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diff --git a/3095.txt b/3095.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2c4fca --- /dev/null +++ b/3095.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12671 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Lady of the Shroud, by Bram Stoker + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Lady of the Shroud + + +Author: Bram Stoker + + + +Release Date: October 15, 2007 [eBook #3095] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LADY OF THE SHROUD*** + + +Transcribed from the 1909 Rider and Co. edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + + + + +THE LADY OF THE SHROUD + + + By + Bram Stoker + + Author of "Dracula," "The Jewel of Seven Stars," + "The Mystery of the Sea," etc. + + London + Rider and Co. + + Printed in Great Britain + +_Copyright_, _London_, 1909, _by Bram Stoker_ +_All rights reserved_ + + TO + MY DEAR OLD FRIEND + THE COMTESSE DE GUERBEL + (GENEVIEVE WARD) + + + + +FROM "THE JOURNAL OF OCCULTISM" +MID-JANUARY, 1907. + + +A strange story comes from the Adriatic. It appears that on the night of +the 9th, as the Italia Steamship Company's vessel "Victorine" was passing +a little before midnight the point known as "the Spear of Ivan," on the +coast of the Blue Mountains, the attention of the Captain, then on the +bridge, was called by the look-out man to a tiny floating light close +inshore. It is the custom of some South-going ships to run close to the +Spear of Ivan in fine weather, as the water is deep, and there is no +settled current; also there are no outlying rocks. Indeed, some years +ago the local steamers had become accustomed to hug the shore here so +closely that an intimation was sent from Lloyd's that any mischance under +the circumstances would not be included in ordinary sea risks. Captain +Mirolani is one of those who insist on a wholesome distance from the +promontory being kept; but on his attention having been called to the +circumstance reported, he thought it well to investigate it, as it might +be some case of personal distress. Accordingly, he had the engines +slowed down, and edged cautiously in towards shore. He was joined on the +bridge by two of his officers, Signori Falamano and Destilia, and by one +passenger on board, Mr. Peter Caulfield, whose reports of Spiritual +Phenomena in remote places are well known to the readers of "The Journal +of Occultism." The following account of the strange occurrence written +by him, and attested by the signatures of Captain Mirolani and the other +gentleman named, has been sent to us. + +" . . . It was eleven minutes before twelve midnight on Saturday, the 9th +day of January, 1907, when I saw the strange sight off the headland known +as the Spear of Ivan on the coast of the Land of the Blue Mountains. It +was a fine night, and I stood right on the bows of the ship, where there +was nothing to obstruct my view. We were some distance from the Spear of +Ivan, passing from northern to southern point of the wide bay into which +it projects. Captain Mirolani, the Master, is a very careful seaman, and +gives on his journeys a wide berth to the bay which is tabooed by +Lloyd's. But when he saw in the moonlight, though far off, a tiny white +figure of a woman drifting on some strange current in a small boat, on +the prow of which rested a faint light (to me it looked like a +corpse-candle!), he thought it might be some person in distress, and +began to cautiously edge towards it. Two of his officers were with him +on the bridge--Signori Falamano and Destilia. All these three, as well +as myself, saw It. The rest of the crew and passengers were below. As +we got close the true inwardness of It became apparent to me; but the +mariners did not seem to realize till the very last. This is, after all, +not strange, for none of them had either knowledge or experience in +Occult matters, whereas for over thirty years I have made a special study +of this subject, and have gone to and fro over the earth investigating to +the nth all records of Spiritual Phenomena. As I could see from their +movements that the officers did not comprehend that which was so apparent +to myself, I took care not to enlighten them, lest such should result in +the changing of the vessel's course before I should be near enough to +make accurate observation. All turned out as I wished--at least, nearly +so--as shall be seen. Being in the bow, I had, of course, a better view +than from the bridge. Presently I made out that the boat, which had all +along seemed to be of a queer shape, was none other than a _Coffin_, and +that the woman standing up in it was clothed in a shroud. Her back was +towards us, and she had evidently not heard our approach. As we were +creeping along slowly, the engines were almost noiseless, and there was +hardly a ripple as our fore-foot cut the dark water. Suddenly there was +a wild cry from the bridge--Italians are certainly very excitable; hoarse +commands were given to the Quartermaster at the wheel; the engine-room +bell clanged. On the instant, as it seemed, the ship's head began to +swing round to starboard; full steam ahead was in action, and before one +could understand, the Apparition was fading in the distance. The last +thing I saw was the flash of a white face with dark, burning eyes as the +figure sank down into the coffin--just as mist or smoke disappears under +a breeze." + + + + +BOOK I: THE WILL OF ROGER MELTON + + +The Reading of the Will of Roger Melton and all that Followed + + +Record made by Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, law-student of the Inner +Temple, eldest son of Ernest Halbard Melton, eldest son of Ernest Melton, +elder brother of the said Roger Melton and his next of kin. + +I consider it at least useful--perhaps necessary--to have a complete and +accurate record of all pertaining to the Will of my late grand-uncle +Roger Melton. + +To which end let me put down the various members of his family, and +explain some of their occupations and idiosyncrasies. My father, Ernest +Halbard Melton, was the only son of Ernest Melton, eldest son of Sir +Geoffrey Halbard Melton of Humcroft, in the shire of Salop, a Justice of +the Peace, and at one time Sheriff. My great-grandfather, Sir Geoffrey, +had inherited a small estate from his father, Roger Melton. In his time, +by the way, the name was spelled Milton; but my great-great-grandfather +changed the spelling to the later form, as he was a practical man not +given to sentiment, and feared lest he should in the public eye be +confused with others belonging to the family of a Radical person called +Milton, who wrote poetry and was some sort of official in the time of +Cromwell, whilst we are Conservatives. The same practical spirit which +originated the change in the spelling of the family name inclined him to +go into business. So he became, whilst still young, a tanner and +leather-dresser. He utilized for the purpose the ponds and streams, and +also the oak-woods on his estate--Torraby in Suffolk. He made a fine +business, and accumulated a considerable fortune, with a part of which he +purchased the Shropshire estate, which he entailed, and to which I am +therefore heir-apparent. + +Sir Geoffrey had, in addition to my grandfather, three sons and a +daughter, the latter being born twenty years after her youngest brother. +These sons were: Geoffrey, who died without issue, having been killed in +the Indian Mutiny at Meerut in 1857, at which he took up a sword, though +a civilian, to fight for his life; Roger (to whom I shall refer +presently); and John--the latter, like Geoffrey, dying unmarried. Out of +Sir Geoffrey's family of five, therefore, only three have to be +considered: My grandfather, who had three children, two of whom, a son +and a daughter, died young, leaving only my father, Roger and Patience. +Patience, who was born in 1858, married an Irishman of the name of +Sellenger--which was the usual way of pronouncing the name of St. Leger, +or, as they spelled it, Sent Leger--restored by later generations to the +still older form. He was a reckless, dare-devil sort of fellow, then a +Captain in the Lancers, a man not without the quality of bravery--he won +the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Amoaful in the Ashantee Campaign. +But I fear he lacked the seriousness and steadfast strenuous purpose +which my father always says marks the character of our own family. He +ran through nearly all of his patrimony--never a very large one; and had +it not been for my grand-aunt's little fortune, his days, had he lived, +must have ended in comparative poverty. Comparative, not actual; for the +Meltons, who are persons of considerable pride, would not have tolerated +a poverty-stricken branch of the family. We don't think much of that +lot--any of us. + +Fortunately, my great-aunt Patience had only one child, and the premature +decease of Captain St. Leger (as I prefer to call the name) did not allow +of the possibility of her having more. She did not marry again, though +my grandmother tried several times to arrange an alliance for her. She +was, I am told, always a stiff, uppish person, who would not yield +herself to the wisdom of her superiors. Her own child was a son, who +seemed to take his character rather from his father's family than from my +own. He was a wastrel and a rolling stone, always in scrapes at school, +and always wanting to do ridiculous things. My father, as Head of the +House and his own senior by eighteen years, tried often to admonish him; +but his perversity of spirit and his truculence were such that he had to +desist. Indeed, I have heard my father say that he sometimes threatened +his life. A desperate character he was, and almost devoid of reverence. +No one, not even my father, had any influence--good influence, of course, +I mean--over him, except his mother, who was of my family; and also a +woman who lived with her--a sort of governess--aunt, he called her. The +way of it was this: Captain St. Leger had a younger brother, who made an +improvident marriage with a Scotch girl when they were both very young. +They had nothing to live on except what the reckless Lancer gave them, +for he had next to nothing himself, and she was "bare"--which is, I +understand, the indelicate Scottish way of expressing lack of fortune. +She was, however, I understand, of an old and somewhat good family, +though broken in fortune--to use an expression which, however, could +hardly be used precisely in regard to a family or a person who never had +fortune to be broken in! It was so far well that the MacKelpies--that +was the maiden name of Mrs. St. Leger--were reputable--so far as fighting +was concerned. It would have been too humiliating to have allied to our +family, even on the distaff side, a family both poor and of no account. +Fighting alone does not make a family, I think. Soldiers are not +everything, though they think they are. We have had in our family men +who fought; but I never heard of any of them who fought because they +_wanted_ to. Mrs. St. Leger had a sister; fortunately there were only +those two children in the family, or else they would all have had to be +supported by the money of my family. + +Mr. St. Leger, who was only a subaltern, was killed at Maiwand; and his +wife was left a beggar. Fortunately, however, she died--her sister +spread a story that it was from the shock and grief--before the child +which she expected was born. This all happened when my cousin--or, +rather, my father's cousin, my first-cousin-once-removed, to be +accurate--was still a very small child. His mother then sent for Miss +MacKelpie, her brother-in-law's sister-in-law, to come and live with her, +which she did--beggars can't be choosers; and she helped to bring up +young St. Leger. + +I remember once my father giving me a sovereign for making a witty remark +about her. I was quite a boy then, not more than thirteen; but our +family were always clever from the very beginning of life, and father was +telling me about the St. Leger family. My family hadn't, of course, seen +anything of them since Captain St. Leger died--the circle to which we +belong don't care for poor relations--and was explaining where Miss +MacKelpie came in. She must have been a sort of nursery governess, for +Mrs. St. Leger once told him that she helped her to educate the child. + +"Then, father," I said, "if she helped to educate the child she ought to +have been called Miss MacSkelpie!" + +When my first-cousin-once-removed, Rupert, was twelve years old, his +mother died, and he was in the dolefuls about it for more than a year. +Miss MacKelpie kept on living with him all the same. Catch her quitting! +That sort don't go into the poor-house when they can keep out! My +father, being Head of the Family, was, of course, one of the trustees, +and his uncle Roger, brother of the testator, another. The third was +General MacKelpie, a poverty-stricken Scotch laird who had a lot of +valueless land at Croom, in Ross-shire. I remember father gave me a new +ten-pound note when I interrupted him whilst he was telling me of the +incident of young St. Leger's improvidence by remarking that he was in +error as to the land. From what I had heard of MacKelpie's estate, it +was productive of one thing; when he asked me "What?" I answered +"Mortgages!" Father, I knew, had bought, not long before, a lot of them +at what a college friend of mine from Chicago used to call "cut-throat" +price. When I remonstrated with my father for buying them at all, and so +injuring the family estate which I was to inherit, he gave me an answer, +the astuteness of which I have never forgotten. + +"I did it so that I might keep my hand on the bold General, in case he +should ever prove troublesome. And if the worst should ever come to the +worst, Croom is a good country for grouse and stags!" My father can see +as far as most men! + +When my cousin--I shall call him cousin henceforth in this record, lest +it might seem to any unkind person who might hereafter read it that I +wished to taunt Rupert St. Leger with his somewhat obscure position, in +reiterating his real distance in kinship with my family--when my cousin, +Rupert St. Leger, wished to commit a certain idiotic act of financial +folly, he approached my father on the subject, arriving at our estate, +Humcroft, at an inconvenient time, without permission, not having had +even the decent courtesy to say he was coming. I was then a little chap +of six years old, but I could not help noticing his mean appearance. He +was all dusty and dishevelled. When my father saw him--I came into the +study with him--he said in a horrified voice: + +"Good God!" He was further shocked when the boy brusquely acknowledged, +in reply to my father's greeting, that he had travelled third class. Of +course, none of my family ever go anything but first class; even the +servants go second. My father was really angry when he said he had +walked up from the station. + +"A nice spectacle for my tenants and my tradesmen! To see my--my--a +kinsman of my house, howsoever remote, trudging like a tramp on the road +to my estate! Why, my avenue is two miles and a perch! No wonder you +are filthy and insolent!" Rupert--really, I cannot call him cousin +here--was exceedingly impertinent to my father. + +"I walked, sir, because I had no money; but I assure you I did not mean +to be insolent. I simply came here because I wished to ask your advice +and assistance, not because you are an important person, and have a long +avenue--as I know to my cost--but simply because you are one of my +trustees." + +"_Your_ trustees, sirrah!" said my father, interrupting him. "Your +trustees?" + +"I beg your pardon, sir," he said, quite quietly. "I meant the trustees +of my dear mother's will." + +"And what, may I ask you," said father, "do you want in the way of advice +from one of the trustees of your dear mother's will?" Rupert got very +red, and was going to say something rude--I knew it from his look--but he +stopped, and said in the same gentle way: + +"I want your advice, sir, as to the best way of doing something which I +wish to do, and, as I am under age, cannot do myself. It must be done +through the trustees of my mother's will." + +"And the assistance for which you wish?" said father, putting his hand in +his pocket. I know what that action means when I am talking to him. + +"The assistance I want," said Rupert, getting redder than ever, "is from +my--the trustee also. To carry out what I want to do." + +"And what may that be?" asked my father. "I would like, sir, to make +over to my Aunt Janet--" My father interrupted him by asking--he had +evidently remembered my jest: + +"Miss MacSkelpie?" Rupert got still redder, and I turned away; I didn't +quite wish that he should see me laughing. He went on quietly: + +"_MacKelpie_, sir! Miss Janet MacKelpie, my aunt, who has always been so +kind to me, and whom my mother loved--I want to have made over to her the +money which my dear mother left to me." Father doubtless wished to have +the matter take a less serious turn, for Rupert's eyes were all shiny +with tears which had not fallen; so after a little pause he said, with +indignation, which I knew was simulated: + +"Have you forgotten your mother so soon, Rupert, that you wish to give +away the very last gift which she bestowed on you?" Rupert was sitting, +but he jumped up and stood opposite my father with his fist clenched. He +was quite pale now, and his eyes looked so fierce that I thought he would +do my father an injury. He spoke in a voice which did not seem like his +own, it was so strong and deep. + +"Sir!" he roared out. I suppose, if I was a writer, which, thank God, I +am not--I have no need to follow a menial occupation--I would call it +"thundered." "Thundered" is a longer word than "roared," and would, of +course, help to gain the penny which a writer gets for a line. Father +got pale too, and stood quite still. Rupert looked at him steadily for +quite half a minute--it seemed longer at the time--and suddenly smiled +and said, as he sat down again: + +"Sorry. But, of course, you don't understand such things." Then he went +on talking before father had time to say a word. + +"Let us get back to business. As you do not seem to follow me, let me +explain that it is _because_ I do not forget that I wish to do this. I +remember my dear mother's wish to make Aunt Janet happy, and would like +to do as she did." + +"_Aunt_ Janet?" said father, very properly sneering at his ignorance. +"She is not your aunt. Why, even her sister, who was married to your +uncle, was only your aunt by courtesy." I could not help feeling that +Rupert meant to be rude to my father, though his words were quite polite. +If I had been as much bigger than him as he was than me, I should have +flown at him; but he was a very big boy for his age. I am myself rather +thin. Mother says thinness is an "appanage of birth." + +"My Aunt Janet, sir, is an aunt by love. Courtesy is a small word to use +in connection with such devotion as she has given to us. But I needn't +trouble you with such things, sir. I take it that my relations on the +side of my own house do not affect you. I am a Sent Leger!" Father +looked quite taken aback. He sat quite still before he spoke. + +"Well, Mr. St. Leger, I shall think over the matter for a while, and +shall presently let you know my decision. In the meantime, would you +like something to eat? I take it that as you must have started very +early, you have not had any breakfast?" Rupert smiled quite genially: + +"That is true, sir. I haven't broken bread since dinner last night, and +I am ravenously hungry." Father rang the bell, and told the footman who +answered it to send the housekeeper. When she came, father said to her: + +"Mrs. Martindale, take this boy to your room and give him some +breakfast." Rupert stood very still for some seconds. His face had got +red again after his paleness. Then he bowed to my father, and followed +Mrs. Martindale, who had moved to the door. + +Nearly an hour afterwards my father sent a servant to tell him to come to +the study. My mother was there, too, and I had gone back with her. The +man came back and said: + +"Mrs. Martindale, sir, wishes to know, with her respectful service, if +she may have a word with you." Before father could reply mother told him +to bring her. The housekeeper could not have been far off--that kind are +generally near a keyhole--for she came at once. When she came in, she +stood at the door curtseying and looking pale. Father said: + +"Well?" + +"I thought, sir and ma'am, that I had better come and tell you about +Master Sent Leger. I would have come at once, but I feared to disturb +you." + +"Well?" Father had a stern way with servants. When I'm head of the +family I'll tread them under my feet. That's the way to get real +devotion from servants! + +"If you please, sir, I took the young gentleman into my room and ordered +a nice breakfast for him, for I could see he was half famished--a growing +boy like him, and so tall! Presently it came along. It was a good +breakfast, too! The very smell of it made even me hungry. There were +eggs and frizzled ham, and grilled kidneys, and coffee, and buttered +toast, and bloater-paste--" + +"That will do as to the menu," said mother. "Go on!" + +"When it was all ready, and the maid had gone, I put a chair to the table +and said, 'Now, sir, your breakfast is ready!' He stood up and said, +'Thank you, madam; you are very kind!' and he bowed to me quite nicely, +just as if I was a lady, ma'am!" + +"Go on," said mother. + +"Then, sir, he held out his hand and said, 'Good-bye, and thank you,' and +he took up his cap. + +"'But aren't you going to have any breakfast, sir?' I says. + +"'No, thank you, madam,' he said; 'I couldn't eat here . . . in this +house, I mean!' Well, ma'am, he looked so lonely that I felt my heart +melting, and I ventured to ask him if there was any mortal thing I could +do for him. 'Do tell me, dear,' I ventured to say. 'I am an old woman, +and you, sir, are only a boy, though it's a fine man you will be--like +your dear, splendid father, which I remember so well, and gentle like +your poor dear mother.' + +"'You're a dear!' he says; and with that I took up his hand and kissed +it, for I remember his poor dear mother so well, that was dead only a +year. Well, with that he turned his head away, and when I took him by +the shoulders and turned him round--he is only a young boy, ma'am, for +all he is so big--I saw that the tears were rolling down his cheeks. +With that I laid his head on my breast--I've had children of my own, +ma'am, as you know, though they're all gone. He came willing enough, and +sobbed for a little bit. Then he straightened himself up, and I stood +respectfully beside him. + +"'Tell Mr. Melton,' he said, 'that I shall not trouble him about the +trustee business.' + +"'But won't you tell him yourself, sir, when you see him?' I says. + +"'I shall not see him again,' he says; 'I am going back now!' + +"Well, ma'am, I knew he'd had no breakfast, though he was hungry, and +that he would walk as he come, so I ventured to say: 'If you won't take +it a liberty, sir, may I do anything to make your going easier? Have you +sufficient money, sir? If not, may I give, or lend, you some? I shall +be very proud if you will allow me to.' + +"'Yes,' he says quite hearty. 'If you will, you might lend me a +shilling, as I have no money. I shall not forget it.' He said, as he +took the coin: 'I shall return the amount, though I never can the +kindness. I shall keep the coin.' He took the shilling, sir--he +wouldn't take any more--and then he said good-bye. At the door he turned +and walked back to me, and put his arms round me like a real boy does, +and gave me a hug, and says he: + +"'Thank you a thousand times, Mrs. Martindale, for your goodness to me, +for your sympathy, and for the way you have spoken of my father and +mother. You have seen me cry, Mrs. Martindale,' he said; 'I don't often +cry: the last time was when I came back to the lonely house after my poor +dear was laid to rest. But you nor any other shall ever see a tear of +mine again.' And with that he straightened out his big back and held up +his fine proud head, and walked out. I saw him from the window striding +down the avenue. My! but he is a proud boy, sir--an honour to your +family, sir, say I respectfully. And there, the proud child has gone +away hungry, and he won't, I know, ever use that shilling to buy food!" + +Father was not going to have that, you know, so he said to her: + +"He does not belong to my family, I would have you to know. True, he is +allied to us through the female side; but we do not count him or his in +my family." He turned away and began to read a book. It was a decided +snub to her. + +But mother had a word to say before Mrs. Martindale was done with. +Mother has a pride of her own, and doesn't brook insolence from +inferiors; and the housekeeper's conduct seemed to be rather presuming. +Mother, of course, isn't quite our class, though her folk are quite +worthy and enormously rich. She is one of the Dalmallingtons, the salt +people, one of whom got a peerage when the Conservatives went out. She +said to the housekeeper: + +"I think, Mrs. Martindale, that I shall not require your services after +this day month! And as I don't keep servants in my employment when I +dismiss them, here is your month's wages due on the 25th of this month, +and another month in lieu of notice. Sign this receipt." She was +writing a receipt as she spoke. The other signed it without a word, and +handed it to her. She seemed quite flabbergasted. Mother got up and +sailed--that is the way that mother moves when she is in a wax--out of +the room. + +Lest I should forget it, let me say here that the dismissed housekeeper +was engaged the very next day by the Countess of Salop. I may say in +explanation that the Earl of Salop, K.G., who is Lord-Lieutenant of the +County, is jealous of father's position and his growing influence. +Father is going to contest the next election on the Conservative side, +and is sure to be made a Baronet before long. + +_Letter from Major-General Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie_, _V.C._, +_K.C.B._, _of Croom_, _Ross_, _N.B._, _to Rupert Sent Leger_, _Esq._, 14, +_Newland Park_, _Dulwich_, _London_, _S.E._ + + _July_ 4, 1892. + + MY DEAR GODSON, + + I am truly sorry I am unable to agree with your request that I should + acquiesce in your desire to transfer to Miss Janet MacKelpie the + property bequeathed to you by your mother, of which property I am a + trustee. Let me say at once that, had it been possible to me to do + so, I should have held it a privilege to further such a wish--not + because the beneficiare whom you would create is a near kinswoman of + my own. That, in truth, is my real difficulty. I have undertaken a + trust made by an honourable lady on behalf of her only son--son of a + man of stainless honour, and a dear friend of my own, and whose son + has a rich heritage of honour from both parents, and who will, I am + sure, like to look back on his whole life as worthy of his parents, + and of those whom his parents trusted. You will see, I am sure, that + whatsoever I might grant regarding anyone else, my hands are tied in + this matter. + + And now let me say, my dear boy, that your letter has given me the + most intense pleasure. It is an unspeakable delight to me to find in + the son of your father--a man whom I loved, and a boy whom I + love--the same generosity of spirit which endeared your father to all + his comrades, old as well as young. Come what may, I shall always be + proud of you; and if the sword of an old soldier--it is all I + have--can ever serve you in any way, it and its master's life are, + and shall be, whilst life remains to him, yours. + + It grieves me to think that Janet cannot, through my act, be given + that ease and tranquillity of spirit which come from competence. + But, my dear Rupert, you will be of full age in seven years more. + Then, if you are in the same mind--and I am sure you will not + change--you, being your own master, can do freely as you will. In + the meantime, to secure, so far as I can, my dear Janet against any + malign stroke of fortune, I have given orders to my factor to remit + semi-annually to Janet one full half of such income as may be derived + in any form from my estate of Croom. It is, I am sorry to say, + heavily mortgaged; but of such as is--or may be, free from such + charge as the mortgage entails--something at least will, I trust, + remain to her. And, my dear boy, I can frankly say that it is to me + a real pleasure that you and I can be linked in one more bond in this + association of purpose. I have always held you in my heart as though + you were my own son. Let me tell you now that you have acted as I + should have liked a son of my own, had I been blessed with one, to + have acted. God bless you, my dear. + + Yours ever, + COLIN ALEX. MACKELPIE. + +_Letter from Roger Melton_, _of Openshaw Grange_, _to Rupert Sent Leger_, +_Esq._, 14, _Newland Park_, _Dulwich_, _London_, _S.E._ + + _July_ 1, 1892. + + MY DEAR NEPHEW, + + Your letter of the 30th ult. received. Have carefully considered + matter stated, and have come to the conclusion that my duty as a + trustee would not allow me to give full consent, as you wish. Let me + explain. The testator, in making her will, intended that such + fortune as she had at disposal should be used to supply to you her + son such benefits as its annual product should procure. To this end, + and to provide against wastefulness or foolishness on your part, or, + indeed, against any generosity, howsoever worthy, which might + impoverish you and so defeat her benevolent intentions regarding your + education, comfort, and future good, she did not place the estate + directly in your hands, leaving you to do as you might feel inclined + about it. But, on the contrary, she entrusted the corpus of it in + the hands of men whom she believed should be resolute enough and + strong enough to carry out her intent, even against any cajolements + or pressure which might be employed to the contrary. It being her + intention, then, that such trustees as she appointed would use for + your benefit the interest accruing annually from the capital at + command, _and that only_ (as specifically directed in the will), so + that on your arriving at full age the capital entrusted to us should + be handed over to you intact, I find a hard-and-fast duty in the + matter of adhering exactly to the directions given. I have no doubt + that my co-trustees regard the matter in exactly the same light. + Under the circumstances, therefore, we, the trustees, have not only a + single and united duty towards you as the object of the testator's + wishes, but towards each other as regards the manner of the carrying + out of that duty. I take it, therefore, that it would not be + consonant with the spirit of the trust or of our own ideas in + accepting it that any of us should take a course pleasant to himself + which would or might involve a stern opposition on the part of other + of the co-trustees. We have each of us to do the unpleasant part of + this duty without fear or favour. You understand, of course, that + the time which must elapse before you come into absolute possession + of your estate is a limited one. As by the terms of the will we are + to hand over our trust when you have reached the age of twenty-one, + there are only seven years to expire. But till then, though I should + gladly meet your wishes if I could, I must adhere to the duty which I + have undertaken. At the expiration of that period you will be quite + free to divest yourself of your estate without protest or comment of + any man. + + Having now expressed as clearly as I can the limitations by which I + am bound with regard to the corpus of your estate, let me say that in + any other way which is in my power or discretion I shall be most + happy to see your wishes carried out so far as rests with me. + Indeed, I shall undertake to use what influence I may possess with my + co-trustees to induce them to take a similar view of your wishes. In + my own thinking you are quite free to use your own property in your + own way. But as, until you shall have attained your majority, you + have only life-user in your mother's bequest, you are only at liberty + to deal with the annual increment. On our part as trustees we have a + first charge on that increment to be used for purposes of your + maintenance, clothes, and education. As to what may remain over each + half-year, you will be free to deal with it as you choose. On + receiving from you a written authorization to your trustees, if you + desire the whole sum or any part of it to be paid over to Miss Janet + MacKelpie, I shall see that it is effected. Believe me, that our + duty is to protect the corpus of the estate, and to this end we may + not act on any instruction to imperil it. But there our warranty + stops. We can deal during our trusteeship with the corpus only. + Further, lest there should arise any error on your part, we can deal + with any general instruction for only so long as it may remain + unrevoked. You are, and must be, free to alter your instructions or + authorizations at any time. Thus your latest document must be used + for our guidance. + + As to the general principle involved in your wish I make no comment. + You are at liberty to deal with your own how you will. I quite + understand that your impulse is a generous one, and I fully believe + that it is in consonance with what had always been the wishes of my + sister. Had she been happily alive and had to give judgment of your + intent, I am convinced that she would have approved. Therefore, my + dear nephew, should you so wish, I shall be happy for her sake as + well as your own to pay over on your account (as a confidential + matter between you and me), but from my own pocket, a sum equal to + that which you wish transferred to Miss Janet MacKelpie. On hearing + from you I shall know how to act in the matter. With all good + wishes, + + Believe me to be, + Your affectionate uncle, + ROGER MELTON. + + TO RUPERT SENT LEGER, ESQ. + +_Letter from Rupert Sent Leger to Roger Melton_, + + _July_ 5, 1892. + + MY DEAR UNCLE, + + Thank you heartily for your kind letter. I quite understand, and now + see that I should not have asked you as a trustee, such a thing. I + see your duty clearly, and agree with your view of it. I enclose a + letter directed to my trustees, asking them to pay over annually till + further direction to Miss Janet MacKelpie at this address whatever + sum may remain over from the interest of my mother's bequest after + deduction of such expenses as you may deem fit for my maintenance, + clothing, and education, together with a sum of one pound sterling + per month, which was the amount my dear mother always gave me for my + personal use--"pocket-money," she called it. + + With regard to your most kind and generous offer to give to my dear + Aunt Janet the sum which I would have given myself, had such been in + my power, I thank you most truly and sincerely, both for my dear aunt + (to whom, of course, I shall not mention the matter unless you + specially authorize me) and myself. But, indeed, I think it will be + better not to offer it. Aunt Janet is very proud, and would not + accept any benefit. With me, of course, it is different, for since I + was a wee child she has been like another mother to me, and I love + her very much. Since my mother died--and she, of course, was + all-in-all to me--there has been no other. And in such a love as + ours pride has no place. Thank you again, dear uncle, and God bless + you. + + Your loving nephew, + RUPERT SENT LEGER. + + + +ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON'S RECORD--_Continued_. + + +And now _re_ the remaining one of Sir Geoffrey's children, Roger. He was +the third child and third son, the only daughter, Patience, having been +born twenty years after the last of the four sons. Concerning Roger, I +shall put down all I have heard of him from my father and grandfather. +From my grand-aunt I heard nothing, I was a very small kid when she died; +but I remember seeing her, but only once. A very tall, handsome woman of +a little over thirty, with very dark hair and light-coloured eyes. I +think they were either grey or blue, but I can't remember which. She +looked very proud and haughty, but I am bound to say that she was very +nice to me. I remember feeling very jealous of Rupert because his mother +looked so distinguished. Rupert was eight years older than me, and I was +afraid he would beat me if I said anything he did not like. So I was +silent except when I forgot to be, and Rupert said very unkindly, and I +think very unfairly, that I was "A sulky little beast." I haven't forgot +that, and I don't mean to. However, it doesn't matter much what he said +or thought. There he is--if he is at all--where no one can find him, +with no money or nothing, for what little he had he settled when he came +of age, on the MacSkelpie. He wanted to give it to her when his mother +died, but father, who was a trustee, refused; and Uncle Roger, as I call +him, who is another, thought the trustees had no power to allow Rupert to +throw away his matrimony, as I called it, making a joke to father when he +called it patrimony. Old Sir Colin MacSkelpie, who is the third, said he +couldn't take any part in such a permission, as the MacSkelpie was his +niece. He is a rude old man, that. I remember when, not remembering his +relationship, I spoke of the MacSkelpie, he caught me a clip on the ear +that sent me across the room. His Scotch is very broad. I can hear him +say, "Hae some attempt at even Soothern manners, and dinna misca' yer +betters, ye young puddock, or I'll wring yer snoot!" Father was, I could +see, very much offended, but he didn't say anything. He remembered, I +think, that the General is a V.C. man, and was fond of fighting duels. +But to show that the fault was not his, _he_ wrung _my_ ear--and the same +ear too! I suppose he thought that was justice! But it's only right to +say that he made up for it afterwards. When the General had gone he gave +me a five-pound note. + +I don't think Uncle Roger was very pleased with the way Rupert behaved +about the legacy, for I don't think he ever saw him from that day to +this. Perhaps, of course, it was because Rupert ran away shortly +afterwards; but I shall tell about that when I come to him. After all, +why should my uncle bother about him? He is not a Melton at all, and I +am to be Head of the House--of course, when the Lord thinks right to take +father to Himself! Uncle Roger has tons of money, and he never married, +so if he wants to leave it in the right direction he needn't have any +trouble. He made his money in what he calls "the Eastern Trade." This, +so far as I can gather, takes in the Levant and all east of it. I know +he has what they call in trade "houses" in all sorts of places--Turkey, +and Greece, and all round them, Morocco, Egypt, and Southern Russia, and +the Holy Land; then on to Persia, India, and all round it; the +Chersonese, China, Japan, and the Pacific Islands. It is not to be +expected that we landowners can know much about trade, but my uncle +covers--or alas! I must say "covered"--a lot of ground, I can tell you. +Uncle Roger was a very grim sort of man, and only that I was brought up +to try and be kind to him I shouldn't ever have dared to speak to him. +But when was a child father and mother--especially mother--forced me to +go and see him and be affectionate to him. He wasn't ever even civil to +me, that I can remember--grumpy old bear! But, then, he never saw Rupert +at all, so that I take it Master R--- is out of the running altogether +for testamentary honours. The last time I saw him myself he was +distinctly rude. He treated me as a boy, though I was getting on for +eighteen years of age. I came into his office without knocking; and +without looking up from his desk, where he was writing, he said: "Get +out! Why do you venture to disturb me when I'm busy? Get out, and be +damned to you!" I waited where I was, ready to transfix him with my eye +when he should look up, for I cannot forget that when my father dies I +shall be Head of my House. But when he did there was no transfixing +possible. He said quite coolly: + +"Oh, it's you, is it? I thought it was one of my office boys. Sit down, +if you want to see me, and wait till I am ready." So I sat down and +waited. Father always said that I should try to conciliate and please my +uncle. Father is a very shrewd man, and Uncle Roger is a very rich one. + +But I don't think Uncle R--- is as shrewd as he thinks he is. He +sometimes makes awful mistakes in business. For instance, some years ago +he bought an enormous estate on the Adriatic, in the country they call +the "Land of Blue Mountains." At least, he says he bought it. He told +father so in confidence. But he didn't show any title-deeds, and I'm +greatly afraid he was "had." A bad job for me that he was, for father +believes he paid an enormous sum for it, and as I am his natural heir, it +reduces his available estate to so much less. + +And now about Rupert. As I have said, he ran away when he was about +fourteen, and we did not hear about him for years. When we--or, rather, +my father--did hear of him, it was no good that he heard. He had gone as +a cabin-boy on a sailing ship round the Horn. Then he joined an +exploring party through the centre of Patagonia, and then another up in +Alaska, and a third to the Aleutian Islands. After that he went through +Central America, and then to Western Africa, the Pacific Islands, India, +and a lot of places. We all know the wisdom of the adage that "A rolling +stone gathers no moss"; and certainly, if there be any value in moss, +Cousin Rupert will die a poor man. Indeed, nothing will stand his +idiotic, boastful wastefulness. Look at the way in which, when he came +of age, he made over all his mother's little fortune to the MacSkelpie! I +am sure that, though Uncle Roger made no comment to my father, who, as +Head of our House, should, of course, have been informed, he was not +pleased. My mother, who has a good fortune in her own right, and has had +the sense to keep it in her own control--as I am to inherit it, and it is +not in the entail, I am therefore quite impartial--I can approve of her +spirited conduct in the matter. We never did think much of Rupert, +anyhow; but now, since he is in the way to be a pauper, and therefore a +dangerous nuisance, we look on him as quite an outsider. We know what he +really is. For my own part, I loathe and despise him. Just now we are +irritated with him, for we are all kept on tenterhooks regarding my dear +Uncle Roger's Will. For Mr. Trent, the attorney who regulated my dear +uncle's affairs and has possession of the Will, says it is necessary to +know where every possible beneficiary is to be found before making the +Will public, so we all have to wait. It is especially hard on me, who am +the natural heir. It is very thoughtless indeed of Rupert to keep away +like that. I wrote to old MacSkelpie about it, but he didn't seem to +understand or to be at all anxious--he is not the heir! He said that +probably Rupert Sent Leger--he, too, keeps to the old spelling--did not +know of his uncle's death, or he would have taken steps to relieve our +anxiety. Our anxiety, forsooth! We are not anxious; we only wish to +_know_. And if we--and especially me--who have all the annoyance of +thinking of the detestable and unfair death-duties, are anxious, we +should be so. Well, anyhow, he'll get a properly bitter disappointment +and set down when he does turn up and discovers that he is a pauper +without hope! + + * * * * * + +To-day we (father and I) had letters from Mr. Trent, telling us that the +whereabouts of "Mr. Rupert Sent Leger" had been discovered, and that a +letter disclosing the fact of poor Uncle Roger's death had been sent to +him. He was at Titicaca when last heard of. So goodness only knows when +he may get the letter, which "asks him to come home at once, but only +gives to him such information about the Will as has already been given to +every member of the testator's family." And that is nil. I dare say we +shall be kept waiting for months before we get hold of the estate which +is ours. It is too bad! + +_Letter from Edward Bingham Trent to Ernest Roger Halbard Melton_. + + 176, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS, + _December_ 28, 1906. + + DEAR SIR, + + I am glad to be able to inform you that I have just heard by letter + from Mr. Rupert St. Leger that he intended leaving Rio de Janeiro by + the S.S. _Amazon_, of the Royal Mail Company, on December 15. He + further stated that he would cable just before leaving Rio de + Janeiro, to say on what day the ship was expected to arrive in + London. As all the others possibly interested in the Will of the + late Roger Melton, and whose names are given to me in his + instructions regarding the reading of the Will, have been advised, + and have expressed their intention of being present at that event on + being apprised of the time and place, I now beg to inform you that by + cable message received the date scheduled for arrival at the Port of + London was January 1 prox. I therefore beg to notify you, subject to + postponement due to the non-arrival of the _Amazon_, the reading of + the Will of the late Roger Melton, Esq., will take place in my office + on Thursday, January 3 prox., at eleven o'clock a.m. + + I have the honour to be, sir, + Yours faithfully, + EDWARD BINGHAM TRENT. + + TO ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON, ESQ., + HUMCROFT, + SALOP. + +Cable: _Rupert Sent Leger to Edward Bingham Trent_. +_Amazon_ arrives London January 1. SENT LEGER. + +_Telegram_ (_per Lloyd's_): _Rupert Sent Leger to Edward Bingham Trent_. + + THE LIZARD, + _December_ 31. + + _Amazon_ arrives London to-morrow morning. All well.--LEGER. + +_Telegram_: _Edward Bingham Trent to Ernest Roger Halbard Mellon_. + + Rupert Sent Leger arrived. Reading Will takes place as + arranged.--TRENT. + + + +ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON'S RECORD. + + + _January_ 4, 1907. + +The reading of Uncle Roger's Will is over. Father got a duplicate of Mr. +Trent's letter to me, and of the cable and two telegrams pasted into this +Record. We both waited patiently till the third--that is, we did not say +anything. The only impatient member of our family was my mother. She +_did_ say things, and if old Trent had been here his ears would have been +red. She said what ridiculous nonsense it was delaying the reading of +the Will, and keeping the Heir waiting for the arrival of an obscure +person who wasn't even a member of the family, inasmuch as he didn't bear +the name. I don't think it's quite respectful to one who is some day to +be Head of the House! I thought father was weakening in his patience +when he said: "True, my dear--true!" and got up and left the room. Some +time afterwards when I passed the library I heard him walking up and +down. + +Father and I went up to town on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 2. +We stayed, of course, at Claridge's, where we always stay when we go to +town. Mother wanted to come, too, but father thought it better not. She +would not agree to stay at home till we both promised to send her +separate telegrams after the reading. + +At five minutes to eleven we entered Mr. Trent's office. Father would +not go a moment earlier, as he said it was bad form to seem eager at any +time, but most of all at the reading of a will. It was a rotten grind, +for we had to be walking all over the neighbourhood for half an hour +before it was time, not to be too early. + +When we went into the room we found there General Sir Colin MacKelpie and +a big man, very bronzed, whom I took to be Rupert St. Leger--not a very +creditable connection to look at, I thought! He and old MacKelpie took +care to be in time! Rather low, I thought it. Mr. St. Leger was reading +a letter. He had evidently come in but lately, for though he seemed to +be eager about it, he was only at the first page, and I could see that +there were many sheets. He did not look up when we came in, or till he +had finished the letter; and you may be sure that neither I nor my father +(who, as Head of the House, should have had more respect from him) took +the trouble to go to him. After all, he is a pauper and a wastrel, and +he has not the honour of bearing our Name. The General, however, came +forward and greeted us both cordially. He evidently had forgotten--or +pretended to have--the discourteous way he once treated me, for he spoke +to me quite in a friendly way--I thought more warmly than he did to +father. I was pleased to be spoken to so nicely, for, after all, +whatever his manners may be, he is a distinguished man--has won the V.C. +and a Baronetcy. He got the latter not long ago, after the Frontier War +in India. I was not, however, led away into cordiality myself. I had +not forgotten his rudeness, and I thought that he might be sucking up to +me. I knew that when I had my dear Uncle Roger's many millions I should +be a rather important person; and, of course, he knew it too. So I got +even with him for his former impudence. When he held out his hand I put +one finger in it, and said, "How do?" He got very red and turned away. +Father and he had ended by glaring at each other, so neither of us was +sorry to be done with him. All the time Mr. St. Leger did not seem to +see or hear anything, but went on reading his letter. I thought the old +MacSkelpie was going to bring him into the matter between us, for as he +turned away I heard him say something under his breath. It sounded like +"Help!" but Mr. S--- did not hear. He certainly no notice of it. + +As the MacS--- and Mr. S--- sat quite silent, neither looking at us, and +as father was sitting on the other side of the room with his chin in his +hand, and as I wanted to show that I was indifferent to the two S's, I +took out this notebook, and went on with the Record, bringing it up to +this moment. + + + +THE RECORD--_Continued_. + + +When I had finished writing I looked over at Rupert. + +When he saw us, he jumped up and went over to father and shook his hand +quite warmly. Father took him very coolly. Rupert, however, did not +seem to see it, but came towards me heartily. I happened to be doing +something else at the moment, and at first I did not see his hand; but +just as I was looking at it the clock struck eleven. Whilst it was +striking Mr. Trent came into the room. Close behind him came his clerk, +carrying a locked tin box. There were two other men also. He bowed to +us all in turn, beginning with me. I was standing opposite the door; the +others were scattered about. Father sat still, but Sir Colin and Mr. St. +Leger rose. Mr. Trent not did shake hands with any of us--not even me. +Nothing but his respectful bow. That is the etiquette for an attorney, I +understand, on such formal occasions. + +He sat down at the end of the big table in the centre of the room, and +asked us to sit round. Father, of course, as Head of the Family, took +the seat at his right hand. Sir Colin and St. Leger went to the other +side, the former taking the seat next to the attorney. The General +knows, of course, that a Baronet takes precedence at a ceremony. I may +be a Baronet some day myself, and have to know these things. + +The clerk took the key which his master handed to him, opened the tin +box, and took from it a bundle of papers tied with red tape. This he +placed before the attorney, and put the empty box behind him on the +floor. Then he and the other man sat at the far end of the table; the +latter took out a big notebook and several pencils, and put them before +him. He was evidently a shorthand-writer. Mr. Trent removed the tape +from the bundle of papers, which he placed a little distance in front of +him. He took a sealed envelope from the top, broke the seal, opened the +envelope, and from it took a parchment, in the folds of which were some +sealed envelopes, which he laid in a heap in front of the other paper. +Then he unfolded the parchment, and laid it before him with the outside +page up. He fixed his glasses, and said: + +"Gentlemen, the sealed envelope which you have seen me open is endorsed +'My Last Will and Testament--ROGER MELTON, _June_, 1906.' This +document"--holding it up--"is as follows: + + "'I Roger Melton of Openshaw Grange in the County of Dorset; of + number one hundred and twenty-three Berkeley Square London; and of + the Castle of Vissarion in the Land of the Blue Mountains, being of + sound mind do make this my Last Will and Testament on this day Monday + the eleventh day of the month of June in the year of Our Lord one + thousand nine hundred and six at the office of my old friend and + Attorney Edward Bingham Trent in number one hundred and seventy-six + Lincoln's Inn Fields London hereby revoking all other wills that I + may have formerly made and giving this as my sole and last Will + making dispositions of my property as follows: + + "'1. To my kinsman and nephew Ernest Halbard Melton Esquire, justice + of the Peace, Humcroft the County of Salop, for his sole use and + benefit the sum of twenty thousand pounds sterling free of all Duties + Taxes and charges whatever to be paid out of my Five per centum Bonds + of the City of Montreal, Canada. + + "'2. To my respected friend and colleague as co-trustee to the Will + of my late sister Patience late widow of the late Captain Rupert Sent + Leger who predeceased her, Major-General Sir Colin Alexander + MacKelpie, Baronet, holder of the Victoria Cross, Knight Commander of + the Order of the Bath, of Croom in the county of Ross Scotland a sum + of Twenty thousand pounds sterling free of all Taxes and charges + whatsoever; to be paid out of my Five per centum Bonds of the City of + Toronto, Canada. + + "'3. To Miss Janet MacKelpie presently residing at Croom in the + County of Ross Scotland the sum of Twenty thousand pounds sterling + free of all Duties Taxes and Charges whatsoever, to be paid out of my + Five per centum Bonds of the London County Council. + + "'4. To the various persons charities and Trustees named in the + schedule attached to this Will and marked A. the various sums + mentioned therein, all free of Duties and Taxes and charges + whatsoever.'" + +Here Mr. Trent read out the list here following, and announced for our +immediate understanding of the situation the total amount as two hundred +and fifty thousand pounds. Many of the beneficiaries were old friends, +comrades, dependents, and servants, some of them being left quite large +sums of money and specific objects, such as curios and pictures. + + "'5. To my kinsman and nephew Ernest Roger Halbard Melton presently + living in the house of his father at Humcroft Salop the sum of Ten + thousand pounds sterling. + + "'6. To my old and valued friend Edward Bingham Trent of one hundred + and seventy-six Lincoln's Inn Fields sum of Twenty thousand pounds + sterling free from all Duties Taxes and Charges whatsoever to be paid + out of my Five per centum Bonds of the city of Manchester England. + + "'7. To my dear nephew Rupert Sent Leger only son of my dear sister + Patience Melton by her marriage with Captain Rupert Sent Leger the + sum of one thousand pounds sterling. I also bequeath to the said + Rupert Sent Leger a further sum conditional upon his acceptance of + the terms of a letter addressed to him marked B, and left in the + custody of the above Edward Bingham Trent and which letter is an + integral part of this my Will. In case of the non-acceptance of the + conditions of such letter, I devise and bequeath the whole of the + sums and properties reserved therein to the executors herein + appointed Colin Alexander MacKelpie and Edward Bingham Trent in trust + to distribute the same in accordance with the terms of the letter in + the present custody of Edward Bingham Trent marked C, and now + deposited sealed with my seal in the sealed envelope containing my + last Will to be kept in the custody of the said Edward Bingham Trent + and which said letter C is also an integral part of my Will. And in + case any doubt should arise as to my ultimate intention as to the + disposal of my property the above-mentioned Executors are to have + full power to arrange and dispose all such matters as may seem best + to them without further appeal. And if any beneficiary under this + Will shall challenge the same or any part of it, or dispute the + validity thereof, he shall forfeit to the general estate the bequest + made herein to him, and any such bequest shall cease and be void to + all intents and purposes whatsoever. + + "'8. For proper compliance with laws and duties connected with + testamentary proceedings and to keep my secret trusts secret I direct + my Executors to pay all Death, Estate, Settlement, Legacy, + Succession, or other duties charges impositions and assessments + whatever on the residue of my estate beyond the bequests already + named, at the scale charged in the case of most distant relatives or + strangers in blood. + + "'9. I hereby appoint as my Executors Major-General Sir Colin + Alexander MacKelpie, Baronet, of Croom in the County of Ross, and + Edward Bingham Trent Attorney at Law of one hundred and seventy-six + Lincoln's Inn Fields London West Central with full power to exercise + their discretion in any circumstance which may arise in the carrying + out my wishes as expressed in this Will. As reward for their + services in this capacity as Executors they are to receive each out + of the general estate a sum of one hundred thousand pounds sterling + free of all Duties and impositions whatsoever. + + "12. The two Memoranda contained in the letters marked B and C are + Integral Parts of this my Last Will are ultimately at the Probate of + the Will to be taken as Clauses 10 and 11 of it. The envelopes are + marked B and C on both envelope and contents and the contents of each + is headed thus: B to be read as Clause 10 of my Will and the other C + to be read as Clause 11 of my Will. + + "13. Should either of the above-mentioned Executors die before the + completion of the above year and a half from the date of the Reading + of my Will or before the Conditions rehearsed in Letter C the + remaining Executor shall have all and several the Rights and Duties + entrusted by my Will to both. And if both Executors should die then + the matter of interpretation and execution of all matters in + connection with this my Last Will shall rest with the Lord Chancellor + of England for the time being or with whomsoever he may appoint for + the purpose. + + "'This my Last Will is given by me on the first day of January in the + year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seven. + + "'ROGER MELTON. + + "We Andrew Rossiter and John Colson here in the presence of each + other and of the Testator have seen the Testator Roger Melton sign + and seal this document. In witness thereof we hereby set our names + + "'ANDREW ROSSITER clerk of 9 Primrose Avenue London W.C. + + "'JOHN COLSON caretaker of 176 Lincoln's Inn Fields and Verger of St. + Tabitha's Church Clerkenwell London.'" + +When Mr. Trent had finished the reading he put all the papers together, +and tied them up in a bundle again with the red tape. Holding the bundle +in his hand, he stood up, saying as he did so: + +"That is all, gentlemen, unless any of you wish to ask me any questions; +in which case I shall answer, of course, to the best of my power. I +shall ask you, Sir Colin, to remain with me, as we have to deal with some +matters, or to arrange a time when we may meet to do so. And you also, +Mr. Sent Leger, as there is this letter to submit to you. It is +necessary that you should open it in the presence of the executors, but +there is no necessity that anyone else should be present." + +The first to speak was my father. Of course, as a county gentleman of +position and estate, who is sometimes asked to take the chair at +Sessions--of course, when there is not anyone with a title present--he +found himself under the duty of expressing himself first. Old MacKelpie +has superior rank; but this was a family affair, in which my father is +Head of the House, whilst old MacKelpie is only an outsider brought into +it--and then only to the distaff side, by the wife of a younger brother +of the man who married into our family. Father spoke with the same look +on his face as when he asks important questions of witnesses at Quarter +Sessions. + +"I should like some points elucidated." The attorney bowed (he gets his +120 thou', any way, so he can afford to be oily--suave, I suppose he +would call it); so father looked at a slip of paper in his hand and +asked: + +"How much is the amount of the whole estate?" + +The attorney answered quickly, and I thought rather rudely. He was red +in the face, and didn't bow this time; I suppose a man of his class +hasn't more than a very limited stock of manners: + +"That, sir, I am not at liberty to tell you. And I may say that I would +not if I could." + +"Is it a million?" said father again. He was angry this time, and even +redder than the old attorney. The attorney said in answer, very quietly +this time: + +"Ah, that's cross-examining. Let me say, sir, that no one can know that +until the accountants to be appointed for the purpose have examined the +affairs of the testator up to date." + +Mr. Rupert St. Leger, who was looking all this time angrier than even the +attorney or my father--though at what he had to be angry about I can't +imagine--struck his fist on the table and rose up as if to speak, but as +he caught sight of both old MacKelpie and the attorney he sat down again. +_Mem._--Those three seem to agree too well. I must keep a sharp eye on +them. I didn't think of this part any more at the time, for father asked +another question which interested me much: + +"May I ask why the other matters of the Will are not shown to us?" The +attorney wiped his spectacles carefully with a big silk bandanna +handkerchief before he answered: + +"Simply because each of the two letters marked 'B' and 'C' is enclosed +with instructions regarding their opening and the keeping secret of their +contents. I shall call your attention to the fact that both envelopes +are sealed, and that the testator and both witnesses have signed their +names across the flap of each envelope. I shall read them. The letter +marked 'B,' directed to 'Rupert Sent Leger,' is thus endorsed: + + "'This letter is to be given to Rupert Sent Leger by the Trustees and + is to be opened by him in their presence. He is to take such copy or + make such notes as he may wish and is then to hand the letter with + envelope to the Executors who are at once to read it, each of them + being entitled to make copy or notes if desirous of so doing. The + letter is then to be replaced in its envelope and letter and envelope + are to be placed in another envelope to be endorsed on outside as to + its contents and to be signed across the flap by both the Executors + and by the said Rupert Sent Leger. + + "'(Signed) ROGER MELTON 1/6/'06. + +"The letter marked 'C,' directed to 'Edward Bingham Trent,' is thus +endorsed: + + "'This letter directed to Edward Bingham Trent is to be kept by him + unopened for a term of two years after the reading of my Last Will + unless said period is earlier terminated by either the acceptance or + refusal of Rupert Sent Leger to accept the conditions mentioned in my + letter to him marked 'B' which he is to receive and read in the + presence of my Executors at the same meeting as but subsequent to the + Reading of the clauses (except those to be ultimately numbers ten and + eleven) of my Last Will. This letter contains instructions as to + what both the Executors and the said Rupert Sent Leger are to do when + such acceptance or refusal of the said Rupert Sent Leger has been + made known, or if he omit or refuse to make any such acceptance or + refusal, at the end of two years next after my decease. + + "'(Signed) ROGER MELTON 1/6/'06.'" + +When the attorney had finished reading the last letter he put it +carefully in his pocket. Then he took the other letter in his hand, and +stood up. "Mr. Rupert Sent Leger," he said, "please to open this letter, +and in such a way that all present may see that the memorandum at top of +the contents is given as-- + + "'B. To be read as clause ten of my Will.'" + +St. Leger rolled up his sleeves and cuffs just as if he was going to +perform some sort of prestidigitation--it was very theatrical and +ridiculous--then, his wrists being quite bare, he opened the envelope and +took out the letter. We all saw it quite well. It was folded with the +first page outward, and on the top was written a line just as the +attorney said. In obedience to a request from the attorney, he laid both +letter and envelope on the table in front of him. The clerk then rose +up, and, after handing a piece of paper to the attorney, went back to his +seat. Mr. Trent, having written something on the paper, asked us all who +were present, even the clerk and the shorthand man, to look at the +memorandum on the letter and what was written on the envelope, and to +sign the paper, which ran: + +"We the signatories of this paper hereby declare that we have seen the +sealed letter marked B and enclosed in the Will of Roger Melton opened in +the presence of us all including Mr. Edward Bingham Trent and Sir Colin +Alexander MacKelpie and we declare that the paper therein contained was +headed 'B. To be read as clause ten of my Will' and that there were no +other contents in the envelope. In attestation of which we in the +presence of each other append our signatures." + +The attorney motioned to my father to begin. Father is a cautious man, +and he asked for a magnifying-glass, which was shortly brought to him by +a clerk for whom the clerk in the room called. Father examined the +envelope all over very carefully, and also the memorandum at top of the +paper. Then, without a word, he signed the paper. Father is a just man. +Then we all signed. The attorney folded the paper and put it in an +envelope. Before closing it he passed it round, and we all saw that it +had not been tampered with. Father took it out and read it, and then put +it back. Then the attorney asked us all to sign it across the flap, +which we did. Then he put the sealing-wax on it and asked father to seal +it with his own seal. He did so. Then he and MacKelpie sealed it also +with their own seals, Then he put it in another envelope, which he sealed +himself, and he and MacKelpie signed it across the flap. + +Then father stood up, and so did I. So did the two men--the clerk and +the shorthand writer. Father did not say a word till we got out into the +street. We walked along, and presently we passed an open gate into the +fields. He turned back, saying to me: + +"Come in here. There is no one about, and we can be quiet. I want to +speak to you." When we sat down on a seat with none other near it, +father said: + +"You are a student of the law. What does all that mean?" I thought it a +good occasion for an epigram, so I said one word: + +"Bilk!" + +"H'm!" said father; "that is so far as you and I are concerned. You with +a beggarly ten thousand, and I with twenty. But what is, or will be, the +effect of those secret trusts?" + +"Oh, that," I said, "will, I dare say, be all right. Uncle Roger +evidently did not intend the older generation to benefit too much by his +death. But he only gave Rupert St. Leger one thousand pounds, whilst he +gave me ten. That looks as if he had more regard for the direct line. +Of course--" Father interrupted me: + +"But what was the meaning of a further sum?" + +"I don't know, father. There was evidently some condition which he was +to fulfil; but he evidently didn't expect that he would. Why, otherwise, +did he leave a second trust to Mr. Trent?" + +"True!" said father. Then he went on: "I wonder why he left those +enormous sums to Trent and old MacKelpie. They seem out of all +proportion as executors' fees, unless--" + +"Unless what, father?" + +"Unless the fortune he has left is an enormous one. That is why I +asked." + +"And that," I laughed, "is why he refused to answer." + +"Why, Ernest, it must run into big figures." + +"Right-ho, father. The death-duties will be annoying. What a beastly +swindle the death-duties are! Why, I shall suffer even on your own +little estate . . . " + +"That will do!" he said curtly. Father is so ridiculously touchy. One +would think he expects to live for ever. Presently he spoke again: + +"I wonder what are the conditions of that trust. They are as +important--almost--as the amount of the bequest--whatever it is. By the +way, there seems to be no mention in the will of a residuary legatee. +Ernest, my boy, we may have to fight over that." + +"How do you make that out, father?" I asked. He had been very rude over +the matter of the death-duties of his own estate, though it is entailed +and I _must_ inherit. So I determined to let him see that I know a good +deal more than he does--of law, at any rate. "I fear that when we come +to look into it closely that dog won't fight. In the first place, that +may be all arranged in the letter to St. Leger, which is a part of the +Will. And if that letter should be inoperative by his refusal of the +conditions (whatever they may be), then the letter to the attorney begins +to work. What it is we don't know, and perhaps even he doesn't--I looked +at it as well as I could--and we law men are trained to observation. But +even if the instructions mentioned as being in Letter C fail, then the +corpus of the Will gives full power to Trent to act just as he darn +pleases. He can give the whole thing to himself if he likes, and no one +can say a word. In fact, he is himself the final court of appeal." + +"H'm!" said father to himself. "It is a queer kind of will, I take it, +that can override the Court of Chancery. We shall perhaps have to try it +before we are done with this!" With that he rose, and we walked home +together--without saying another word. + +My mother was very inquisitive about the whole thing--women always are. +Father and I between us told her all it was necessary for her to know. I +think we were both afraid that, woman-like, she would make trouble for us +by saying or doing something injudicious. Indeed, she manifested such +hostility towards Rupert St. Leger that it is quite on the cards that she +may try to injure him in some way. So when father said that he would +have to go out shortly again, as he wished to consult his solicitor, I +jumped up and said I would go with him, as I, too, should take advice as +to how I stood in the matter. + +_The Contents of Letter marked_ "_B_" _attached as an Integral Part to +the Last Will of Roger Melton_. + + _June_ 11, 1907. + + "This letter an integral part of my Last Will regards the entire + residue of my estate beyond the specific bequests made in the body of + my Will. It is to appoint as Residuary Legatee of such Will--in case + he may accept in due form the Conditions herein laid down--my dear + Nephew Rupert Sent Leger only son of my sister Patience Melton now + deceased by her marriage with Captain Rupert Sent Leger also now + deceased. On his acceptance of the Conditions and the fulfilment of + the first of them the Entire residue of my estate after payments of + all specific Legacies and of all my debts and other obligations is to + become his absolute property to be dealt with or disposed of as he + may desire. The following are the conditions. + + "1. He is to accept provisionally by letter addressed to my + Executors a sum of nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand pounds + sterling free of all Duties Taxes or other imposts. This he will + hold for a period of six months from the date of the Reading of my + Last Will and have user of the accruements thereto calculated at the + rate of ten per centum per annum which amount he shall under no + circumstances be required to replace. At the end of said six months + he must express in writing directed to the Executors of my Will his + acceptance or refusal of the other conditions herein to follow. But + if he may so choose he shall be free to declare in writing to the + Executors within one week from the time of the Reading of the Will + his wish to accept or to withdraw altogether from the responsibility + of this Trust. In case of withdrawal he is to retain absolutely and + for his own use the above-mentioned sum of nine hundred and + ninety-nine thousand pounds sterling free of all Duties Taxes and + imposts whatsoever making with the specific bequest of one thousand + pounds a clear sum of one million pounds sterling free of all + imposts. And he will from the moment of the delivery of such written + withdrawal cease to have any right or interest whatsoever in the + further disposition of my estate under this instrument. Should such + written withdrawal be received by my Executors they shall have + possession of such residue of my estate as shall remain after the + payment of the above sum of nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand + pounds sterling and the payment of all Duties Taxes assessments or + Imposts as may be entailed by law by its conveyance to the said + Rupert Sent Leger and these my Executors shall hold the same for the + further disposal of it according to the instructions given in the + letter marked C and which is also an integral part of my Last Will + and Testament. + + "2. If at or before the expiration of the six months above-mentioned + the said Rupert Sent Leger shall have accepted the further conditions + herein stated, he is to have user of the entire income produced by + such residue of my estate the said income being paid to him Quarterly + on the usual Quarter Days by the aforesaid Executors to wit Major + General Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie Bart. and Edward Bingham Trent + to be used by him in accordance with the terms and conditions + hereinafter mentioned. + + "3. The said Rupert Sent Leger is to reside for a period of at least + six months to begin not later than three months from the reading of + my Will in the Castle of Vissarion in the Land of the Blue Mountains. + And if he fulfil the Conditions imposed on him and shall thereby + become possessed of the residue of my estate he is to continue to + reside there in part for a period of one year. He is not to change + his British Nationality except by a formal consent of the Privy + Council of Great Britain. + + "At the end of a year and a half from the Reading of my Will he is to + report in person to my Executors of the expenditure of amounts paid + or due by him in the carrying out of the Trust and if they are + satisfied that same are in general accord with the conditions named + in above-mentioned letter marked C and which is an integral part of + my Will they are to record their approval on such Will which can then + go for final Probate and Taxation. On the Completion of which the + said Rupert Sent Leger shall become possessed absolutely and without + further act or need of the entire residue of my estate. In witness + whereof, etc. + + "(Signed) ROGER MELTON." + +This document is attested by the witnesses to the Will on the same date. + + (_Personal and Confidential_.) + + MEMORANDA MADE BY EDWARD BINGHAM TRENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE WILL OF + ROGER MELTON. + + _January_ 3, 1907. + + The interests and issues of all concerned in the Will and estate of + the late Roger Melton of Openshaw Grange are so vast that in case any + litigation should take place regarding the same, I, as the solicitor, + having the carriage of the testator's wishes, think it well to make + certain memoranda of events, conversations, etc., not covered by + documentary evidence. I make the first memorandum immediately after + the event, whilst every detail of act and conversation is still fresh + in my mind. I shall also try to make such comments thereon as may + serve to refresh my memory hereafter, and which in case of my death + may perhaps afford as opinions contemporaneously recorded some + guiding light to other or others who may later on have to continue + and complete the tasks entrusted to me. + + I. + + CONCERNING THE READING OF THE WILL OF ROGER MELTON. + + When, beginning at 11 o'clock a.m. on this the forenoon of Thursday, + the 3rd day of January, 1907, I opened the Will and read it in full, + except the clauses contained in the letters marked "B" and "C"; there + were present in addition to myself, the following: + + 1. Ernest Halbard Melton, J.P, nephew of the testator. + + 2. Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, son of the above. + + 3. Rupert Sent Leger, nephew of the testator. + + 4. Major-General Sir Colin Alexander MacKelpie, Bart., co-executor + with myself of the Will. + + 5. Andrew Rossiter, my clerk, one of the witnesses of the testator's + Will. + + 6. Alfred Nugent, stenographer (of Messrs. Castle's office, 21, + Bream's Buildings, W.C.). + +When the Will had been read, Mr. E. H. Melton asked the value of the +estate left by the testator, which query I did not feel empowered or +otherwise able to answer; and a further query, as to why those present +were not shown the secret clauses of the Will. I answered by reading the +instructions endorsed on the envelopes of the two letters marked "B" and +"C," which were sufficiently explanatory. + +But, lest any question should hereafter arise as to the fact that the +memoranda in letters marked "B" and "C," which were to be read as clauses +10 and 11 of the Will, I caused Rupert Sent Leger to open the envelope +marked "B" in the presence of all in the room. These all signed a paper +which I had already prepared, to the effect that they had seen the +envelope opened, and that the memorandum marked "B. To be read as clause +ten of my Will," was contained in the envelope, of which it was to be the +sole contents. Mr. Ernest Halbard Melton, J.P., before signing, +carefully examined with a magnifying-glass, for which he had asked, both +the envelope and the heading of the memorandum enclosed in the letter. +He was about to turn the folded paper which was lying on the table over, +by which he might have been able to read the matter of the memorandum had +he so desired. I at once advised him that the memorandum he was to sign +dealt only with the heading of the page, and not with the matter. He +looked very angry, but said nothing, and after a second scrutiny signed. +I put the memorandum in an envelope, which we all signed across the flap. +Before signing, Mr Ernest Halbard Melton took out the paper and verified +it. I then asked him to close it, which he did, and when the sealing-wax +was on it he sealed it with his own seal. Sir Colin A. MacKelpie and I +also appended our own seals. I put the envelope in another, which I +sealed with my own seal, and my co-executor and I signed it across the +flap and added the date. I took charge of this. When the others present +had taken their departure, my co-executor and I, together with Mr. Rupert +Sent Leger, who had remained at my request, went into my private room. + +Here Mr. Rupert Sent Leger read the memorandum marked "B," which is to be +read as clause 10 of the Will. He is evidently a man of considerable +nerve, for his face was quite impassive as he read the document, which +conveyed to him (subject to the conditions laid down) a fortune which has +no equal in amount in Europe, even, so far as I know, amongst the crowned +heads. When he had read it over a second time he stood up and said: + +"I wish I had known my uncle better. He must have had the heart of a +king. I never heard of such generosity as he has shown me. Mr. Trent, I +see, from the conditions of this memorandum, or codicil, or whatever it +is, that I am to declare within a week as to whether I accept the +conditions imposed on me. Now, I want you to tell me this: must I wait a +week to declare?" In answer, I told him that the testator's intention +was manifestly to see that he had full time to consider fully every point +before making formal decision and declaration. But, in answer to the +specific question, I could answer that he might make declaration when he +would, provided it was _within_, or rather not after, the week named. I +added: + +"But I strongly advise you not to act hurriedly. So enormous a sum is +involved that you may be sure that all possible efforts will be made by +someone or other to dispossess you of your inheritance, and it will be +well that everything shall be done, not only in perfect order, but with +such manifest care and deliberation that there can be no question as to +your intention." + +"Thank you, sir," he answered; "I shall do as you shall kindly advise me +in this as in other things. But I may tell you now--and you, too, my +dear Sir Colin--that I not only accept my Uncle Roger's conditions in +this, but that when the time comes in the other matters I shall accept +every condition that he had in his mind--and that I may know of--in +everything." He looked exceedingly in earnest, and it gave me much +pleasure to see and hear him. It was just what a young man should do who +had seen so generously treated. As the time had now come, I gave him the +bulky letter addressed to him, marked "D" which I had in my safe. As I +fulfilled my obligation in the matter, I said: + +"You need not read the letter here. You can take it away with you, and +read it by yourself at leisure. It is your own property, without any +obligation whatever attached to it. By the way, perhaps it would be well +if you knew. I have a copy sealed up in an envelope, and endorsed, 'To +be opened if occasion should arise,' but not otherwise. Will you see me +to-morrow, or, better still, dine with me alone here to-night? I should +like to have a talk with you, and you may wish to ask me some questions." +He answered me cordially. I actually felt touched by the way he said +good-bye before he went away. Sir Colin MacKelpie went with him, as Sent +Leger was to drop him at the Reform. + +_Letter from Roger Melton to Rupert Sent Leger_, _endorsed_ "_D. re +Rupert Sent Leger_. _To be given to him by Edward Bingham Trent if and +as soon as he has declared_ (_formally or informally_) _his intention of +accepting the conditions named in Letter B._, _forming Clause_ 10 _in my +Will_. _R. M._, 1/1/'07. + +"_Mem._--Copy (sealed) left in custody of E. B. Trent, to be opened if +necessary, as directed." + + _June_ 11, 1906. + + My Dear Nephew, + + When (if ever) you receive this you will know that (with the + exception of some definite bequests) I have left to you, under + certain conditions, the entire bulk of my fortune--a fortune so great + that by its aid as a help, a man of courage and ability may carve out + for himself a name and place in history. The specific conditions + contained in Clause 10 of my Will have to be observed, for such I + deem to be of service to your own fortune; but herein I give my + advice, which you are at liberty to follow or not as you will, and my + wishes, which I shall try to explain fully and clearly, so that you + may be in possession of my views in case you should desire to carry + them out, or, at least, to so endeavour that the results I hope for + may be ultimately achieved. First let me explain--for your + understanding and your guidance--that the power, or perhaps it had + better be called the pressure, behind the accumulation of my fortune + has been ambition. In obedience to its compulsion, I toiled early + and late until I had so arranged matters that, subject to broad + supervision, my ideas could be carried out by men whom I had selected + and tested, and not found wanting. This was for years to the + satisfaction, and ultimately to the accumulation by these men of + fortune commensurate in some measure to their own worth and their + importance to my designs. Thus I had accumulated, whilst still a + young man, a considerable fortune. This I have for over forty years + used sparingly as regards my personal needs, daringly with regard to + speculative investments. With the latter I took such very great + care, studying the conditions surrounding them so thoroughly, that + even now my schedule of bad debts or unsuccessful investments is + almost a blank. Perhaps by such means things flourished with me, and + wealth piled in so fast that at times I could hardly use it to + advantage. This was all done as the forerunner of ambition, but I + was over fifty years of age when the horizon of ambition itself + opened up to me. I speak thus freely, my dear Rupert, as when you + read it I shall have passed away, and not ambition nor the fear of + misunderstanding, nor even of scorn can touch me. My ventures in + commerce and finance covered not only the Far East, but every foot of + the way to it, so that the Mediterranean and all its opening seas + were familiar to me. In my journeyings up and down the Adriatic I + was always struck by the great beauty and seeming richness--native + richness--of the Land of the Blue Mountains. At last Chance took me + into that delectable region. When the "Balkan Struggle" of '90 was + on, one of the great Voivodes came to me in secret to arrange a large + loan for national purposes. It was known in financial circles of + both Europe and Asia that I took an active part in the _haute + politique_ of national treasuries, and the Voivode Vissarion came to + me as to one able and willing to carry out his wishes. After + confidential pour-parlers, he explained to me that his nation was in + the throes of a great crisis. As you perhaps know, the gallant + little Nation in the Land of the Blue Mountains has had a strange + history. For more than a thousand years--ever since its settlement + after the disaster of Rossoro--it had maintained its national + independence under several forms of Government. At first it had a + King whose successors became so despotic that they were dethroned. + Then it was governed by its Voivodes, with the combining influence of + a Vladika somewhat similar in power and function to the + Prince-Bishops of Montenegro; afterwards by a Prince; or, as at + present, by an irregular elective Council, influenced in a modified + form by the Vladika, who was then supposed to exercise a purely + spiritual function. Such a Council in a small, poor nation did not + have sufficient funds for armaments, which were not immediately and + imperatively necessary; and therefore the Voivode Vissarion, who had + vast estates in his own possession, and who was the present + representative a family which of old had been leaders in the land, + found it a duty to do on his own account that which the State could + not do. For security as to the loan which he wished to get, and + which was indeed a vast one, he offered to sell me his whole estate + if I would secure to him a right to repurchase it within a given time + (a time which I may say has some time ago expired). He made it a + condition that the sale and agreement should remain a strict secret + between us, as a widespread knowledge that his estate had changed + hands would in all probability result in my death and his own at the + hands of the mountaineers, who are beyond everything loyal, and were + jealous to the last degree. An attack by Turkey was feared, and new + armaments were required; and the patriotic Voivode was sacrificing + his own great fortune for the public good. What a sacrifice this was + he well knew, for in all discussions regarding a possible change in + the Constitution of the Blue Mountains it was always taken for + granted that if the principles of the Constitution should change to a + more personal rule, his own family should be regarded as the Most + Noble. It had ever been on the side of freedom in olden time; before + the establishment of the Council, or even during the rule of the + Voivodes, the Vissarion had every now and again stood out against the + King or challenged the Princedom. The very name stood for freedom, + for nationality, against foreign oppression; and the bold + mountaineers were devoted to it, as in other free countries men + follow the flag. + + Such loyalty was a power and a help in the land, for it knew danger + in every form; and anything which aided the cohesion of its integers + was a natural asset. On every side other powers, great and small, + pressed the land, anxious to acquire its suzerainty by any + means--fraud or force. Greece, Turkey, Austria, Russia, Italy, + France, had all tried in vain. Russia, often hurled back, was + waiting an opportunity to attack. Austria and Greece, although + united by no common purpose or design, were ready to throw in their + forces with whomsoever might seem most likely to be victor. Other + Balkan States, too, were not lacking in desire to add the little + territory of the Blue Mountains to their more ample possessions. + Albania, Dalmatia, Herzegovina, Servia, Bulgaria, looked with lustful + eyes on the land, which was in itself a vast natural fortress, having + close under its shelter perhaps the finest harbour between Gibraltar + and the Dardanelles. + + But the fierce, hardy mountaineers were unconquerable. For centuries + they had fought, with a fervour and fury that nothing could withstand + or abate, attacks on their independence. Time after time, century + after century, they had opposed with dauntless front invading armies + sent against them. This unquenchable fire of freedom had had its + effect. One and all, the great Powers knew that to conquer that + little nation would be no mean task, but rather that of a tireless + giant. Over and over again had they fought with units against + hundreds, never ceasing until they had either wiped out their foes + entirely or seen them retreat across the frontier in diminished + numbers. + + For many years past, however, the Land of the Blue Mountains had + remained unassailable, for all the Powers and States had feared lest + the others should unite against the one who should begin the attack. + + At the time I speak of there was a feeling throughout the Blue + Mountains--and, indeed, elsewhere--that Turkey was preparing for a + war of offence. The objective of her attack was not known anywhere, + but here there was evidence that the Turkish "Bureau of Spies" was in + active exercise towards their sturdy little neighbour. To prepare + for this, the Voivode Peter Vissarion approached me in order to + obtain the necessary "sinews of war." + + The situation was complicated by the fact that the Elective Council + was at present largely held together by the old Greek Church, which + was the religion of the people, and which had had since the beginning + its destinies linked in a large degree with theirs. Thus it was + possible that if a war should break out, it might easily + become--whatever might have been its cause or beginnings--a war of + creeds. This in the Balkans must be largely one of races, the end of + which no mind could diagnose or even guess at. + + I had now for some time had knowledge of the country and its people, + and had come to love them both. The nobility of Vissarion's + self-sacrifice at once appealed to me, and I felt that I, too, should + like to have a hand in the upholding of such a land and such a + people. They both deserved freedom. When Vissarion handed me the + completed deed of sale I was going to tear it up; but he somehow + recognized my intention, and forestalled it. He held up his hand + arrestingly as he said: + + "I recognize your purpose, and, believe me, I honour you for it from + the very depths of my soul. But, my friend, it must not be. Our + mountaineers are proud beyond belief. Though they would allow + me--who am one of themselves, and whose fathers have been in some way + leaders and spokesmen amongst them for many centuries--to do all that + is in my power to do--and what, each and all, they would be glad to + do were the call to them--they would not accept aid from one outside + themselves. My good friend, they would resent it, and might show to + you, who wish us all so well, active hostility, which might end in + danger, or even death. That was why, my friend, I asked to put a + clause in our agreement, that I might have right to repurchase my + estate, regarding which you would fain act so generously." + + Thus it is, my dear nephew Rupert, only son of my dear sister, that I + hereby charge you solemnly as you value me--as you value yourself--as + you value honour, that, should it ever become known that that noble + Voivode, Peter Vissarion, imperilled himself for his country's good, + and if it be of danger or evil repute to him that even for such a + purpose he sold his heritage, you shall at once and to the knowledge + of the mountaineers--though not necessarily to others--reconvey to + him or his heirs the freehold that he was willing to part with--and + that he has _de facto_ parted with by the effluxion of the time + during which his right of repurchase existed. This is a secret trust + and duty which is between thee and me alone in the first instance; a + duty which I have undertaken on behalf of my heirs, and which must be + carried out, at whatsoever cost may ensue. You must not take it that + it is from any mistrust of you or belief that you will fail that I + have taken another measure to insure that this my cherished idea is + borne out. Indeed, it is that the law may, in case of need--for no + man can know what may happen after his own hand be taken from the + plough--be complied with, that I have in another letter written for + the guidance of others, directed that in case of any failure to carry + out this trust--death or other--the direction become a clause or + codicil to my Will. But in the meantime I wish that this be kept a + secret between us two. To show you the full extent of my confidence, + let me here tell you that the letter alluded to above is marked "C," + and directed to my solicitor and co-executor, Edward Bingham Trent, + which is finally to be regarded as clause eleven of my Will. To + which end he has my instructions and also a copy of this letter, + which is, in case of need, and that only, to be opened, and is to be + a guide to my wishes as to the carrying out by you of the conditions + on which you inherit. + + And now, my dear nephew, let me change to another subject more dear + to me--yourself. When you read this I shall have passed away, so + that I need not be hampered now by that reserve which I feel has + grown upon me through a long and self-contained life. Your mother + was very dear to me. As you know, she was twenty years younger than + her youngest brother, who was two years younger than me. So we were + all young men when she was a baby, and, I need not say, a pet amongst + us--almost like our own child to each of us, as well as our sister. + You knew her sweetness and high quality, so I need say nothing of + these; but I should like you to understand that she was very dear to + me. When she and your father came to know and love each other I was + far away, opening up a new branch of business in the interior of + China, and it was not for several months that I got home news. When + I first heard of him they had already been married. I was delighted + to find that they were very happy. They needed nothing that I could + give. When he died so suddenly I tried to comfort her, and all I had + was at her disposal, did she want it. She was a proud woman--though + not with me. She had come to understand that, though I seemed cold + and hard (and perhaps was so generally), I was not so to her. But + she would not have help of any kind. When I pressed her, she told me + that she had enough for your keep and education and her own + sustenance for the time she must still live; that your father and she + had agreed that you should be brought up to a healthy and strenuous + life rather than to one of luxury; and she thought that it would be + better for the development of your character that you should learn to + be self-reliant and to be content with what your dear father had left + you. She had always been a wise and thoughtful girl, and now all her + wisdom and thought were for you, your father's and her child. When + she spoke of you and your future, she said many things which I + thought memorable. One of them I remember to this day. It was + apropos of my saying that there is a danger of its own kind in + extreme poverty. A young man might know too much want. She answered + me: "True! That is so! But there is a danger that overrides it;" + and after a time went on: + + "It is better not to know wants than not to know want!" I tell you, + boy, that is a great truth, and I hope you will remember it for + yourself as well as a part of the wisdom of your mother. And here + let me say something else which is a sort of corollary of that wise + utterance: + + I dare say you thought me very hard and unsympathetic that time I + would not, as one of your trustees, agree to your transferring your + little fortune to Miss MacKelpie. I dare say you bear a grudge + towards me about it up to this day. Well, if you have any of that + remaining, put it aside when you know the truth. That request of + yours was an unspeakable delight to me. It was like your mother + coming back from the dead. That little letter of yours made me wish + for the first time that I had a son--and that he should be like you. + I fell into a sort of reverie, thinking if I were yet too old to + marry, so that a son might be with me in my declining years--if such + were to ever be for me. But I concluded that this might not be. + There was no woman whom I knew or had ever met with that I could love + as your mother loved your father and as he loved her. So I resigned + myself to my fate. I must go my lonely road on to the end. And then + came a ray of light into my darkness: there was you. Though you + might not feel like a son to me--I could not expect it when the + memory of that sweet relationship was more worthily filled. But I + could feel like a father to you. Nothing could prevent that or + interfere with it, for I would keep it as my secret in the very holy + of holies of my heart, where had been for thirty years the image of a + sweet little child--your mother. My boy, when in your future life + you shall have happiness and honour and power, I hope you will + sometimes give a thought to the lonely old man whose later years your + very existence seemed to brighten. + + The thought of your mother recalled me to my duty. I had undertaken + for her a sacred task: to carry out her wishes regarding her son. I + knew how she would have acted. It might--would--have been to her a + struggle of inclination and duty; and duty would have won. And so I + carried out my duty, though I tell you it was a harsh and bitter task + to me at the time. But I may tell you that I have since been glad + when I think of the result. I tried, as you may perhaps remember, to + carry out your wishes in another way, but your letter put the + difficulty of doing so so clearly before me that I had to give it up. + And let me tell you that that letter endeared you to me more than + ever. + + I need not tell you that thenceforth I followed your life very + closely. When you ran away to sea, I used in secret every part of + the mechanism of commerce to find out what had become of you. Then, + until you had reached your majority, I had a constant watch kept upon + you--not to interfere with you in any way, but so that I might be + able to find you should need arise. When in due course I heard of + your first act on coming of age I was satisfied. I had to know of + the carrying out of your original intention towards Janet Mac Kelpie, + for the securities had to be transferred. + + From that time on I watched--of course through other eyes--your chief + doings. It would have been a pleasure to me to have been able to + help in carrying out any hope or ambition of yours, but I realized + that in the years intervening between your coming of age and the + present moment you were fulfilling your ideas and ambitions in your + own way, and, as I shall try to explain to you presently, my + ambitions also. You were of so adventurous a nature that even my own + widely-spread machinery of acquiring information--what I may call my + private "intelligence department"--was inadequate. My machinery was + fairly adequate for the East--in great part, at all events. But you + went North and South, and West also, and, in addition, you essayed + realms where commerce and purely real affairs have no + foothold--worlds of thought, of spiritual import, of psychic + phenomena--speaking generally, of mysteries. As now and again I was + baffled in my inquiries, I had to enlarge my mechanism, and to this + end started--not in my own name, of course--some new magazines + devoted to certain branches of inquiry and adventure. Should you + ever care to know more of these things, Mr. Trent, in whose name the + stock is left, will be delighted to give you all details. Indeed, + these stocks, like all else I have, shall be yours when the time + comes, if you care to ask for them. By means of _The Journal of + Adventure_, _The Magazine of Mystery_, _Occultism_, _Balloon and + Aeroplane_, _The Submarine_, _Jungle and Pampas_, _The Ghost World_, + _The Explorer_, _Forest and Island_, _Ocean and Creek_, I was often + kept informed when I should otherwise have been ignorant of your + whereabouts and designs. For instance, when you had disappeared into + the Forest of the Incas, I got the first whisper of your strange + adventures and discoveries in the buried cities of Eudori from a + correspondent of _The Journal of Adventure_ long before the details + given in _The Times_ of the rock-temple of the primeval savages, + where only remained the little dragon serpents, whose giant ancestors + were rudely sculptured on the sacrificial altar. I well remember how + I thrilled at even that meagre account of your going in alone into + that veritable hell. It was from _Occultism_ that I learned how you + had made a stay alone in the haunted catacombs of Elora, in the far + recesses of the Himalayas, and of the fearful experiences which, when + you came out shuddering and ghastly, overcame to almost epileptic + fear those who had banded themselves together to go as far as the + rock-cut approach to the hidden temple. + + All such things I read with rejoicing. You were shaping yourself for + a wider and loftier adventure, which would crown more worthily your + matured manhood. When I read of you in a description of Mihask, in + Madagascar, and the devil-worship there rarely held, I felt I had + only to wait for your home-coming in order to broach the enterprise I + had so long contemplated. This was what I read: + + "He is a man to whom no adventure is too wild or too daring. His + reckless bravery is a byword amongst many savage peoples and amongst + many others not savages, whose fears are not of material things, but + of the world of mysteries in and beyond the grave. He dares not only + wild animals and savage men; but has tackled African magic and Indian + mysticism. The Psychical Research Society has long exploited his + deeds of valiance, and looked upon him as perhaps their most trusted + agent or source of discovery. He is in the very prime of life, of + almost giant stature and strength, trained to the use of all arms of + all countries, inured to every kind of hardship, subtle-minded and + resourceful, understanding human nature from its elemental form up. + To say that he is fearless would be inadequate. In a word, he is a + man whose strength and daring fit him for any enterprise of any kind. + He would dare and do anything in the world or out of it, on the earth + or under it, in the sea or--in the air, fearing nothing material or + unseen, not man or ghost, nor God nor Devil." + + If you ever care to think of it, I carried that cutting in my + pocket-book from that hour I read it till now. + + Remember, again, I say, that I never interfered in the slightest way + in any of your adventures. I wanted you to "dree your own weird," as + the Scotch say; and I wanted to know of it--that was all. Now, as I + hold you fully equipped for greater enterprise, I want to set your + feet on the road and to provide you with the most potent + weapon--beyond personal qualities--for the winning of great honour--a + gain, my dear nephew, which, I am right sure, does and will appeal to + you as it has ever done to me. I have worked for it for more than + fifty years; but now that the time has come when the torch is + slipping from my old hands, I look to you, my dearest kinsman, to + lift it and carry it on. + + The little nation of the Blue Mountains has from the first appealed + to me. It is poor and proud and brave. Its people are well worth + winning, and I would advise you to throw in your lot with them. You + may find them hard to win, for when peoples, like individuals, are + poor and proud, these qualities are apt to react on each other to an + endless degree. These men are untamable, and no one can ever succeed + with them unless he is with them in all-in-all, and is a leader + recognized. But if you can win them they are loyal to death. If you + are ambitious--and I know you are--there may be a field for you in + such a country. With your qualifications, fortified by the fortune + which I am happy enough to be able to leave you, you may dare much + and go far. Should I be alive when you return from your exploration + in Northern South America, I may have the happiness of helping you to + this or any other ambition, and I shall deem it a privilege to share + it with you; but time is going on. I am in my seventy-second year . + . . the years of man are three-score and ten--I suppose you + understand; I do . . . Let me point out this: For ambitious projects + the great nationalities are impossible to a stranger--and in our own + we are limited by loyalty (and common-sense). It is only in a small + nation that great ambitions can be achieved. If you share my own + views and wishes, the Blue Mountains is your ground. I hoped at one + time that I might yet become a Voivode--even a great one. But age + has dulled my personal ambitions as it has cramped my powers. I no + longer dream of such honour for myself, though I do look on it as a + possibility for you if you care for it. Through my Will you will + have a great position and a great estate, and though you may have to + yield up the latter in accordance with my wish, as already expressed + in this letter, the very doing so will give you an even greater hold + than this possession in the hearts of the mountaineers, should they + ever come to know it. Should it be that at the time you inherit from + me the Voivode Vissarion should not be alive, it may serve or aid you + to know that in such case you would be absolved from any conditions + of mine, though I trust you would in that, as in all other matters, + hold obligation enforced by your own honour as to my wishes. + Therefore the matter stands thus: If Vissarion lives, you will + relinquish the estates. Should such not be the case, you will act as + you believe that I would wish you to. In either case the + mountaineers should not know from you in any way of the secret + contracts between Vissarion and myself. Enlightenment of the many + should (if ever) come from others than yourself. And unless such + take place, you would leave the estates without any _quid pro quo_ + whatever. This you need not mind, for the fortune you will inherit + will leave you free and able to purchase other estates in the Blue + Mountains or elsewhere that you may select in the world. + + If others attack, attack them, and quicker and harder than they can, + if such be a possibility. Should it ever be that you inherit the + Castle of Vissarion on the Spear of Ivan, remember that I had it + secretly fortified and armed against attack. There are not only + massive grilles, but doors of chilled bronze where such be needed. + My adherent Rooke, who has faithfully served me for nearly forty + years, and has gone on my behalf on many perilous expeditions, will, + I trust, serve you in the same way. Treat him well for my sake, if + not for your own. I have left him provision for a life of ease; but + he would rather take a part in dangerous enterprises. He is silent + as the grave and as bold as a lion. He knows every detail of the + fortification and of the secret means of defence. A word in your + ear--he was once a pirate. He was then in his extreme youth, and + long since changed his ways in this respect; but from this fact you + can understand his nature. You will find him useful should occasion + ever arise. Should you accept the conditions of my letter, you are + to make the Blue Mountains--in part, at least--your home, living + there a part of the year, if only for a week, as in England men of + many estates share the time amongst them. To this you are not bound, + and no one shall have power to compel you or interfere with you. I + only express a hope. But one thing I do more than hope--I desire, if + you will honour my wishes, that, come what may, you are to keep your + British nationality, unless by special arrangement with and consent + of the Privy Council. Such arrangement to be formally made by my + friend, Edward Bingham Trent, or whomsoever he may appoint by deed or + will to act in the matter, and made in such a way that no act save + that alone of Parliament in all its estates, and endorsed by the + King, may or can prevail against it. + + My last word to you is, Be bold and honest, and fear not. Most + things--even kingship--_somewhere_ may now and again be won by the + sword. A brave heart and a strong arm may go far. But whatever is + so won cannot be held merely by the sword. Justice alone can hold in + the long run. Where men trust they will follow, and the rank and + file of people want to follow, not to lead. If it be your fortune to + lead, be bold. Be wary, if you will; exercise any other faculties + that may aid or guard. Shrink from nothing. Avoid nothing that is + honourable in itself. Take responsibility when such presents itself. + What others shrink from, accept. That is to be great in what world, + little or big, you move. Fear nothing, no matter of what kind danger + may be or whence it come. The only real way to meet danger is to + despise it--except with your brains. Meet it in the gate, not the + hall. + + My kinsman, the name of my race and your own, worthily mingled in + your own person, now rests with you! + +_Letter from Rupert Sent Leger_, 32 _Bodmin Street_, _Victoria_, _S.W._, +_to Miss Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_, _Ross-shire_. + + _January_ 3, 1907. + + MY DEAREST AUNT JANET, + + You will, I know, be rejoiced to hear of the great good-fortune which + has come to me through the Will of Uncle Roger. Perhaps Sir Colin + will have written to you, as he is one of the executors, and there is + a bequest to you, so I must not spoil his pleasure of telling you of + that part himself. Unfortunately, I am not free to speak fully of my + own legacy yet, but I want you to know that at worst I am to receive + an amount many times more than I ever dreamt of possessing through + any possible stroke of fortune. So soon as I can leave + London--where, of course, I must remain until things are settled--I + am coming up to Croom to see you, and I hope I shall by then be able + to let you know so much that you will be able to guess at the + extraordinary change that has come to my circumstances. It is all + like an impossible dream: there is nothing like it in the "Arabian + Nights." However, the details must wait, I am pledged to secrecy for + the present. And you must be pledged too. You won't mind, dear, + will you? What I want to do at present is merely to tell you of my + own good-fortune, and that I shall be going presently to live for a + while at Vissarion. Won't you come with me, Aunt Janet? We shall + talk more of this when I come to Croom; but I want you to keep the + subject in your mind. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_From Rupert Sent Leger's Journal_. + + _January_ 4, 1907. + + Things have been humming about me so fast that I have had hardly time + to think. But some of the things have been so important, and have so + changed my entire outlook on life, that it may be well to keep some + personal record of them. I may some day want to remember some + detail--perhaps the sequence of events, or something like that--and + it may be useful. It ought to be, if there is any justice in things, + for it will be an awful swot to write it when I have so many things + to think of now. Aunt Janet, I suppose, will like to keep it locked + up for me, as she does with all my journals and papers. That is one + good thing about Aunt Janet amongst many: she has no curiosity, or + else she has some other quality which keeps her from prying as other + women would. It would seem that she has not so much as opened the + cover of one of my journals ever in her life, and that she would not + without my permission. So this can in time go to her also. + + I dined last night with Mr. Trent, by his special desire. The dinner + was in his own rooms. Dinner sent in from the hotel. He would not + have any waiters at all, but made them send in the dinner all at + once, and we helped ourselves. As we were quite alone, we could talk + freely, and we got over a lot of ground while we were dining. He + began to tell me about Uncle Roger. I was glad of that, for, of + course, I wanted to know all I could of him, and the fact was I had + seen very little of him. Of course, when I was a small kid he was + often in our house, for he was very fond of mother, and she of him. + But I fancy that a small boy was rather a nuisance to him. And then + I was at school, and he was away in the East. And then poor mother + died while he was living in the Blue Mountains, and I never saw him + again. When I wrote to him about Aunt Janet he answered me very + kindly but he was so very just in the matter that I got afraid of + him. And after that I ran away, and have been roaming ever since; so + there was never a chance of our meeting. But that letter of his has + opened my eyes. To think of him following me that way all over the + world, waiting to hold out a helping hand if I should want it, I only + wish I had known, or even suspected, the sort of man he was, and how + he cared for me, and I would sometimes have come back to see him, if + I had to come half round the world. Well, all I can do now is to + carry out his wishes; that will be my expiation for my neglect. He + knew what he wanted exactly, and I suppose I shall come in time to + know it all and understand it, too. + + I was thinking something like this when Mr. Trent began to talk, so + that all he said fitted exactly into my own thought. The two men + were evidently great friends--I should have gathered that, anyhow, + from the Will--and the letters--so I was not surprised when Mr. Trent + told me that they had been to school together, Uncle Roger being a + senior when he was a junior; and had then and ever after shared each + other's confidence. Mr. Trent, I gathered, had from the very first + been in love with my mother, even when she was a little girl; but he + was poor and shy, and did not like to speak. When he had made up his + mind to do so, he found that she had by then met my father, and could + not help seeing that they loved each other. So he was silent. He + told me he had never said a word about it to anyone--not even to my + Uncle Roger, though he knew from one thing and another, though he + never spoke of it, that he would like it. I could not help seeing + that the dear old man regarded me in a sort of parental way--I have + heard of such romantic attachments being transferred to the later + generation. I was not displeased with it; on the contrary, I liked + him better for it. I love my mother so much--I always think of her + in the present--that I cannot think of her as dead. There is a tie + between anyone else who loved her and myself. I tried to let Mr. + Trent see that I liked him, and it pleased him so much that I could + see his liking for me growing greater. Before we parted he told me + that he was going to give up business. He must have understood how + disappointed I was--for how could I ever get along at all without + him?--for he said, as he laid a hand quite affectionately, I + thought--on my shoulder: + + "I shall have one client, though, whose business I always hope to + keep, and for whom I shall be always whilst I live glad to act--if he + will have me." I did not care to speak as I took his hand. He + squeezed mine, too, and said very earnestly: + + "I served your uncle's interests to the very best of my ability for + nearly fifty years. He had full confidence in me, and I was proud of + his trust. I can honestly say, Rupert--you won't mind me using that + familiarity, will you?--that, though the interests which I guarded + were so vast that without abusing my trust I could often have used my + knowledge to my personal advantage, I never once, in little matters + or big, abused that trust--no, not even rubbed the bloom off it. And + now that he has remembered me in his Will so generously that I need + work no more, it will be a very genuine pleasure and pride to me to + carry out as well as I can the wishes that I partly knew, and now + realize more fully towards you, his nephew." + + In the long chat which we had, and which lasted till midnight, he + told me many very interesting things about Uncle Roger. When, in the + course of conversation, he mentioned that the fortune Uncle Roger + left must be well over a hundred millions, I was so surprised that I + said out loud--I did not mean to ask a question: + + "How on earth could a man beginning with nothing realize such a + gigantic fortune?" + + "By all honest ways," he answered, "and his clever human insight. He + knew one half of the world, and so kept abreast of all public and + national movements that he knew the critical moment to advance money + required. He was always generous, and always on the side of freedom. + There are nations at this moment only now entering on the + consolidation of their liberty, who owe all to him, who knew when and + how to help. No wonder that in some lands they will drink to his + memory on great occasions as they used to drink his health." + + "As you and I shall do now, sir!" I said, as I filled my glass and + stood up. We drank it in bumpers. We did not say a word, either of + us; but the old gentleman held out his hand, and I took it. And so, + holding hands, we drank in silence. It made me feel quite choky; and + I could see that he, too, was moved. + +_From E. B. Trent's Memoranda_. + + _January_ 4, 1907. + + I asked Mr. Rupert Sent Leger to dine with me at my office alone, as + I wished to have a chat with him. To-morrow Sir Colin and I will + have a formal meeting with him for the settlement of affairs, but I + thought it best to have an informal talk with him alone first, as I + wished to tell him certain matters which will make our meeting + to-morrow more productive of utility, as he can now have more full + understanding of the subjects which we have to discuss. Sir Colin is + all that can be in manhood, and I could wish no better colleague in + the executorship of this phenomenal Will; but he has not had the + privilege of a lifelong friendship with the testator as I have had. + And as Rupert Sent Leger had to learn intimate details regarding his + uncle, I could best make my confidences alone. To-morrow we shall + have plenty of formality. I was delighted with Rupert. He is just + what I could have wished his mother's boy to be--or a son of my own + to be, had I had the good-fortune to have been a father. But this is + not for me. I remember long, long ago reading a passage in Lamb's + Essays which hangs in my mind: "The children of Alice call Bartrum + father." Some of my old friends would laugh to see _me_ write this, + but these memoranda are for my eyes alone, and no one shall see them + till after my death, unless by my own permission. The boy takes some + qualities after his father; he has a daring that is disturbing to an + old dryasdust lawyer like me. But somehow I like him more than I + ever liked anyone--any man--in my life--more even than his uncle, my + old friend, Roger Melton; and Lord knows I had much cause to like + him. I have more than ever now. It was quite delightful to see the + way the young adventurer was touched by his uncle's thought of him. + He is a truly gallant fellow, but venturesome exploits have not + affected the goodness of heart. It is a pleasure to me to think that + Roger and Colin came together apropos of the boy's thoughtful + generosity towards Miss MacKelpie. The old soldier will be a good + friend to him, or I am much mistaken. With an old lawyer like me, + and an old soldier like him, and a real old gentlewoman like Miss + MacKelpie, who loves the very ground he walks on, to look after him, + together with all his own fine qualities and his marvellous + experience of the world, and the gigantic wealth that will surely be + his, that young man will go far. + +_Letter from Rupert Sent Leger to Miss Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _January_ 5, 1907. + + MY DEAREST AUNT JANET, + + It is all over--the first stage of it; and that is as far as I can + get at present. I shall have to wait for a few days--or it may be + weeks--in London for the doing of certain things now necessitated by + my acceptance of Uncle Roger's bequest. But as soon as I can, dear, + I shall come down to Croom and spend with you as many days as + possible. I shall then tell you all I am at liberty to tell, and I + shall thank you personally for your consent to come with me to + Vissarion. Oh, how I wish my dear mother had lived to be with us! + It would have made her happy, I know, to have come; and then we three + who shared together the old dear, hard days would have shared in the + same way the new splendour. I would try to show all my love and + gratitude to you both . . . You must take the whole burden of it now, + dear, for you and I are alone. No, not alone, as we used to be, for + I have now two old friends who are already dear to me. One is so to + you already. Sir Colin is simply splendid, and so, in his own way, + is Mr. Trent. I am lucky, Aunt Janet, to have two such men to think + of affairs for me. Am I not? I shall send you a wire as soon as + ever I can see my way to get through my work; and I want you to think + over all the things you ever wished for in your life, so that I + may--if there is any mortal way of doing so--get them for you. You + will not stand in the way of my having this great pleasure, will you, + dear? Good-bye. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_E. B. Trent's Memoranda_. + + _January_ 6, 1907. + + The formal meeting of Sir Colin and myself with Rupert Sent Leger + went off quite satisfactorily. From what he had said yesterday, and + again last night, I had almost come to expect an unreserved + acceptance of everything stated or implied in Roger Melton's Will; + but when we had sat round the table--this appeared, by the way, to be + a formality for which we were all prepared, for we sat down as if by + instinct--the very first words he said were: + + "As I suppose I must go through this formality, I may as well say at + once that I accept every possible condition which was in the mind of + Uncle Roger; and to this end I am prepared to sign, seal, and + deliver--or whatever is the ritual--whatever document you, + sir"--turning to me--"may think necessary or advisable, and of which + you both approve." He stood up and walked about the room for a few + moments, Sir Colin and I sitting quite still, silent. He came back + to his seat, and after a few seconds of nervousness--a rare thing + with him, I fancy--said: "I hope you both understand--of course, I + know you do; I only speak because this is an occasion for + formality--that I am willing to accept, and at once! I do so, + believe me, not to get possession of this vast fortune, but because + of him who has given it. The man who was fond of me, and who trusted + me, and yet had strength to keep his own feelings in check--who + followed me in spirit to far lands and desperate adventures, and who, + though he might be across the world from me, was ready to put out a + hand to save or help me, was no common man; and his care of my + mother's son meant no common love for my dear mother. And so she and + I together accept his trust, come of it what may. I have been + thinking it over all night, and all the time I could not get out of + the idea that mother was somewhere near me. The only thought that + could debar me from doing as I wished to do--and intend to do--would + be that she would not approve. Now that I am satisfied she would + approve, I accept. Whatever may result or happen, I shall go on + following the course that he has set for me. So help me, God!" Sir + Colin stood up, and I must say a more martial figure I never saw. He + was in full uniform, for he was going on to the King's levee after + our business. He drew his sword from the scabbard and laid it naked + on the table before Rupert, and said: + + "You are going, sir, into a strange and danger country--I have been + reading about it since we met--and you will be largely alone amongst + fierce mountaineers who resent the very presence of a stranger, and + to whom you are, and must be, one. If you should ever be in any + trouble and want a man to stand back to back with you, I hope you + will give me the honour!" As he said this pointed to his sword. + Rupert and I were also standing now--one cannot sit down in the + presence of such an act as that. "You are, I am proud to say, allied + with my family: and I only wish to God it was closer to myself." + Rupert took him by the hand and bent his head before him as answered: + + "The honour is mine, Sir Colin; and no greater can come to any man + than that which you have just done me. The best way I can show how I + value it will be to call on you if I am ever in such a tight place. + By Jove, sir, this is history repeating itself. Aunt Janet used to + tell me when I was a youngster how MacKelpie of Croom laid his sword + before Prince Charlie. I hope I may tell her of this; it would make + her so proud and happy. Don't imagine, sir, that I am thinking + myself a Charles Edward. It is only that Aunt Janet is so good to me + that I might well think I was." + + Sir Colin bowed grandly: + + "Rupert Sent Leger, my dear niece is a woman of great discretion and + discernment. And, moreover, I am thinking she has in her some of the + gift of Second Sight that has been a heritage of our blood. And I am + one with my niece--in everything!" The whole thing was quite regal + in manner; it seemed to take me back to the days of the Pretender. + + It was not, however, a time for sentiment, but for action--we had met + regarding the future, not the past; so I produced the short document + I had already prepared. On the strength of his steadfast declaration + that he would accept the terms of the Will and the secret letters, I + had got ready a formal acceptance. When I had once again formally + asked Mr. Sent Leger's wishes, and he had declared his wish to + accept, I got in a couple of my clerks as witnesses. + + Then, having again asked him in their presence if it was his wish to + declare acceptance of the conditions, the document was signed and + witnessed, Sir Colin and I both appending our signatures to the + Attestation. + + And so the first stage of Rupert Sent Leger's inheritance is + completed. The next step will not have to be undertaken on my part + until the expiration of six months from his entry on his estate at + Vissarion. As he announces his intention of going within a + fortnight, this will mean practically a little over six months from + now. + + + + +BOOK II: VISSARION + + +_Letter from Rupert Sent Leger_, _Castle of Vissarion_, _the Spear of +Ivan_, _Land of the Blue Mountains_, _to Miss Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom +Castle_, _Ross-shire_, _N.B._ + + _January_ 23, 1907. + + MY DEAREST AUNT JANET, + + As you see, I am here at last. Having got my formal duty done, as + you made me promise--my letters reporting arrival to Sir Colin and + Mr. Trent are lying sealed in front of me ready to post (for nothing + shall go before yours)--I am free to speak to you. + + This is a most lovely place, and I hope you will like it. I am quite + sure you will. We passed it in the steamer coming from Trieste to + Durazzo. I knew the locality from the chart, and it was pointed out + to me by one of the officers with whom I had become quite friendly, + and who kindly showed me interesting places whenever we got within + sight of shore. The Spear of Ivan, on which the Castle stands, is a + headland running well out into the sea. It is quite a peculiar + place--a sort of headland on a headland, jutting out into a deep, + wide bay, so that, though it is a promontory, it is as far away from + the traffic of coast life as anything you can conceive. The main + promontory is the end of a range of mountains, and looms up vast, + towering over everything, a mass of sapphire blue. I can well + understand how the country came to be called the "Land of the Blue + Mountains," for it is all mountains, and they are all blue! The + coast-line is magnificent--what is called "iron-bound"--being all + rocky; sometimes great frowning precipices; sometimes jutting spurs + of rock; again little rocky islets, now and again clad with trees and + verdure, at other places stark and bare. Elsewhere are little rocky + bays and indentations--always rock, and often with long, interesting + caves. Some of the shores of the bays are sandy, or else ridges of + beautiful pebbles, where the waves make endless murmur. + + But of all the places I have seen--in this land or any other--the + most absolutely beautiful is Vissarion. It stands at the ultimate + point of the promontory--I mean the little, or, rather, lesser + promontory--that continues on the spur of the mountain range. For + the lesser promontory or extension of the mountain is in reality + vast; the lowest bit of cliff along the sea-front is not less than a + couple of hundred feet high. That point of rock is really very + peculiar. I think Dame Nature must, in the early days of her + housekeeping--or, rather, house-_building_--have intended to give her + little child, man, a rudimentary lesson in self-protection. It is + just a natural bastion such as a titanic Vauban might have designed + in primeval times. So far as the Castle is concerned, it is alone + visible from the sea. Any enemy approaching could see only that + frowning wall of black rock, of vast height and perpendicular + steepness. Even the old fortifications which crown it are not built, + but cut in the solid rock. A long narrow creek of very deep water, + walled in by high, steep cliffs, runs in behind the Castle, bending + north and west, making safe and secret anchorage. Into the creek + falls over a precipice a mountain-stream, which never fails in volume + of water. On the western shore of that creek is the Castle, a huge + pile of buildings of every style of architecture, from the Twelfth + century to where such things seemed to stop in this dear old-world + land--about the time of Queen Elizabeth. So it is pretty + picturesque. I can tell you. When we got the first glimpse of the + place from the steamer the officer, with whom I was on the bridge, + pointed towards it and said: + + "That is where we saw the dead woman floating in a coffin." That was + rather interesting, so I asked him all about it. He took from his + pocket-book a cutting from an Italian paper, which he handed to me. + As I can read and speak Italian fairly well, it was all right; but as + you, my dear Aunt Janet, are not skilled in languages, and as I doubt + if there is any assistance of the kind to be had at Croom, I do not + send it. But as I have heard that the item has been produced in the + last number of _The Journal of Occultism_, you will be easily able to + get it. As he handed me the cutting he said: "I am Destilia!" His + story was so strange that I asked him a good many questions about it. + He answered me quite frankly on every point, but always adhering + stoutly to the main point--namely, that it was no phantom or mirage, + no dream or imperfect vision in a fog. "We were four in all who saw + it," he said--"three from the bridge and the Englishman, + Caulfield--from the bows--whose account exactly agreed with what we + saw. Captain Mirolani and Falamano and I were all awake and in good + trim. We looked with our night-glasses, which are more than usually + powerful. You know, we need good glasses for the east shore of the + Adriatic and for among the islands to the south. There was a full + moon and a brilliant light. Of course we were a little way off, for + though the Spear of Ivan is in deep water, one has to be careful of + currents, for it is in just such places that the dangerous currents + run." The agent of Lloyd's told me only a few weeks ago that it was + only after a prolonged investigation of the tidal and sea currents + that the house decided to except from ordinary sea risks losses due + to a too close course by the Spear of Ivan. When I tried to get a + little more definite account of the coffin-boat and the dead lady + that is given in _The Journal of Occultism_ he simply shrugged his + shoulders. "Signor, it is all," he said. "That Englishman wrote + everything after endless questioning." + + So you see, my dear, that our new home is not without superstitious + interests of its own. It is rather a nice idea, is it not, to have a + dead woman cruising round our promontory in a coffin? I doubt if + even at Croom you can beat that. "Makes the place kind of homey," as + an American would say. When you come, Aunt Janet, you will not feel + lonesome, at any rate, and it will save us the trouble of importing + some of your Highland ghosts to make you feel at home in the new + land. I don't know, but we might ask the stiff to come to tea with + us. Of course, it would be a late tea. Somewhere between midnight + and cock-crow would be about the etiquette of the thing, I fancy! + + But I must tell you all the realities of the Castle and around it. + So I will write again within a day or two, and try to let you know + enough to prepare you for coming here. Till then adieu, my dear. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_From Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _January_ 25, 1907. + + I hope I did not frighten you, dear Aunt Janet, by the yarn of the + lady in the coffin. But I know you are not afraid; you have told me + too many weird stories for me to dread that. Besides, you have + Second Sight--latent, at all events. However, there won't be any + more ghosts, or about ghosts, in this letter. I want to tell you all + about our new home. I am so glad you are coming out so soon; I am + beginning to feel so lonesome--I walk about sometimes aimlessly, and + find my thoughts drifting in such an odd way. If I didn't know + better, I might begin to think I was in love! There is no one here + to be in love with; so make your mind easy, Aunt Janet. Not that you + would be unhappy, I know, dear, if I _did_ fall in love. I suppose I + must marry some day. It is a duty now, I know, when there is such an + estate as Uncle Roger has left me. And I know this: I shall never + marry any woman unless I love her. And I am right sure that if I do + love her you will love her, too, Aunt Janet! Won't you, dear? It + wouldn't be half a delight if you didn't. It won't if you don't. + There, now! + + But before I begin to describe Vissarion I shall throw a sop to you + as a chatelaine; that may give you patience to read the rest. The + Castle needs a lot of things to make it comfortable--as you would + consider it. In fact, it is absolutely destitute of everything of a + domestic nature. Uncle Roger had it vetted on the defence side, and + so far it could stand a siege. But it couldn't cook a dinner or go + through a spring-cleaning! As you know, I am not much up in domestic + matters, and so I cannot give you details; but you may take it that + it wants everything. I don't mean furniture, or silver, or even + gold-plate, or works of art, for it is full of the most magnificent + old things that you can imagine. I think Uncle Roger must have been + a collector, and gathered a lot of good things in all sorts of + places, stored them for years, and then sent them here. But as to + glass, china, delft, all sorts of crockery, linen, household + appliances and machinery, cooking utensils--except of the + simplest--there are none. I don't think Uncle Roger could have lived + here more than on a temporary picnic. So far as I only am concerned, + I am all right; a gridiron and a saucepan are all _I_ want--and I can + use them myself. But, dear Aunt Janet, I don't want you to pig it. + I would like you to have everything you can imagine, and all of the + very best. Cost doesn't count now for us, thanks to Uncle Roger; and + so I want you to order all. I know you, dear--being a woman--won't + object to shopping. But it will have to be wholesale. This is an + enormous place, and will swallow up all you can buy--like a + quicksand. Do as you like about choosing, but get all the help you + can. Don't be afraid of getting too much. You can't, or of being + idle when you are here. I assure you that when you come there will + be so much to do and so many things to think of that you will want to + get away from it all. And, besides, Aunt Janet, I hope you won't be + too long. Indeed, I don't wish to be selfish, but your boy is + lonely, and wants you. And when you get here you will be an EMPRESS. + I don't altogether like doing so, lest I should offend a + millionairess like you; but it may facilitate matters, and the way's + of commerce are strict, though devious. So I send you a cheque for + 1,000 pounds for the little things: and a letter to the bank to + honour your own cheques for any amount I have got. + + I think, by the way, I should, if I were you, take or send out a few + servants--not too many at first, only just enough to attend on our + two selves. You can arrange to send for any more you may want later. + Engage them, and arrange for their being paid--when they are in our + service we must treat them well--and then they can be at our call as + you find that we want them. I think you should secure, say, fifty or + a hundred--'tis an awfu' big place, Aunt Janet! And in the same way + will you secure--and, of course, arrange for pay similarly--a hundred + men, exclusive of any servants you think it well to have. I should + like the General, if he can give the time, to choose or pass them. I + want clansmen that I can depend on, if need be. We are going to live + in a country which is at present strange to us, and it is well to + look things in the face. I know Sir Colin will only have men who are + a credit to Scotland and to Ross and to Croom--men who will impress + the Blue Mountaineers. I know they will take them to their + hearts--certainly if any of them are bachelors the girls will! + Forgive me! But if we are to settle here, our followers will + probably want to settle also. Moreover, the Blue Mountaineers may + want followers also! And will want them to settle, too, and have + successors! + + Now for the description of the place. Well, I simply can't just now. + It is all so wonderful and so beautiful. The Castle--I have written + so much already about other things that I really must keep the Castle + for another letter! Love to Sir Colin if he is at Croom. And oh, + dear Aunt Janet, how I wish that my dear mother was coming out! It + all seems so dark and empty without her. How she would have enjoyed + it! How proud she would have been! And, my dear, if she could be + with us again, how grateful she would have been to you for all you + have done for her boy! As I am, believe me, most truly and sincerely + and affectionately grateful. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _January_ 26, 1907. + + MY DEAR AUNT JANET, + + Please read this as if it was a part of the letter I wrote yesterday. + + The Castle itself is so vast that I really can't describe it in + detail. So I am waiting till you come; and then you and I will go + over it together and learn all that we can about it. We shall take + Rooke with us, and, as he is supposed to know every part of it, from + the keep to the torture-chamber, we can spend a few days over it. Of + course, I have been over most of it, since I came--that, is, I went + at various times to see different portions--the battlements, the + bastions, the old guard-room, the hall, the chapel, the walls, the + roof. And I have been through some of the network of rock passages. + Uncle Roger must have spent a mint of money on it, so far as I can + see; and though I am not a soldier, I have been in so many places + fortified in different ways that I am not entirely ignorant of the + subject. He has restored it in such an up-to-date way that it is + practically impregnable to anything under big guns or a siege-train. + He has gone so far as to have certain outworks and the keep covered + with armoured plating of what looks like harveyized steel. You will + wonder when you see it. But as yet I really know only a few rooms, + and am familiar with only one--my own room. The drawing-room--not + the great hall, which is a vast place; the library--a magnificent + one, but in sad disorder--we must get a librarian some day to put it + in trim; and the drawing-room and boudoir and bedroom suite which I + have selected for you, are all fine. But my own room is what suits + me best, though I do not think you would care for it for yourself. + If you do, you shall have it. It was Uncle Roger's own room when he + stayed here; living in it for a few days served to give me more + insight to his character--or rather to his mind--than I could have + otherwise had. It is just the kind of place I like myself; so, + naturally, I understand the other chap who liked it too. It is a + fine big room, not quite within the Castle, but an outlying part of + it. It is not detached, or anything of that sort, but is a sort of + garden-room built on to it. There seems to have been always some + sort of place where it is, for the passages and openings inside seem + to accept or recognize it. It can be shut off if necessary--it would + be in case of attack--by a great slab of steel, just like the door of + a safe, which slides from inside the wall, and can be operated from + either inside or outside--if you know how. That is from my room or + from within the keep. The mechanism is a secret, and no one but + Rooke and I know it. The room opens out through a great French + window--the French window is modern, I take it, and was arranged by + or for Uncle Roger; I think there must have been always a large + opening there, for centuries at least--which opens on a wide terrace + or balcony of white marble, extending right and left. From this a + white marble stair lies straight in front of the window, and leads + down to the garden. The balcony and staircase are quite ancient--of + old Italian work, beautifully carved, and, of course, weather-worn + through centuries. There is just that little tinging of green here + and there which makes all outdoor marble so charming. It is hard to + believe at times that it is a part of a fortified castle, it is so + elegant and free and open. The first glance of it would make a + burglar's heart glad. He would say to himself: "Here is the sort of + crib I like when I'm on the job. You can just walk in and out as you + choose." But, Aunt Janet, old Roger was cuter than any burglar. He + had the place so guarded that the burglar would have been a baffled + burglar. There are two steel shields which can slide out from the + wall and lock into the other side right across the whole big window. + One is a grille of steel bands that open out into diamond-shaped + lozenges. Nothing bigger than a kitten could get through; and yet + you can see the garden and the mountains and the whole view--much the + same as you ladies can see through your veils. The other is a great + sheet of steel, which slides out in a similar way in different + grooves. It is not, of course, so heavy and strong as the safe-door + which covers the little opening in the main wall, but Rooke tells me + it is proof against the heaviest rifle-hall. + + Having told you this, I must tell you, too, Aunt Janet, lest you + should be made anxious by the _arriere-pensee_ of all these warlike + measures of defence, that I always sleep at night with one of these + iron screens across the window. Of course, when I am awake I leave + it open. As yet I have tried only, but not used, the grille; and I + don't think I shall ever use anything else, for it is a perfect + guard. If it should be tampered with from outside it would sound an + alarm at the head of the bed, and the pressing of a button would roll + out the solid steel screen in front of it. As a matter of fact, I + have been so used to the open that I don't feel comfortable shut in. + I only close windows against cold or rain. The weather here is + delightful--as yet, at all events--but they tell me that the rainy + season will be on us before very long. + + I think you will like my den, aunty dear, though it will doubtless be + a worry to you to see it so untidy. But that can't be helped. I + must be untidy _somewhere_; and it is best in my own den! + + Again I find my letter so long that I must cut it off now and go on + again to-night. So this must go as it stands. I shall not cause you + to wait to hear all I can tell you about our new home. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_From Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _January_ 29, 1907. + + MY DEAR AUNT JANET, + + My den looks out, as I told you in my last letter, on the garden, or, + to speak more accurately, on _one_ of the gardens, for there are + acres of them. This is the old one, which must be almost as old as + the Castle itself, for it was within the defences in the old days of + bows. The wall that surrounds the inner portion of it has long ago + been levelled, but sufficient remains at either end where it joined + the outer defences to show the long casemates for the bowmen to shoot + through and the raised stone gallery where they stood. It is just + the same kind of building as the stone-work of the sentry's walk on + the roof and of the great old guard-room under it. + + But whatever the garden may have been, and no matter how it was + guarded, it is a most lovely place. There are whole sections of + garden here of various styles--Greek, Italian, French, German, Dutch, + British, Spanish, African, Moorish--all the older nationalities. I + am going to have a new one laid out for you--a Japanese garden. I + have sent to the great gardener of Japan, Minaro, to make the plans + for it, and to come over with workmen to carry it out. He is to + bring trees and shrubs and flowers and stone-work, and everything + that can be required; and you shall superintend the finishing, if not + the doing, of it yourself. We have such a fine head of water here, + and the climate is, they tell me, usually so lovely that we can do + anything in the gardening way. If it should ever turn out that the + climate does not suit, we shall put a great high glass roof over it, + and _make_ a suitable climate. + + This garden in front of my room is the old Italian garden. It must + have been done with extraordinary taste and care, for there is not a + bit of it which is not rarely beautiful. Sir Thomas Browne himself, + for all his _Quincunx_, would have been delighted with it, and have + found material for another "Garden of Cyrus." It is so big that + there are endless "episodes" of garden beauty I think all Italy must + have been ransacked in old times for garden stone-work of exceptional + beauty; and these treasures have been put together by some + master-hand. Even the formal borders of the walks are of old porous + stone, which takes the weather-staining so beautifully, and are + carved in endless variety. Now that the gardens have been so long + neglected or left in abeyance, the green staining has become perfect. + Though the stone-work is itself intact, it has all the picturesque + effect of the wear and ruin wrought by many centuries. I am having + it kept for you just as it is, except that I have had the weeds and + undergrowth cleared away so that its beauties might be visible. + + But it is not merely the architect work of the garden that is so + beautiful, nor is the assembling there of the manifold wealth of + floral beauty--there is the beauty that Nature creates by the hand of + her servant, Time. You see, Aunt Janet, how the beautiful garden + inspires a danger-hardened old tramp like me to high-grade sentiments + of poetic fancy! Not only have limestone and sandstone, and even + marble, grown green in time, but even the shrubs planted and then + neglected have developed new kinds of beauty of their own. In some + far-distant time some master-gardener of the Vissarions has tried to + realize an idea--that of tiny plants that would grow just a little + higher than the flowers, so that the effect of an uneven floral + surface would be achieved without any hiding of anything in the + garden seen from anywhere. This is only my reading of what has been + from the effect of what is! In the long period of neglect the shrubs + have outlived the flowers. Nature has been doing her own work all + the time in enforcing the survival of the fittest. The shrubs have + grown and grown, and have overtopped flower and weed, according to + their inherent varieties of stature; to the effect that now you see + irregularly scattered through the garden quite a number--for it is a + big place--of vegetable products which from a landscape standpoint + have something of the general effect of statues without the cramping + feeling of detail. Whoever it was that laid out that part of the + garden or made the choice of items, must have taken pains to get + strange specimens, for all those taller shrubs are in special + colours, mostly yellow or white--white cypress, white holly, yellow + yew, grey-golden box, silver juniper, variegated maple, spiraea, and + numbers of dwarf shrubs whose names I don't know. I only know that + when the moon shines--and this, my dear Aunt Janet, is the very land + of moonlight itself!--they all look ghastly pale. The effect is + weird to the last degree, and I am sure that you will enjoy it. For + myself, as you know, uncanny things hold no fear. I suppose it is + that I have been up against so many different kinds of fears, or, + rather, of things which for most people have terrors of their own, + that I have come to have a contempt--not an active contempt, you + know, but a tolerative contempt--for the whole family of them. And + you, too, will enjoy yourself here famously, I know. You'll have to + collect all the stories of such matters in our new world and make a + new book of facts for the Psychical Research Society. It will be + nice to see your own name on a title-page, won't it, Aunt Janet? + +_From Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _January_ 30, 1907. + + MY DEAR AUNT JANET, + + I stopped writing last night--do you know why? Because I wanted to + write more! This sounds a paradox, but it is true. The fact is + that, as I go on telling you of this delightful place, I keep finding + out new beauties myself. Broadly speaking, it _is all_ beautiful. + In the long view or the little view--as the telescope or the + microscope directs--it is all the same. Your eye can turn on nothing + that does not entrance you. I was yesterday roaming about the upper + part of time Castle, and came across some delightful nooks, which at + once I became fond of, and already like them as if I had known them + all my life. I felt at first a sense of greediness when I had + appropriated to myself several rooms in different places--I who have + never in my life had more than one room which I could call my + own--and that only for a time! But when I slept on it the feeling + changed, and its aspect is now not half bad. It is now under another + classification--under a much more important label--_proprietorship_. + If I were writing philosophy, I should here put in a cynical remark: + + "Selfishness is an appanage of poverty. It might appear in the + stud-book as by 'Morals' out of 'Wants.'" + + I have now three bedrooms arranged as my own particular dens. One of + the other two was also a choice of Uncle Roger's. It is at the top + of one of the towers to the extreme east, and from it I can catch the + first ray of light over the mountains. I slept in it last night, and + when I woke, as in my travelling I was accustomed to do, at dawn, I + saw from my bed through an open window--a small window, for it is in + a fortress tower--the whole great expanse to the east. Not far off, + and springing from the summit of a great ruin, where long ago a seed + had fallen, rose a great silver-birch, and the half-transparent, + drooping branches and hanging clusters of leaf broke the outline of + the grey hills beyond, for the hills were, for a wonder, grey instead + of blue. There was a mackerel sky, with the clouds dropping on the + mountain-tops till you could hardly say which was which. It was a + mackerel sky of a very bold and extraordinary kind--not a dish of + mackerel, but a world of mackerel! The mountains are certainly most + lovely. In this clear air they usually seem close at hand. It was + only this morning, with the faint glimpse of the dawn whilst the + night clouds were still unpierced by the sunlight, that I seemed to + realize their greatness. I have seen the same enlightening effect of + aerial perspective a few times before--in Colorado, in Upper India, + in Thibet, and in the uplands amongst the Andes. + + There is certainly something in looking at things from above which + tends to raise one's own self-esteem. From the height, inequalities + simply disappear. This I have often felt on a big scale when + ballooning, or, better still, from an aeroplane. Even here from the + tower the outlook is somehow quite different from below. One + realizes the place and all around it, not in detail, but as a whole. + I shall certainly sleep up here occasionally, when you have come and + we have settled down to our life as it is to be. I shall live in my + own room downstairs, where I can have the intimacy of the garden. + But I shall appreciate it all the more from now and again losing the + sense of intimacy for a while, and surveying it without the sense of + one's own self-importance. + + I hope you have started on that matter of the servants. For myself, + I don't care a button whether or not there are any servants at all; + but I know well that you won't come till you have made your + arrangements regarding them! Another thing, Aunt Janet. You must + not be killed with work here, and it is all so vast . . . Why can't + you get some sort of secretary who will write your letters and do all + that sort of thing for you? I know you won't have a man secretary; + but there are lots of women now who can write shorthand and + typewrite. You could doubtless get one in the clan--someone with a + desire to better herself. I know you would make her happy here. If + she is not too young, all the better; she will have learned to hold + her tongue and mind her own business, and not be too inquisitive. + That would be a nuisance when we are finding our way about in a new + country and trying to reconcile all sorts of opposites in a whole new + country with new people, whom at first we shan't understand, and who + certainly won't understand us; where every man carries a gun with as + little thought of it as he has of buttons! Good-bye for a while. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_From Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _February_ 3, 1907. + + I am back in my own room again. Already it seems to me that to get + here again is like coming home. I have been going about for the last + few days amongst the mountaineers and trying to make their + acquaintance. It is a tough job; and I can see that there will be + nothing but to stick to it. They are in reality the most primitive + people I ever met--the most fixed to their own ideas, which belong to + centuries back. I can understand now what people were like in + England--not in Queen Elizabeth's time, for that was civilized time, + but in the time of Coeur-de-Lion, or even earlier--and all the time + with the most absolute mastery of weapons of precision. Every man + carries a rifle--and knows how to use it, too. I do believe they + would rather go without their clothes than their guns if they had to + choose between them. They also carry a handjar, which used to be + their national weapon. It is a sort of heavy, straight cutlass, and + they are so expert with it as well as so strong that it is as facile + in the hands of a Blue Mountaineer as is a foil in the hands of a + Persian _maitre d'armes_. They are so proud and reserved that they + make one feel quite small, and an "outsider" as well. I can see + quite well that they rather resent my being here at all. It is not + personal, for when alone with me they are genial, almost brotherly; + but the moment a few of them get together they are like a sort of + jury, with me as the criminal before them. It is an odd situation, + and quite new to me. I am pretty well accustomed to all sorts of + people, from cannibals to Mahatmas, but I'm blessed if I ever struck + such a type as this--so proud, so haughty, so reserved, so distant, + so absolutely fearless, so honourable, so hospitable. Uncle Roger's + head was level when he chose them out as a people to live amongst. + Do you know, Aunt Janet, I can't help feeling that they are very much + like your own Highlanders--only more so. I'm sure of one thing: that + in the end we shall get on capitally together. But it will be a slow + job, and will need a lot of patience. I have a feeling in my bones + that when they know me better they will be very loyal and very true; + and I am not a hair's-breadth afraid of them or anything they shall + or might do. That is, of course, if I live long enough for them to + have time to know me. Anything may happen with such an indomitable, + proud people to whom pride is more than victuals. After all, it only + needs one man out of a crowd to have a wrong idea or to make a + mistake as to one's motive--and there you are. But it will be all + right that way, I am sure. I am come here to stay, as Uncle Roger + wished. And stay I shall even if it has to be in a little bed of my + own beyond the garden--seven feet odd long, and not too narrow--or + else a stone-box of equal proportions in the vaults of St. Sava's + Church across the Creek--the old burial-place of the Vissarions and + other noble people for a good many centuries back . . . + + I have been reading over this letter, dear Aunt Janet, and I am + afraid the record is rather an alarming one. But don't you go + building up superstitious horrors or fears on it. Honestly, I am + only joking about death--a thing to which I have been rather prone + for a good many years back. Not in very good taste, I suppose, but + certainly very useful when the old man with the black wings goes + flying about you day and night in strange places, sometimes visible + and at others invisible. But you can always hear wings, especially + in the dark, when you cannot see them. _You_ know that, Aunt Janet, + who come of a race of warriors, and who have special sight behind or + through the black curtain. + + Honestly, I am in no whit afraid of the Blue Mountaineers, nor have I + a doubt of them. I love them already for their splendid qualities, + and I am prepared to love them for themselves. I feel, too, that + they will love me (and incidentally they are sure to love you). I + have a sort of undercurrent of thought that there is something in + their minds concerning me--something not painful, but disturbing; + something that has a base in the past; something that has hope in it + and possible pride, and not a little respect. As yet they can have + had no opportunity of forming such impression from seeing me or from + any thing I have done. Of course, it may be that, although they are + fine, tall, stalwart men, I am still a head and shoulders over the + tallest of them that I have yet seen. I catch their eyes looking up + at me as though they were measuring me, even when they are keeping + away from me, or, rather, keeping me from them at arm's length. I + suppose I shall understand what it all means some day. In the + meantime there is nothing to do but to go on my own way--which is + Uncle Roger's--and wait and be patient and just. I have learned the + value of that, any way, in my life amongst strange peoples. + Good-night. + + Your loving + RUPERT. + +_From Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Croom_. + + _February_ 24, 1907. + + MY DEAR AUNT JANET, + + I am more than rejoiced to hear that you are coming here so soon. + This isolation is, I think, getting on my nerves. I thought for a + while last night that I was getting on, but the reaction came all too + soon. I was in my room in the east turret, the room on the + _corbeille_, and saw here and there men passing silently and swiftly + between the trees as though in secret. By-and-by I located their + meeting-place, which was in a hollow in the midst of the wood just + outside the "natural" garden, as the map or plan of the castle calls + it. I stalked that place for all I was worth, and suddenly walked + straight into the midst of them. There were perhaps two or three + hundred gathered, about the very finest lot of men I ever saw in my + life. It was in its way quite an experience, and one not likely to + be repeated, for, as I told you, in this country every man carries a + rifle, and knows how to use it. I do not think I have seen a single + man (or married man either) without his rifle since I came here. I + wonder if they take them with them to bed! Well, the instant after I + stood amongst them every rifle in the place was aimed straight at me. + Don't be alarmed, Aunt Janet; they did not fire at me. If they had I + should not be writing to you now. I should be in that little bit of + real estate or the stone box, and about as full of lead as I could + hold. Ordinarily, I take it, they would have fired on the instant; + that is the etiquette here. But this time they--all separately but + all together--made a new rule. No one said a word or, so far as I + could see, made a movement. Here came in my own experience. I had + been more than once in a tight place of something of the same kind, + so I simply behaved in the most natural way I could. I felt + conscious--it was all in a flash, remember--that if I showed fear or + cause for fear, or even acknowledged danger by so much as even + holding up my hands, I should have drawn all the fire. They all + remained stock-still, as though they had been turned into stone, for + several seconds. Then a queer kind of look flashed round them like + wind over corn--something like the surprise one shows unconsciously + on waking in a strange place. A second after they each dropped the + rifle to the hollow of his arm and stood ready for anything. It was + all as regular and quick and simultaneous as a salute at St. James's + Palace. + + Happily I had no arms of any kind with me, so that there could be no + complication. I am rather a quick hand myself when there is any + shooting to be done. However, there was no trouble here, but the + contrary; the Blue Mountaineers--it sounds like a new sort of Bond + Street band, doesn't it?--treated me in quite a different way than + they did when I first met them. They were amazingly civil, almost + deferential. But, all time same, they were more distant than ever, + and all the time I was there I could get not a whit closer to them. + They seemed in a sort of way to be afraid or in awe of me. No doubt + that will soon pass away, and when we know one another better we + shall become close friends. They are too fine fellows not to be + worth a little waiting for. (That sentence, by the way, is a pretty + bad sentence! In old days you would have slippered me for it!) Your + journey is all arranged, and I hope you will be comfortable. Rooke + will meet you at Liverpool Street and look after everything. + + I shan't write again, but when we meet at Fiume I shall begin to tell + you all the rest. Till then, good-bye. A good journey to you, and a + happy meeting to us both. + + RUPERT. + +_Letter from Janet MacKelpie_, _Vissarion_, _to Sir Colin MacKelpie_, +_United Service Club_, _London_. + + _February_ 28, 1907. + + DEAREST UNCLE, + + I had a very comfortable journey all across Europe. Rupert wrote to + me some time ago to say that when I got to Vissarion I should be an + Empress, and he certainly took care that on the way here I should be + treated like one. Rooke, who seems a wonderful old man, was in the + next compartment to that reserved for me. At Harwich he had + everything arranged perfectly, and so right on to Fiume. Everywhere + there were attentive officials waiting. I had a carriage all to + myself, which I joined at Antwerp--a whole carriage with a suite of + rooms, dining-room, drawing-room, bedroom, even bath-room. There was + a cook with a kitchen of his own on board, a real chef like a French + nobleman in disguise. There were also a waiter and a servant-maid. + My own maid Maggie was quite awed at first. We were as far as + Cologne before she summoned up courage to order them about. Whenever + we stopped Rooke was on the platform with local officials, and kept + the door of my carriage like a sentry on duty. + + At Fiume, when the train slowed down, I saw Rupert waiting on the + platform. He looked magnificent, towering over everybody there like + a giant. He is in perfect health, and seemed glad to see me. He + took me off at once on an automobile to a quay where an electric + launch was waiting. This took us on board a beautiful big + steam-yacht, which was waiting with full steam up and--how he got + there I don't know--Rooke waiting at the gangway. + + I had another suite all to myself. Rupert and I had dinner + together--I think the finest dinner I ever sat down to. This was + very nice of Rupert, for it was all for me. He himself only ate a + piece of steak and drank a glass of water. I went to bed early, for, + despite the luxury of the journey, I was very tired. + + I awoke in the grey of the morning, and came on deck. We were close + to the coast. Rupert was on the bridge with the Captain, and Rooke + was acting as pilot. When Rupert saw me, he ran down the ladder and + took me up on the bridge. He left me there while he ran down again + and brought me up a lovely fur cloak which I had never seen. He put + it on me and kissed me. He is the tenderest-hearted boy in the + world, as well as the best and bravest! He made me take his arm + whilst he pointed out Vissarion, towards which we were steering. It + is the most lovely place I ever saw. I won't stop to describe it + now, for it will be better that you see it for yourself and enjoy it + all fresh as I did. + + The Castle is an immense place. You had better ship off, as soon as + all is ready here and you can arrange it, the servants whom I + engaged; and I am not sure that we shall not want as many more. + There has hardly been a mop or broom on the place for centuries, and + I doubt if it ever had a thorough good cleaning all over since it was + built. And, do you know, Uncle, that it might be well to double that + little army of yours that you are arranging for Rupert? Indeed, the + boy told me himself that he was going to write to you about it. I + think old Lachlan and his wife, Sandy's Mary, had better be in charge + of the maids when they come over. A lot of lassies like yon will be + iller to keep together than a flock of sheep. So it will be wise to + have authority over them, especially as none of them speaks a word of + foreign tongues. Rooke--you saw him at the station at Liverpool + Street--will, if he be available, go over to bring the whole body + here. He has offered to do it if I should wish. And, by the way, I + think it will be well, when the time comes for their departure, if + not only the lassies, but Lachlan and Sandy's Mary, too, will call + him _Mister_ Rooke. He is a very important person indeed here. He + is, in fact, a sort of Master of the Castle, and though he is very + self-suppressing, is a man of rarely fine qualities. Also it will be + well to keep authority. When your clansmen come over, he will have + charge of them, too. Dear me! I find I have written such a long + letter, I must stop and get to work. I shall write again. + + Your very affectionate + JANET. + +_From the Same to the Same_. + + _March_ 3, 1907. + + DEAREST UNCLE, + + All goes well here, and as there is no news, I only write because you + are a dear, and I want to thank you for all the trouble you have + taken for me--and for Rupert. I think we had better wait awhile + before bringing out the servants. Rooke is away on some business for + Rupert, and will not be back for some time; Rupert thinks it may be a + couple of months. There is no one else that he could send to take + charge of the party from home, and I don't like the idea of all those + lassies coming out without an escort. Even Lachlan and Sandy's Mary + are ignorant of foreign languages and foreign ways. But as soon as + Rooke returns we can have them all out. I dare say you will have + some of your clansmen ready by then, and I think the poor girls, who + may feel a bit strange in a new country like this, where the ways are + so different from ours, will feel easier when they know that there + are some of their own mankind near them. Perhaps it might be well + that those of them who are engaged to each other--I know there are + some--should marry before they come out here. It will be more + convenient in many ways, and will save lodgment, and, besides, these + Blue Mountaineers are very handsome men. Good-night. + + JANET. + +_Sir Colin MacKelpie_, _Croom_, _to Janet MacKelpie_, _Vissarion_. + + _March_ 9, 1907. + + MY DEAR JANET, + + I have duly received both your letters, and am delighted to find you + are so well pleased with your new home. It must certainly be a very + lovely and unique place, and I am myself longing to see it. I came + up here three days ago, and am, as usual, feeling all the better for + a breath of my native air. Time goes on, my dear, and I am beginning + to feel not so young as I was. Tell Rupert that the men are all fit, + and longing to get out to him. They are certainly a fine lot of men. + I don't think I ever saw a finer. I have had them drilled and + trained as soldiers, and, in addition, have had them taught a lot of + trades just as they selected themselves. So he shall have nigh him + men who can turn their hands to anything--not, of course, that they + all know every trade, but amongst them there is someone who can do + whatever may be required. There are blacksmiths, carpenters, + farriers, saddle-makers, gardeners, plumbers, cutlers, gunsmiths, so, + as they all are farmers by origin and sportsmen by practice, they + will make a rare household body of men. They are nearly all + first-class shots, and I am having them practise with revolvers. + They are being taught fencing and broadsword and ju-jitsu; I have + organized them in military form, with their own sergeants and + corporals. This morning I had an inspection, and I assure you, my + dear, they could give points to the Household troop in matters of + drill. I tell you I am proud of my clansmen! + + I think you are quite wise about waiting to bring out the lassies, + and wiser still about the marrying. I dare say there will be more + marrying when they all get settled in a foreign country. I shall be + glad of it, for as Rupert is going to settle there, it will be good + for him to have round him a little colony of his own people. And it + will be good for them, too, for I know he will be good to them--as + you will, my dear. The hills are barren here, and life is hard, and + each year there is more and more demand for crofts, and sooner or + later our people must thin out. And mayhap our little settlement of + MacKelpie clan away beyond the frontiers of the Empire may be some + service to the nation and the King. But this is a dream! I see that + here I am beginning to realise in myself one part of Isaiah's + prophecy: + + "Your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream + dreams." + + By the way, my dear, talking about dreams, I am sending you out some + boxes of books which were in your rooms. They are nearly all on odd + subjects that _we_ understand--Second Sight, Ghosts, Dreams (that was + what brought the matter to my mind just now), superstitions, + Vampires, Wehr-Wolves, and all such uncanny folk and things. I + looked over some of these books, and found your marks and underlining + and comments, so I fancy you will miss them in your new home. You + will, I am sure, feel more at ease with such old friends close to + you. I have taken the names and sent the list to London, so that + when you pay me a visit again you will be at home in all ways. If + you come to me altogether, you will be more welcome still--if + possible. But I am sure that Rupert, who I know loves you very much, + will try to make you so happy that you will not want to leave him. + So I will have to come out often to see you both, even at the cost of + leaving Croom for so long. Strange, is it not? that now, when, + through Roger Melton's more than kind remembrance of me, I am able to + go where I will and do what I will, I want more and more to remain at + home by my own ingle. I don't think that anyone but you or Rupert + could get me away from it. I am working very hard at my little + regiment, as I call it. They are simply fine, and will, I am sure, + do us credit. The uniforms are all made, and well made, too. There + is not a man of them that does not look like an officer. I tell you, + Janet, that when we turn out the Vissarion Guard we shall feel proud + of them. I dare say that a couple of months will do all that can be + done here. I shall come out with them myself. Rupert writes me that + he thinks it will be more comfortable to come out direct in a ship of + our own. So when I go up to London in a few weeks' time I shall see + about chartering a suitable vessel. It will certainly save a lot of + trouble to us and anxiety to our people. Would it not be well when I + am getting the ship, if I charter one big enough to take out all your + lassies, too? It is not as if they were strangers. After all, my + dear, soldiers are soldiers and lassies are lassies. But these are + all kinsfolk, as well as clansmen and clanswomen, and I, their Chief, + shall be there. Let me know your views and wishes in this respect. + Mr. Trent, whom I saw before leaving London, asked me to "convey to + you his most respectful remembrances"--these were his very words, and + here they are. Trent is a nice fellow, and I like him. He has + promised to pay me a visit here before the month is up, and I look + forward to our both enjoying ourselves. + + Good-bye, my dear, and the Lord watch over you and our dear boy. + + Your affectionate Uncle, + COLIN ALEXANDER MACKELPIE. + + + + +BOOK III: THE COMING OF THE LADY + + +Rupert Sent Leger's Journal. + + + _April_ 3, 1907. + +I have waited till now--well into midday--before beginning to set down +the details of the strange episode of last night. I have spoken with +persons whom I know to be of normal type. I have breakfasted, as usual +heartily, and have every reason to consider myself in perfect health and +sanity. So that the record following may be regarded as not only true in +substance, but exact as to details. I have investigated and reported on +too many cases for the Psychical Research Society to be ignorant of the +necessity for absolute accuracy in such matters of even the minutest +detail. + +Yesterday was Tuesday, the second day of April, 1907. I passed a day of +interest, with its fair amount of work of varying kinds. Aunt Janet and +I lunched together, had a stroll round the gardens after tea--especially +examining the site for the new Japanese garden, which we shall call +"Janet's Garden." We went in mackintoshes, for the rainy season is in +its full, the only sign of its not being a repetition of the Deluge being +that breaks in the continuance are beginning. They are short at present +but will doubtless enlarge themselves as the season comes towards an end. +We dined together at seven. After dinner I had a cigar, and then joined +Aunt Janet for an hour in her drawing-room. I left her at half-past ten, +when I went to my own room and wrote some letters. At ten minutes past +eleven I wound my watch, so I know the time accurately. Having prepared +for bed, I drew back the heavy curtain in front of my window, which opens +on the marble steps into the Italian garden. I had put out my light +before drawing back the curtain, for I wanted to have a look at the scene +before turning in. Aunt Janet has always had an old-fashioned idea of +the need (or propriety, I hardly know which) of keeping windows closed +and curtains drawn. I am gradually getting her to leave my room alone in +this respect, but at present the change is in its fitful stage, and of +course I must not hurry matters or be too persistent, as it would hurt +her feelings. This night was one of those under the old regime. It was +a delight to look out, for the scene was perfect of its own kind. The +long spell of rain--the ceaseless downpour which had for the time flooded +everywhere--had passed, and water in abnormal places rather trickled than +ran. We were now beginning to be in the sloppy rather than the deluged +stage. There was plenty of light to see by, for the moon had begun to +show out fitfully through the masses of flying clouds. The uncertain +light made weird shadows with the shrubs and statues in the garden. The +long straight walk which leads from the marble steps is strewn with fine +sand white from the quartz strand in the nook to the south of the Castle. +Tall shrubs of white holly, yew, juniper, cypress, and variegated maple +and spiraea, which stood at intervals along the walk and its branches, +appeared ghost-like in the fitful moonlight. The many vases and statues +and urns, always like phantoms in a half-light, were more than ever +weird. Last night the moonlight was unusually effective, and showed not +only the gardens down to the defending wall, but the deep gloom of the +great forest-trees beyond; and beyond that, again, to where the mountain +chain began, the forest running up their silvered slopes flamelike in +form, deviated here and there by great crags and the outcropping rocky +sinews of the vast mountains. + +Whilst I was looking at this lovely prospect, I thought I saw something +white flit, like a modified white flash, at odd moments from one to +another of the shrubs or statues--anything which would afford cover from +observation. At first I was not sure whether I really saw anything or +did not. This was in itself a little disturbing to me, for I have been +so long trained to minute observation of facts surrounding me, on which +often depend not only my own life, but the lives of others, that I have +become accustomed to trust my eyes; and anything creating the faintest +doubt in this respect is a cause of more or less anxiety to me. Now, +however, that my attention was called to myself, I looked more keenly, +and in a very short time was satisfied that something was +moving--something clad in white. It was natural enough that my thoughts +should tend towards something uncanny--the belief that this place is +haunted, conveyed in a thousand ways of speech and inference. Aunt +Janet's eerie beliefs, fortified by her books on occult subjects--and of +late, in our isolation from the rest of the world, the subject of daily +conversations--helped to this end. No wonder, then, that, fully awake +and with senses all on edge, I waited for some further manifestation from +this ghostly visitor--as in my mind I took it to be. It must surely be a +ghost or spiritual manifestation of some kind which moved in this silent +way. In order to see and hear better, I softly moved back the folding +grille, opened the French window, and stepped out, bare-footed and +pyjama-clad as I was, on the marble terrace. How cold the wet marble +was! How heavy smelled the rain-laden garden! It was as though the +night and the damp, and even the moonlight, were drawing the aroma from +all the flowers that blossomed. The whole night seemed to exhale heavy, +half-intoxicating odours! I stood at the head of the marble steps, and +all immediately before me was ghostly in the extreme--the white marble +terrace and steps, the white walks of quartz-sand glistening under the +fitful moonlight; the shrubs of white or pale green or yellow,--all +looking dim and ghostly in the glamorous light; the white statues and +vases. And amongst them, still flitting noiselessly, that mysterious +elusive figure which I could not say was based on fact or imagination. I +held my breath, listening intently for every sound; but sound there was +none, save those of the night and its denizens. Owls hooted in the +forest; bats, taking advantage of the cessation of the rain, flitted +about silently, like shadows in the air. But there was no more sign of +moving ghost or phantom, or whatever I had seen might have been--if, +indeed, there had been anything except imagination. + +So, after waiting awhile, I returned to my room, closed the window, drew +the grille across again, and dragged the heavy curtain before the +opening; then, having extinguished my candles, went to bed in the dark. +In a few minutes I must have been asleep. + +"What was that?" I almost heard the words of my own thought as I sat up +in bed wide awake. To memory rather than present hearing the disturbing +sound had seemed like the faint tapping at the window. For some seconds +I listened, mechanically but intently, with bated breath and that quick +beating of the heart which in a timorous person speaks for fear, and for +expectation in another. In the stillness the sound came again--this time +a very, very faint but unmistakable tapping at the glass door. + +I jumped up, drew back the curtain, and for a moment stood appalled. + +There, outside on the balcony, in the now brilliant moonlight, stood a +woman, wrapped in white grave-clothes saturated with water, which dripped +on the marble floor, making a pool which trickled slowly down the wet +steps. Attitude and dress and circumstance all conveyed the idea that, +though she moved and spoke, she was not quick, but dead. She was young +and very beautiful, but pale, like the grey pallor of death. Through the +still white of her face, which made her look as cold as the wet marble +she stood on, her dark eyes seemed to gleam with a strange but enticing +lustre. Even in the unsearching moonlight, which is after all rather +deceptive than illuminative, I could not but notice one rare quality of +her eyes. Each had some quality of refraction which made it look as +though it contained a star. At every movement she made, the stars +exhibited new beauties, of more rare and radiant force. She looked at me +imploringly as the heavy curtain rolled back, and in eloquent gestures +implored me to admit her. Instinctively I obeyed; I rolled back the +steel grille, and threw open the French window. I noticed that she +shivered and trembled as the glass door fell open. Indeed, she seemed so +overcome with cold as to seem almost unable to move. In the sense of her +helplessness all idea of the strangeness of the situation entirely +disappeared. It was not as if my first idea of death taken from her +cerements was negatived. It was simply that I did not think of it at +all; I was content to accept things as they were--she was a woman, and in +some dreadful trouble; that was enough. + +I am thus particular about my own emotions, as I may have to refer to +them again in matters of comprehension or comparison. The whole thing is +so vastly strange and abnormal that the least thing may afterwards give +some guiding light or clue to something otherwise not understandable. I +have always found that in recondite matters first impressions are of more +real value than later conclusions. We humans place far too little +reliance on instinct as against reason; and yet instinct is the great +gift of Nature to all animals for their protection and the fulfilment of +their functions generally. + +When I stepped out on the balcony, not thinking of my costume, I found +that the woman was benumbed and hardly able to move. Even when I asked +her to enter, and supplemented my words with gestures in case she should +not understand my language, she stood stock-still, only rocking slightly +to and fro as though she had just strength enough left to balance herself +on her feet. I was afraid, from the condition in which she was, that she +might drop down dead at any moment. So I took her by the hand to lead +her in. But she seemed too weak to even make the attempt. When I pulled +her slightly forward, thinking to help her, she tottered, and would have +fallen had I not caught her in my arms. Then, half lifting her, I moved +her forwards. Her feet, relieved of her weight, now seemed able to make +the necessary effort; and so, I almost carrying her, we moved into the +room. She was at the very end of her strength; I had to lift her over +the sill. In obedience to her motion, I closed the French window and +bolted it. I supposed the warmth of the room--though cool, it was warmer +than the damp air without--affected her quickly, for on the instant she +seemed to begin to recover herself. In a few seconds, as though she had +reacquired her strength, she herself pulled the heavy curtain across the +window. This left us in darkness, through which I heard her say in +English: + +"Light. Get a light!" + +I found matches, and at once lit a candle. As the wick flared, she moved +over to the door of the room, and tried if the lock and bolt were +fastened. Satisfied as to this, she moved towards me, her wet shroud +leaving a trail of moisture on the green carpet. By this time the wax of +the candle had melted sufficiently to let me see her clearly. She was +shaking and quivering as though in an ague; she drew the wet shroud +around her piteously. Instinctively I spoke: + +"Can I do anything for you?" + +She answered, still in English, and in a voice of thrilling, almost +piercing sweetness, which seemed somehow to go straight to my heart, and +affected me strangely: "Give me warmth." + +I hurried to the fireplace. It was empty; there was no fire laid. I +turned to her, and said: + +"Wait just a few minutes here. I shall call someone, and get help--and +fire." + +Her voice seemed to ring with intensity as she answered without a pause: + +"No, no! Rather would I be"--here she hesitated for an instant, but as +she caught sight of her cerements went on hurriedly--"as I am. I trust +you--not others; and you must not betray my trust." Almost instantly she +fell into a frightful fit of shivering, drawing again her death-clothes +close to her, so piteously that it wrung my heart. I suppose I am a +practical man. At any rate, I am accustomed to action. I took from its +place beside my bed a thick Jaeger dressing-gown of dark brown--it was, +of course, of extra length--and held it out to her as I said: + +"Put that on. It is the only warm thing here which would be suitable. +Stay; you must remove that wet--wet"--I stumbled about for a word that +would not be offensive--"that frock--dress--costume--whatever it is." I +pointed to where, in the corner of the room, stood a chintz-covered +folding-screen which fences in my cold sponge bath, which is laid ready +for me overnight, as I am an early riser. + +She bowed gravely, and taking the dressing-gown in a long, white, +finely-shaped hand, bore it behind the screen. There was a slight +rustle, and then a hollow "flop" as the wet garment fell on the floor; +more rustling and rubbing, and a minute later she emerged wrapped from +head to foot in the long Jaeger garment, which trailed on the floor +behind her, though she was a tall woman. She was still shivering +painfully, however. I took a flask of brandy and a glass from a +cupboard, and offered her some; but with a motion of her hand she refused +it, though she moaned grievously. + +"Oh, I am so cold--so cold!" Her teeth were chattering. I was pained at +her sad condition, and said despairingly, for I was at my wits' end to +know what to do: + +"Tell me anything that I can do to help you, and I will do it. I may not +call help; there is no fire--nothing to make it with; you will not take +some brandy. What on earth can I do to give you warmth?" + +Her answer certainly surprised me when it came, though it was practical +enough--so practical that I should not have dared to say it. She looked +me straight in the face for a few seconds before speaking. Then, with an +air of girlish innocence which disarmed suspicion and convinced me at +once of her simple faith, she said in a voice that at once thrilled me +and evoked all my pity: + +"Let me rest for a while, and cover me up with rugs. That may give me +warmth. I am dying of cold. And I have a deadly fear upon me--a deadly +fear. Sit by me, and let me hold your hand. You are big and strong, and +you look brave. It will reassure me. I am not myself a coward, but +to-night fear has got me by the throat. I can hardly breathe. Do let me +stay till I am warm. If you only knew what I have gone through, and have +to go through still, I am sure you would pity me and help me." + +To say that I was astonished would be a mild description of my feelings. +I was not shocked. The life which I have led was not one which makes for +prudery. To travel in strange places amongst strange peoples with +strange views of their own is to have odd experiences and peculiar +adventures now and again; a man without human passions is not the type +necessary for an adventurous life, such as I myself have had. But even a +man of passions and experiences can, when he respects a woman, be +shocked--even prudish--where his own opinion of her is concerned. Such +must bring to her guarding any generosity which he has, and any +self-restraint also. Even should she place herself in a doubtful +position, her honour calls to his honour. This is a call which may not +be--_must_ not be--unanswered. Even passion must pause for at least a +while at sound of such a trumpet-call. + +This woman I did respect--much respect. Her youth and beauty; her +manifest ignorance of evil; her superb disdain of convention, which could +only come through hereditary dignity; her terrible fear and +suffering--for there must be more in her unhappy condition than meets the +eye--would all demand respect, even if one did not hasten to yield it. +Nevertheless, I thought it necessary to enter a protest against her +embarrassing suggestion. I certainly did feel a fool when making it, +also a cad. I can truly say it was made only for her good, and out of +the best of me, such as I am. I felt impossibly awkward; and stuttered +and stumbled before I spoke: + +"But surely--the convenances! Your being here alone at night! Mrs. +Grundy--convention--the--" + +She interrupted me with an incomparable dignity--a dignity which had the +effect of shutting me up like a clasp-knife and making me feel a decided +inferior--and a poor show at that. There was such a gracious simplicity +and honesty in it, too, such self-respecting knowledge of herself and her +position, that I could be neither angry nor hurt. I could only feel +ashamed of myself, and of my own littleness of mind and morals. She +seemed in her icy coldness--now spiritual as well as bodily--like an +incarnate figure of Pride as she answered: + +"What are convenances or conventions to me! If you only knew where I +have come from--the existence (if it can be called so) which I have +had--the loneliness--the horror! And besides, it is for me to _make_ +conventions, not to yield my personal freedom of action to them. Even as +I am--even here and in this garb--I am above convention. Convenances do +not trouble me or hamper me. That, at least, I have won by what I have +gone through, even if it had never come to me through any other way. Let +me stay." She said the last words, in spite of all her pride, +appealingly. But still, there was a note of high pride in all this--in +all she said and did, in her attitude and movement, in the tones of her +voice, in the loftiness of her carriage and the steadfast look of her +open, starlit eyes. Altogether, there was something so rarely lofty in +herself and all that clad her that, face to face with it and with her, my +feeble attempt at moral precaution seemed puny, ridiculous, and out of +place. Without a word in the doing, I took from an old chiffonier chest +an armful of blankets, several of which I threw over her as she lay, for +in the meantime, having replaced the coverlet, she had lain down at +length on the bed. I took a chair, and sat down beside her. When she +stretched out her hand from beneath the pile of wraps, I took it in mine, +saying: + +"Get warm and rest. Sleep if you can. You need not fear; I shall guard +you with my life." + +She looked at me gratefully, her starry eyes taking a new light more full +of illumination than was afforded by the wax candle, which was shaded +from her by my body . . . She was horribly cold, and her teeth chattered +so violently that I feared lest she should have incurred some dangerous +evil from her wetting and the cold that followed it. I felt, however, so +awkward that I could find no words to express my fears; moreover, I +hardly dared say anything at all regarding herself after the haughty way +in which she had received my well-meant protest. Manifestly I was but to +her as a sort of refuge and provider of heat, altogether impersonal, and +not to be regarded in any degree as an individual. In these humiliating +circumstances what could I do but sit quiet--and wait developments? + +Little by little the fierce chattering of her teeth began to abate as the +warmth of her surroundings stole through her. I also felt, even in this +strangely awakening position, the influence of the quiet; and sleep began +to steal over me. Several times I tried to fend it off, but, as I could +not make any overt movement without alarming my strange and beautiful +companion, I had to yield myself to drowsiness. I was still in such an +overwhelming stupor of surprise that I could not even think freely. +There was nothing for me but to control myself and wait. Before I could +well fix my thoughts I was asleep. + +I was recalled to consciousness by hearing, even through the pall of +sleep that bound me, the crowing of a cock in some of the out-offices of +the castle. At the same instant the figure, lying deathly still but for +the gentle heaving of her bosom, began to struggle wildly. The sound had +won through the gates of her sleep also. With a swift, gliding motion +she slipped from the bed to the floor, saying in a fierce whisper as she +pulled herself up to her full height: + +"Let me out! I must go! I must go!" + +By this time I was fully awake, and the whole position of things came to +me in an instant which I shall never--can never--forget: the dim light of +the candle, now nearly burned down to the socket, all the dimmer from the +fact that the first grey gleam of morning was stealing in round the edges +of the heavy curtain; the tall, slim figure in the brown dressing-gown +whose over-length trailed on the floor, the black hair showing glossy in +the light, and increasing by contrast the marble whiteness of the face, +in which the black eyes sent through their stars fiery gleams. She +appeared quite in a frenzy of haste; her eagerness was simply +irresistible. + +I was so stupefied with amazement, as well as with sleep, that I did not +attempt to stop her, but began instinctively to help her by furthering +her wishes. As she ran behind the screen, and, as far as sound could +inform me,--began frantically to disrobe herself of the warm +dressing-gown and to don again the ice-cold wet shroud, I pulled back the +curtain from the window, and drew the bolt of the glass door. As I did +so she was already behind me, shivering. As I threw open the door she +glided out with a swift silent movement, but trembling in an agonized +way. As she passed me, she murmured in a low voice, which was almost +lost in the chattering of her teeth: + +"Oh, thank you--thank you a thousand times! But I must go. I _must_! I +_must_! I shall come again, and try to show my gratitude. Do not +condemn me as ungrateful--till then." And she was gone. + +I watched her pass the length of the white path, flitting from shrub to +shrub or statue as she had come. In the cold grey light of the +undeveloped dawn she seemed even more ghostly than she had done in the +black shadow of the night. + +When she disappeared from sight in the shadow of the wood, I stood on the +terrace for a long time watching, in case I should be afforded another +glimpse of her, for there was now no doubt in my mind that she had for me +some strange attraction. I felt even then that the look in those +glorious starry eyes would be with me always so long as I might live. +There was some fascination which went deeper than my eyes or my flesh or +my heart--down deep into the very depths of my soul. My mind was all in +a whirl, so that I could hardly think coherently. It all was like a +dream; the reality seemed far away. It was not possible to doubt that +the phantom figure which had been so close to me during the dark hours of +the night was actual flesh and blood. Yet she was so cold, so cold! +Altogether I could not fix my mind to either proposition: that it was a +living woman who had held my hand, or a dead body reanimated for the time +or the occasion in some strange manner. + +The difficulty was too great for me to make up my mind upon it, even had +I wanted to. But, in any case, I did not want to. This would, no doubt, +come in time. But till then I wished to dream on, as anyone does in a +dream which can still be blissful though there be pauses of pain, or +ghastliness, or doubt, or terror. + +So I closed the window and drew the curtain again, feeling for the first +time the cold in which I had stood on the wet marble floor of the terrace +when my bare feet began to get warm on the soft carpet. To get rid of +the chill feeling I got into the bed on which _she_ had lain, and as the +warmth restored me tried to think coherently. For a short while I was +going over the facts of the night--or what seemed as facts to my +remembrance. But as I continued to think, the possibilities of any +result seemed to get less, and I found myself vainly trying to reconcile +with the logic of life the grim episode of the night. The effort proved +to be too much for such concentration as was left to me; moreover, +interrupted sleep was clamant, and would not be denied. What I dreamt +of--if I dreamt at all--I know not. I only know that I was ready for +waking when the time came. It came with a violent knocking at my door. +I sprang from bed, fully awake in a second, drew the bolt, and slipped +back to bed. With a hurried "May I come in?" Aunt Janet entered. She +seemed relieved when she saw me, and gave without my asking an +explanation of her perturbation: + +"Oh, laddie, I hae been so uneasy aboot ye all the nicht. I hae had +dreams an' veesions an' a' sorts o' uncanny fancies. I fear that--" She +was by now drawing back the curtain, and as her eyes took in the marks of +wet all over the floor the current of her thoughts changed: + +"Why, laddie, whativer hae ye been doin' wi' yer baith? Oh, the mess ye +hae made! 'Tis sinful to gie sic trouble an' waste . . . " And so she +went on. I was glad to hear the tirade, which was only what a good +housewife, outraged in her sentiments of order, would have made. I +listened in patience--with pleasure when I thought of what she would have +thought (and said) had she known the real facts. I was well pleased to +have got off so easily. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _April_ 10, 1907. + +For some days after what I call "the episode" I was in a strange +condition of mind. I did not take anyone--not even Aunt Janet--into +confidence. Even she dear, and open-hearted and liberal-minded as she +is, might not have understood well enough to be just and tolerant; and I +did not care to hear any adverse comment on my strange visitor. Somehow +I could not bear the thought of anyone finding fault with her or in her, +though, strangely enough, I was eternally defending her to myself; for, +despite my wishes, embarrassing thoughts _would_ come again and again, +and again in all sorts and variants of queries difficult to answer. I +found myself defending her, sometimes as a woman hard pressed by +spiritual fear and physical suffering, sometimes as not being amenable to +laws that govern the Living. Indeed, I could not make up my mind whether +I looked on her as a living human being or as one with some strange +existence in another world, and having only a chance foothold in our own. +In such doubt imagination began to work, and thoughts of evil, of danger, +of doubt, even of fear, began to crowd on me with such persistence and in +such varied forms that I found my instinct of reticence growing into a +settled purpose. The value of this instinctive precaution was promptly +shown by Aunt Janet's state of mind, with consequent revelation of it. +She became full of gloomy prognostications and what I thought were morbid +fears. For the first time in my life I discovered that Aunt Janet had +nerves! I had long had a secret belief that she was gifted, to some +degree at any rate, with Second Sight, which quality, or whatever it is, +skilled in the powers if not the lore of superstition, manages to keep at +stretch not only the mind of its immediate pathic, but of others relevant +to it. Perhaps this natural quality had received a fresh impetus from +the arrival of some cases of her books sent on by Sir Colin. She +appeared to read and reread these works, which were chiefly on occult +subjects, day and night, except when she was imparting to me choice +excerpts of the most baleful and fearsome kind. Indeed, before a week +was over I found myself to be an expert in the history of the cult, as +well as in its manifestations, which latter I had been versed in for a +good many years. + +The result of all this was that it set me brooding. Such, at least, I +gathered was the fact when Aunt Janet took me to task for it. She always +speaks out according to her convictions, so that her thinking I brooded +was to me a proof that I did; and after a personal examination I +came--reluctantly--to the conclusion that she was right, so far, at any +rate, as my outer conduct was concerned. The state of mind I was in, +however, kept me from making any acknowledgment of it--the real cause of +my keeping so much to myself and of being so _distrait_. And so I went +on, torturing myself as before with introspective questioning; and she, +with her mind set on my actions, and endeavouring to find a cause for +them, continued and expounded her beliefs and fears. + +Her nightly chats with me when we were alone after dinner--for I had come +to avoid her questioning at other times--kept my imagination at high +pressure. Despite myself, I could not but find new cause for concern in +the perennial founts of her superstition. I had thought, years ago, that +I had then sounded the depths of this branch of psychicism; but this new +phase of thought, founded on the really deep hold which the existence of +my beautiful visitor and her sad and dreadful circumstances had taken +upon me, brought me a new concern in the matter of self-importance. I +came to think that I must reconstruct my self-values, and begin a fresh +understanding of ethical beliefs. Do what I would, my mind would keep +turning on the uncanny subjects brought before it. I began to apply them +one by one to my own late experience, and unconsciously to try to fit +them in turn to the present case. + +The effect of this brooding was that I was, despite my own will, struck +by the similarity of circumstances bearing on my visitor, and the +conditions apportioned by tradition and superstition to such strange +survivals from earlier ages as these partial existences which are rather +Undead than Living--still walking the earth, though claimed by the world +of the Dead. Amongst them are the Vampire, or the Wehr-Wolf. To this +class also might belong in a measure the Doppelganger--one of whose dual +existences commonly belongs to the actual world around it. So, too, the +denizens of the world of Astralism. In any of these named worlds there +is a material presence--which must be created, if only for a single or +periodic purpose. It matters not whether a material presence already +created can be receptive of a disembodied soul, or a soul unattached can +have a body built up for it or around it; or, again, whether the body of +a dead person can be made seeming quick through some diabolic influence +manifested in the present, or an inheritance or result of some baleful +use of malefic power in the past. The result is the same in each case, +though the ways be widely different: a soul and a body which are not in +unity but brought together for strange purposes through stranger means +and by powers still more strange. + +Through much thought and a process of exclusions the eerie form which +seemed to be most in correspondence with my adventure, and most suitable +to my fascinating visitor, appeared to be the Vampire. Doppelganger, +Astral creations, and all such-like, did not comply with the conditions +of my night experience. The Wehr-Wolf is but a variant of the Vampire, +and so needed not to be classed or examined at all. Then it was that, +thus focussed, the Lady of the Shroud (for so I came to hold her in my +mind) began to assume a new force. Aunt Janet's library afforded me +clues which I followed with avidity. In my secret heart I hated the +quest, and did not wish to go on with it. But in this I was not my own +master. Do what I would--brush away doubts never so often, new doubts +and imaginings came in their stead. The circumstance almost repeated the +parable of the Seven Devils who took the place of the exorcised one. +Doubts I could stand. Imaginings I could stand. But doubts and +imaginings together made a force so fell that I was driven to accept any +reading of the mystery which might presumably afford a foothold for +satisfying thought. And so I came to accept tentatively the Vampire +theory--accept it, at least, so far as to examine it as judicially as was +given me to do. As the days wore on, so the conviction grew. The more I +read on the subject, the more directly the evidences pointed towards this +view. The more I thought, the more obstinate became the conviction. I +ransacked Aunt Janet's volumes again and again to find anything to the +contrary; but in vain. Again, no matter how obstinate were my +convictions at any given time, unsettlement came with fresh thinking over +the argument, so that I was kept in a harassing state of uncertainty. + +Briefly, the evidence in favour of accord between the facts of the case +and the Vampire theory were: + +Her coming was at night--the time the Vampire is according to the theory, +free to move at will. + +She wore her shroud--a necessity of coming fresh from grave or tomb; for +there is nothing occult about clothing which is not subject to astral or +other influences. + +She had to be helped into my room--in strict accordance with what one +sceptical critic of occultism has called "the Vampire etiquette." + +She made violent haste in getting away at cock-crow. + +She seemed preternaturally cold; her sleep was almost abnormal in +intensity, and yet the sound of the cock-crowing came through it. + +These things showed her to be subject to _some_ laws, though not in exact +accord within those which govern human beings. Under the stress of such +circumstances as she must have gone through, her vitality seemed more +than human--the quality of vitality which could outlive ordinary burial. +Again, such purpose as she had shown in donning, under stress of some +compelling direction, her ice-cold wet shroud, and, wrapt in it, going +out again into the night, was hardly normal for a woman. + +But if so, and if she was indeed a Vampire, might not whatever it may be +that holds such beings in thrall be by some means or other exorcised? To +find the means must be my next task. I am actually pining to see her +again. Never before have I been stirred to my depths by anyone. Come it +from Heaven or Hell, from the Earth or the Grave, it does not matter; I +shall make it my task to win her back to life and peace. If she be +indeed a Vampire, the task may be hard and long; if she be not so, and if +it be merely that circumstances have so gathered round her as to produce +that impression, the task may be simpler and the result more sweet. No, +not more sweet; for what can be more sweet than to restore the lost or +seemingly lost soul of the woman you love! There, the truth is out at +last! I suppose that I have fallen in love with her. If so, it is too +late for me to fight against it. I can only wait with what patience I +can till I see her again. But to that end I can do nothing. I know +absolutely nothing about her--not even her name. Patience! + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _April_ 16, 1907. + +The only relief I have had from the haunting anxiety regarding the Lady +of the Shroud has been in the troubled state of my adopted country. +There has evidently been something up which I have not been allowed to +know. The mountaineers are troubled and restless; are wandering about, +singly and in parties, and holding meetings in strange places. This is +what I gather used to be in old days when intrigues were on foot with +Turks, Greeks, Austrians, Italians, Russians. This concerns me vitally, +for my mind has long been made up to share the fortunes of the Land of +the Blue Mountains. For good or ill I mean to stay here: _J'y suis_, +_j'y reste_. I share henceforth the lot of the Blue Mountaineers; and +not Turkey, nor Greece, nor Austria, nor Italy, nor Russia--no, not +France nor Germany either; not man nor God nor Devil shall drive me from +my purpose. With these patriots I throw in my lot! My only difficulty +seemed at first to be with the men themselves. They are so proud that at +the beginning I feared they would not even accord me the honour of being +one of them! However, things always move on somehow, no matter what +difficulties there be at the beginning. Never mind! When one looks back +at an accomplished fact the beginning is not to be seen--and if it were +it would not matter. It is not of any account, anyhow. + +I heard that there was going to be a great meeting near here yesterday +afternoon, and I attended it. I think it was a success. If such is any +proof, I felt elated as well as satisfied when I came away. Aunt Janet's +Second Sight on the subject was comforting, though grim, and in a measure +disconcerting. When I was saying good-night she asked me to bend down my +head. As I did so, she laid her hands on it and passed them all over it. +I heard her say to herself: + +"Strange! There's nothing there; yet I could have sworn I saw it!" I +asked her to explain, but she would not. For once she was a little +obstinate, and refused point blank to even talk of the subject. She was +not worried nor unhappy; so I had no cause for concern. I said nothing, +but I shall wait and see. Most mysteries become plain or disappear +altogether in time. But about the meeting--lest I forget! + +When I joined the mountaineers who had assembled, I really think they +were glad to see me; though some of them seemed adverse, and others did +not seem over well satisfied. However, absolute unity is very seldom to +be found. Indeed, it is almost impossible; and in a free community is +not altogether to be desired. When it is apparent, the gathering lacks +that sense of individual feeling which makes for the real consensus of +opinion--which is the real unity of purpose. The meeting was at first, +therefore, a little cold and distant. But presently it began to thaw, +and after some fiery harangues I was asked to speak. Happily, I had +begun to learn the Balkan language as soon as ever Uncle Roger's wishes +had been made known to me, and as I have some facility of tongues and a +great deal of experience, I soon began to know something of it. Indeed, +when I had been here a few weeks, with opportunity of speaking daily with +the people themselves, and learned to understand the intonations and +vocal inflexions, I felt quite easy in speaking it. I understood every +word which had up to then been spoken at the meeting, and when I spoke +myself I felt that they understood. That is an experience which every +speaker has in a certain way and up to a certain point. He knows by some +kind of instinct if his hearers are with him; if they respond, they must +certainly have understood. Last night this was marked. I felt it every +instant I was talking and when I came to realize that the men were in +strict accord with my general views, I took them into confidence with +regard to my own personal purpose. It was the beginning of a mutual +trust; so for peroration I told them that I had come to the conclusion +that what they wanted most for their own protection and the security and +consolidation of their nation was arms--arms of the very latest pattern. +Here they interrupted me with wild cheers, which so strung me up that I +went farther than I intended, and made a daring venture. "Ay," I +repeated, "the security and consolidation of your country--of _our_ +country, for I have come to live amongst you. Here is my home whilst I +live. I am with you heart and soul. I shall live with you, fight +shoulder to shoulder with you, and, if need be, shall die with you!" +Here the shouting was terrific, and the younger men raised their guns to +fire a salute in Blue Mountain fashion. But on the instant the Vladika +{1} held up his hands and motioned them to desist. In the immediate +silence he spoke, sharply at first, but later ascending to a high pitch +of single-minded, lofty eloquence. His words rang in my ears long after +the meeting was over and other thoughts had come between them and the +present. + +"Silence!" he thundered. "Make no echoes in the forest or through the +hills at this dire time of stress and threatened danger to our land. +Bethink ye of this meeting, held here and in secret, in order that no +whisper of it may be heard afar. Have ye all, brave men of the Blue +Mountains, come hither through the forest like shadows that some of you, +thoughtless, may enlighten your enemies as to our secret purpose? The +thunder of your guns would doubtless sound well in the ears of those who +wish us ill and try to work us wrong. Fellow-countrymen, know ye not +that the Turk is awake once more for our harming? The Bureau of Spies +has risen from the torpor which came on it when the purpose against our +Teuta roused our mountains to such anger that the frontiers blazed with +passion, and were swept with fire and sword. Moreover, there is a +traitor somewhere in the land, or else incautious carelessness has served +the same base purpose. Something of our needs--our doing, whose secret +we have tried to hide, has gone out. The myrmidons of the Turk are close +on our borders, and it may be that some of them have passed our guards +and are amidst us unknown. So it behoves us doubly to be discreet. +Believe me that I share with you, my brothers, our love for the gallant +Englishman who has come amongst us to share our sorrows and +ambitions--and I trust it may be our joys. We are all united in the wish +to do him honour--though not in the way by which danger might be carried +on the wings of love. My brothers, our newest brother comes to us from +the Great Nation which amongst the nations has been our only friend, and +which has ere now helped us in our direst need--that mighty Britain whose +hand has ever been raised in the cause of freedom. We of the Blue +Mountains know her best as she stands with sword in hand face to face +with our foes. And this, her son and now our brother, brings further to +our need the hand of a giant and the heart of a lion. Later on, when +danger does not ring us round, when silence is no longer our outer guard; +we shall bid him welcome in true fashion of our land. But till then he +will believe--for he is great-hearted--that our love and thanks and +welcome are not to be measured by sound. When the time comes, then shall +be sound in his honour--not of rifles alone, but bells and cannon and the +mighty voice of a free people shouting as one. But now we must be wise +and silent, for the Turk is once again at our gates. Alas! the cause of +his former coming may not be, for she whose beauty and nobility and whose +place in our nation and in our hearts tempted him to fraud and violence +is not with us to share even our anxiety." + +Here his voice broke, and there arose from all a deep wailing sound, +which rose and rose till the woods around us seemed broken by a mighty +and long-sustained sob. The orator saw that his purpose was +accomplished, and with a short sentence finished his harangue: "But the +need of our nation still remains!" Then, with an eloquent gesture to me +to proceed, he merged in the crowd and disappeared. + +How could I even attempt to follow such a speaker with any hope of +success? I simply told them what I had already done in the way of help, +saying: + +"As you needed arms, I have got them. My agent sends me word through the +code between us that he has procured for me--for us--fifty thousand of +the newest-pattern rifles, the French Ingis-Malbron, which has surpassed +all others, and sufficient ammunition to last for a year of war. The +first section is in hand, and will soon be ready for consignment. There +are other war materials, too, which, when they arrive, will enable every +man and woman--even the children--of our land to take a part in its +defence should such be needed. My brothers, I am with you in all things, +for good or ill!" + +It made me very proud to hear the mighty shout which arose. I had felt +exalted before, but now this personal development almost unmanned me. I +was glad of the long-sustained applause to recover my self-control. + +I was quite satisfied that the meeting did not want to hear any other +speaker, for they began to melt away without any formal notification +having been given. I doubt if there will be another meeting soon again. +The weather has begun to break, and we are in for another spell of rain. +It is disagreeable, of course; but it has its own charm. It was during a +spell of wet weather that the Lady of the Shroud came to me. Perhaps the +rain may bring her again. I hope so, with all my soul. