XII
Traces of Taras made themselves apparent. A hundred and twenty thousand kazáks descended upon the border-marches of the Ukraina. This was not a small division or detachment which had sallied forth for plunder, or in pursuit of the Tatárs. No: the whole nation had risen, for the measure of the people's patience was full to overflowing; they had risen to avenge the mockery of their rights, the dishonourable humiliation of their characters, the insults to the Faith of their ancestors and their sacred customs, the dishonouring of their Church, the dissolute excesses of the foreign nobles, the Union, the disgraceful domination of Jewdom on Christian soil, and all that had excited and doubled the stern hatred, which the kazáks had cherished for ages. Hetman Ostranitza, young but strong in spirit, led the entire innumerable kazák forces. By his side could be seen his very aged and experienced friend and counsellor, Gunya. Eight colonels led regiments of twelve thousand each. Two Yesauls-general
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