But even in making his doubtful peace with Ivan, Yermak was cautious. Either doubtful of his own reception, or anxious to maintain his recent conquests, he ordered his heutenant, Koltso (who apparently now occupied a wholly subordinate position) to undertake this task. A condenmed criminal, with a price upon his head, thus became the messenger chosen to announce to Ivan that a vast new territory, which Cossack courage had conquered, had been added to his empire.
Here, again, the poetic version of the folksongs which have built up the popular legend of Yermak, and the records of history are wholly in accord. Ivan, after listening with interest to the tale of Yermak's adventiu-es, readily forgave Koltso and his companions. Graciously accepting the "sixty sacks of precious furs" (which the Cossack artfully represented were but the first tribute of a conquered nation) he promised to take Siberia under his ^'protection." In return, Koltso was charged to deliver to Yermak, besides the cloak which the Tsar wore upon his own august shoulders, a magnificent cuirass, destined to play a fatal role in the fast approaching climax of Yermak's legendary career.
An even more acceptable favour was the prompt dispatch of five hundred troops from Ivan's new army who were sent to reinforce Yermak's depleted forces. These were placed under the temporary command of Prince Volkowski, a dvorianin, or courtier from the imperial court. As a further honour, "they were enrolled under the title of Cossacks, heretofore no very complimentary appellation in the eyes of constituted Russian authority." Moreover, the supreme command of the expedition appears to have remained in Yermak's hands in spite of the presence of the imperial representative.
But the long epic of Yermak's adventures now nears its close. The winter following the safe return from Moscow of Koltso accompanied by the Russian voevod, had been a disastrous one for the Cossacks. The supply of food upon which the expedition depended for the cold season was exhausted long before spring, perhaps through the unexpected arrival of new reinforcements.* Much valuable provender had been burned or wasted in brutal unnecessary forays against the villages of the forest tribesmen. Even the flight of the latter was fatal to their conquerors. The Voguls and Ostiaks possessed secrets and "charms" unknown to the Cossacks for capturing the winter game and for fishing during the season when the ice upon the rivers w^as too thick to cut through. Thus, through their own misdeeds famine and a great pestilence broke out among the Cossacks. Among the first to succumb was the dvoriamn, the imperial courtier commanding Ivan's troops.
Learning of these misfortunes the enemy now began to gather in formidable numbers and often boldly attacked the Cossack camp. Koltso, Yermak's fellow leader, was ambushed and slain during a foray in search of pro'visions.
Following this series of disasters the welcome news was brought to Yermak that a caravan of Bokhariot merchants had arrived from Central Asia to trade with the new Russian outposts. This important mission, it was reported, had been halted through fear of meeting Koutzum's Tartar soldiers on the shores of the Vagai, an affluent of the Irtish. The Cossacks now decided to go boldly forth to protect the march of the caravan towards their camp. Too late they learned that they had been made the victims of a Tartar ruse. Yermak and his men, surrounded on aU sides in a woodland ambush, took refuge on an island in the Irtish. Here, while the whole camp slept exhausted by the privations of their march, they were surprised by the enemy. Yermak, at the head of a trusted handful of his followers, cut his way with little difficulty through the ranks of the enemy, who no longer dared to meet the hero face to face. Then, while making good his retreat, a false step threw the Cossack leader into the swift, deep current of the stream. The weight of his rich cuirass, the fatal gift of the Tsar, from which, with superstitious reverence, he never had separated himself, pinned him among the stones at the bottom of the river.