Ermák let the Tartars go, but three of the more intelligent he took with him, to show him the road.
They rowed on. The farther they rowed, the larger did the river grow; and the farther they went, the better did the places become.
They met more and more people; only they were not strong men. And all the towns that were near the river the Cossacks conquered.
In one town they captured a large number of Tartars and one old man who was held in respect. They asked him what kind of a man he was. He said:
“I am Tauzik, a servant of my king, Kuchum, who has made me a commander in this town.”
Ermák asked Tauzik about his king; how far his city of Sibír was; whether Kuchum had a large force; whether he had much wealth. Tauzik told him everything. He said:
“Kuchum is the first king in the world. His city of Sibír is the largest city in the world. In that city,” he said, “there are as many people and as many cattle as there are stars in the heaven. There is no counting his force, and not all the kings of the world can conquer him.”
But Ermák said:
“We Russians have come here to conquer your king and to take his city, and to put it into the hands of the Russian Tsar. We have a large force. Those who have come with me are only the advance-guard; those that are rowing down behind us in barges are numberless, and all of them have guns. Our guns pierce trees, not like your bows and arrows. Just look!”
And Ermák fired at a tree, and pierced it, and the Cossacks began to shoot on all sides. Tauzik in fright fell on his knees. Ermák said to him: