enraged, and when they got to the Tartars, they killed all they could lay their hands on. In this town the Cossacks found much property,--cattle, rugs, furs, and honey. They buried the dead, rested themselves, took away much property, and sailed on. They did not sail far, when they saw on the shore, like a city, an endless number of troops, and the whole army surrounded by a ditch and the ditch protected by timber. The Cossacks stopped. They deliberated. Ermák gathered a circle about him. "Well, boys, what shall we do?" The Cossacks were frightened. Some said that they ought to sail past, while others said that they ought to go back. And they looked gloomy and began to scold Ermák. They said: "Why did you bring us here? Already a few of ours have been killed, and many have been wounded; and all of us will perish here." They began to weep. But Ermák said to his sub-atamán, Iván Koltsó: "Well, Ványa, what do you think?" And Koltsó said: "What do I think? If they do not kill us to-day, they will to-morrow; and if not to-morrow, we shall die anyway on the oven. In my opinion, we ought to go out on the shore and rush in a body against the Tartars. Maybe God will give us victory." Ermák said: "You are a brave man, Ványa! That is what must be done. Oh, you boys! You are not Cossacks, but old women. All you are good for is to catch sturgeon and frighten Tartar women. Can't you see for yourselves? If we turn back we shall be destroyed; and if we stay here, they will destroy us. How can we go back? After a little work, it will come easier. Listen, boys! My father had a strong mare. Down-hill she would pull and on an even place she would pull. But when it came to going up-hill, she became stubborn and turned back, thinking that it would be easier. But my father took a club and belaboured her with it. She twisted and tugged and broke the whole cart. My father unhitched her from the cart and gave her a terrible whacking. If she had pulled the cart, she would have suffered no torment. So it is with us, boys. There is only one thing left for us to do, and that is to make straight for the Tartars." The Cossacks laughed, and said: "Timoféich, you are evidently more clever than we are. You have no business to ask us fools. Take us where you please. A man does not die twice, and one death cannot be escaped." And Ermák said: