There were many leaders who afterwards distinguished themselves in the king's armies; and there were numerous clever partisans who cherished a magnanimous conviction that it was of no consequence where they fought, so long as they did fight, since it was a disgrace to an honourable man to live without fighting.

There were many who had come to the Setch for the sake of being able to say afterwards that they had been there and were therefore hardened warriors.

But who was not there?
This strange republic was a necessary outgrowth of the epoch.

Lovers of a warlike life, of golden beakers and rich brocades, of ducats and gold pieces, could always find employment there.

The lovers of women alone could find naught, for no woman dared show herself even in the suburbs of the Setch.
It seemed exceedingly strange to Ostap and Andrii that, although a crowd of people had come to the Setch with them, not a soul inquired, "Whence come these men?
who are they?
and what are their names ?" They had come thither as though returning to a home whence they had departed only an hour before.