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _April_ 23, 1907. + +The rain has continued for four whole days and nights, and the low-lying +ground is like a quagmire in places. In the sunlight the whole mountains +glisten with running streams and falling water. I feel a strange kind of +elation, but from no visible cause. Aunt Janet rather queered it by +telling me, as she said good-night, to be very careful of myself, as she +had seen in a dream last night a figure in a shroud. I fear she was not +pleased that I did not take it with all the seriousness that she did. I +would not wound her for the world if I could help it, but the idea of a +shroud gets too near the bone to be safe, and I had to fend her off at +all hazards. So when I doubted if the Fates regarded the visionary +shroud as of necessity appertaining to me, she said, in a way that was, +for her, almost sharp: + +"Take care, laddie. 'Tis ill jesting wi' the powers o' time Unknown." + +Perhaps it was that her talk put the subject in my mind. The woman +needed no such aid; she was always there; but when I locked myself into +my room that night, I half expected to find her in the room. I was not +sleepy, so I took a book of Aunt Janet's and began to read. The title +was "On the Powers and Qualities of Disembodied Spirits." "Your +grammar," said I to the author, "is hardly attractive, but I may learn +something which might apply to her. I shall read your book." Before +settling down to it, however, I thought I would have a look at the +garden. Since the night of the visit the garden seemed to have a new +attractiveness for me: a night seldom passed without my having a last +look at it before turning in. So I drew the great curtain and looked +out. + +The scene was beautiful, but almost entirely desolate. All was ghastly +in the raw, hard gleams of moonlight coming fitfully through the masses +of flying cloud. The wind was rising, and the air was damp and cold. I +looked round the room instinctively, and noticed that the fire was laid +ready for lighting, and that there were small-cut logs of wood piled +beside the hearth. Ever since that night I have had a fire laid ready. +I was tempted to light it, but as I never have a fire unless I sleep in +the open, I hesitated to begin. I went back to the window, and, opening +the catch, stepped out on the terrace. As I looked down the white walk +and let my eyes range over the expanse of the garden, where everything +glistened as the moonlight caught the wet, I half expected to see some +white figure flitting amongst the shrubs and statues. The whole scene of +the former visit came back to me so vividly that I could hardly believe +that any time had passed since then. It was the same scene, and again +late in the evening. Life in Vissarion was primitive, and early hours +prevailed--though not so late as on that night. + +As I looked I thought I caught a glimpse of something white far away. It +was only a ray of moonlight coming through the rugged edge of a cloud. +But all the same it set me in a strange state of perturbation. Somehow I +seemed to lose sight of my own identity. It was as though I was +hypnotized by the situation or by memory, or perhaps by some occult +force. Without thinking of what I was doing, or being conscious of any +reason for it, I crossed the room and set light to the fire. Then I blew +out the candle and came to the window again. I never thought it might be +a foolish thing to do--to stand at a window with a light behind me in +this country, where every man carries a gun with him always. I was in my +evening clothes, too, with my breast well marked by a white shirt. I +opened the window and stepped out on the terrace. There I stood for many +minutes, thinking. All the time my eyes kept ranging over the garden. +Once I thought I saw a white figure moving, but it was not followed up, +so, becoming conscious that it was again beginning to rain, I stepped +back into the room, shut the window, and drew the curtain. Then I +realized the comforting appearance of the fire, and went over and stood +before it. + +Hark! Once more there was a gentle tapping at the window. I rushed over +to it and drew the curtain. + +There, out on the rain-beaten terrace, stood the white shrouded figure, +more desolate-appearing than ever. Ghastly pale she looked, as before, +but her eyes had an eager look which was new. I took it that she was +attracted by the fire, which was by now well ablaze, and was throwing up +jets of flame as the dry logs crackled. The leaping flames threw fitful +light across the room, and every gleam threw the white-clad figure into +prominence, showing the gleam of the black eyes, and fixing the stars +that lay in them. + +Without a word I threw open the window, and, taking the white hand +extended to me, drew into the room the Lady of the Shroud. + +As she entered and felt the warmth of the blazing fire, a glad look +spread over her face. She made a movement as if to run to it. But she +drew back an instant after, looking round with instinctive caution. She +closed the window and bolted it, touched the lever which spread the +grille across the opening, and pulled close the curtain behind it. Then +she went swiftly to the door and tried if it was locked. Satisfied as to +this, she came quickly over to the fire, and, kneeling before it, +stretched out her numbed hands to the blaze. Almost on the instant her +wet shroud began to steam. I stood wondering. The precautions of +secrecy in the midst of her suffering--for that she did suffer was only +too painfully manifest--must have presupposed some danger. Then and +there my mind was made up that there should no harm assail her that I by +any means could fend off. Still, the present must be attended to; +pneumonia and other ills stalked behind such a chill as must infallibly +come on her unless precautions were taken. I took again the +dressing-gown which she had worn before and handed it to her, motioning +as I did so towards the screen which had made a dressing-room for her on +the former occasion. To my surprise she hesitated. I waited. She +waited, too, and then laid down the dressing-gown on the edge of the +stone fender. So I spoke: + +"Won't you change as you did before? Your--your frock can then be dried. +Do! It will be so much safer for you to be dry clad when you resume your +own dress." + +"How can I whilst you are here?" + +Her words made me stare, so different were they from her acts of the +other visit. I simply bowed--speech on such a subject would be at least +inadequate--and walked over to the window. Passing behind the curtain, I +opened the window. Before stepping out on to the terrace, I looked into +the room and said: + +"Take your own time. There is no hurry. I dare say you will find there +all you may want. I shall remain on the terrace until you summon me." +With that I went out on the terrace, drawing close the glass door behind +me. + +I stood looking out on the dreary scene for what seemed a very short +time, my mind in a whirl. There came a rustle from within, and I saw a +dark brown figure steal round the edge of the curtain. A white hand was +raised, and beckoned me to come in. I entered, bolting the window behind +me. She had passed across the room, and was again kneeling before the +fire with her hands outstretched. The shroud was laid in partially +opened folds on one side of the hearth, and was steaming heavily. I +brought over some cushions and pillows, and made a little pile of them +beside her. + +"Sit there," I said, "and rest quietly in the heat." It may have been +the effect of the glowing heat, but there was a rich colour in her face +as she looked at me with shining eyes. Without a word, but with a +courteous little bow, she sat down at once. I put a thick rug across her +shoulders, and sat down myself on a stool a couple of feet away. + +For fully five or six minutes we sat in silence. At last, turning her +head towards me she said in a sweet, low voice: + +"I had intended coming earlier on purpose to thank you for your very +sweet and gracious courtesy to me, but circumstances were such that I +could not leave my--my"--she hesitated before saying--"my abode. I am +not free, as you and others are, to do what I will. My existence is +sadly cold and stern, and full of horrors that appal. But I _do_ thank +you. For myself I am not sorry for the delay, for every hour shows me +more clearly how good and understanding and sympathetic you have been to +me. I only hope that some day you may realize how kind you have been, +and how much I appreciate it." + +"I am only too glad to be of any service," I said, feebly I felt, as I +held out my hand. She did not seem to see it. Her eyes were now on the +fire, and a warm blush dyed forehead and cheek and neck. The reproof was +so gentle that no one could have been offended. It was evident that she +was something coy and reticent, and would not allow me to come at present +more close to her, even to the touching of her hand. But that her heart +was not in the denial was also evident in the glance from her glorious +dark starry eyes. These glances--veritable lightning flashes coming +through her pronounced reserve--finished entirely any wavering there +might be in my own purpose. I was aware now to the full that my heart +was quite subjugated. I knew that I was in love--veritably so much in +love as to feel that without this woman, be she what she might, by my +side my future must be absolutely barren. + +It was presently apparent that she did not mean to stay as long on this +occasion as on the last. When the castle clock struck midnight she +suddenly sprang to her feet with a bound, saying: + +"I must go! There is midnight!" I rose at once, the intensity of her +speech having instantly obliterated the sleep which, under the influence +of rest and warmth, was creeping upon me. Once more she was in a frenzy +of haste, so I hurried towards the window, but as I looked back saw her, +despite her haste, still standing. I motioned towards the screen, and +slipping behind the curtain, opened the window and went out on the +terrace. As I was disappearing behind the curtain I saw her with the +tail of my eye lifting the shroud, now dry, from the hearth. + +She was out through the window in an incredibly short time, now clothed +once more in that dreadful wrapping. As she sped past me barefooted on +the wet, chilly marble which made her shudder, she whispered: + +"Thank you again. You _are_ good to me. You can understand." + +Once again I stood on the terrace, saw her melt like a shadow down the +steps, and disappear behind the nearest shrub. Thence she flitted away +from point to point with exceeding haste. The moonlight had now +disappeared behind heavy banks of cloud, so there was little light to see +by. I could just distinguish a pale gleam here and there as she wended +her secret way. + +For a long time I stood there alone thinking, as I watched the course she +had taken, and wondering where might be her ultimate destination. As she +had spoken of her "abode," I knew there was some definitive objective of +her flight. + +It was no use wondering. I was so entirely ignorant of her surroundings +that I had not even a starting-place for speculation. So I went in, +leaving the window open. It seemed that this being so made one barrier +the less between us. I gathered the cushions and rugs from before the +fire, which was no longer leaping, but burning with a steady glow, and +put them back in their places. Aunt Janet might come in the morning, as +she had done before, and I did not wish to set her thinking. She is much +too clever a person to have treading on the heels of a +mystery--especially one in which my own affections are engaged. I wonder +what she would have said had she seen me kiss the cushion on which my +beautiful guest's head had rested? + +When I was in bed, and in the dark save for the fading glow of the fire, +my thoughts became fixed that whether she came from Earth or Heaven or +Hell, my lovely visitor was already more to me than aught else in the +world. This time she had, on going, said no word of returning. I had +been so much taken up with her presence, and so upset by her abrupt +departure, that I had omitted to ask her. And so I am driven, as before, +to accept the chance of her returning--a chance which I fear I am or may +be unable to control. + +Surely enough Aunt Janet did come in the morning, early. I was still +asleep when she knocked at my door. With that purely physical +subconsciousness which comes with habit I must have realized the cause of +the sound, for I woke fully conscious of the fact that Aunt Janet had +knocked and was waiting to come in. I jumped from bed, and back again +when I had unlocked the door. When Aunt Janet came in she noticed the +cold of the room. + +"Save us, laddie, but ye'll get your death o' cold in this room." Then, +as she looked round and noticed the ashes of the extinct fire in the +grate: + +"Eh, but ye're no that daft after a'; ye've had the sense to light yer +fire. Glad I am that we had the fire laid and a wheen o' dry logs ready +to yer hand." She evidently felt the cold air coming from the window, +for she went over and drew the curtain. When she saw the open window, +she raised her hands in a sort of dismay, which to me, knowing how little +base for concern could be within her knowledge, was comic. Hurriedly she +shut the window, and then, coming close over to my bed, said: + +"Yon has been a fearsome nicht again, laddie, for yer poor auld aunty." + +"Dreaming again, Aunt Janet?" I asked--rather flippantly as it seemed to +me. She shook her head: + +"Not so, Rupert, unless it be that the Lord gies us in dreams what we in +our spiritual darkness think are veesions." I roused up at this. When +Aunt Janet calls me Rupert, as she always used to do in my dear mother's +time, things are serious with her. As I was back in childhood now, +recalled by her word, I thought the best thing I could do to cheer her +would be to bring her back there too--if I could. So I patted the edge +of the bed as I used to do when I was a wee kiddie and wanted her to +comfort me, and said: + +"Sit down, Aunt Janet, and tell me." She yielded at once, and the look +of the happy old days grew over her face as though there had come a gleam +of sunshine. She sat down, and I put out my hands as I used to do, and +took her hand between them. There was a tear in her eye as she raised my +hand and kissed it as in old times. But for the infinite pathos of it, +it would have been comic: + +Aunt Janet, old and grey-haired, but still retaining her girlish slimness +of figure, petite, dainty as a Dresden figure, her face lined with the +care of years, but softened and ennobled by the unselfishness of those +years, holding up my big hand, which would outweigh her whole arm; +sitting dainty as a pretty old fairy beside a recumbent giant--for my +bulk never seems so great as when I am near this real little good fairy +of my life--seven feet beside four feet seven. + +So she began as of old, as though she were about to soothe a frightened +child with a fairy tale: + +"'Twas a veesion, I think, though a dream it may hae been. But whichever +or whatever it was, it concerned my little boy, who has grown to be a big +giant, so much that I woke all of a tremble. Laddie dear, I thought that +I saw ye being married." This gave me an opening, though a small one, +for comforting her, so I took it at once: + +"Why, dear, there isn't anything to alarm you in that, is there? It was +only the other day when you spoke to me about the need of my getting +married, if it was only that you might have children of your boy playing +around your knees as their father used to do when he was a helpless wee +child himself." + +"That is so, laddie," she answered gravely. "But your weddin' was none +so merry as I fain would see. True, you seemed to lo'e her wi' all yer +hairt. Yer eyes shone that bright that ye might ha' set her afire, for +all her black locks and her winsome face. But, laddie, that was not +all--no, not though her black een, that had the licht o' all the stars o' +nicht in them, shone in yours as though a hairt o' love an' passion, too, +dwelt in them. I saw ye join hands, an' heard a strange voice that +talked stranger still, but I saw none ither. Your eyes an' her eyes, an' +your hand an' hers, were all I saw. For all else was dim, and the +darkness was close around ye twa. And when the benison was spoken--I +knew that by the voices that sang, and by the gladness of her een, as +well as by the pride and glory of yours--the licht began to glow a wee +more, an' I could see yer bride. She was in a veil o' wondrous fine +lace. And there were orange-flowers in her hair, though there were +twigs, too, and there was a crown o' flowers on head wi' a golden band +round it. And the heathen candles that stood on the table wi' the Book +had some strange effect, for the reflex o' it hung in the air o'er her +head like the shadow of a crown. There was a gold ring on her finger and +a silver one on yours." Here she paused and trembled, so that, hoping to +dispel her fears, I said, as like as I could to the way I used to when I +was a child: + +"Go on, Aunt Janet." + +She did not seem to recognize consciously the likeness between past and +present; but the effect was there, for she went on more like her old +self, though there was a prophetic gravity in her voice, more marked than +I had ever heard from her: + +"All this I've told ye was well; but, oh, laddie, there was a dreadful +lack o' livin' joy such as I should expect from the woman whom my boy had +chosen for his wife--and at the marriage coupling, too! And no wonder, +when all is said; for though the marriage veil o' love was fine, an' the +garland o' flowers was fresh-gathered, underneath them a' was nane ither +than a ghastly shroud. As I looked in my veesion--or maybe dream--I +expectit to see the worms crawl round the flagstane at her feet. If +'twas not Death, laddie dear, that stood by ye, it was the shadow o' +Death that made the darkness round ye, that neither the light o' candles +nor the smoke o' heathen incense could pierce. Oh, laddie, laddie, wae +is me that I hae seen sic a veesion--waking or sleeping, it matters not! +I was sair distressed--so sair that I woke wi' a shriek on my lips and +bathed in cold sweat. I would hae come doon to ye to see if you were +hearty or no--or even to listen at your door for any sound o' yer being +quick, but that I feared to alarm ye till morn should come. I've counted +the hours and the minutes since midnight, when I saw the veesion, till I +came hither just the now." + +"Quite right, Aunt Janet," I said, "and I thank you for your kind thought +for me in the matter, now and always." Then I went on, for I wanted to +take precautions against the possibility of her discovery of my secret. +I could not bear to think that she might run my precious secret to earth +in any well-meant piece of bungling. That would be to me disaster +unbearable. She might frighten away altogether my beautiful visitor, +even whose name or origin I did not know, and I might never see her +again: + +"You must never do that, Aunt Janet. You and I are too good friends to +have sense of distrust or annoyance come between us--which would surely +happen if I had to keep thinking that you or anyone else might be +watching me." + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _April_ 27, 1907. + +After a spell of loneliness which has seemed endless I have something to +write. When the void in my heart was becoming the receptacle for many +devils of suspicion and distrust I set myself a task which might, I +thought, keep my thoughts in part, at any rate, occupied--to explore +minutely the neighbourhood round the Castle. This might, I hoped, serve +as an anodyne to my pain of loneliness, which grew more acute as the +days, the hours, wore on, even if it should not ultimately afford me some +clue to the whereabouts of the woman whom I had now grown to love so +madly. + +My exploration soon took a systematic form, as I intended that it should +be exhaustive. I would take every day a separate line of advance from +the Castle, beginning at the south and working round by the east to the +north. The first day only took me to the edge of the creek, which I +crossed in a boat, and landed at the base of the cliff opposite. I found +the cliffs alone worth a visit. Here and there were openings to caves +which I made up my mind to explore later. I managed to climb up the +cliff at a spot less beetling than the rest, and continued my journey. +It was, though very beautiful, not a specially interesting place. I +explored that spoke of the wheel of which Vissarion was the hub, and got +back just in time for dinner. + +The next day I took a course slightly more to the eastward. I had no +difficulty in keeping a straight path, for, once I had rowed across the +creek, the old church of St. Sava rose before me in stately gloom. This +was the spot where many generations of the noblest of the Land of the +Blue Mountains had from time immemorial been laid to rest, amongst them +the Vissarions. Again, I found the opposite cliffs pierced here and +there with caves, some with wide openings,--others the openings of which +were partly above and partly below water. I could, however, find no +means of climbing the cliff at this part, and had to make a long detour, +following up the line of the creek till further on I found a piece of +beach from which ascent was possible. Here I ascended, and found that I +was on a line between the Castle and the southern side of the mountains. +I saw the church of St. Sava away to my right, and not far from the edge +of the cliff. I made my way to it at once, for as yet I had never been +near it. Hitherto my excursions had been limited to the Castle and its +many gardens and surroundings. It was of a style with which I was not +familiar--with four wings to the points of the compass. The great +doorway, set in a magnificent frontage of carved stone of manifestly +ancient date, faced west, so that, when one entered, he went east. To my +surprise--for somehow I expected the contrary--I found the door open. +Not wide open, but what is called ajar--manifestly not locked or barred, +but not sufficiently open for one to look in. I entered, and after +passing through a wide vestibule, more like a section of a corridor than +an ostensible entrance, made my way through a spacious doorway into the +body of the church. The church itself was almost circular, the openings +of the four naves being spacious enough to give the appearance of the +interior as a whole, being a huge cross. It was strangely dim, for the +window openings were small and high-set, and were, moreover, filled with +green or blue glass, each window having a colour to itself. The glass +was very old, being of the thirteenth or fourteenth century. Such +appointments as there were--for it had a general air of desolation--were +of great beauty and richness,--especially so to be in a place--even a +church--where the door lay open, and no one was to be seen. It was +strangely silent even for an old church on a lonesome headland. There +reigned a dismal solemnity which seemed to chill me, accustomed as I have +been to strange and weird places. It seemed abandoned, though it had not +that air of having been neglected which is so often to be noticed in old +churches. There was none of the everlasting accumulation of dust which +prevails in places of higher cultivation and larger and more strenuous +work. + +In the church itself or its appending chambers I could find no clue or +suggestion which could guide me in any way in my search for the Lady of +the Shroud. Monuments there were in profusion--statues, tablets, and all +the customary memorials of the dead. The families and dates represented +were simply bewildering. Often the name of Vissarion was given, and the +inscription which it held I read through carefully, looking to find some +enlightenment of any kind. But all in vain: there was nothing to see in +the church itself. So I determined to visit the crypt. I had no lantern +or candle with me, so had to go back to the Castle to secure one. + +It was strange, coming in from the sunlight, here overwhelming to one so +recently accustomed to northern skies, to note the slender gleam of the +lantern which I carried, and which I had lit inside the door. At my +first entry to the church my mind had been so much taken up with the +strangeness of the place, together with the intensity of wish for some +sort of clue, that I had really no opportunity of examining detail. But +now detail became necessary, as I had to find the entrance to the crypt. +My puny light could not dissipate the semi-Cimmerian gloom of the vast +edifice; I had to throw the feeble gleam into one after another of the +dark corners. + +At last I found, behind the great screen, a narrow stone staircase which +seemed to wind down into the rock. It was not in any way secret, but +being in the narrow space behind the great screen, was not visible except +when close to it. I knew I was now close to my objective, and began to +descend. Accustomed though I have been to all sorts of mysteries and +dangers, I felt awed and almost overwhelmed by a sense of loneliness and +desolation as I descended the ancient winding steps. These were many in +number, roughly hewn of old in the solid rock on which the church was +built. + +I met a fresh surprise in finding that the door of the crypt was open. +After all, this was different from the church-door being open; for in +many places it is a custom to allow all comers at all times to find rest +and comfort in the sacred place. But I did expect that at least the +final resting-place of the historic dead would be held safe against +casual intrusion. Even I, on a quest which was very near my heart, +paused with an almost overwhelming sense of decorum before passing +through that open door. The crypt was a huge place, strangely lofty for +a vault. From its formation, however, I soon came to the conclusion that +it was originally a natural cavern altered to its present purpose by the +hand of man. I could hear somewhere near the sound of running water, but +I could not locate it. Now and again at irregular intervals there was a +prolonged booming, which could only come from a wave breaking in a +confined place. The recollection then came to me of the proximity of the +church to the top of the beetling cliff, and of the half-sunk cavern +entrances which pierced it. + +With the gleam of my lamp to guide me, I went through and round the whole +place. There were many massive tombs, mostly rough-hewn from great slabs +or blocks of stone. Some of them were marble, and the cutting of all was +ancient. So large and heavy were some of them that it was a wonder to me +how they could ever have been brought to this place, to which the only +entrance was seemingly the narrow, tortuous stairway by which I had come. +At last I saw near one end of the crypt a great chain hanging. Turning +the light upward, I found that it depended from a ring set over a wide +opening, evidently made artificially. It must have been through this +opening that the great sarcophagi had been lowered. + +Directly underneath the hanging chain, which did not come closer to the +ground than some eight or ten feet, was a huge tomb in the shape of a +rectangular coffer or sarcophagus. It was open, save for a huge sheet of +thick glass which rested above it on two thick balks of dark oak, cut to +exceeding smoothness, which lay across it, one at either end. On the far +side from where I stood each of these was joined to another oak plank, +also cut smooth, which sloped gently to the rocky floor. Should it be +necessary to open the tomb, the glass could be made to slide along the +supports and descend by the sloping planks. + +Naturally curious to know what might be within such a strange receptacle, +I raised the lantern, depressing its lens so that the light might fall +within. + +Then I started back with a cry, the lantern slipping from my nerveless +hand and falling with a ringing sound on the great sheet of thick glass. + +Within, pillowed on soft cushions, and covered with a mantle woven of +white natural fleece sprigged with tiny sprays of pine wrought in gold, +lay the body of a woman--none other than my beautiful visitor. She was +marble white, and her long black eyelashes lay on her white cheeks as +though she slept. + +Without a word or a sound, save the sounds made by my hurrying feet on +the stone flooring, I fled up the steep steps, and through the dim +expanse of the church, out into the bright sunlight. I found that I had +mechanically raised the fallen lamp, and had taken it with me in my +flight. + +My feet naturally turned towards home. It was all instinctive. The new +horror had--for the time, at any rate--drowned my mind in its mystery, +deeper than the deepest depths of thought or imagination. + + + + +BOOK IV: UNDER THE FLAGSTAFF + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _May_ 1, 1907. + +For some days after the last adventure I was in truth in a half-dazed +condition, unable to think sensibly, hardly coherently. Indeed, it was +as much as I could do to preserve something of my habitual appearance and +manner. However, my first test happily came soon, and when I was once +through it I reacquired sufficient self-confidence to go through with my +purpose. Gradually the original phase of stupefaction passed, and I was +able to look the situation in the face. I knew the worst now, at any +rate; and when the lowest point has been reached things must begin to +mend. Still, I was wofully sensitive regarding anything which might +affect my Lady of the Shroud, or even my opinion of her. I even began to +dread Aunt Janet's Second-Sight visions or dreams. These had a fatal +habit of coming so near to fact that they always made for a danger of +discovery. I had to realize now that the Lady of the Shroud might indeed +be a Vampire--one of that horrid race that survives death and carries on +a life-in-death existence eternally and only for evil. Indeed, I began +to _expect_ that Aunt Janet would ere long have some prophetic insight to +the matter. She had been so wonderfully correct in her prophetic +surmises with regard to both the visits to my room that it was hardly +possible that she could fail to take cognizance of this last development. + +But my dread was not justified; at any rate, I had no reason to suspect +that by any force or exercise of her occult gift she might cause me +concern by the discovery of my secret. Only once did I feel that actual +danger in that respect was close to me. That was when she came early one +morning and rapped at my door. When I called out, "Who is that? What is +it?" she said in an agitated way: + +"Thank God, laddie, you are all right! Go to sleep again." + +Later on, when we met at breakfast, she explained that she had had a +nightmare in the grey of the morning. She thought she had seen me in the +crypt of a great church close beside a stone coffin; and, knowing that +such was an ominous subject to dream about, came as soon as she dared to +see if I was all right. Her mind was evidently set on death and burial, +for she went on: + +"By the way, Rupert, I am told that the great church on time top of the +cliff across the creek is St. Sava's, where the great people of the +country used to be buried. I want you to take me there some day. We +shall go over it, and look at the tombs and monuments together. I really +think I should be afraid to go alone, but it will be all right if you are +with me." This was getting really dangerous, so I turned it aside: + +"Really, Aunt Janet, I'm afraid it won't do. If you go off to weird old +churches, and fill yourself up with a fresh supply of horrors, I don't +know what will happen. You'll be dreaming dreadful things about me every +night and neither you nor I shall get any sleep." It went to my heart to +oppose her in any wish; and also this kind of chaffy opposition might +pain her. But I had no alternative; the matter was too serious to be +allowed to proceed. Should Aunt Janet go to the church, she would surely +want to visit the crypt. Should she do so, and there notice the +glass-covered tomb--as she could not help doing--the Lord only knew what +would happen. She had already Second-Sighted a woman being married to +me, and before I myself knew that I had such a hope. What might she not +reveal did she know where the woman came from? It may have been that her +power of Second Sight had to rest on some basis of knowledge or belief, +and that her vision was but some intuitive perception of my own +subjective thought. But whatever it was it should be stopped--at all +hazards. + +This whole episode set me thinking introspectively, and led me gradually +but imperatively to self-analysis--not of powers, but of motives. I +found myself before long examining myself as to what were my real +intentions. I thought at first that this intellectual process was an +exercise of pure reason; but soon discarded this as inadequate--even +impossible. Reason is a cold manifestation; this feeling which swayed +and dominated me is none other than passion, which is quick, hot, and +insistent. + +As for myself, the self-analysis could lead to but one result--the +expression to myself of the reality and definiteness of an already-formed +though unconscious intention. I wished to do the woman good--to serve +her in some way--to secure her some benefit by any means, no matter how +difficult, which might be within my power. I knew that I loved +her--loved her most truly and fervently; there was no need for +self-analysis to tell me that. And, moreover, no self-analysis, or any +other mental process that I knew of, could help my one doubt: whether she +was an ordinary woman (or an extraordinary woman, for the matter of that) +in some sore and terrible straits; or else one who lay under some +dreadful condition, only partially alive, and not mistress of herself or +her acts. Whichever her condition might be, there was in my own feeling +a superfluity of affection for her. The self-analysis taught me one +thing, at any rate--that I had for her, to start with, an infinite pity +which had softened towards her my whole being, and had already mastered +merely selfish desire. Out of it I began to find excuses for her every +act. In the doing so I knew now, though perhaps I did not at the time +the process was going on, that my view in its true inwardness was of her +as a living woman--the woman I loved. + +In the forming of our ideas there are different methods of work, as +though the analogy with material life holds good. In the building of a +house, for instance, there are many persons employed; men of different +trades and occupations--architect, builder, masons, carpenters, plumbers, +and a host of others--and all these with the officials of each guild or +trade. So in the world of thought and feelings: knowledge and +understanding come through various agents, each competent to its task. + +How far pity reacted with love I knew not; I only knew that whatever her +state might be, were she living or dead, I could find in my heart no +blame for the Lady of the Shroud. It could not be that she was dead in +the real conventional way; for, after all, the Dead do not walk the earth +in corporal substance, even if there be spirits which take the corporal +form. This woman was of actual form and weight. How could I doubt that, +at all events--I, who had held her in my arms? Might it not be that she +was not quite dead, and that it had been given to me to restore her to +life again? Ah! that would be, indeed, a privilege well worth the giving +my life to accomplish. That such a thing may be is possible. Surely the +old myths were not absolute inventions; they must have had a basis +somewhere in fact. May not the world-old story of Orpheus and Eurydice +have been based on some deep-lying principle or power of human nature? +There is not one of us but has wished at some time to bring back the +dead. Ay, and who has not felt that in himself or herself was power in +the deep love for our dead to make them quick again, did we but know the +secret of how it was to be done? + +For myself, I have seen such mysteries that I am open to conviction +regarding things not yet explained. These have been, of course, amongst +savages or those old-world people who have brought unchecked traditions +and beliefs--ay, and powers too--down the ages from the dim days when the +world was young; when forces were elemental, and Nature's handiwork was +experimental rather than completed. Some of these wonders may have been +older still than the accepted period of our own period of creation. May +we not have to-day other wonders, different only in method, but not more +susceptible of belief? Obi-ism and Fantee-ism have been exercised in my +own presence, and their results proved by the evidence of my own eyes and +other senses. So, too, have stranger rites, with the same object and the +same success, in the far Pacific Islands. So, too, in India and China, +in Thibet and in the Golden Chersonese. On all and each of these +occasions there was, on my own part, enough belief to set in motion the +powers of understanding; and there were no moral scruples to stand in the +way of realization. Those whose lives are so spent that they achieve the +reputation of not fearing man or God or devil are not deterred in their +doing or thwarted from a set purpose by things which might deter others +not so equipped for adventure. Whatever may be before them--pleasant or +painful, bitter or sweet, arduous or facile, enjoyable or terrible, +humorous or full of awe and horror--they must accept, taking them in the +onward course as a good athlete takes hurdles in his stride. And there +must be no hesitating, no looking back. If the explorer or the +adventurer has scruples, he had better give up that special branch of +effort and come himself to a more level walk in life. Neither must there +be regrets. There is no need for such; savage life has this advantage: +it begets a certain toleration not to be found in conventional existence. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _May_ 2, 1907. + +I had heard long ago that Second Sight is a terrible gift, even to its +possessor. I am now inclined not only to believe, but to understand it. +Aunt Janet has made such a practice of it of late that I go in constant +dread of discovery of my secret. She seems to parallel me all the time, +whatever I may do. It is like a sort of dual existence to her; for she +is her dear old self all the time, and yet some other person with a sort +of intellectual kit of telescope and notebook, which are eternally used +on me. I know they are _for_ me, too--for what she considers my good. +But all the same it makes an embarrassment. Happily Second Sight cannot +speak as clearly as it sees, or, rather, as it understands. For the +translation of the vague beliefs which it inculcates is both nebulous and +uncertain--a sort of Delphic oracle which always says things which no one +can make out at the time, but which can be afterwards read in any one of +several ways. This is all right, for in my case it is a kind of safety; +but, then, Aunt Janet is a very clever woman, and some time she herself +may be able to understand. Then she may begin to put two and two +together. When she does that, it will not be long before she knows more +than I do of the facts of the whole affair. And her reading of them and +of the Lady of the Shroud, round whom they circle, may not be the same as +mine. Well, that will be all right too. Aunt Janet loves me--God knows +I have good reason to know that all through these years--and whatever +view she may take, her acts will be all I could wish. But I shall come +in for a good lot of scolding, I am sure. By the way, I ought to think +of that; if Aunt Janet scolds me, it is a pretty good proof that I ought +to be scolded. I wonder if I dare tell her all. No! It is too strange. +She is only a woman, after all: and if she knew I loved . . . I wish I +knew her name, and thought--as I might myself do, only that I resist +it--that she is not alive at all. Well, what she would either think or +do beats me. I suppose she would want to slipper me as she used to do +when I was a wee kiddie--in a different way, of course. + + _May_ 3, 1907. + +I really could not go on seriously last night. The idea of Aunt Janet +giving me a licking as in the dear old days made me laugh so much that +nothing in the world seemed serious then. Oh, Aunt Janet is all right +whatever comes. That I am sure of, so I needn't worry over it. A good +thing too; there will be plenty to worry about without that. I shall not +check her telling me of her visions, however; I may learn something from +them. + +For the last four-and-twenty hours I have, whilst awake, been looking +over Aunt Janet's books, of which I brought a wheen down here. Gee +whizz! No wonder the old dear is superstitious, when she is filled up to +the back teeth with that sort of stuff! There may be some truth in some +of those yarns; those who wrote them may believe in them, or some of +them, at all events. But as to coherence or logic, or any sort of +reasonable or instructive deduction, they might as well have been written +by so many hens! These occult book-makers seem to gather only a lot of +bare, bald facts, which they put down in the most uninteresting way +possible. They go by quantity only. One story of the kind, well +examined and with logical comments, would be more convincing to a third +party than a whole hecatomb of them. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _May_ 4, 1907. + +There is evidently something up in the country. The mountaineers are +more uneasy than they have been as yet. There is constant going to and +fro amongst them, mostly at night and in the grey of the morning. I +spend many hours in my room in the eastern tower, from which I can watch +the woods, and gather from signs the passing to and fro. But with all +this activity no one has said to me a word on the subject. It is +undoubtedly a disappointment to me. I had hoped that the mountaineers +had come to trust me; that gathering at which they wanted to fire their +guns for me gave me strong hopes. But now it is apparent that they do +not trust me in full--as yet, at all events. Well, I must not complain. +It is all only right and just. As yet I have done nothing to prove to +them the love and devotion that I feel to the country. I know that such +individuals as I have met trust me, and I believe like me. But the trust +of a nation is different. That has to be won and tested; he who would +win it must justify, and in a way that only troublous times can allow. +No nation will--can--give full meed of honour to a stranger in times of +peace. Why should it? I must not forget that I am here a stranger in +the land, and that to the great mass of people even my name is unknown. +Perhaps they will know me better when Rooke comes back with that store of +arms and ammunition that he has bought, and the little warship he has got +from South America. When they see that I hand over the whole lot to the +nation without a string on them, they may begin to believe. In the +meantime all I can do is to wait. It will all come right in time, I have +no doubt. And if it doesn't come right, well, we can only die once! + +Is that so? What about my Lady of the Shroud? I must not think of that +or of her in this gallery. Love and war are separate, and may not +mix--cannot mix, if it comes to that. I must be wise in the matter; and +if I have got the hump in any degree whatever, must not show it. + +But one thing is certain: something is up, and it must be the Turks. +From what the Vladika said at that meeting they have some intention of an +attack on the Blue Mountains. If that be so, we must be ready; and +perhaps I can help there. The forces must be organized; we must have +some method of communication. In this country, where are neither roads +nor railways nor telegraphs, we must establish a signalling system of +some sort. _That_ I can begin at once. I can make a code, or adapt one +that I have used elsewhere already. I shall rig up a semaphore on the +top of the Castle which can be seen for an enormous distance around. I +shall train a number of men to be facile in signalling. And then, should +need come, I may be able to show the mountaineers that I am fit to live +in their hearts . . . + +And all this work may prove an anodyne to pain of another kind. It will +help, at any rate, to keep my mind occupied whilst I am waiting for +another visit from my Lady of the Shroud. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _May_ 18, 1907. + +The two weeks that have passed have been busy, and may, as time goes on, +prove eventful. I really think they have placed me in a different +position with the Blue Mountaineers--certainly so far as those in this +part of the country are concerned. They are no longer suspicious of +me--which is much; though they have not yet received me into their +confidence. I suppose this will come in time, but I must not try to +hustle them. Already they are willing, so far as I can see, to use me to +their own ends. They accepted the signalling idea very readily, and are +quite willing to drill as much as I like. This can be (and I think is, +in its way) a pleasure to them. They are born soldiers, every man of +them; and practice together is only a realization of their own wishes and +a further development of their powers. I think I can understand the +trend of their thoughts, and what ideas of public policy lie behind them. +In all that we have attempted together as yet they are themselves in +absolute power. It rests with them to carry out any ideas I may suggest, +so they do not fear any assumption of power or governance on my part. +Thus, so long as they keep secret from me both their ideas of high policy +and their immediate intentions, I am powerless to do them ill, and I +_may_ be of service should occasion arise. Well, all told, this is much. +Already they accept me as an individual, not merely one of the mass. I +am pretty sure that they are satisfied of my personal _bona fides_. It +is policy and not mistrust that hedges me in. Well, policy is a matter +of time. They are a splendid people, but if they knew a little more than +they do they would understand that the wisest of all policies is +trust--when it can be given. I must hold myself in check, and never be +betrayed into a harsh thought towards them. Poor souls! with a thousand +years behind them of Turkish aggression, strenuously attempted by both +force and fraud, no wonder they are suspicious. Likewise every other +nation with whom they have ever come in contact--except one, my own--has +deceived or betrayed them. Anyhow, they are fine soldiers, and before +long we shall have an army that cannot be ignored. If I can get so that +they trust me, I shall ask Sir Colin to come out here. He would be a +splendid head for their army. His great military knowledge and tactical +skill would come in well. It makes me glow to think of what an army he +would turn out of this splendid material, and one especially adapted for +the style of fighting which would be necessary in this country. + +If a mere amateur like myself, who has only had experience of organizing +the wildest kind of savages, has been able to advance or compact their +individual style of fighting into systematic effort, a great soldier like +MacKelpie will bring them to perfection as a fighting machine. Our +Highlanders, when they come out, will foregather with them, as +mountaineers always do with each other. Then we shall have a force which +can hold its own against any odds. I only hope that Rooke will be +returning soon. I want to see those Ingis-Malbron rifles either safely +stored in the Castle or, what is better, divided up amongst the +mountaineers--a thing which will be done at the very earliest moment that +I can accomplish it. I have a conviction that when these men have +received their arms and ammunition from me they will understand me +better, and not keep any secrets from me. + +All this fortnight when I was not drilling or going about amongst the +mountaineers, and teaching them the code which I have now got perfected, +I was exploring the side of the mountain nearest to here. I could not +bear to be still. It is torture to me to be idle in my present condition +of mind regarding my Lady of the Shroud . . . Strange I do not mind +mentioning the word to myself now. I used to at first; but that +bitterness has all gone away. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--Continued. + + + _May_ 19, 1907. + +I was so restless early this morning that before daylight I was out +exploring on the mountain-side. By chance I came across a secret place +just as the day was breaking. Indeed, it was by the change of light as +the first sun-rays seemed to fall down the mountain-side that my +attention was called to an opening shown by a light behind it. It was, +indeed, a secret place--so secret that I thought at first I should keep +it to myself. In such a place as this either to hide in or to be able to +prevent anyone else hiding in might on occasion be an asset of safety. + +When, however, I saw indications rather than traces that someone had +already used it to camp in, I changed my mind, and thought that whenever +I should get an opportunity I would tell the Vladika of it, as he is a +man on whose discretion I can rely. If we ever have a war here or any +sort of invasion, it is just such places that may be dangerous. Even in +my own case it is much too near the Castle to be neglected. + +The indications were meagre--only where a fire had been on a little shelf +of rock; and it was not possible, through the results of burning +vegetation or scorched grass, to tell how long before the fire had been +alight. I could only guess. Perhaps the mountaineers might be able to +tell or even to guess better than I could. But I am not so sure of this. +I am a mountaineer myself, and with larger and more varied experience +than any of them. For myself, though I could not be certain, I came to +the conclusion that whoever had used the place had done so not many days +before. It could not have been quite recently; but it may not have been +very long ago. Whoever had used it had covered up his tracks well. Even +the ashes had been carefully removed, and the place where they had lain +was cleaned or swept in some way, so that there was no trace on the spot. +I applied some of my West African experience, and looked on the rough +bark of the trees to leeward, to where the agitated air, however +directed, must have come, unless it was wanted to call attention to the +place by the scattered wood-ashes, however fine. I found traces of it, +but they were faint. There had not been rain for several days; so the +dust must have been blown there since the rain had fallen, for it was +still dry. + +The place was a tiny gorge, with but one entrance, which was hidden +behind a barren spur of rock--just a sort of long fissure, jagged and +curving, in the rock, like a fault in the stratification. I could just +struggle through it with considerable effort, holding my breath here and +there, so as to reduce my depth of chest. Within it was tree-clad, and +full of possibilities of concealment. + +As I came away I marked well its direction and approaches, noting any +guiding mark which might aid in finding it by day or night. I explored +every foot of ground around it--in front, on each side, and above. But +from nowhere could I see an indication of its existence. It was a +veritable secret chamber wrought by the hand of Nature itself. I did not +return home till I was familiar with every detail near and around it. +This new knowledge added distinctly to my sense of security. + +Later in the day I tried to find the Vladika or any mountaineer of +importance, for I thought that such a hiding-place which had been used so +recently might be dangerous, and especially at a time when, as I had +learned at the meeting where they did _not_ fire their guns that there +may have been spies about or a traitor in the land. + +Even before I came to my own room to-night I had fully made up my mind to +go out early in the morning and find some proper person to whom to impart +the information, so that a watch might be kept on the place. It is now +getting on for midnight, and when I have had my usual last look at the +garden I shall turn in. Aunt Janet was uneasy all day, and especially so +this evening. I think it must have been my absence at the usual +breakfast-hour which got on her nerves; and that unsatisfied mental or +psychical irritation increased as the day wore on. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _May_ 20, 1907. + +The clock on the mantelpiece in my room, which chimes on the notes of the +clock at St. James's Palace, was striking midnight when I opened the +glass door on the terrace. I had put out my lights before I drew the +curtain, as I wished to see the full effect of the moonlight. Now that +the rainy season is over, the moon is quite as beautiful as it was in the +wet, and a great deal more comfortable. I was in evening dress, with a +smoking-jacket in lieu of a coat, and I felt the air mild and mellow on +the warm side, as I stood on the terrace. + +But even in that bright moonlight the further corners of the great garden +were full of mysterious shadows. I peered into them as well as I +could--and my eyes are pretty good naturally, and are well trained. +There was not the least movement. The air was as still as death, the +foliage as still as though wrought in stone. + +I looked for quite a long time in the hope of seeing something of my +Lady. The quarters chimed several times, but I stood on unheeding. At +last I thought I saw far off in the very corner of the old defending wall +a flicker of white. It was but momentary, and could hardly have +accounted in itself for the way my heart beat. I controlled myself, and +stood as though I, too, were a graven image. I was rewarded by seeing +presently another gleam of white. And then an unspeakable rapture stole +over me as I realized that my Lady was coming as she had come before. I +would have hurried out to meet her, but that I knew well that this would +not be in accord with her wishes. So, thinking to please her, I drew +back into the room. I was glad I had done so when, from the dark corner +where I stood, I saw her steal up the marble steps and stand timidly +looking in at the door. Then, after a long pause, came a whisper as +faint and sweet as the music of a distant AEolian harp: + +"Are you there? May I come in? Answer me! I am lonely and in fear!" +For answer I emerged from my dim corner so swiftly that she was startled. +I could hear from the quivering intake of her breath that she was +striving--happily with success--to suppress a shriek. + +"Come in," I said quietly. "I was waiting for you, for I felt that you +would come. I only came in from the terrace when I saw you coming, lest +you might fear that anyone might see us. That is not possible, but I +thought you wished that I should be careful." + +"I did--I do," she answered in a low, sweet voice, but very firmly. "But +never avoid precaution. There is nothing that may not happen here. +There may be eyes where we least expect--or suspect them." As she spoke +the last words solemnly and in a low whisper, she was entering the room. +I closed the glass door and bolted it, rolled back the steel grille, and +pulled the heavy curtain. Then, when I had lit a candle, I went over and +put a light to the fire. In a few seconds the dry wood had caught, and +the flames were beginning to rise and crackle. She had not objected to +my closing the window and drawing the curtain; neither did she make any +comment on my lighting the fire. She simply acquiesced in it, as though +it was now a matter of course. When I made the pile of cushions before +it as on the occasion of her last visit, she sank down on them, and held +out her white, trembling hands to the warmth. + +She was different to-night from what she had been on either of the two +former visits. From her present bearing I arrived at some gauge of her +self-concern, her self-respect. Now that she was dry, and not +overmastered by wet and cold, a sweet and gracious dignity seemed to +shine from her, enwrapping her, as it were, with a luminous veil. It was +not that she was by this made or shown as cold or distant, or in any way +harsh or forbidding. On the contrary, protected by this dignity, she +seemed much more sweet and genial than before. It was as though she felt +that she could afford to stoop now that her loftiness was realized--that +her position was recognized and secure. If her inherent dignity made an +impenetrable nimbus round her, this was against others; she herself was +not bound by it, or to be bound. So marked was this, so entirely and +sweetly womanly did she appear, that I caught myself wondering in flashes +of thought, which came as sharp periods of doubting judgment between +spells of unconscious fascination, how I had ever come to think she was +aught but perfect woman. As she rested, half sitting and half lying on +the pile of cushions, she was all grace, and beauty, and charm, and +sweetness--the veritable perfect woman of the dreams of a man, be he +young or old. To have such a woman sit by his hearth and hold her holy +of holies in his heart might well be a rapture to any man. Even an hour +of such entrancing joy might be well won by a lifetime of pain, by the +balance of a long life sacrificed, by the extinction of life itself. +Quick behind the record of such thoughts came the answer to the doubt +they challenged: if it should turn out that she was not living at all, +but one of the doomed and pitiful Un-Dead, then so much more on account +of her very sweetness and beauty would be the winning of her back to Life +and Heaven--even were it that she might find happiness in the heart and +in the arms of another man. + +Once, when I leaned over the hearth to put fresh logs on the fire, my +face was so close to hers that I felt her breath on my cheek. It +thrilled me to feel even the suggestion of that ineffable contact. Her +breath was sweet--sweet as the breath of a calf, sweet as the whiff of a +summer breeze across beds of mignonette. How could anyone believe for a +moment that such sweet breath could come from the lips of the dead--the +dead _in esse_ or _in posse_--that corruption could send forth fragrance +so sweet and pure? It was with satisfied happiness that, as I looked at +her from my stool, I saw the dancing of the flames from the beech-logs +reflected in her glorious black eyes, and the stars that were hidden in +them shine out with new colours and new lustre as they gleamed, rising +and falling like hopes and fears. As the light leaped, so did smiles of +quiet happiness flit over her beautiful face, the merriment of the joyous +flames being reflected in ever-changing dimples. + +At first I was a little disconcerted whenever my eyes took note of her +shroud, and there came a momentary regret that the weather had not been +again bad, so that there might have been compulsion for her putting on +another garment--anything lacking the loathsomeness of that pitiful +wrapping. Little by little, however, this feeling disappeared, and I +found no matter for even dissatisfaction in her wrapping. Indeed, my +thoughts found inward voice before the subject was dismissed from my +mind: + +"One becomes accustomed to anything--even a shroud!" But the thought was +followed by a submerging wave of pity that she should have had such a +dreadful experience. + +By-and-by we seemed both to forget everything--I know I did--except that +we were man and woman, and close together. The strangeness of the +situation and the circumstances did not seem of moment--not worth even a +passing thought. We still sat apart and said little, if anything. I +cannot recall a single word that either of us spoke whilst we sat before +the fire, but other language than speech came into play; the eyes told +their own story, as eyes can do, and more eloquently than lips whilst +exercising their function of speech. Question and answer followed each +other in this satisfying language, and with an unspeakable rapture I +began to realize that my affection was returned. Under these +circumstances it was unrealizable that there should be any incongruity in +the whole affair. I was not myself in the mood of questioning. I was +diffident with that diffidence which comes alone from true love, as +though it were a necessary emanation from that delightful and +overwhelming and commanding passion. In her presence there seemed to +surge up within me that which forbade speech. Speech under present +conditions would have seemed to me unnecessary, imperfect, and even +vulgarly overt. She, too, was silent. But now that I am alone, and +memory is alone with me, I am convinced that she also had been happy. +No, not that exactly. "Happiness" is not the word to describe either her +feeling or my own. Happiness is more active, a more conscious enjoyment. +We had been content. That expresses our condition perfectly; and now +that I can analyze my own feeling, and understand what the word implies, +I am satisfied of its accuracy. "Content" has both a positive and +negative meaning or antecedent condition. It implies an absence of +disturbing conditions as well as of wants; also it implies something +positive which has been won or achieved, or which has accrued. In our +state of mind--for though it may be presumption on my part, I am +satisfied that our ideas were mutual--it meant that we had reached an +understanding whence all that might come must be for good. God grant +that it may be so! + +As we sat silent, looking into each other's eyes, and whilst the stars in +hers were now full of latent fire, perhaps from the reflection of the +flames, she suddenly sprang to her feet, instinctively drawing the +horrible shroud round her as she rose to her full height in a voice full +of lingering emotion, as of one who is acting under spiritual compulsion +rather than personal will, she said in a whisper: + +"I must go at once. I feel the morning drawing nigh. I must be in my +place when the light of day comes." + +She was so earnest that I felt I must not oppose her wish; so I, too, +sprang to my feet and ran towards the window. I pulled the curtain aside +sufficiently far for me to press back the grille and reach the glass +door, the latch of which I opened. I passed behind the curtain again, +and held the edge of it back so that she could go through. For an +instant she stopped as she broke the long silence: + +"You are a true gentleman, and my friend. You understand all I wish. +Out of the depth of my heart I thank you." She held out her beautiful +high-bred hand. I took it in both mine as I fell on my knees, and raised +it to my lips. Its touch made me quiver. She, too, trembled as she +looked down at me with a glance which seemed to search my very soul. The +stars in her eyes, now that the firelight was no longer on them, had gone +back to their own mysterious silver. Then she drew her hand from mine +very, very gently, as though it would fain linger; and she passed out +behind the curtain with a gentle, sweet, dignified little bow which left +me on my knees. + +When I heard the glass door pulled-to gently behind her, I rose from my +knees and hurried without the curtain, just in time to watch her pass +down the steps. I wanted to see her as long as I could. The grey of +morning was just beginning to war with the night gloom, and by the faint +uncertain light I could see dimly the white figure flit between shrub and +statue till finally it merged in the far darkness. + +I stood for a long time on the terrace, sometimes looking into the +darkness in front of me, in case I might be blessed with another glimpse +of her; sometimes with my eyes closed, so that I might recall and hold in +my mind her passage down the steps. For the first time since I had met +her she had thrown back at me a glance as she stepped on the white path +below the terrace. With the glamour over me of that look, which was all +love and enticement, I could have dared all the powers that be. + +When the grey dawn was becoming apparent through the lightening of the +sky I returned to my room. In a dazed condition--half hypnotized by +love--I went to bed, and in dreams continued to think, all happily, of my +Lady of the Shroud. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _May_ 27, 1907. + +A whole week has gone since I saw my Love! There it is; no doubt +whatever is left in my mind about it now! Since I saw her my passion has +grown and grown by leaps and bounds, as novelists put it. It has now +become so vast as to overwhelm me, to wipe out all thought of doubt or +difficulty. I suppose it must be what men suffered--suffering need not +mean pain--under enchantments in old times. I am but as a straw whirled +in the resistless eddies of a whirlpool. I feel that I _must_ see her +again, even if it be but in her tomb in the crypt. I must, I suppose, +prepare myself for the venture, for many things have to be thought of. +The visit must not be at night, for in such case I might miss her, did +she come to me again here . . . + +The morning came and went, but my wish and intention still remained; and +so in the full tide of noon, with the sun in all its fiery force, I set +out for the old church of St. Sava. I carried with me a lantern with +powerful lens. I had wrapped it up secretly, for I had a feeling that I +should not like anyone to know that I had such a thing with me. + +On this occasion I had no misgivings. On the former visit I had for a +moment been overwhelmed at the unexpected sight of the body of the woman +I thought I loved--I knew it now--lying in her tomb. But now I knew all, +and it was to see this woman, though in her tomb, that I came. + +When I had lit my lantern, which I did as soon as I had pushed open the +great door, which was once again unlocked, I turned my steps to the steps +of the crypt, which lay behind the richly carven wood screen. This I +could see, with the better light, was a noble piece of work of priceless +beauty and worth. I tried to keep my heart in full courage with thoughts +of my Lady, and of the sweetness and dignity of our last meeting; but, +despite all, it sank down, down, and turned to water as I passed with +uncertain feet down the narrow, tortuous steps. My concern, I am now +convinced, was not for myself, but that she whom I adored should have to +endure such a fearful place. As anodyne to my own pain I thought what it +would be, and how I should feel, when I should have won for her a way out +of that horror, at any rate. This thought reassured me somewhat, and +restored my courage. It was in something of the same fashion which has +hitherto carried me out of tight places as well as into them that at last +I pushed open the low, narrow door at the foot of the rock-hewn staircase +and entered the crypt. + +Without delay I made my way to the glass-covered tomb set beneath the +hanging chain. I could see by the flashing of the light around me that +my hand which held the lantern trembled. With a great effort I steadied +myself, and raising the lantern, turned its light down into the +sarcophagus. + +Once again the fallen lantern rang on the tingling glass, and I stood +alone in the darkness, for an instant almost paralyzed with surprised +disappointment. + +The tomb was empty! Even the trappings of the dead had been removed. + +I knew not what happened till I found myself groping my way up the +winding stair. Here, in comparison with the solid darkness of the crypt, +it seemed almost light. The dim expanse of the church sent a few +straggling rays down the vaulted steps, and as I could see, be it never +so dimly, I felt I was not in absolute darkness. With the light came a +sense of power and fresh courage, and I groped my way back into the crypt +again. There, by now and again lighting matches, I found my way to the +tomb and recovered my lantern. Then I took my way slowly--for I wished +to prove, if not my own courage, at least such vestiges of self-respect +as the venture had left me--through the church, where I extinguished my +lantern, and out through the great door into the open sunlight. I seemed +to have heard, both in the darkness of the crypt and through the dimness +of the church, mysterious sounds as of whispers and suppressed breathing; +but the memory of these did not count for much when once I was free. I +was only satisfied of my own consciousness and identity when I found +myself on the broad rock terrace in front of the church, with the fierce +sunlight beating on my upturned face, and, looking downward, saw far +below me the rippled blue of the open sea. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _June_ 3, 1907. + +Another week has elapsed--a week full of movement of many kinds and in +many ways--but as yet I have had no tale or tidings of my Lady of the +Shroud. I have not had an opportunity of going again in daylight to St. +Sava's as I should have liked to have done. I felt that I must not go at +night. The night is her time of freedom, and it must be kept for her--or +else I may miss her, or perhaps never see her again. + +The days have been full of national movement. The mountaineers have +evidently been organizing themselves, for some reason which I cannot +quite understand, and which they have hesitated to make known to me. I +have taken care not to manifest any curiosity, whatever I may have felt. +This would certainly arouse suspicion, and might ultimately cause +disaster to my hopes of aiding the nation in their struggle to preserve +their freedom. + +These fierce mountaineers are strangely--almost unduly--suspicious, and +the only way to win their confidence is to begin the trusting. A young +American attache of the Embassy at Vienna, who had made a journey through +the Land of the Blue Mountains, once put it to me in this form: + +"Keep your head shut, and they'll open theirs. If you don't, they'll +open it for you--down to the chine!" + +It was quite apparent to me that they were completing some fresh +arrangements for signalling with a code of their own. This was natural +enough, and in no way inconsistent with the measure of friendliness +already shown to me. Where there are neither telegraphs, railways, nor +roads, any effective form of communication must--can only be purely +personal. And so, if they wish to keep any secret amongst themselves, +they must preserve the secret of their code. I should have dearly liked +to learn their new code and their manner of using it, but as I want to be +a helpful friend to them--and as this implies not only trust, but the +appearance of it--I had to school myself to patience. + +This attitude so far won their confidence that before we parted at our +last meeting, after most solemn vows of faith and secrecy, they took me +into the secret. This was, however, only to the extent of teaching me +the code and method; they still withheld from me rigidly the fact or +political secret, or whatever it was that was the mainspring of their +united action. + +When I got home I wrote down, whilst it was fresh in my memory, all they +told me. This script I studied until I had it so thoroughly by heart +that I _could_ not forget it. Then I burned the paper. However, there +is now one gain at least: with my semaphore I can send through the Blue +Mountains from side to side, with expedition, secrecy, and exactness, a +message comprehensible to all. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _June_ 6, 1907. + +Last night I had a new experience of my Lady of the Shroud--in so far as +form was concerned, at any rate. I was in bed, and just falling asleep, +when I heard a queer kind of scratching at the glass door of the terrace. +I listened acutely, my heart beating hard. The sound seemed to come from +low down, close to the floor. I jumped out of bed, ran to the window, +and, pulling aside the heavy curtains, looked out. + +The garden looked, as usual, ghostly in the moonlight, but there was not +the faintest sign of movement anywhere, and no one was on or near the +terrace. I looked eagerly down to where the sound had seemed to come +from. + +There, just inside the glass door, as though it had been pushed under the +door, lay a paper closely folded in several laps. I picked it up and +opened it. I was all in a tumult, for my heart told me whence it came. +Inside was written in English, in a large, sprawling hand, such as might +be from an English child of seven or eight: + +"Meet me at the Flagstaff on the Rock!" + +I knew the place, of course. On the farthermost point of the rock on +which the Castle stands is set a high flagstaff, whereon in old time the +banner of the Vissarion family flew. At some far-off time, when the +Castle had been liable to attack, this point had been strongly fortified. +Indeed, in the days when the bow was a martial weapon it must have been +quite impregnable. + +A covered gallery, with loopholes for arrows, had been cut in the solid +rock, running right round the point, quite surrounding the flagstaff and +the great boss of rock on whose centre it was reared. A narrow +drawbridge of immense strength had connected--in peaceful times, and +still remained--the outer point of rock with an entrance formed in the +outer wall, and guarded with flanking towers and a portcullis. Its use +was manifestly to guard against surprise. From this point only could be +seen the line of the rocks all round the point. Thus, any secret attack +by boats could be made impossible. + +Having hurriedly dressed myself, and taking with me both hunting-knife +and revolver, I went out on the terrace, taking the precaution, unusual +to me, of drawing the grille behind me and locking it. Matters around +the Castle are in far too disturbed a condition to allow the taking of +any foolish chances, either in the way of being unarmed or of leaving the +private entrance to the Castle open. I found my way through the rocky +passage, and climbed by the Jacob's ladder fixed on the rock--a device of +convenience in time of peace--to the foot of the flagstaff. + +I was all on fire with expectation, and the time of going seemed +exceeding long; so I was additionally disappointed by the contrast when I +did not see my Lady there when I arrived. However, my heart beat freely +again--perhaps more freely than ever--when I saw her crouching in the +shadow of the Castle wall. From where she was she could not be seen from +any point save that alone which I occupied; even from there it was only +her white shroud that was conspicuous through the deep gloom of the +shadow. The moonlight was so bright that the shadows were almost +unnaturally black. + +I rushed over towards her, and when close was about to say impulsively, +"Why did you leave your tomb?" when it suddenly struck me that the +question would be malapropos and embarrassing in many ways. So, better +judgment prevailing, I said instead: + +"It has been so long since I saw you! It has seemed an eternity to me!" +Her answer came as quickly as even I could have wished; she spoke +impulsively and without thought: + +"It has been long to me too! Oh, so long! so long! I have asked you to +come out here because I wanted to see you so much that I could not wait +any longer. I have been heart-hungry for a sight of you!" + +Her words, her eager attitude, the ineffable something which conveys the +messages of the heart, the longing expression in her eyes as the full +moonlight fell on her face, showing the stars as living gold--for in her +eagerness she had stepped out towards me from the shadow--all set me on +fire. Without a thought or a word--for it was Nature speaking in the +language of Love, which is a silent tongue--I stepped towards her and +took her in my arms. She yielded with that sweet unconsciousness which +is the perfection of Love, as if it was in obedience to some command +uttered before the beginning of the world. Probably without any +conscious effort on either side--I know there was none on mine--our +mouths met in the first kiss of love. + +At the time nothing in the meeting struck me as out of the common. But +later in the night, when I was alone and in darkness, whenever I thought +of it all--its strangeness and its stranger rapture--I could not but be +sensible of the bizarre conditions for a love meeting. The place lonely, +the time night, the man young and strong, and full of life and hope and +ambition; the woman, beautiful and ardent though she was, a woman +seemingly dead, clothed in the shroud in which she had been wrapped when +lying in her tomb in the crypt of the old church. + +Whilst we were together, anyhow, there was little thought of the kind; no +reasoning of any kind on my part. Love has its own laws and its own +logic. Under the flagstaff, where the Vissarion banner was wont to flap +in the breeze, she was in my arms; her sweet breath was on my face; her +heart was beating against my own. What need was there for reason at all? +_Inter arma silent leges_--the voice of reason is silent in the stress of +passion. Dead she may be, or Un-dead--a Vampire with one foot in Hell +and one on earth. But I love her; and come what may, here or hereafter, +she is mine. As my mate, we shall fare along together, whatsoever the +end may be, or wheresoever our path may lead. If she is indeed to be won +from the nethermost Hell, then be mine the task! + +But to go back to the record. When I had once started speaking to her in +words of passion I could not stop. I did not want to--if I could; and +she did not appear to wish it either. Can there be a woman--alive or +dead--who would not want to hear the rapture of her lover expressed to +her whilst she is enclosed in his arms? + +There was no attempt at reticence on my part now; I took it for granted +that she knew all that I surmised, and, as she made neither protest nor +comment, that she accepted my belief as to her indeterminate existence. +Sometimes her eyes would be closed, but even then the rapture of her face +was almost beyond belief. Then, when the beautiful eyes would open and +gaze on me, the stars that were in them would shine and scintillate as +though they were formed of living fire. She said little, very little; +but though the words were few, every syllable was fraught with love, and +went straight to the very core of my heart. + +By-and-by, when our transport had calmed to joy, I asked when I might +next see her, and how and where I might find her when I should want to. +She did not reply directly, but, holding me close in her arms, whispered +in my ear with that breathless softness which is a lover's rapture of +speech: + +"I have come here under terrible difficulties, not only because I love +you--and that would be enough--but because, as well as the joy of seeing +you, I wanted to warn you." + +"To warn me! Why?" I queried. Her reply came with a bashful hesitation, +with something of a struggle in it, as of one who for some ulterior +reason had to pick her words: + +"There are difficulties and dangers ahead of you. You are beset with +them; and they are all the greater because they are, of grim necessity, +hidden from you. You cannot go anywhere, look in any direction, do +anything, say anything, but it may be a signal for danger. My dear, it +lurks everywhere--in the light as well as in the darkness; in the open as +well as in the secret places; from friends as well as foes; when you are +least prepared; when you may least expect it. Oh, I know it, and what it +is to endure; for I share it for you--for your dear sake!" + +"My darling!" was all I could say, as I drew her again closer to me and +kissed her. After a bit she was calmer; seeing this, I came back to the +subject that she had--in part, at all events--come to me to speak about: + +"But if difficulty and danger hedge me in so everlastingly, and if I am +to have no indication whatever of its kind or purpose, what can I do? +God knows I would willingly guard myself--not on my own account, but for +your dear sake. I have now a cause to live and be strong, and to keep +all my faculties, since it may mean much to you. If you may not tell me +details, may you not indicate to me some line of conduct, of action, that +would be most in accord with your wishes--or, rather, with your idea of +what would be best?" + +She looked at me fixedly before speaking--a long, purposeful, loving look +which no man born of woman could misunderstand. Then she spoke slowly, +deliberately, emphatically: + +"Be bold, and fear not. Be true to yourself, to me--it is the same +thing. These are the best guards you can use. Your safety does not rest +with me. Ah, I wish it did! I wish to God it did!" In my inner heart +it thrilled me not merely to hear the expression of her wish, but to hear +her use the name of God as she did. I understand now, in the calm of +this place and with the sunlight before me, that my belief as to her +being all woman--living woman--was not quite dead: but though at the +moment my heart did not recognize the doubt, my brain did. And I made up +my mind that we should not part this time until she knew that I had seen +her, and where; but, despite my own thoughts, my outer ears listened +greedily as she went on. + +"As for me, you may not find _me_, but _I_ shall find _you_, be sure! +And now we must say 'Good-night,' my dear, my dear! Tell me once again +that you love me, for it is a sweetness that one does not wish to +forego--even one who wears such a garment as this--and rests where I must +rest." As she spoke she held up part of her cerements for me to see. +What could I do but take her once again in my arms and hold her close, +close. God knows it was all in love; but it was passionate love which +surged through my every vein as I strained her dear body to mine. But +yet this embrace was not selfish; it was not all an expression of my own +passion. It was based on pity--the pity which is twin-born with true +love. Breathless from our kisses, when presently we released each other, +she stood in a glorious rapture, like a white spirit in the moonlight, +and as her lovely, starlit eyes seemed to devour me, she spoke in a +languorous ecstasy: + +"Oh, how you love me! how you love me! It is worth all I have gone +through for this, even to wearing this terrible drapery." And again she +pointed to her shroud. + +Here was my chance to speak of what I knew, and I took it. "I know, I +know. Moreover, I know that awful resting-place." + +I was interrupted, cut short in the midst of my sentence, not by any +word, but by the frightened look in her eyes and the fear-mastered way in +which she shrank away from me. I suppose in reality she could not be +paler than she looked when the colour-absorbing moonlight fell on her; +but on the instant all semblance of living seemed to shrink and fall +away, and she looked with eyes of dread as if in I some awful way held in +thrall. But for the movement of the pitiful glance, she would have +seemed of soulless marble, so deadly cold did she look. + +The moments that dragged themselves out whilst I waited for her to speak +seemed endless. At length her words came in an awed whisper, so faint +that even in that stilly night I could hardly hear it: + +"You know--you know my resting-place! How--when was that?" There was +nothing to do now but to speak out the truth: + +"I was in the crypt of St. Sava. It was all by accident. I was +exploring all around the Castle, and I went there in my course. I found +the winding stair in the rock behind the screen, and went down. Dear, I +loved you well before that awful moment, but then, even as the lantern +fell tingling on the glass, my love multiplied itself, with pity as a +factor." She was silent for a few seconds. When she spoke, there was a +new tone in her voice: + +"But were you not shocked?" + +"Of course I was," I answered on the spur of the moment, and I now think +wisely. "Shocked is hardly the word. I was horrified beyond anything +that words can convey that you--_you_ should have to so endure! I did +not like to return, for I feared lest my doing so might set some barrier +between us. But in due time I did return on another day." + +"Well?" Her voice was like sweet music. + +"I had another shock that time, worse than before, for you were not +there. Then indeed it was that I knew to myself how dear you were--how +dear you are to me. Whilst I live, you--living or dead--shall always be +in my heart." She breathed hard. The elation in her eyes made them +outshine the moonlight, but she said no word. I went on: + +"My dear, I had come into the crypt full of courage and hope, though I +knew what dreadful sight should sear my eyes once again. But we little +know what may be in store for us, no matter what we expect. I went out +with a heart like water from that dreadful desolation." + +"Oh, how you love me, dear!" Cheered by her words, and even more by her +tone, I went on with renewed courage. There was no halting, no faltering +in my intention now: + +"You and I, my dear, were ordained for each other. I cannot help it that +you had already suffered before I knew you. It may be that there may be +for you still suffering that I may not prevent, endurance that I may not +shorten; but what a man can do is yours. Not Hell itself will stop me, +if it be possible that I may win through its torments with you in my +arms!" + +"Will nothing stop you, then?" Her question was breathed as softly as +the strain of an AEolian harp. + +"Nothing!" I said, and I heard my own teeth snap together. There was +something speaking within me stronger than I had ever known myself to be. +Again came a query, trembling, quavering, quivering, as though the issue +was of more than life or death: + +"Not this?" She held up a corner of the shroud, and as she saw my face +and realized the answer before I spoke, went on: "With all it implies?" + +"Not if it were wrought of the cerecloths of the damned!" There was a +long pause. Her voice was more resolute when she spoke again. It rang. +Moreover, there was in it a joyous note, as of one who feels new hope: + +"But do you know what men say? Some of them, that I am dead and buried; +others, that I am not only dead and buried, but that I am one of those +unhappy beings that may not die the common death of man. Who live on a +fearful life-in-death, whereby they are harmful to all. Those unhappy +Un-dead whom men call Vampires--who live on the blood of the living, and +bring eternal damnation as well as death with the poison of their +dreadful kisses! + +"I know what men say sometimes," I answered. "But I know also what my +own heart says; and I rather choose to obey its calling than all the +voices of the living or the dead. Come what may, I am pledged to you. +If it be that your old life has to be rewon for you out of the very jaws +of Death and Hell, I shall keep the faith I have pledged, and that here I +pledge again!" As I finished speaking I sank on my knees at her feet, +and, putting my arms round her, drew her close to me. Her tears rained +down on my face as she stroked my hair with her soft, strong hand and +whispered to me: + +"This is indeed to be one. What more holy marriage can God give to any +of His creatures?" We were both silent for a time. + +I think I was the first to recover my senses. That I did so was manifest +by my asking her: "When may we meet again?"--a thing I had never +remembered doing at any of our former partings. She answered with a +rising and falling of the voice that was just above a whisper, as soft +and cooing as the voice of a pigeon: + +"That will be soon--as soon as I can manage it, be sure. My dear, my +dear!" The last four words of endearment she spoke in a low but +prolonged and piercing tone which made me thrill with delight. + +"Give me some token," I said, "that I may have always close to me to ease +my aching heart till we meet again, and ever after, for love's sake!" +Her mind seemed to leap to understanding, and with a purpose all her own. +Stooping for an instant, she tore off with swift, strong fingers a +fragment of her shroud. This, having kissed it, she handed to me, +whispering: + +"It is time that we part. You must leave me now. Take this, and keep it +for ever. I shall be less unhappy in my terrible loneliness whilst it +lasts if I know that this my gift, which for good or ill is a part of me +as you know me, is close to you. It may be, my very dear, that some day +you may be glad and even proud of this hour, as I am." She kissed me as +I took it. + +"For life or death, I care not which, so long as I am with you!" I said, +as I moved off. Descending the Jacob's ladder, I made my way down the +rock-hewn passage. + +The last thing I saw was the beautiful face of my Lady of the Shroud as +she leaned over the edge of the opening. Her eyes were like glowing +stars as her looks followed me. That look shall never fade from my +memory. + +After a few agitating moments of thought I half mechanically took my way +down to the garden. Opening the grille, I entered my lonely room, which +looked all the more lonely for the memory of the rapturous moments under +the Flagstaff. I went to bed as one in a dream. There I lay till +sunrise--awake and thinking. + + + + +BOOK V: A RITUAL AT MIDNIGHT + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _June_ 20, 1907. + +The time has gone as quickly as work can effect since I saw my Lady. As +I told the mountaineers, Rooke, whom I had sent on the service, had made +a contract for fifty thousand Ingis-Malbron rifles, and as many tons of +ammunition as the French experts calculated to be a full supply for a +year of warfare. I heard from him by our secret telegraph code that the +order had been completed, and that the goods were already on the way. +The morning after the meeting at the Flagstaff I had word that at night +the vessel--one chartered by Rooke for the purpose--would arrive at +Vissarion during the night. We were all expectation. I had always now +in the Castle a signalling party, the signals being renewed as fast as +the men were sufficiently expert to proceed with their practice alone or +in groups. We hoped that every fighting-man in the country would in time +become an expert signaller. Beyond these, again, we have always a few +priests. The Church of the country is a militant Church; its priests are +soldiers, its Bishops commanders. But they all serve wherever the battle +most needs them. Naturally they, as men of brains, are quicker at +learning than the average mountaineers; with the result that they learnt +the code and the signalling almost by instinct. We have now at least one +such expert in each community of them, and shortly the priests alone will +be able to signal, if need be, for the nation; thus releasing for active +service the merely fighting-man. The men at present with me I took into +confidence as to the vessel's arrival, and we were all ready for work +when the man on the lookout at the Flagstaff sent word that a vessel +without lights was creeping in towards shore. We all assembled on the +rocky edge of the creek, and saw her steal up the creek and gain the +shelter of the harbour. When this had been effected, we ran out the boom +which protects the opening, and after that the great armoured +sliding-gates which Uncle Roger had himself had made so as to protect the +harbour in case of need. + +We then came within and assisted in warping the steamer to the side of +the dock. + +Rooke looked fit, and was full of fire and vigour. His responsibility +and the mere thought of warlike action seemed to have renewed his youth. + +When we had arranged for the unloading of the cases of arms and +ammunition, I took Rooke into the room which we call my "office," where +he gave me an account of his doings. He had not only secured the rifles +and the ammunition for them, but he had purchased from one of the small +American Republics an armoured yacht which had been especially built for +war service. He grew quite enthusiastic, even excited, as he told me of +her: + +"She is the last word in naval construction--a torpedo yacht. A small +cruiser, with turbines up to date, oil-fuelled, and fully armed with the +latest and most perfect weapons and explosives of all kinds. The fastest +boat afloat to-day. Built by Thorneycroft, engined by Parsons, armoured +by Armstrong, armed by Crupp. If she ever comes into action, it will be +bad for her opponent, for she need not fear to tackle anything less than +a _Dreadnought_." + +He also told me that from the same Government, whose nation had just +established an unlooked-for peace, he had also purchased a whole park of +artillery of the very latest patterns, and that for range and accuracy +the guns were held to be supreme. These would follow before long, and +with them their proper ammunition, with a shipload of the same to follow +shortly after. + +When he had told me all the rest of his news, and handed me the accounts, +we went out to the dock to see the debarkation of the war material. +Knowing that it was arriving, I had sent word in the afternoon to the +mountaineers to tell them to come and remove it. They had answered the +call, and it really seemed to me that the whole of the land must that +night have been in motion. + +They came as individuals, grouping themselves as they came within the +defences of the Castle; some had gathered at fixed points on the way. +They went secretly and in silence, stealing through the forests like +ghosts, each party when it grouped taking the place of that which had +gone on one of the routes radiating round Vissarion. Their coming and +going was more than ghostly. It was, indeed, the outward manifestation +of an inward spirit--a whole nation dominated by one common purpose. + +The men in the steamer were nearly all engineers, mostly British, well +conducted, and to be depended upon. Rooke had picked them separately, +and in the doing had used well his great experience of both men and +adventurous life. These men were to form part of the armoured yacht's +crew when she should come into the Mediterranean waters. They and the +priests and fighting-men in the Castle worked well together, and with a +zeal that was beyond praise. The heavy cases seemed almost of their own +accord to leave the holds, so fast came the procession of them along the +gangways from deck to dock-wall. It was a part of my design that the +arms should be placed in centres ready for local distribution. In such a +country as this, without railways or even roads, the distribution of war +material in any quantity is a great labour, for it has to be done +individually, or at least from centres. + +But of this work the great number of mountaineers who were arriving made +little account. As fast as the ship's company, with the assistance of +the priests and fighting-men, placed the cases on the quay, the engineers +opened them and laid the contents ready for portage. The mountaineers +seemed to come in a continuous stream; each in turn shouldered his burden +and passed out, the captain of his section giving him as he passed his +instruction where to go and in what route. The method had been already +prepared in my office ready for such a distribution when the arms should +arrive, and descriptions and quantities had been noted by the captains. +The whole affair was treated by all as a matter of the utmost secrecy. +Hardly a word was spoken beyond the necessary directions, and these were +given in whispers. All night long the stream of men went and came, and +towards dawn the bulk of the imported material was lessened by half. On +the following night the remainder was removed, after my own men had +stored in the Castle the rifles and ammunition reserved for its defence +if necessary. It was advisable to keep a reserve supply in case it +should ever be required. The following night Rooke went away secretly in +the chartered vessel. He had to bring back with him the purchased cannon +and heavy ammunition, which had been in the meantime stored on one of the +Greek islands. The second morning, having had secret word that the +steamer was on the way, I had given the signal for the assembling of the +mountaineers. + +A little after dark the vessel, showing no light, stole into the creek. +The barrier gates were once again closed, and when a sufficient number of +men had arrived to handle the guns, we began to unload. The actual +deportation was easy enough, for the dock had all necessary appliances +quite up to date, including a pair of shears for gun-lifting which could +be raised into position in a very short time. + +The guns were well furnished with tackle of all sorts, and before many +hours had passed a little procession of them disappeared into the woods +in ghostly silence. A number of men surrounded each, and they moved as +well as if properly supplied with horses. + +In the meantime, and for a week after the arrival of the guns, the +drilling went on without pause. The gun-drill was wonderful. In the +arduous work necessary for it the great strength and stamina of the +mountaineers showed out wonderfully. They did not seem to know fatigue +any more than they knew fear. + +For a week this went on, till a perfect discipline and management was +obtained. They did not practise the shooting, for this would have made +secrecy impossible. It was reported all along the Turkish frontier that +the Sultan's troops were being massed, and though this was not on a war +footing, the movement was more or less dangerous. The reports of our own +spies, although vague as to the purpose and extent of the movement, were +definite as to something being on foot. And Turkey does not do something +without a purpose that bodes ill to someone. Certainly the sound of +cannon, which is a far-reaching sound, would have given them warning of +our preparations, and would so have sadly minimized their effectiveness. + +When the cannon had all been disposed of--except, of course, those +destined for defence of the Castle or to be stored there--Rooke went away +with the ship and crew. The ship he was to return to the owners; the men +would be shipped on the war-yacht, of whose crew they would form a part. +The rest of them had been carefully selected by Rooke himself, and were +kept in secrecy at Cattaro, ready for service the moment required. They +were all good men, and quite capable of whatever work they might be set +to. So Rooke told me, and he ought to know. The experience of his young +days as a private made him an expert in such a job. