The Turks had shut themselves up in a strong castle, where they
were closely besieged by the Christians. From the castle a
Turkish lord sent word to the Christian camp that he was ready to
fight any soldier that might be sent against him. The Christians
accepted the offer, and drew lots to see who should meet him. The
lot fell on John Smith, and when the day came he rode forward to
meet his enemy.
The Turk was ready. The two enemies rushed upon each other, but
the fight was soon over. Smith's lance struck the Turk in the
forehead and hurled him dead to the ground. Smith then leaped
from his horse and cut off the Turk's head, and the whole
Christian army shouted with joy.
Very soon a second Turk came out to avenge his friend, and he and
Smith rode at each other. Both their lances were shivered in
pieces, but Smith fired his pistol and broke his enemy's arm. He
fell from his horse, and Smith, leaping down, struck off his
head, as he had struck off that of the first Turk.
The young soldier was now in high spirits, and he sent a
challenge to the Turks. The challenge was accepted by a famous
Turk called Bonnymulgro. It was agreed that they were to fight
hand to hand with swords, pistols, and battle-axes. They rushed
at full gallop toward each other. After firing their pistols they
began to use their battle-axes.
Bonnymulgro was a strong man and a dangerous enemy. He struck
Smith so heavy a blow on the head that he reeled in his saddle
and dropped his ax. At this a loud shout rose from the Turks on
the walls, and they shouted louder still, as they saw Smith wheel
his horse and fly, with the big Turk after him. But this was only
a part of Smith's plan. As soon as the Turk caught up with him
and raised his ax, the young soldier quickly wheeled his horse
and ran his sword through Bonnymulgro's breast. The Turk fell
from the saddle, still trying to fight. But Smith struck him down
and cut off his head, which he held up to show that the fight was
ended.
John Smith was now a distinguished soldier, but he was soon to
find that war is not entirely made up of brave deeds and rich
rewards. A day came when ill-fortune befell him. In a great
battle in which the Christians were beaten, John Smith was
wounded and left on the field. He lay there until night, when
some thieves, who had come to rob the dead bodies of whatever
they could find upon them, heard him groaning from the pain of
his wound, and stopped. He had on a very rich suit of armor, and
from this they supposed that he was some great lord. Hence they
did not kill him, but resolved to carry him away and keep him
prisoner until he paid a large price for his freedom.
John Smith did not tell them that they were mistaken in this, as
his life depended on his saying nothing. They carried him to a
city called Axiopolis, and here they found that he was only a
poor soldier. He was, therefore, sold in the slave market as a
common slave, and was sent to a Turkish officer called a tymor,
who lived near the Sea of Azov.
The tymor was a very hard master. He stripped off Smith's clothes
and ordered him to put on coarse sheepskins. He next shaved his
head and put an iron ring round his neck, after which he ordered
him to go to work with the rest of his slaves. Smith's life was
now very miserable. He therefore made up his mind to escape as
soon as possible.
His work sometimes took him to a lonely barn on the tymor's
estate, where his business was to thresh out grain with a flail.
One day while he was at this labor the tymor came to the barn. He
was in a very bad humor, and when he saw Smith he began to offer
him every insult. This made the young soldier very angry. He
looked around him. No one was in sight, and he had in his hands
his heavy flail. At last the tymor struck him with his riding
whip, at which John Smith returned a deadly blow with his flail.
The great thing now was to get away, and the young fellow did not
stop long to think. He took off his coarse sheepskins and clothed
himself in the tymor's suit, then he leaped on that officer's
horse and rode off at full gallop. He meant to make his way to
Russia where he was sure that he would be safe; but he did not
know the road.
After wandering about for many days, he came at last to a Russian
fortress. There he was received with the greatest kindness; the
iron ring was struck from his neck, and not long afterward he
went on his way toward England, "drowned in joy," as he said, at
his escape.