“Brave infantry! the men move to the conflict like wild boars; but they do not know beyond half what the Swedes do.”
“They fired as a man would crack nuts,” said the chamberlain.
“That came of itself, not through training, for they have no general training. They were of the Sultan’s guard, and they are disciplined in some fashion; besides these there are irregular janissaries, considerably inferior.”
“We have given them a keepsake! God is gracious, that we begin the war with such a noteworthy victory.”
But the experienced Pan Michael had another opinion.
“This is a small victory, insignificant,” said he. “It is good to raise courage in men without training and in townspeople, but will have no result.”
“But do you think courage will not break in the Pagans?”
“In the Pagans courage will not break,” said Pan Michael.
Thus conversing, they reached Jvanyets, where the people gave them the two captured janissaries who had tried to hide from Pan Michael in the sunflowers.
One was wounded somewhat, the other perfectly well and full of wild courage. When he reached the castle, the little knight, who understood Turkish well, though he did not speak it fluently, asked Pan Makovetski to question the man. Pan Makovetski asked if the Sultan was in Hotin himself, and if he would come soon to Kamenyets.