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _June_ 24, 1907. + +Last night I got from my Lady a similar message to the last, and +delivered in a similar way. This time, however, our meeting was to be on +the leads of the Keep. + +I dressed myself very carefully before going on this adventure, lest by +any chance of household concern, any of the servants should see me; for +if this should happen, Aunt Janet would be sure to hear of it, which +would give rise to endless surmises and questionings--a thing I was far +from desiring. + +I confess that in thinking the matter over during the time I was making +my hurried preparations I was at a loss to understand how any human body, +even though it be of the dead, could go or be conveyed to such a place +without some sort of assistance, or, at least, collusion, on the part of +some of the inmates. At the visit to the Flagstaff circumstances were +different. This spot was actually outside the Castle, and in order to +reach it I myself had to leave the Castle privately, and from the garden +ascend to the ramparts. But here was no such possibility. The Keep was +an _imperium in imperio_. It stood within the Castle, though separated +from it, and it had its own defences against intrusion. The roof of it +was, so far as I knew, as little approachable as the magazine. + +The difficulty did not, however, trouble me beyond a mere passing +thought. In the joy of the coming meeting and the longing rapture at the +mere thought of it, all difficulties disappeared. Love makes its own +faith, and I never doubted that my Lady would be waiting for me at the +place designated. When I had passed through the little arched passages, +and up the doubly-grated stairways contrived in the massiveness of the +walls, I let myself out on the leads. It was well that as yet the times +were sufficiently peaceful not to necessitate guards or sentries at all +such points. + +There, in a dim corner where the moonlight and the passing clouds threw +deep shadows, I saw her, clothed as ever in her shroud. Why, I know not. +I felt somehow that the situation was even more serious than ever. But I +was steeled to whatever might come. My mind had been already made up. +To carry out my resolve to win the woman I loved I was ready to face +death. But now, after we had for a few brief moments held each other in +our arms, I was willing to accept death--or more than death. Now, more +than before, was she sweet and dear to me. Whatever qualms there might +have been at the beginning of our love-making, or during the progress of +it, did not now exist. We had exchanged vows and confidences, and +acknowledged our loves. What, then, could there be of distrust, or even +doubt, that the present might not set at naught? But even had there been +such doubts or qualms, they must have disappeared in the ardour of our +mutual embrace. I was by now mad for her, and was content to be so mad. +When she had breath to speak after the strictness of our embrace, she +said: + +"I have come to warn you to be more than ever careful." It was, I +confess, a pang to me, who thought only of love, to hear that anything +else should have been the initiative power of her coming, even though it +had been her concern for my own safety. I could not but notice the +bitter note of chagrin in my voice as I answered: + +"It was for love's sake that _I_ came." She, too, evidently felt the +undercurrent of pain, for she said quickly: + +"Ah, dearest, I, too, came for love's sake. It is because I love you +that I am so anxious about you. What would the world--ay, or heaven--be +to me without you?" + +There was such earnest truth in her tone that the sense and realization +of my own harshness smote me. In the presence of such love as this even +a lover's selfishness must become abashed. I could not express myself in +words, so simply raised her slim hand in mine and kissed it. As it lay +warm in my own I could not but notice, as well as its fineness, its +strength and the firmness of its clasp. Its warmth and fervour struck +into my heart--and my brain. Thereupon I poured out to her once more my +love for her, she listening all afire. When passion had had its say, the +calmer emotions had opportunity of expression. When I was satisfied +afresh of her affection, I began to value her care for my safety, and so +I went back to the subject. Her very insistence, based on personal +affection, gave me more solid ground for fear. In the moment of love +transports I had forgotten, or did not think, of what wonderful power or +knowledge she must have to be able to move in such strange ways as she +did. Why, at this very moment she was within my own gates. Locks and +bars, even the very seal of death itself, seemed unable to make for her a +prison-house. With such freedom of action and movement, going when she +would into secret places, what might she not know that was known to +others? How could anyone keep secret from such an one even an ill +intent? Such thoughts, such surmises, had often flashed through my mind +in moments of excitement rather than of reflection, but never long enough +to become fixed into belief. But yet the consequences, the convictions, +of them were with me, though unconsciously, though the thoughts +themselves were perhaps forgotten or withered before development. + +"And you?" I asked her earnestly. "What about danger to you?" She +smiled, her little pearl-white teeth gleaming in the moonlight, as she +spoke: + +"There is no danger for me. I am safe. I am the safest person, perhaps +the only safe person, in all this land." The full significance of her +words did not seem to come to me all at once. Some base for +understanding such an assertion seemed to be wanting. It was not that I +did not trust or believe her, but that I thought she might be mistaken. +I wanted to reassure myself, so in my distress I asked unthinkingly: + +"How the safest? What is your protection?" For several moments that +spun themselves out endlessly she looked me straight in the face, the +stars in her eyes seeming to glow like fire; then, lowering her head, she +took a fold of her shroud and held it up to me. + +"This!" + +The meaning was complete and understandable now. I could not speak at +once for the wave of emotion which choked me. I dropped on my knees, and +taking her in my arms, held her close to me. She saw that I was moved, +and tenderly stroked my hair, and with delicate touch pressed down my +head on her bosom, as a mother might have done to comfort a frightened +child. + +Presently we got back to the realities of life again. I murmured: + +"Your safety, your life, your happiness are all-in-all to me. When will +you let them be my care?" She trembled in my arms, nestling even closer +to me. Her own arms seemed to quiver with delight as she said: + +"Would you indeed like me to be always with you? To me it would be a +happiness unspeakable; and to you, what would it be?" + +I thought that she wished to hear me speak my love to her, and that, +woman-like, she had led me to the utterance, and so I spoke again of the +passion that now raged in me, she listening eagerly as we strained each +other tight in our arms. At last there came a pause, a long, long pause, +and our hearts beat consciously in unison as we stood together. +Presently she said in a sweet, low, intense whisper, as soft as the +sighing of summer wind: + +"It shall be as you wish; but oh, my dear, you will have to first go +through an ordeal which may try you terribly! Do not ask me anything! +You must not ask, because I may not answer, and it would be pain to me to +deny you anything. Marriage with such an one as I am has its own ritual, +which may not be foregone. It may . . . " I broke passionately into her +speaking: + +"There is no ritual that I fear, so long as it be that it is for your +good, and your lasting happiness. And if the end of it be that I may +call you mine, there is no horror in life or death that I shall not +gladly face. Dear, I ask you nothing. I am content to leave myself in +your hands. You shall advise me when the time comes, and I shall be +satisfied, content to obey. Content! It is but a poor word to express +what I long for! I shall shirk nothing which may come to me from this or +any other world, so long as it is to make you mine!" Once again her +murmured happiness was music to my ears: + +"Oh, how you love me! how you love me, dear, dear!" She took me in her +arms, and for a few seconds we hung together. Suddenly she tore herself +apart from me, and stood drawn up to the full height, with a dignity I +cannot describe or express. Her voice had a new dominance, as with firm +utterance and in staccato manner she said: + +"Rupert Sent Leger, before we go a step further I must say something to +you, ask you something, and I charge you, on your most sacred honour and +belief, to answer me truly. Do you believe me to be one of those unhappy +beings who may not die, but have to live in shameful existence between +earth and the nether world, and whose hellish mission is to destroy, body +and soul, those who love them till they fall to their level? You are a +gentleman, and a brave one. I have found you fearless. Answer me in +sternest truth, no matter what the issue may be!" + +She stood there in the glamorous moonlight with a commanding dignity +which seemed more than human. In that mystic light her white shroud +seemed diaphanous, and she appeared like a spirit of power. What was I +to say? How could I admit to such a being that I had actually had at +moments, if not a belief, a passing doubt? It was a conviction with me +that if I spoke wrongly I should lose her for ever. I was in a desperate +strait. In such a case there is but one solid ground which one may rest +on--the Truth. + +I really felt I was between the devil and the deep sea. There was no +avoiding the issue, and so, out of this all-embracing, all-compelling +conviction of truth, I spoke. + +For a fleeting moment I felt that my tone was truculent, and almost +hesitated; but as I saw no anger or indignation on my Lady's face, but +rather an eager approval, I was reassured. A woman, after all, is glad +to see a man strong, for all belief in him must be based on that. + +"I shall speak the truth. Remember that I have no wish to hurt your +feelings, but as you conjure me by my honour, you must forgive me if I +pain. It is true that I had at first--ay, and later, when I came to +think matters over after you had gone, when reason came to the aid of +impression--a passing belief that you are a Vampire. How can I fail to +have, even now, though I love you with all my soul, though I have held +you in my arms and kissed you on the mouth, a doubt, when all the +evidences seem to point to one thing? Remember that I have only seen you +at night, except that bitter moment when, in the broad noonday of the +upper world, I saw you, clad as ever in a shroud, lying seemingly dead in +a tomb in the crypt of St. Sava's Church . . . But let that pass. Such +belief as I have is all in you. Be you woman or Vampire, it is all the +same to me. It is _you_ whom I love! Should it be that you are--you are +not woman, which I cannot believe, then it will be my glory to break your +fetters, to open your prison, and set you free. To that I consecrate my +life." For a few seconds I stood silent, vibrating with the passion +which had been awakened in me. She had by now lost the measure of her +haughty isolation, and had softened into womanhood again. It was really +like a realization of the old theme of Pygmalion's statue. It was with +rather a pleading than a commanding voice that she said: + +"And shall you always be true to me?" + +"Always--so help me, God!" I answered, and I felt that there could be no +lack of conviction in my voice. + +Indeed, there was no cause for such lack. She also stood for a little +while stone-still, and I was beginning to expand to the rapture which was +in store for me when she should take me again in her arms. + +But there was no such moment of softness. All at once she started as if +she had suddenly wakened from a dream, and on the spur of the moment +said: + +"Now go, go!" I felt the conviction of necessity to obey, and turned at +once. As I moved towards the door by which I had entered, I asked: + +"When shall I see you again?" + +"Soon!" came her answer. "I shall let you know soon--when and where. +Oh, go, go!" She almost pushed me from her. + +When I had passed through the low doorway and locked and barred it behind +me, I felt a pang that I should have had to shut her out like that; but I +feared lest there should arise some embarrassing suspicion if the door +should be found open. Later came the comforting thought that, as she had +got to the roof though the door had been shut, she would be able to get +away by the same means. She had evidently knowledge of some secret way +into the Castle. The alternative was that she must have some +supernatural quality or faculty which gave her strange powers. I did not +wish to pursue that train of thought, and so, after an effort, shut it +out from my mind. + +When I got back to my room I locked the door behind me, and went to sleep +in the dark. I did not want light just then--could not bear it. + +This morning I woke, a little later than usual, with a kind of +apprehension which I could not at once understand. Presently, however, +when my faculties became fully awake and in working order, I realized +that I feared, half expected, that Aunt Janet would come to me in a worse +state of alarm than ever apropos of some new Second-Sight experience of +more than usual ferocity. + +But, strange to say, I had no such visit. Later on in the morning, when, +after breakfast, we walked together through the garden, I asked her how +she had slept, and if she had dreamt. She answered me that she had slept +without waking, and if she had had any dreams, they must have been +pleasant ones, for she did not remember them. "And you know, Rupert," +she added, "that if there be anything bad or fearsome or warning in +dreams, I always remember them." + +Later still, when I was by myself on the cliff beyond the creek, I could +not help commenting on the absence of her power of Second Sight on the +occasion. Surely, if ever there was a time when she might have had cause +of apprehension, it might well have been when I asked the Lady whom she +did not know to marry me--the Lady of whose identity I knew nothing, even +whose name I did not know--whom I loved with all my heart and soul--my +Lady of the Shroud. + +I have lost faith in Second Sight. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 1, 1907. + +Another week gone. I have waited patiently, and I am at last rewarded by +another letter. I was preparing for bed a little while ago, when I heard +the same mysterious sound at the door as on the last two occasions. I +hurried to the glass door, and there found another close-folded letter. +But I could see no sign of my Lady, or of any other living being. The +letter, which was without direction, ran as follows: + +"If you are still of the same mind, and feel no misgivings, meet me at +the Church of St. Sava beyond the Creek to-morrow night at a quarter +before midnight. If you come, come in secret, and, of course, alone. Do +not come at all unless you are prepared for a terrible ordeal. But if +you love me, and have neither doubts nor fears, come. Come!" + +Needless to say, I did not sleep last night. I tried to, but without +success. It was no morbid happiness that kept me awake, no doubting, no +fear. I was simply overwhelmed with the idea of the coming rapture when +I should call my Lady my very, very own. In this sea of happy +expectation all lesser things were submerged. Even sleep, which is an +imperative force with me, failed in its usual effectiveness, and I lay +still, calm, content. + +With the coming of the morning, however, restlessness began. I did not +know what to do, how to restrain myself, where to look for an anodyne. +Happily the latter came in the shape of Rooke, who turned up shortly +after breakfast. He had a satisfactory tale to tell me of the armoured +yacht, which had lain off Cattaro on the previous night, and to which he +had brought his contingent of crew which had waited for her coming. He +did not like to take the risk of going into any port with such a vessel, +lest he might be detained or otherwise hampered by forms, and had gone +out upon the open sea before daylight. There was on board the yacht a +tiny torpedo-boat, for which provision was made both for hoisting on deck +and housing there. This last would run into the creek at ten o'clock +that evening, at which time it would be dark. The yacht would then run +to near Otranto, to which she would send a boat to get any message I +might send. This was to be in a code, which we arranged, and would +convey instructions as to what night and approximate hour the yacht would +come to the creek. + +The day was well on before we had made certain arrangements for the +future; and not till then did I feel again the pressure of my personal +restlessness. Rooke, like a wise commander, took rest whilst he could. +Well he knew that for a couple of days and nights at least there would be +little, if any, sleep for him. + +For myself, the habit of self-control stood to me, and I managed to get +through the day somehow without exciting the attention of anyone else. +The arrival of the torpedo-boat and the departure of Rooke made for me a +welcome break in my uneasiness. An hour ago I said good-night to Aunt +Janet, and shut myself up alone here. My watch is on the table before +me, so that I may make sure of starting to the moment. I have allowed +myself half an hour to reach St. Sava. My skiff is waiting, moored at +the foot of the cliff on the hither side, where the zigzag comes close to +the water. It is now ten minutes past eleven. + +I shall add the odd five minutes to the time for my journey so as to make +safe. I go unarmed and without a light. + +I shall show no distrust of anyone or anything this night. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 2, 1907. + +When I was outside the church, I looked at my watch in the bright +moonlight, and found I had one minute to wait. So I stood in the shadow +of the doorway and looked out at the scene before me. Not a sign of life +was visible around me, either on land or sea. On the broad plateau on +which the church stands there was no movement of any kind. The wind, +which had been pleasant in the noontide, had fallen completely, and not a +leaf was stirring. I could see across the creek and note the hard line +where the battlements of the Castle cut the sky, and where the keep +towered above the line of black rock, which in the shadow of the land +made an ebon frame for the picture. When I had seen the same view on +former occasions, the line where the rock rose from the sea was a fringe +of white foam. But then, in the daylight, the sea was sapphire blue; now +it was an expanse of dark blue--so dark as to seem almost black. It had +not even the relief of waves or ripples--simply a dark, cold, lifeless +expanse, with no gleam of light anywhere, of lighthouse or ship; neither +was there any special sound to be heard that one could +distinguish--nothing but the distant hum of the myriad voices of the dark +mingling in one ceaseless inarticulate sound. It was well I had not time +to dwell on it, or I might have reached some spiritually-disturbing +melancholy. + +Let me say here that ever since I had received my Lady's message +concerning this visit to St. Sava's I had been all on fire--not, perhaps, +at every moment consciously or actually so, but always, as it were, +prepared to break out into flame. Did I want a simile, I might compare +myself to a well-banked furnace, whose present function it is to contain +heat rather than to create it; whose crust can at any moment be broken by +a force external to itself, and burst into raging, all-compelling heat. +No thought of fear really entered my mind. Every other emotion there +was, coming and going as occasion excited or lulled, but not fear. Well +I knew in the depths of my heart the purpose which that secret quest was +to serve. I knew not only from my Lady's words, but from the teachings +of my own senses and experiences, that some dreadful ordeal must take +place before happiness of any kind could be won. And that ordeal, though +method or detail was unknown to me, I was prepared to undertake. This +was one of those occasions when a man must undertake, blindfold, ways +that may lead to torture or death, or unknown terrors beyond. But, then, +a man--if, indeed, he have the heart of a man--can always undertake; he +can at least make the first step, though it may turn out that through the +weakness of mortality he may be unable to fulfil his own intent, or +justify his belief in his own powers. Such, I take it, was the +intellectual attitude of the brave souls who of old faced the tortures of +the Inquisition. + +But though there was no immediate fear, there was a certain doubt. For +doubt is one of those mental conditions whose calling we cannot control. +The end of the doubting may not be a reality to us, or be accepted as a +possibility. These things cannot forego the existence of the doubt. +"For even if a man," says Victor Cousin, "doubt everything else, at least +he cannot doubt that he doubts." The doubt had at times been on me that +my Lady of the Shroud was a Vampire. Much that had happened seemed to +point that way, and here, on the very threshold of the Unknown, when, +through the door which I was pushing open, my eyes met only an expanse of +absolute blackness, all doubts which had ever been seemed to surround me +in a legion. I have heard that, when a man is drowning, there comes a +time when his whole life passes in review during the space of time which +cannot be computed as even a part of a second. So it was to me in the +moment of my body passing into the church. In that moment came to my +mind all that had been, which bore on the knowledge of my Lady; and the +general tendency was to prove or convince that she was indeed a Vampire. +Much that had happened, or become known to me, seemed to justify the +resolving of doubt into belief. Even my own reading of the books in Aunt +Janet's little library, and the dear lady's comments on them, mingled +with her own uncanny beliefs, left little opening for doubt. My having +to help my Lady over the threshold of my house on her first entry was in +accord with Vampire tradition; so, too, her flying at cock-crow from the +warmth in which she revelled on that strange first night of our meeting; +so, too, her swift departure at midnight on the second. Into the same +category came the facts of her constant wearing of her Shroud, even her +pledging herself, and me also, on the fragment torn from it, which she +had given to me as a souvenir; her lying still in the glass-covered tomb; +her coming alone to the most secret places in a fortified Castle where +every aperture was secured by unopened locks and bolts; her very +movements, though all of grace, as she flitted noiselessly through the +gloom of night. + +All these things, and a thousand others of lesser import, seemed, for the +moment, to have consolidated an initial belief. But then came the +supreme recollections of how she had lain in my arms; of her kisses on my +lips; of the beating of her heart against my own; of her sweet words of +belief and faith breathed in my ear in intoxicating whispers; of . . . I +paused. No! I could not accept belief as to her being other than a +living woman of soul and sense, of flesh and blood, of all the sweet and +passionate instincts of true and perfect womanhood. + +And so, in spite of all--in spite of all beliefs, fixed or transitory, +with a mind whirling amid contesting forces and compelling beliefs--I +stepped into the church overwhelmed with that most receptive of +atmospheres--doubt. + +In one thing only was I fixed: here at least was no doubt or misgiving +whatever. I intended to go through what I had undertaken. Moreover, I +felt that I was strong enough to carry out my intention, whatever might +be of the Unknown--however horrible, however terrible. + +When I had entered the church and closed the heavy door behind me, the +sense of darkness and loneliness in all their horror enfolded me round. +The great church seemed a living mystery, and served as an almost +terrible background to thoughts and remembrances of unutterable gloom. +My adventurous life has had its own schooling to endurance and upholding +one's courage in trying times; but it has its contra in fulness of +memory. + +I felt my way forward with both hands and feet. Every second seemed as +if it had brought me at last to a darkness which was actually tangible. +All at once, and with no heed of sequence or order, I was conscious of +all around me, the knowledge or perception of which--or even speculation +on the subject--had never entered my mind. They furnished the darkness +with which I was encompassed with all the crowded phases of a dream. I +knew that all around me were memorials of the dead--that in the Crypt +deep-wrought in the rock below my feet lay the dead themselves. Some of +them, perhaps--one of them I knew--had even passed the grim portals of +time Unknown, and had, by some mysterious power or agency, come back +again to material earth. There was no resting-place for thought when I +knew that the very air which I breathed might be full of denizens of the +spirit-world. In that impenetrable blackness was a world of imagining +whose possibilities of horror were endless. + +I almost fancied that I could see with mortal eyes down through that +rocky floor to where, in the lonely Crypt, lay, in her tomb of massive +stone and under that bewildering coverlet of glass, the woman whom I +love. I could see her beautiful face, her long black lashes, her sweet +mouth--which I had kissed--relaxed in the sleep of death. I could note +the voluminous shroud--a piece of which as a precious souvenir lay even +then so close to my heart--the snowy woollen coverlet wrought over in +gold with sprigs of pine, the soft dent in the cushion on which her head +must for so long have lain. I could see myself--within my eyes the +memory of that first visit--coming once again with glad step to renew +that dear sight--dear, though it scorched my eyes and harrowed my +heart--and finding the greater sorrow, the greater desolation of the +empty tomb! + +There! I felt that I must think no more of that lest the thought should +unnerve me when I should most want all my courage. That way madness lay! +The darkness had already sufficient terrors of its own without bringing +to it such grim remembrances and imaginings . . . And I had yet to go +through some ordeal which, even to her who had passed and repassed the +portals of death, was full of fear. + +It was a merciful relief to me when, in groping my way forwards through +the darkness, I struck against some portion of the furnishing of the +church. Fortunately I was all strung up to tension, else I should never +have been able to control instinctively, as I did, the shriek which was +rising to my lips. + +I would have given anything to have been able to light even a match. A +single second of light would, I felt, have made me my own man again. But +I knew that this would be against the implied condition of my being there +at all, and might have had disastrous consequences to her whom I had come +to save. It might even frustrate my scheme, and altogether destroy my +opportunity. At that moment it was borne upon me more strongly than ever +that this was not a mere fight for myself or my own selfish purposes--not +merely an adventure or a struggle for only life and death against unknown +difficulties and dangers. It was a fight on behalf of her I loved, not +merely for her life, but perhaps even for her soul. + +And yet this very thinking--understanding--created a new form of terror. +For in that grim, shrouding darkness came memories of other moments of +terrible stress. + +Of wild, mystic rites held in the deep gloom of African forests, when, +amid scenes of revolting horror, Obi and the devils of his kind seemed to +reveal themselves to reckless worshippers, surfeited with horror, whose +lives counted for naught; when even human sacrifice was an episode, and +the reek of old deviltries and recent carnage tainted the air, till even +I, who was, at the risk of my life, a privileged spectator who had come +through dangers without end to behold the scene, rose and fled in horror. + +Of scenes of mystery enacted in rock-cut temples beyond the Himalayas, +whose fanatic priests, cold as death and as remorseless, in the reaction +of their phrenzy of passion, foamed at the mouth and then sank into +marble quiet, as with inner eyes they beheld the visions of the hellish +powers which they had invoked. + +Of wild, fantastic dances of the Devil-worshippers of Madagascar, where +even the very semblance of humanity disappeared in the fantastic excesses +of their orgies. + +Of strange doings of gloom and mystery in the rock-perched monasteries of +Thibet. + +Of awful sacrifices, all to mystic ends, in the innermost recesses of +Cathay. + +Of weird movements with masses of poisonous snakes by the medicine-men of +the Zuni and Mochi Indians in the far south-west of the Rockies, beyond +the great plains. + +Of secret gatherings in vast temples of old Mexico, and by dim altars of +forgotten cities in the heart of great forests in South America. + +Of rites of inconceivable horror in the fastnesses of Patagonia. + +Of . . . Here I once more pulled myself up. Such thoughts were no kind +of proper preparation for what I might have to endure. My work that +night was to be based on love, on hope, on self-sacrifice for the woman +who in all the world was the closest to my heart, whose future I was to +share, whether that sharing might lead me to Hell or Heaven. The hand +which undertook such a task must have no trembling. + +Still, those horrible memories had, I am bound to say, a useful part in +my preparation for the ordeal. They were of fact which I had seen, of +which I had myself been in part a sharer, and which I had survived. With +such experiences behind me, could there be aught before me more dreadful? +. . . + +Moreover, if the coming ordeal was of supernatural or superhuman order, +could it transcend in living horror the vilest and most desperate acts of +the basest men? . . . + +With renewed courage I felt my way before me, till my sense of touch told +me that I was at the screen behind which lay the stair to the Crypt. + +There I waited, silent, still. + +My own part was done, so far as I knew how to do it. Beyond this, what +was to come was, so far as I knew, beyond my own control. I had done +what I could; the rest must come from others. I had exactly obeyed my +instructions, fulfilled my warranty to the utmost in my knowledge and +power. There was, therefore, left for me in the present nothing but to +wait. + +It is a peculiarity of absolute darkness that it creates its own +reaction. The eye, wearied of the blackness, begins to imagine forms of +light. How far this is effected by imagination pure and simple I know +not. It may be that nerves have their own senses that bring thought to +the depository common to all the human functions, but, whatever may be +the mechanism or the objective, the darkness seems to people itself with +luminous entities. + +So was it with me as I stood lonely in the dark, silent church. Here and +there seemed to flash tiny points of light. + +In the same way the silence began to be broken now and again by strange +muffled sounds--the suggestion of sounds rather than actual vibrations. +These were all at first of the minor importance of movement--rustlings, +creakings, faint stirrings, fainter breathings. Presently, when I had +somewhat recovered from the sort of hypnotic trance to which the darkness +and stillness had during the time of waiting reduced me, I looked around +in wonder. + +The phantoms of light and sound seemed to have become real. There were +most certainly actual little points of light in places--not enough to see +details by, but quite sufficient to relieve the utter gloom. I +thought--though it may have been a mingling of recollection and +imagination--that I could distinguish the outlines of the church; +certainly the great altar-screen was dimly visible. Instinctively I +looked up--and thrilled. There, hung high above me, was, surely enough, +a great Greek Cross, outlined by tiny points of light. + +I lost myself in wonder, and stood still, in a purely receptive mood, +unantagonistic to aught, willing for whatever might come, ready for all +things, in rather a negative than a positive mood--a mood which has an +aspect of spiritual meekness. This is the true spirit of the neophyte, +and, though I did not think of it at the time, the proper attitude for +what is called by the Church in whose temple I stood a "neo-nymph." + +As the light grew a little in power, though never increasing enough for +distinctness, I saw dimly before me a table on which rested a great open +book, whereon were laid two rings--one of sliver, the other of gold--and +two crowns wrought of flowers, bound at the joining of their stems with +tissue--one of gold, the other of silver. I do not know much of the +ritual of the old Greek Church, which is the religion of the Blue +Mountains, but the things which I saw before me could be none other than +enlightening symbols. Instinctively I knew that I had been brought +hither, though in this grim way, to be married. The very idea of it +thrilled me to the heart's core. I thought the best thing I could do +would be to stay quite still, and not show surprise at anything that +might happen; but be sure I was all eyes and ears. + +I peered anxiously around me in every direction, but I could see no sign +of her whom I had come to meet. + +Incidentally, however, I noticed that in the lighting, such as it was, +there was no flame, no "living" light. Whatever light there was came +muffled, as though through some green translucent stone. The whole +effect was terribly weird and disconcerting. + +Presently I started, as, seemingly out of the darkness beside me, a man's +hand stretched out and took mine. Turning, I found close to me a tall +man with shining black eyes and long black hair and beard. He was clad +in some kind of gorgeous robe of cloth of gold, rich with variety of +adornment. His head was covered with a high, over-hanging hat draped +closely with a black scarf, the ends of which formed a long, hanging veil +on either side. These veils, falling over the magnificent robes of cloth +of gold, had an extraordinarily solemn effect. + +I yielded myself to the guiding hand, and shortly found myself, so far as +I could see, at one side of the sanctuary. + +In the floor close to my feet was a yawning chasm, into which, from so +high over my head that in the uncertain light I could not distinguish its +origin, hung a chain. At the sight a strange wave of memory swept over +me. I could not but remember the chain which hung over the glass-covered +tomb in the Crypt, and I had an instinctive feeling that the grim chasm +in the floor of the sanctuary was but the other side of the opening in +the roof of the crypt from which the chain over the sarcophagus depended. + +There was a creaking sound--the groaning of a windlass and the clanking +of a chain. There was heavy breathing close to me somewhere. I was so +intent on what was going on that I did not see that one by one, seeming +to grow out of the surrounding darkness, several black figures in monkish +garb appeared with the silence of ghosts. Their faces were shrouded in +black cowls, wherein were holes through which I could see dark gleaming +eyes. My guide held me tightly by the hand. This gave me a feeling of +security in the touch which helped to retain within my breast some +semblance of calm. + +The strain of the creaking windlass and the clanking chain continued for +so long that the suspense became almost unendurable. At last there came +into sight an iron ring, from which as a centre depended four lesser +chains spreading wide. In a few seconds more I could see that these were +fixed to the corners of the great stone tomb with the covering of glass, +which was being dragged upward. As it arose it filled closely the whole +aperture. When its bottom had reached the level of the floor it stopped, +and remained rigid. There was no room for oscillation. It was at once +surrounded by a number of black figures, who raised the glass covering +and bore it away into the darkness. Then there stepped forward a very +tall man, black-bearded, and with head-gear like my guide, but made in +triple tiers, he also was gorgeously arrayed in flowing robes of cloth of +gold richly embroidered. He raised his hand, and forthwith eight other +black-clad figures stepped forward, and bending over the stone coffin, +raised from it the rigid form of my Lady, still clad in her Shroud, and +laid it gently on the floor of the sanctuary. + +I felt it a grace that at that instant the dim lights seemed to grow +less, and finally to disappear--all save the tiny points that marked the +outline of the great Cross high overhead. These only gave light enough +to accentuate the gloom. The hand that held mine now released it, and +with a sigh I realized that I was alone. After a few moments more of the +groaning of the winch and clanking of the chain there was a sharp sound +of stone meeting stone; then there was silence. I listened acutely, but +could not hear near me the slightest sound. Even the cautious, +restrained breathing around me, of which up to then I had been conscious, +had ceased. Not knowing, in the helplessness of my ignorance, what I +should do, I remained as I was, still and silent, for a time that seemed +endless. At last, overcome by some emotion which I could not at the +moment understand, I slowly sank to my knees and bowed my head. Covering +my face with my hands, I tried to recall the prayers of my youth. It was +not, I am certain, that fear in any form had come upon me, or that I +hesitated or faltered in my intention. That much I know now; I knew it +even then. It was, I believe, that the prolonged impressive gloom and +mystery had at last touched me to the quick. The bending of the knees +was but symbolical of the bowing of the spirit to a higher Power. When I +had realized that much, I felt more content than I had done since I had +entered the church, and with the renewed consciousness of courage, took +my hands from my face, and lifted again my bowed head. + +Impulsively I sprang to my feet and stood erect--waiting. All seemed to +have changed since I had dropped on my knees. The points of light about +time church, which had been eclipsed, had come again, and were growing in +power to a partial revealing of the dim expanse. Before me was the table +with the open book, on which were laid the gold and silver rings and the +two crowns of flowers. There were also two tall candles, with tiniest +flames of blue--the only living light to be seen. + +Out of the darkness stepped the same tall figure in the gorgeous robes +and the triple hat. He led by the hand my Lady, still clad in her +Shroud; but over it, descending from the crown of her head, was a veil of +very old and magnificent lace of astonishing fineness. Even in that dim +light I could note the exquisite beauty of the fabric. The veil was +fastened with a bunch of tiny sprays of orange-blossom mingled with +cypress and laurel--a strange combination. In her hand she carried a +great bouquet of the same. Its sweet intoxicating odour floated up to my +nostrils. It and the sentiment which its very presence evoked made me +quiver. + +Yielding to the guiding of the hand which held hers, she stood at my left +side before the table. Her guide then took his place behind her. At +either end of the table, to right and left of us, stood a long-bearded +priest in splendid robes, and wearing the hat with depending veil of +black. One of them, who seemed to be the more important of the two, and +took the initiative, signed to us to put our right hands on the open +book. My Lady, of course, understood the ritual, and knew the words +which the priest was speaking, and of her own accord put out her hand. +My guide at the same moment directed my hand to the same end. It +thrilled me to touch my Lady's hand, even under such mysterious +conditions. + +After the priest had signed us each thrice on the forehead with the sign +of the Cross, he gave to each of us a tiny lighted taper brought to him +for the purpose. The lights were welcome, not so much for the solace of +the added light, great as that was, but because it allowed us to see a +little more of each other's faces. It was rapture to me to see the face +of my Bride; and from the expression of her face I was assured that she +felt as I did. It gave me an inexpressible pleasure when, as her eyes +rested on me, there grew a faint blush over the grey pallor of her +cheeks. + +The priest then put in solemn voice to each of us in turn, beginning with +me, the questions of consent which are common to all such rituals. I +answered as well as I could, following the murmured words of my guide. +My Lady answered out proudly in a voice which, though given softly, +seemed to ring. It was a concern--even a grief--to me that I could not, +in the priest's questioning, catch her name, of which, strangely +enough,--I was ignorant. But, as I did not know the language, and as the +phrases were not in accord literally with our own ritual, I could not +make out which word was the name. + +After some prayers and blessings, rhythmically spoken or sung by an +invisible choir, the priest took the rings from the open book, and, after +signing my forehead thrice with the gold one as he repeated the blessing +in each case, placed it on my right hand; then he gave my Lady the silver +one, with the same ritual thrice repeated. I suppose it was the blessing +which is the effective point in making two into one. + +After this, those who stood behind us exchanged our rings thrice, taking +them from one finger and placing them on the other, so that at the end my +wife wore the gold ring and I the silver one. + +Then came a chant, during which the priest swung the censer himself, and +my wife and I held our tapers. After that he blessed us, the responses +coming from the voices of the unseen singers in the darkness. + +After a long ritual of prayer and blessing, sung in triplicate, the +priest took the crowns of flowers, and put one on the head of each, +crowning me first, and with the crown tied with gold. Then he signed and +blessed us each thrice. The guides, who stood behind us, exchanged our +crowns thrice, as they had exchanged the rings; so that at the last, as I +was glad to see, my wife wore the crown of gold, and I that of silver. + +Then there came, if it is possible to describe such a thing, a hush over +even that stillness, as though some form of added solemnity were to be +gone through. I was not surprised, therefore, when the priest took in +his hands the great golden chalice. Kneeling, my wife and I partook +together thrice. + +When we had risen from our knees and stood for a little while, the priest +took my left hand in his right, and I, by direction of my guide, gave my +right hand to my wife. And so in a line, the priest leading, we circled +round the table in rhythmic measure. Those who supported us moved behind +us, holding the crowns over our heads, and replacing them when we +stopped. + +After a hymn, sung through the darkness, the priest took off our crowns. +This was evidently the conclusion of the ritual, for the priest placed us +in each other's arms to embrace each other. Then he blessed us, who were +now man and wife! + +The lights went out at once, some as if extinguished, others slowly +fading down to blackness. + +Left in the dark, my wife and I sought each other's arms again, and stood +together for a few moments heart to heart, tightly clasping each other, +and kissed each other fervently. + +Instinctively we turned to the door of the church, which was slightly +open, so that we could see the moonlight stealing in through the +aperture. With even steps, she holding me tightly by the left arm--which +is the wife's arm, we passed through the old church and out into the free +air. + +Despite all that the gloom had brought me, it was sweet to be in the open +air and together--this quite apart from our new relations to each other. +The moon rode high, and the full light, coming after the dimness or +darkness in the church, seemed as bright as day. I could now, for the +first time, see my wife's face properly. The glamour of the moonlight +may have served to enhance its ethereal beauty, but neither moonlight nor +sunlight could do justice to that beauty in its living human splendour. +As I gloried in her starry eyes I could think of nothing else; but when +for a moment my eyes, roving round for the purpose of protection, caught +sight of her whole figure, there was a pang to my heart. The brilliant +moonlight showed every detail in terrible effect, and I could see that +she wore only her Shroud. In the moment of darkness, after the last +benediction, before she returned to my arms, she must have removed her +bridal veil. This may, of course, have been in accordance with the +established ritual of her church; but, all the same, my heart was sore. +The glamour of calling her my very own was somewhat obscured by the +bridal adornment being shorn. But it made no difference in her sweetness +to me. Together we went along the path through the wood, she keeping +equal step with me in wifely way. + +When we had come through the trees near enough to see the roof of the +Castle, now gilded with the moonlight, she stopped, and looking at me +with eyes full of love, said: + +"Here I must leave you!" + +"What?" I was all aghast, and I felt that my chagrin was expressed in +the tone of horrified surprise in my voice. She went on quickly: + +"Alas! It is impossible that I should go farther--at present!" + +"But what is to prevent you?" I queried. "You are now my wife. This is +our wedding-night; and surely your place is with me!" The wail in her +voice as she answered touched me to the quick: + +"Oh, I know, I know! There is no dearer wish in my heart--there can be +none--than to share my husband's home. Oh, my dear, my dear, if you only +knew what it would be to me to be with you always! But indeed I may +not--not yet! I am not free! If you but knew how much that which has +happened to-night has cost me--or how much cost to others as well as to +myself may be yet to come--you would understand. Rupert"--it was the +first time she had ever addressed me by name, and naturally it thrilled +me through and through--"Rupert, my husband, only that I trust you with +all the faith which is in perfect love--mutual love, I dare not have done +what I have done this night. But, dear, I know that you will bear me +out; that your wife's honour is your honour, even as your honour is mine. +My honour is given to this; and you can help me--the only help I can have +at present--by trusting me. Be patient, my beloved, be patient! Oh, be +patient for a little longer! It shall not be for long. So soon as ever +my soul is freed I shall come to you, my husband; and we shall never part +again. Be content for a while! Believe me that I love you with my very +soul; and to keep away from your dear side is more bitter for me than +even it can be for you! Think, my dear one, I am not as other women are, +as some day you shall clearly understand. I am at the present, and shall +be for a little longer, constrained by duties and obligations put upon me +by others, and for others, and to which I am pledged by the most sacred +promises--given not only by myself, but by others--and which I must not +forgo. These forbid me to do as I wish. Oh, trust me, my beloved--my +husband!" + +She held out her hands appealingly. The moonlight, falling through the +thinning forest, showed her white cerements. Then the recollection of +all she must have suffered--the awful loneliness in that grim tomb in the +Crypt, the despairing agony of one who is helpless against the +unknown--swept over me in a wave of pity. What could I do but save her +from further pain? And this could only be by showing her my faith and +trust. If she was to go back to that dreadful charnel-house, she would +at least take with her the remembrance that one who loved her and whom +she loved--to whom she had been lately bound in the mystery of +marriage--trusted her to the full. I loved her more than myself--more +than my own soul; and I was moved by pity so great that all possible +selfishness was merged in its depths. I bowed my head before her--my +Lady and my Wife--as I said: + +"So be it, my beloved. I trust you to the full, even as you trust me. +And that has been proven this night, even to my own doubting heart. I +shall wait; and as I know you wish it, I shall wait as patiently as I +can. But till you come to me for good and all, let me see you or hear +from you when you can. The time, dear wife, must go heavily with me as I +think of you suffering and lonely. So be good to me, and let not too +long a time elapse between my glimpses of hope. And, sweetheart, when +you _do_ come to me, it shall be for ever!" There was something in the +intonation of the last sentence--I felt its sincerity myself--some +implied yearning for a promise, that made her beautiful eyes swim. The +glorious stars in them were blurred as she answered with a fervour which +seemed to me as more than earthly: + +"For ever! I swear it!" + +With one long kiss, and a straining in each others arms, which left me +tingling for long after we had lost sight of each other, we parted. I +stood and watched her as her white figure, gliding through the deepening +gloom, faded as the forest thickened. It surely was no optical delusion +or a phantom of the mind that her shrouded arm was raised as though in +blessing or farewell before the darkness swallowed her up. + + + + +BOOK VI: THE PURSUIT IN THE FOREST + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 3, 1907. + +There is no anodyne but work to pain of the heart; and my pain is all of +the heart. I sometimes feel that it is rather hard that with so much to +make me happy I cannot know happiness. How can I be happy when my wife, +whom I fondly love, and who I know loves me, is suffering in horror and +loneliness of a kind which is almost beyond human belief? However, what +is my loss is my country's gain, for the Land of the Blue Mountains is my +country now, despite the fact that I am still a loyal subject of good +King Edward. Uncle Roger took care of that when he said I should have +the consent of the Privy Council before I might be naturalized anywhere +else. + +When I got home yesterday morning I naturally could not sleep. The +events of the night and the bitter disappointment that followed my +exciting joy made such a thing impossible. When I drew the curtain over +the window, the reflection of the sunrise was just beginning to tinge the +high-sailing clouds in front of me. I laid down and tried to rest, but +without avail. However, I schooled myself to lie still, and at last, if +I did not sleep, was at least quiescent. + +Disturbed by a gentle tap at the door, I sprang up at once and threw on a +dressing gown. Outside, when I opened the door, was Aunt Janet. She was +holding a lighted candle in her hand, for though it was getting light in +the open, the passages were still dark. When she saw me she seemed to +breathe more freely, and asked if she might come in. + +Whilst she sat on the edge of my bed, in her old-time way, she said in a +hushed voice: + +"Oh, laddie, laddie, I trust yer burden is no too heavy to bear." + +"My burden! What on earth do you mean, Aunt Janet?" I said in reply. I +did not wish to commit myself by a definite answer, for it was evident +that she had been dreaming or Second Sighting again. She replied with +the grim seriousness usual to her when she touched on occult matters: + +"I saw your hairt bleeding, laddie. I kent it was yours, though how I +kent it I don't know. It lay on a stone floor in the dark, save for a +dim blue light such as corpse-lights are. On it was placed a great book, +and close around were scattered many strange things, amongst them two +crowns o' flowers--the one bound wi' silver, the other wi' gold. There +was also a golden cup, like a chalice, o'erturned. The red wine trickled +from it an' mingled wi' yer hairt's bluid; for on the great book was some +vast dim weight wrapped up in black, and on it stepped in turn many men +all swathed in black. An' as the weight of each came on it the bluid +gushed out afresh. And oh, yer puir hairt, my laddie, was quick and +leaping, so that at every beat it raised the black-clad weight! An' yet +that was not all, for hard by stood a tall imperial shape o' a woman, all +arrayed in white, wi' a great veil o' finest lace worn o'er a shrood. +An' she was whiter than the snow, an' fairer than the morn for beauty; +though a dark woman she was, wi' hair like the raven, an' eyes black as +the sea at nicht, an' there was stars in them. An' at each beat o' yer +puir bleeding hairt she wrung her white hands, an' the manin' o' her +sweet voice rent my hairt in twain. Oh, laddie, laddie! what does it +mean?" + +I managed to murmur: "I'm sure I don't know, Aunt Janet. I suppose it +was all a dream!" + +"A dream it was, my dear. A dream or a veesion, whilka matters nane, for +a' such are warnin's sent frae God . . . " Suddenly she said in a +different voice: + +"Laddie, hae ye been fause to any lassie? I'm no blamin' ye. For ye men +are different frae us women, an' yer regard on recht and wrang differs +from oors. But oh, laddie, a woman's tears fa' heavy when her hairt is +for sair wi' the yieldin' to fause words. 'Tis a heavy burden for ony +man to carry wi' him as he goes, an' may well cause pain to ithers that +he fain would spare." She stopped, and in dead silence waited for me to +speak. I thought it would be best to set her poor loving heart at rest, +and as I could not divulge my special secret, spoke in general terms: + +"Aunt Janet, I am a man, and have led a man's life, such as it is. But I +can tell you, who have always loved me and taught me to be true, that in +all the world there is no woman who must weep for any falsity of mine. +If close there be any who, sleeping or waking, in dreams or visions or in +reality, weeps because of me, it is surely not for my doing, but because +of something outside me. It may be that her heart is sore because I must +suffer, as all men must in some degree; but she does not weep for or +through any act of mine." + +She sighed happily at my assurance, and looked up through her tears, for +she was much moved; and after tenderly kissing my forehead and blessing +me, stole away. She was more sweet and tender than I have words to say, +and the only regret that I have in all that is gone is that I have not +been able to bring my wife to her, and let her share in the love she has +for me. But that, too, will come, please God! + +In the morning I sent a message to Rooke at Otranto, instructing him by +code to bring the yacht to Vissarion in the coming night. + +All day I spent in going about amongst the mountaineers, drilling them +and looking after their arms. I _could_ not stay still. My only chance +of peace was to work, my only chance of sleep to tire myself out. +Unhappily, I am very strong, so even when I came home at dark I was quite +fresh. However, I found a cable message from Rooke that the yacht would +arrive at midnight. + +There was no need to summon the mountaineers, as the men in the Castle +would be sufficient to make preparations for the yacht's coming. + + _Later_. + +The yacht has come. At half-past eleven the lookout signalled that a +steamer without lights was creeping in towards the Creek. I ran out to +the Flagstaff, and saw her steal in like a ghost. She is painted a +steely blue-grey, and it is almost impossible to see her at any distance. +She certainly goes wonderfully. Although there was not enough throb from +the engines to mar the absolute stillness, she came on at a fine speed, +and within a few minutes was close to the boom. I had only time to run +down to give orders to draw back the boom when she glided in and stopped +dead at the harbour wall. Rooke steered her himself, and he says he +never was on a boat that so well or so quickly answered her helm. She is +certainly a beauty, and so far as I can see at night perfect in every +detail. I promise myself a few pleasant hours over her in the daylight. +The men seem a splendid lot. + +But I do not feel sleepy; I despair of sleep to-night. But work demands +that I be fit for whatever may come, and so I shall try to sleep--to +rest, at any rate. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL.