"'As you please,' he replied faintly. 'But I don't know what you can do.'
"'You shall see.'
"His big horse was standing by, browsing placidly under Taras-Bulba's wicked little eye.
"'Come here, you brute!'
"When I got hold of him I realized I should never have the strength to get the Grand Duke into the saddle.
"'What's the good of horses like haystacks?' I cried in exasperation.
"The injured man looked at me, still wearing that perpetual air of apology which at last got on my nerves.
"'Taras-Bulba!' I called.
"The little beast came, though with a bad grace. He suspected what was going to happen.
"Rudolph of Lautenburg could not restrain a movement of apprehension.