--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 4, 1907. + +I was up with the first ray of sunrise, so by the time I had my bath and +was dressed there was ample light. I went down to the dock at once, and +spent the morning looking over the vessel, which fully justifies Rooke's +enthusiasm about her. She is built on lovely lines, and I can quite +understand that she is enormously fast. Her armour I can only take on +the specifications, but her armament is really wonderful. And there are +not only all the very newest devices of aggressive warfare--indeed, she +has the newest up-to-date torpedoes and torpedo-guns--but also the +old-fashioned rocket-tubes, which in certain occasions are so useful. +She has electric guns and the latest Massillon water-guns, and Reinhardt +electro-pneumatic "deliverers" for pyroxiline shells. She is even +equipped with war-balloons easy of expansion, and with compressible +Kitson aeroplanes. I don't suppose that there is anything quite like her +in the world. + +The crew are worthy of her. I can't imagine where Rooke picked up such a +splendid lot of men. They are nearly all man-of-warsmen; of various +nationalities, but mostly British. All young men--the oldest of them +hasn't got into the forties--and, so far as I can learn, all experts of +one kind or another in some special subject of warfare. It will go hard +with me, but I shall keep them together. + +How I got through the rest of the day I know not. I tried hard not to +create any domestic trouble by my manner, lest Aunt Janet should, after +her lurid dream or vision of last night, attach some new importance to +it. I think I succeeded, for she did not, so far as I could tell, take +any special notice of me. We parted as usual at half-past ten, and I +came here and made this entry in my journal. I am more restless than +ever to-night, and no wonder. I would give anything to be able to pay a +visit to St. Sava's, and see my wife again--if it were only sleeping in +her tomb. But I dare not do even that, lest she should come to see me +here, and I should miss her. So I have done what I can. The glass door +to the Terrace is open, so that she can enter at once if she comes. The +fire is lit, and the room is warm. There is food ready in case she +should care for it. I have plenty of light in the room, so that through +the aperture where I have not fully drawn the curtain there may be light +to guide her. + +Oh, how the time drags! The clock has struck midnight. One, two! Thank +goodness, it will shortly be dawn, and the activity of the day may begin! +Work may again prove, in a way, to be an anodyne. In the meantime I must +write on, lest despair overwhelm me. + +Once during the night I thought I heard a footstep outside. I rushed to +the window and looked out, but there was nothing to see, no sound to +hear. That was a little after one o'clock. I feared to go outside, lest +that should alarm her; so I came back to my table. I could not write, +but I sat as if writing for a while. But I could not stand it, so rose +and walked about the room. As I walked I felt that my Lady--it gives me +a pang every time I remember that I do not know even her name--was not +quite so far away from me. It made my heart beat to think that it might +mean that she was coming to me. Could not I as well as Aunt Janet have a +little Second Sight! I went towards the window, and, standing behind the +curtain, listened. Far away I thought I heard a cry, and ran out on the +Terrace; but there was no sound to be heard, and no sign of any living +thing anywhere; so I took it for granted that it was the cry of some +night bird, and came back to my room, and wrote at my journal till I was +calm. I think my nerves must be getting out of order, when every sound +of the night seems to have a special meaning for me. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 7, 1907 + +When the grey of the morning came, I gave up hope of my wife appearing, +and made up my mind that, so soon as I could get away without exciting +Aunt Janet's attention, I would go to St. Sava's. I always eat a good +breakfast, and did I forgo it altogether, it would be sure to excite her +curiosity--a thing I do not wish at present. As there was still time to +wait, I lay down on my bed as I was, and--such is the way of +Fate--shortly fell asleep. + +I was awakened by a terrific clattering at my door. When I opened it I +found a little group of servants, very apologetic at awaking me without +instructions. The chief of them explained that a young priest had come +from the Vladika with a message so urgent that he insisted on seeing me +immediately at all hazards. I came out at once, and found him in the +hall of the Castle, standing before the great fire, which was always lit +in the early morning. He had a letter in his hand, but before giving it +to me he said: + +"I am sent by the Vladika, who pressed on me that I was not to lose a +single instant in seeing you; that time is of golden price--nay, beyond +price. This letter, amongst other things, vouches for me. A terrible +misfortune has occurred. The daughter of our leader has disappeared +during last night--the same, he commanded me to remind you, that he spoke +of at the meeting when he would not let the mountaineers fire their guns. +No sign of her can be found, and it is believed that she has been carried +off by the emissaries of the Sultan of Turkey, who once before brought +our nations to the verge of war by demanding her as a wife. I was also +to say that the Vladika Plamenac would have come himself, but that it was +necessary that he should at once consult with the Archbishop, Stevan +Palealogue, as to what step is best to take in this dire calamity. He +has sent out a search-party under the Archimandrite of Spazac, Petrof +Vlastimir, who is to come on here with any news he can get, as you have +command of the signalling, and can best spread the news. He knows that +you, Gospodar, are in your great heart one of our compatriots, and that +you have already proved your friendship by many efforts to strengthen our +hands for war. And as a great compatriot, he calls on you to aid us in +our need." He then handed me the letter, and stood by respectfully +whilst I broke the seal and read it. It was written in great haste, and +signed by the Vladika. + +"Come with us now in our nation's peril. Help us to rescue what we most +adore, and henceforth we shall hold you in our hearts. You shall learn +how the men of the Blue Mountains can love faith and valour. Come!" + +This was a task indeed--a duty worthy of any man. It thrilled me to the +core to know that the men of the Blue Mountains had called on me in their +dire need. It woke all the fighting instinct of my Viking forbears, and +I vowed in my heart that they should be satisfied with my work. I called +to me the corps of signallers who were in the house, and led them to the +Castle roof, taking with me the young messenger-priest. + +"Come with me," I said to him, "and see how I answer the Vladika's +command." + +The National flag was run up--the established signal that the nation was +in need. Instantly on every summit near and far was seen the flutter of +an answering flag. Quickly followed the signal that commanded the call +to arms. + +One by one I gave the signallers orders in quick succession, for the plan +of search unfolded itself to me as I went on. The arms of the semaphore +whirled in a way that made the young priest stare. One by one, as they +took their orders, the signallers seemed to catch fire. Instinctively +they understood the plan, and worked like demigods. They knew that so +widespread a movement had its best chance in rapidity and in unity of +action. + +From the forest which lay in sight of the Castle came a wild cheering, +which seemed to interpret the former stillness of the hills. It was good +to feel that those who saw the signals--types of many--were ready. I saw +the look of expectation on the face of the messenger-priest, and rejoiced +at the glow that came as I turned to him to speak. Of course, he wanted +to know something of what was going on. I saw the flashing of my own +eyes reflected in his as I spoke: + +"Tell the Vladika that within a minute of his message being read the Land +of the Blue Mountains was awake. The mountaineers are already marching, +and before the sun is high there will be a line of guards within hail of +each other round the whole frontier--from Angusa to Ilsin; from Ilsin to +Bajana; from Bajana to Ispazar; from Ispazar to Volok; from Volok to +Tatra; from Tatra to Domitan; from Domitan to Gravaja; and from Gravaja +back to Angusa. The line is double. The old men keep guard on the line, +and the young men advance. These will close in at the advancing line, so +that nothing can escape them. They will cover mountain-top and forest +depth, and will close in finally on the Castle here, which they can +behold from afar. My own yacht is here, and will sweep the coast from +end to end. It is the fastest boat afloat, and armed against a squadron. +Here will all signals come. In an hour where we stand will be a signal +bureau, where trained eyes will watch night and day till the lost one has +been found and the outrage has been avenged. The robbers are even now +within a ring of steel, and cannot escape." + +The young priest, all on fire, sprang on the battlements and shouted to +the crowd, which was massing round the Castle in the gardens far below. +The forest was giving up its units till they seemed like the nucleus of +an army. The men cheered lustily, till the sound swung high up to us +like the roaring of a winter sea. With bared heads they were crying: + +"God and the Blue Mountains! God and the Blue Mountains!" + +I ran down to them as quickly as I could, and began to issue their +instructions. Within a time to be computed by minutes the whole number, +organized by sections, had started to scour the neighbouring mountains. +At first they had only understood the call to arms for general safety. +But when they learned that the daughter of a chief had been captured, +they simply went mad. From something which the messenger first said, but +which I could not catch or did not understand, the blow seemed to have +for them some sort of personal significance which wrought them to a +frenzy. + +When the bulk of the men had disappeared, I took with me a few of my own +men and several of the mountaineers whom I had asked to remain, and +together we went to the hidden ravine which I knew. We found the place +empty; but there were unmistakable signs that a party of men had been +encamped there for several days. Some of our men, who were skilled in +woodcraft and in signs generally, agreed that there must have been some +twenty of them. As they could not find any trail either coming to or +going from the place, they came to the conclusion that they must have +come separately from different directions and gathered there, and that +they must have departed in something of the same mysterious way. + +However, this was, at any rate, some sort of a beginning, and the men +separated, having agreed amongst themselves to make a wide cast round the +place in the search for tracks. Whoever should find a trail was to +follow with at least one comrade, and when there was any definite news, +it was to be signalled to the Castle. + +I myself returned at once, and set the signallers to work to spread +amongst our own people such news as we had. + +When presently such discoveries as had been made were signalled with +flags to the Castle, it was found that the marauders had, in their +flight, followed a strangely zigzag course. It was evident that, in +trying to baffle pursuit, they had tried to avoid places which they +thought might be dangerous to them. This may have been simply a method +to disconcert pursuit. If so, it was, in a measure, excellent, for none +of those immediately following could possibly tell in what direction they +were heading. It was only when we worked the course on the great map in +the signaller's room (which was the old guard room of the Castle) that we +could get an inkling of the general direction of their flight. This gave +added trouble to the pursuit; for the men who followed, being ignorant of +their general intent, could not ever take chance to head them off, but +had to be ready to follow in any or every direction. In this manner the +pursuit was altogether a stern chase, and therefore bound to be a long +one. + +As at present we could not do anything till the intended route was more +marked, I left the signalling corps to the task of receiving and giving +information to the moving bands, so that, if occasion served, they might +head off the marauders. I myself took Rooke, as captain of the yacht, +and swept out of the creek. We ran up north to Dalairi, then down south +to Olesso, and came back to Vissarion. We saw nothing suspicious except, +far off to the extreme southward, one warship which flew no flag. Rooke, +however, who seemed to know ships by instinct, said she was a Turk; so on +our return we signalled along the whole shore to watch her. Rooke held +The Lady--which was the name I had given the armoured yacht--in readiness +to dart out in case anything suspicious was reported. He was not to +stand on any ceremony, but if necessary to attack. We did not intend to +lose a point in this desperate struggle which we had undertaken. We had +placed in different likely spots a couple of our own men to look after +the signalling. + +When I got back I found that the route of the fugitives, who had now +joined into one party, had been definitely ascertained. They had gone +south, but manifestly taking alarm from the advancing line of guards, had +headed up again to the north-east, where the country was broader and the +mountains wilder and less inhabited. + +Forthwith, leaving the signalling altogether in the hands of the fighting +priests, I took a small chosen band of the mountaineers of our own +district, and made, with all the speed we could, to cut across the track +of the fugitives a little ahead of them. The Archimandrite (Abbot) of +Spazac, who had just arrived, came with us. He is a splendid man--a real +fighter as well as a holy cleric, as good with his handjar as with his +Bible, and a runner to beat the band. The marauders were going at a +fearful pace, considering that they were all afoot; so we had to go fast +also! Amongst these mountains there is no other means of progressing. +Our own men were so aflame with ardour that I could not but notice that +they, more than any of the others whom I had seen, had some special cause +for concern. + +When I mentioned it to the Archimandrite, who moved by my side, he +answered: + +"All natural enough; they are not only fighting for their country, but +for their own!" I did not quite understand his answer, and so began to +ask him some questions, to the effect that I soon began to understand a +good deal more than he did. + +_Letter from Archbishop Stevan Palealogue_, _Head of the Eastern Church +of the Blue Mountains_, _to the Lady Janet MacKelpie_, _Vissarion_. + + _Written July_ 9, 1907. + + HONOURED LADY, + + As you wish for an understanding regarding the late lamentable + occurrence in which so much danger was incurred to this our Land of + the Blue Mountains, and one dear to us, I send these words by request + of the Gospodar Rupert, beloved of our mountaineers. + + When the Voivode Peter Vissarion made his journey to the great nation + to whom we looked in our hour of need, it was necessary that he + should go in secret. The Turk was at our gates, and full of the + malice of baffled greed. Already he had tried to arrange a marriage + with the Voivodin, so that in time to come he, as her husband, might + have established a claim to the inheritance of the land. Well he + knew, as do all men, that the Blue Mountaineers owe allegiance to + none that they themselves do not appoint to rulership. This has been + the history in the past. But now and again an individual has arisen + or come to the front adapted personally for such government as this + land requires. And so the Lady Teuta, Voivodin of the Blue + Mountains, was put for her proper guarding in the charge of myself as + Head of the Eastern Church in the Land of the Blue Mountains, steps + being taken in such wise that no capture of her could be effected by + unscrupulous enemies of this our Land. This task and guardianship + was gladly held as an honour by all concerned. For the Voivodin + Teuta of Vissarion must be taken as representing in her own person + the glory of the old Serb race, inasmuch as being the only child of + the Voivode Vissarion, last male of his princely race--the race which + ever, during the ten centuries of our history, unflinchingly gave + life and all they held for the protection, safety, and well-being of + the Land of the Blue Mountains. Never during those centuries had any + one of the race been known to fail in patriotism, or to draw back + from any loss or hardship enjoined by high duty or stress of need. + Moreover, this was the race of that first Voivode Vissarion, of whom, + in legend, it was prophesied that he--once known as "The Sword of + Freedom," a giant amongst men--would some day, when the nation had + need of him, come forth from his water-tomb in the lost Lake of Reo, + and lead once more the men of the Blue Mountains to lasting victory. + This noble race, then, had come to be known as the last hope of the + Land. So that when the Voivode was away on his country's service, + his daughter should be closely guarded. Soon after the Voivode had + gone, it was reported that he might be long delayed in his + diplomacies, and also in studying the system of Constitutional + Monarchy, for which it had been hoped to exchange our imperfect + political system. I may say _inter alia_ that he was mentioned as to + be the first king when the new constitution should have been + arranged. + + Then a great misfortune came on us; a terrible grief overshadowed the + land. After a short illness, the Voivodin Teuta Vissarion died + mysteriously of a mysterious ailment. The grief of the mountaineers + was so great that it became necessary for the governing Council to + warn them not to allow their sorrow to be seen. It was imperatively + necessary that the fact of her death should be kept secret. For + there were dangers and difficulties of several kinds. In the first + place it was advisable that even her father should be kept in + ignorance of his terrible loss. It was well known that he held her + as the very core of his heart and that if he should hear of her + death, he would be too much prostrated to be able to do the intricate + and delicate work which he had undertaken. Nay, more: he would never + remain afar off, under the sad circumstances, but would straightway + return, so as to be in the land where she lay. Then suspicions would + crop up, and the truth must shortly be known afield, with the + inevitable result that the Land would become the very centre of a war + of many nations. + + In the second place, if the Turks were to know that the race of + Vissarion was becoming extinct, this would encourage them to further + aggression, which would become immediate should they find out that + the Voivode was himself away. It was well known that they were + already only suspending hostilities until a fitting opportunity + should arise. Their desire for aggression had become acute after the + refusal of the nation, and of the girl herself, that she should + become a wife of the Sultan. + + The dead girl had been buried in the Crypt of the church of St. Sava, + and day after day and night after night, singly and in parties, the + sorrowing mountaineers had come to pay devotion and reverence at her + tomb. So many had wished to have a last glimpse of her face that the + Vladika had, with my own consent as Archbishop, arranged for a glass + cover to be put over the stone coffin wherein her body lay. + + After a little time, however, there came a belief to all concerned in + the guarding of the body--these, of course, being the priests of + various degrees of dignity appointed to the task--that the Voivodin + was not really dead, but only in a strangely-prolonged trance. + Thereupon a new complication arose. Our mountaineers are, as perhaps + you know, by nature deeply suspicious--a characteristic of all brave + and self-sacrificing people who are jealous of their noble heritage. + Having, as they believed, seen the girl dead, they might not be + willing to accept the fact of her being alive. They might even + imagine that there was on foot some deep, dark plot which was, or + might be, a menace, now or hereafter, to their independence. In any + case, there would be certain to be two parties on the subject, a + dangerous and deplorable thing in the present condition of affairs. + + As the trance, or catalepsy, whatever it was, continued for many + days, there had been ample time for the leaders of the Council, the + Vladika, the priesthood represented by the Archimandrite of Spazac, + myself as Archbishop and guardian of the Voivodin in her father's + absence, to consult as to a policy to be observed in case of the girl + awaking. For in such case the difficulty of the situation would be + multiplied indefinitely. In the secret chambers of St. Sava's we had + many secret meetings, and were finally converging on agreement when + the end of the trance came. + + The girl awoke! + + She was, of course, terribly frightened when she found herself in a + tomb in the Crypt. It was truly fortunate that the great candles + around her tomb had been kept lighted, for their light mitigated the + horror of the place. Had she waked in darkness, her reason might + have become unseated. + + She was, however, a very noble girl; brave, with extraordinary will, + and resolution, and self-command, and power of endurance. When she + had been taken into one of the secret chambers of the church, where + she was warmed and cared for, a hurried meeting was held by the + Vladika, myself, and the chiefs of the National Council. Word had + been at once sent to me of the joyful news of her recovery; and with + the utmost haste I came, arriving in time to take a part in the + Council. + + At the meeting the Voivodin was herself present, and full confidence + of the situation was made to her. She herself proposed that the + belief in her death should be allowed to prevail until the return of + her father, when all could be effectively made clear. To this end + she undertook to submit to the terrific strain which such a + proceeding would involve. At first we men could not believe that any + woman could go through with such a task, and some of us did not + hesitate to voice our doubts--our disbelief. But she stood to her + guns, and actually down-faced us. At the last we, remembering things + that had been done, though long ages ago, by others of her race, came + to believe not merely in her self-belief and intention, but even in + the feasibility of her plan. She took the most solemn oaths not to + betray the secret under any possible stress. + + The priesthood undertook through the Vladika and myself to further a + ghostly belief amongst the mountaineers which would tend to prevent a + too close or too persistent observation. The Vampire legend was + spread as a protection against partial discovery by any mischance, + and other weird beliefs were set afoot and fostered. Arrangements + were made that only on certain days were the mountaineers to be + admitted to the Crypt, she agreeing that for these occasions she was + to take opiates or carry out any other aid to the preservation of the + secret. She was willing, she impressed upon us, to make any personal + sacrifice which might be deemed necessary for the carrying out her + father's task for the good of the nation. + + Of course, she had at first terrible frights lying alone in the + horror of the Crypt. But after a time the terrors of the situation, + if they did not cease, were mitigated. There are secret caverns off + the Crypt, wherein in troublous times the priests and others of high + place have found safe retreat. One of these was prepared for the + Voivodin, and there she remained, except for such times as she was on + show--and certain other times of which I shall tell you. Provision + was made for the possibility of any accidental visit to the church. + At such times, warned by an automatic signal from the opening door, + she was to take her place in the tomb. The mechanism was so arranged + that the means to replace the glass cover, and to take the opiate, + were there ready to her hand. There was to be always a watch of + priests at night in the church, to guard her from ghostly fears as + well as from more physical dangers; and if she was actually in her + tomb, it was to be visited at certain intervals. Even the draperies + which covered her in the sarcophagus were rested on a bridge placed + from side to side just above her, so as to hide the rising and + falling of her bosom as she slept under the narcotic. + + After a while the prolonged strain began to tell so much on her that + it was decided that she should take now and again exercise out of + doors. This was not difficult, for when the Vampire story which we + had spread began to be widely known, her being seen would be accepted + as a proof of its truth. Still, as there was a certain danger in her + being seen at all, we thought it necessary to exact from her a solemn + oath that so long as her sad task lasted she should under no + circumstances ever wear any dress but her shroud--this being the only + way to insure secrecy and to prevail against accident. + + There is a secret way from the Crypt to a sea cavern, whose entrance + is at high-tide under the water-line at the base of the cliff on + which the church is built. A boat, shaped like a coffin, was + provided for her; and in this she was accustomed to pass across the + creek whenever she wished to make excursion. It was an excellent + device, and most efficacious in disseminating the Vampire belief. + + This state of things had now lasted from before the time when the + Gospodar Rupert came to Vissarion up to the day of the arrival of the + armoured yacht. + + That night the priest on duty, on going his round of the Crypt just + before dawn, found the tomb empty. He called the others, and they + made full search. The boat was gone from the cavern, but on making + search they found it on the farther side of the creek, close to the + garden stairs. Beyond this they could discover nothing. She seemed + to have disappeared without leaving a trace. + + Straightway they went to the Vladika, and signalled to me by the + fire-signal at the monastery at Astrag, where I then was. I took a + band of mountaineers with me, and set out to scour the country. But + before going I sent an urgent message to the Gospodar Rupert, asking + him, who showed so much interest and love to our Land, to help us in + our trouble. He, of course, knew nothing then of all have now told + you. Nevertheless, he devoted himself whole-heartedly to our + needs--as doubtless you know. + + But the time had now come close when the Voivode Vissarion was about + to return from his mission; and we of the council of his daughter's + guardianship were beginning to arrange matters so that at his return + the good news of her being still alive could be made public. With + her father present to vouch for her, no question as to truth could + arise. + + But by some means the Turkish "Bureau of Spies" must have got + knowledge of the fact already. To steal a dead body for the purpose + of later establishing a fictitious claim would have been an + enterprise even more desperate than that already undertaken. We + inferred from many signs, made known to us in an investigation, that + a daring party of the Sultan's emissaries had made a secret incursion + with the object of kidnapping the Voivodin. They must have been bold + of heart and strong of resource to enter the Land of the Blue + Mountains on any errand, let alone such a desperate one as this. For + centuries we have been teaching the Turk through bitter lessons that + it is neither a safe task nor an easy one to make incursion here. + + How they did it we know not--at present; but enter they did, and, + after waiting in some secret hiding-place for a favourable + opportunity, secured their prey. We know not even now whether they + had found entrance to the Crypt and stole, as they thought, the dead + body, or whether, by some dire mischance, they found her + abroad--under her disguise as a ghost. At any rate, they had + captured her, and through devious ways amongst the mountains were + bearing her back to Turkey. It was manifest that when she was on + Turkish soil the Sultan would force a marriage on her so as + eventually to secure for himself or his successors as against all + other nations a claim for the suzerainty or guardianship of the Blue + Mountains. + + Such was the state of affairs when the Gospodar Rupert threw himself + into the pursuit with fiery zeal and the Berserk passion which he + inherited from Viking ancestors, whence of old came "The Sword of + Freedom" himself. + + But at that very time was another possibility which the Gospodar was + himself the first to realize. Failing the getting the Voivodin safe + to Turkish soil, the ravishers might kill her! This would be + entirely in accord with the base traditions and history of the + Moslems. So, too, it would accord with Turkish customs and the + Sultan's present desires. It would, in its way, benefit the ultimate + strategetic ends of Turkey. For were once the Vissarion race at an + end, the subjection of the Land of the Blue Mountains might, in their + view, be an easier task than it had yet been found to be. + + Such, illustrious lady, were the conditions of affairs when the + Gospodar Rupert first drew his handjar for the Blue Mountains and + what it held most dear. + + PALEALOGUE, + _Archbishop of the Eastern Church_, _in the Land of the Blue + Mountains_. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 8, 1907. + +I wonder if ever in the long, strange history of the world had there come +to any other such glad tidings as came to me--and even then rather +inferentially than directly--from the Archimandrite's answers to my +questioning. Happily I was able to restrain myself, or I should have +created some strange confusion which might have evoked distrust, and +would certainly have hampered us in our pursuit. For a little I could +hardly accept the truth which wove itself through my brain as the true +inwardness of each fact came home to me and took its place in the whole +fabric. But even the most welcome truth has to be accepted some time by +even a doubting heart. My heart, whatever it may have been, was not then +a doubting heart, but a very, very grateful one. It was only the +splendid magnitude of the truth which forbade its immediate acceptance. +I could have shouted for joy, and only stilled myself by keeping my +thoughts fixed on the danger which my wife was in. My wife! My wife! +Not a Vampire; not a poor harassed creature doomed to terrible woe, but a +splendid woman, brave beyond belief, patriotic in a way which has but few +peers even in the wide history of bravery! I began to understand the +true meaning of the strange occurrences that have come into my life. +Even the origin and purpose of that first strange visit to my room became +clear. No wonder that the girl could move about the Castle in so +mysterious a manner. She had lived there all her life, and was familiar +with the secret ways of entrance and exit. I had always believed that +the place must have been honeycombed with secret passages. No wonder +that she could find a way to the battlements, mysterious to everybody +else. No wonder that she could meet me at the Flagstaff when she so +desired. + +To say that I was in a tumult would be to but faintly express my +condition. I was rapt into a heaven of delight which had no measure in +all my adventurous life--the lifting of the veil which showed that my +wife--mine--won in all sincerity in the very teeth of appalling +difficulties and dangers--was no Vampire, no corpse, no ghost or phantom, +but a real woman of flesh and blood, of affection, and love, and passion. +Now at last would my love be crowned indeed when, having rescued her from +the marauders, I should bear her to my own home, where she would live and +reign in peace and comfort and honour, and in love and wifely happiness +if I could achieve such a blessing for her--and for myself. + +But here a dreadful thought flashed across me, which in an instant turned +my joy to despair, my throbbing heart to ice: + +"As she is a real woman, she is in greater danger than ever in the hands +of Turkish ruffians. To them a woman is in any case no more than a +sheep; and if they cannot bring her to the harem of the Sultan, they may +deem it the next wisest step to kill her. In that way, too, they might +find a better chance of escape. Once rid of her the party could +separate, and there might be a chance of some of them finding escape as +individuals that would not exist for a party. But even if they did not +kill her, to escape with her would be to condemn her to the worst fate of +all the harem of the Turk! Lifelong misery and despair--however long +that life might be--must be the lot of a Christian woman doomed to such a +lot. And to her, just happily wedded, and after she had served her +country in such a noble way as she had done, that dreadful life of +shameful slavery would be a misery beyond belief. + +"She must be rescued--and quickly! The marauders must be caught soon, +and suddenly, so that they may have neither time nor opportunity to harm +her, as they would be certain to do if they have warning of immediate +danger. + +"On! on!" + +And "on" it was all through that terrible night as well as we could +through the forest. + +It was a race between the mountaineers and myself as to who should be +first. I understood now the feeling that animated them, and which +singled them out even from amongst their fiery comrades, when the danger +of the Voivodin became known. These men were no mean contestants even in +such a race, and, strong as I am, it took my utmost effort to keep ahead +of them. They were keen as leopards, and as swift. Their lives had been +spent among the mountains, and their hearts and souls on were in the +chase. I doubt not that if the death of any one of us could have through +any means effected my wife's release, we should, if necessary, have +fought amongst ourselves for the honour. + +From the nature of the work before us our party had to keep to the top of +the hills. We had not only to keep observation on the flying party whom +we followed, and to prevent them making discovery of us, but we had to be +always in a position to receive and answer signals made to us from the +Castle, or sent to us from other eminences. + +_Letter from Petrof Vlastimir_, _Archimandrite of Spazac_, _to the Lady +Janet MacKelpie_, _of Vissarion_. + + _Written July_ 8, 1907. + + GREAT LADY, + + I am asked to write by the Vladika, and have permission of the + Archbishop. I have the honour of transmitting to you the record of + the pursuit of the Turkish spies who carried off the Voivodin Teuta, + of the noble House of Vissarion. The pursuit was undertaken by the + Gospodar Rupert, who asked that I would come with his party, since + what he was so good as to call my "great knowledge of the country and + its people" might serve much. It is true that I have had much + knowledge of the Land of the Blue Mountains and its people, amongst + which and whom my whole life has been passed. But in such a cause no + reason was required. There was not a man in the Blue Mountains who + would not have given his life for the Voivodin Teuta, and when they + heard that she had not been dead, as they thought, but only in a + trance, and that it was she whom the marauders had carried off, they + were in a frenzy. So why should I--to whom has been given the great + trust of the Monastery of Spazac--hesitate at such a time? For + myself, I wanted to hurry on, and to come at once to the fight with + my country's foes; and well I knew that the Gospodar Rupert, with a + lion's heart meet for his giant body, would press on with a matchless + speed. We of the Blue Mountains do not lag when our foes are in + front of us; most of all do we of the Eastern Church press on when + the Crescent wars against the Cross! + + We took with us no gear or hamper of any kind; no coverings except + what we stood in; no food--nothing but our handjars and our rifles, + with a sufficiency of ammunition. Before starting, the Gospodar gave + hurried orders by signal from the Castle to have food and ammunition + sent to us (as we might signal) by the nearest hamlet. + + It was high noon when we started, only ten strong--for our leader + would take none but approved runners who could shoot straight and use + the handjar as it should be used. So as we went light, we expected + to go fast. By this time we knew from the reports signalled to + Vissarion that the enemies were chosen men of no despicable prowess. + + The Keeper of the Green Flag of Islam is well served, and as though + the Turk is an infidel and a dog, he is sometimes brave and strong. + Indeed, except when he passes the confines of the Blue Mountains, he + has been known to do stirring deeds. But as none who have dared to + wander in amongst our hills ever return to their own land, we may not + know of how they speak at home of their battles here. Still, these + men were evidently not to be despised; and our Gospodar, who is a + wise man as well as a valiant, warned us to be prudent, and not to + despise our foes over much. We did as he counselled, and in proof we + only took ten men, as we had only twenty against us. But then there + was at stake much beyond life, and we took no risks. So, as the + great clock at Vissarion clanged of noon, the eight fastest runners + of the Blue Mountains, together with the Gospodar Rupert and myself, + swept out on our journey. It had been signalled to us that the + course which the marauders had as yet taken in their flight was a + zigzag one, running eccentrically at all sorts of angles in all sorts + of directions. But our leader had marked out a course where we might + intercept our foes across the main line of their flight; and till we + had reached that region we paused not a second, but went as fast as + we could all night long. Indeed, it was amongst us a race as was the + Olympic race of old Greece, each one vying with his fellows, though + not in jealous emulation, but in high spirit, to best serve his + country and the Voivodin Teuta. Foremost amongst us went the + Gospodar, bearing himself as a Paladin of old, his mighty form + pausing for no obstacle. Perpetually did he urge us on. He would + not stop or pause for a moment, but often as he and I ran + together--for, lady, in my youth I was the fleetest of all in the + race, and even that now can head a battalion when duty calls--he + would ask me certain questions as to the Lady Teuta and of the + strange manner of her reputed death, as it was gradually unfolded in + my answers to his questioning. And as each new phase of knowledge + came to him, he would rush on as one possessed of fiends: whereat our + mountaineers, who seem to respect even fiends for their thoroughness, + would strive to keep pace with him till they too seemed worked into + diabolic possession. And I myself, left alone in the calmness of + sacerdotal office, forgot even that. With surging ears and eyes that + saw blood, I rushed along with best of them. + + Then truly the spirit of a great captain showed itself in the + Gospodar, for when others were charged with fury he began to force + himself into calm, so that out of his present self-command and the + memory of his exalted position came a worthy strategy and thought for + every contingency that might arise. So that when some new direction + was required for our guidance, there was no hesitation in its coming. + We, nine men of varying kinds, all felt that we had a master; and so, + being willing to limit ourselves to strict obedience, we were free to + use such thoughts as well as such powers as we had to the best + advantage of the doing. + + We came across the trail of the flying marauders on the second + morning after the abduction, a little before noon. It was easy + enough to see, for by this time the miscreants were all together, and + our people, who were woodlanders, were able to tell much of the party + that passed. These were evidently in a terrified hurry, for they had + taken no precautions such as are necessary baffle pursuit, and all of + which take time. Our foresters said that two went ahead and two + behind. In the centre went the mass, moving close together, as + though surrounding their prisoner. We caught not even a single + glimpse her--could not have, they encompassed her so closely. But + our foresters saw other than the mass; the ground that had been + passed was before them. They knew that the prisoner had gone + unwillingly--nay, more: one of them said as he rose from his knees, + where he had been examining of the ground: + + "The misbegotten dogs have been urging her on with their yataghans! + There are drops of blood, though there are no blood-marks on her + feet." + + Whereupon the Gospodar flamed with passion. His teeth ground + together, and with a deep-breathed "On, on!" he sprang off again, + handjar in hand, on the track. + + Before long we saw the party in the distance. They this were far + below us in a deep valley, although the track of their going passed + away to the right hand. They were making for the base of the great + cliff, which rose before us all. Their reason was twofold, as we + soon knew. Far off down the valley which they were crossing we saw + signs of persons coming in haste, who must be of the search party + coming from the north. Though the trees hid them, we could not + mistake the signs. I was myself forester enough to have no doubt. + Again, it was evident that the young Voivodin could travel no longer + at the dreadful pace at which they had been going. Those blood-marks + told their own tale! They meant to make a last stand here in case + they should be discovered. + + Then it was that he, who amongst us all had been most fierce and most + bent on rapid pursuit, became the most the calm. Raising his hand + for silence--though, God knows, we were and had been silent enough + during that long rush through the forest--he said, in a low, keen + whisper which cut the silence like a knife: + + "My friends, the time is come for action. God be thanked, who has + now brought us face to face with our foes! But we must be careful + here--not on our own account, for we wish nothing more than to rush + on and conquer or die--but for the sake of her whom you love, and + whom I, too, love. She is in danger from anything which may give + warning to those fiends. If they know or even suspect for an instant + that we are near, they will murder her . . . " + + Here his voice broke for an instant with the extremity of his passion + or the depth of his feeling--I hardly know which; I think both acted + on him. + + "We know from those blood-marks what they can do--even to her." His + teeth ground together again, but he went on without stopping further: + + "Let us arrange the battle. Though we are but little distance from + them as the crow flies, the way is far to travel. There is, I can + see, but one path down to the valley from this side. That they have + gone by, and that they will sure to guard--to watch, at any rate. + Let us divide, as to surround them. The cliff towards which they + make runs far to the left without a break. That to the right we + cannot see from this spot; but from the nature of the ground it is + not unlikely that it turns round in this direction, making the hither + end of the valley like a vast pocket or amphitheatre. As they have + studied the ground in other places, they may have done so in this, + and have come hither as to a known refuge. Let one man, a marksman, + stay here." + + As he spoke a man stepped to the front. He was, I knew, an excellent + shot. + + "Let two others go to the left and try to find a way down the cliff + before us. When they have descended to the level of the valley--path + or no path--let them advance cautiously and secretly, keeping their + guns in readiness. But they must not fire till need. Remember, my + brothers," said, turning to those who stepped out a pace or two to + the left, "that the first shot gives the warning which will be the + signal for the Voivodin's death. These men will not hesitate. You + must judge yourselves of the time to shoot. The others of us will + move to the right and try to find a path on that side. If the valley + be indeed a pocket between the cliffs, we must find a way down that + is not a path!" + + As he spoke thus there was a blaze in his eyes that betokened no good + to aught that might stand in his way. I ran by his side as we moved + to the right. + + It was as he surmised about the cliff. When we got a little on our + way we saw how the rocky formation trended to our right, till, + finally, with a wide curve, it came round to the other side. + + It was a fearful valley that, with its narrow girth and its towering + walls that seemed to topple over. On the farther side from us the + great trees that clothed the slope of the mountain over it grew down + to the very edge of the rock, so that their spreading branches hung + far over the chasm. And, so far as we could understand, the same + condition existed on our own side. Below us the valley was dark even + in the daylight. We could best tell the movement of the flying + marauders by the flashes of the white shroud of their captive in the + midst of them. + + From where we were grouped, amid the great tree-trunks on the very + brow of the cliff, we could, when our eyes were accustomed to the + shadow, see them quite well. In great haste, and half dragging, half + carrying the Voivodin, they crossed the open space and took refuge in + a little grassy alcove surrounded, save for its tortuous entrance, by + undergrowth. From the valley level it was manifestly impossible to + see them, though we from our altitude could see over the stunted + undergrowth. When within the glade, they took their hands from her. + She, shuddering instinctively, withdrew to a remote corner of the + dell. + + And then, oh, shame on their manhood!--Turks and heathens though they + were--we could see that they had submitted her to the indignity of + gagging her and binding her hands! + + Our Voivodin Teuta bound! To one and all of us it was like lashing + us across the face. I heard the Gospodar's teeth grind again. But + once more he schooled himself to calmness ere he said: + + "It is, perhaps, as well, great though the indignity be. They are + seeking their own doom, which is coming quickly . . . Moreover, they + are thwarting their own base plans. Now that she is bound they will + trust to their binding, so that they will delay their murderous + alternative to the very last moment. Such is our chance of rescuing + her alive!" + + For a few moments he stood as still as a stone, as though revolving + something in his mind whilst he watched. I could see that some grim + resolution was forming in his mind, for his eyes ranged to the top of + the trees above cliff, and down again, very slowly this time, as + though measuring and studying the detail of what was in front of him. + Then he spoke: + + "They are in hopes that the other pursuing party may not come across + them. To know that, they are waiting. If those others do not come + up the valley, they will proceed on their way. They will return up + the path the way they came. There we can wait them, charge into the + middle of them when she is opposite, and cut down those around her. + Then the others will open fire, and we shall be rid of them! + + Whilst he was speaking, two of the men of our party, who I knew to be + good sharpshooters, and who had just before lain on their faces and + had steadied their rifles to shoot, rose to their feet. + + "Command us, Gospodar!" they said simply, as they stood to attention. + "Shall we go to the head of the ravine road and there take hiding?" + He thought for perhaps a minute, whilst we all stood as silent as + images. I could hear our hearts beating. Then he said: + + "No, not yet. There is time for that yet. They will not--cannot + stir or make plans in any way till they know whether the other party + is coming towards them or not. From our height here we can see what + course the others are taking long before those villains do. Then we + can make our plans and be ready in time." + + We waited many minutes, but could see no further signs the other + pursuing party. These had evidently adopted greater caution in their + movements as they came closer to where they expected to find the + enemy. The marauders began to grow anxious. Even at our distance we + could gather as much from their attitude and movements. + + Presently, when the suspense of their ignorance grew too much for + them, they drew to the entrance of the glade, which was the farthest + place to which, without exposing themselves to anyone who might come + to the valley, they could withdraw from their captive. Here they + consulted together. We could follow from their gestures what they + were saying, for as they did not wish their prisoner to hear, their + gesticulation was enlightening to us as to each other. Our people, + like all mountaineers, have good eyes, and the Gospodar is himself an + eagle in this as in other ways. Three men stood back from the rest. + They stacked their rifles so that they could seize them easily. Then + they drew their scimitars, and stood ready, as though on guard. + + These were evidently the appointed murderers. Well they knew their + work; for though they stood in a desert place with none within long + distance except the pursuing party, of whose approach they would have + good notice, they stood so close to their prisoner that no marksman + in the world--now or that ever had been; not William Tell + himself--could have harmed any of them without at least endangering + her. Two of them turned the Voivodin round so that her face was + towards the precipice--in which position she could not see what was + going on--whilst he who was evidently leader of the gang explained, + in gesture, that the others were going to spy upon the pursuing + party. When they had located them he, or one of his men, would come + out of the opening of the wood wherein they had had evidence of them, + and hold up his hand. + + That was to be the signal for the cutting of the victim's + throat--such being the chosen method (villainous even for heathen + murderers) of her death. There was not one of our men who did not + grind his teeth when we witnessed the grim action, only too + expressive, of the Turk as he drew his right hand, clenched as though + he held a yataghan in it, across his throat. + + At the opening of the glade all the spying party halted whilst the + leader appointed to each his place of entry of the wood, the front of + which extended in an almost straight across the valley from cliff to + cliff. + + The men, stooping low when in the open, and taking instant advantage + of every little obstacle on the ground, seemed to fade like spectres + with incredible swiftness across the level mead, and were swallowed + up in the wood. + + When they had disappeared the Gospodar Rupert revealed to us the + details of the plan of action which he had revolving in his mind. He + motioned us to follow him: we threaded a way between the tree-trunks, + keeping all the while on the very edge of the cliff, so that the + space below was all visible to us. When we had got round the curve + sufficiently to see the whole of the wood on the valley level, + without losing sight of the Voivodin and her appointed assassins, we + halted under his direction. There was an added advantage of this + point over the other, for we could see directly the rising of the + hill-road, up which farther side ran the continuation of the mountain + path which the marauders had followed. It was somewhere on that path + that the other pursuing party had hoped to intercept the fugitives. + The Gospodar spoke quickly, though in a voice of command which true + soldiers love to hear: + + "Brothers, the time has come when we can strike a blow for Teuta and + the Land. Do you two, marksmen, take position here facing the wood." + The two men here lay down and got their rifles ready. "Divide the + frontage of the wood between you; arrange between yourselves the + limits of your positions. The very instant one of the marauders + appears, cover him; drop him before he emerges from the wood. Even + then still watch and treat similarly whoever else may take his place. + Do this if they come singly till not a man is left. Remember, + brothers, that brave hearts alone will not suffice at this grim + crisis. In this hour the best safety of the Voivodin is in the calm + spirit and the steady eye!" Then he turned to the rest of us, and + spoke to me: + + "Archimandrite of Plazac, you who are interpreter to God of the + prayers of so many souls, my own hour has come. If I do not return, + convey my love to my Aunt Janet--Miss MacKelpie, at Vissarion. There + is but one thing left to us if we wish to save the Voivodin. Do you, + when the time comes, take these men and join the watcher at the top + of the ravine road. When the shots are fired, do you out handjar, + and rush the ravine and across the valley. Brothers, you may be in + time to avenge the Voivodin, if you cannot save her. For me there + must be a quicker way, and to it I go. As there is not, and will not + be, time to traverse the path, I must take a quicker way. Nature + finds me a path that man has made it necessary for me to travel. See + that giant beech-tree that towers above the glade where the Voivodin + is held? There is my path! When you from here have marked the + return of the spies, give me a signal with your hat--do not use a + handkerchief, as others might see its white, and take warning. Then + rush that ravine. I shall take that as the signal for my descent by + the leafy road. If I can do naught else, I can crush the murderers + with my falling weight, even if I have to kill her too. At least we + shall die together--and free. Lay us together in the tomb at St. + Sava's. Farewell, if it be the last!" + + He threw down the scabbard in which he carried his handjar, adjusted + the naked weapon in his belt behind his back, and was gone! + + We who were not watching the wood kept our eyes fixed on the great + beech-tree, and with new interest noticed the long trailing branches + which hung low, and swayed even in the gentle breeze. For a few + minutes, which seemed amazingly long, we saw no sign of him. Then, + high up on one of the great branches which stood clear of obscuring + leaves, we saw something crawling flat against the bark. He was well + out on the branch, hanging far over the precipice. He was looking + over at us, and I waved my hand so that he should know we saw him. + He was clad in green--his usual forest dress--so that there was not + any likelihood of any other eyes noticing him. I took off my hat, + and held it ready to signal with when the time should come. I + glanced down at the glade and saw the Voivodin standing, still safe, + with her guards so close to her as to touch. Then I, too, fixed my + eyes on the wood. + + Suddenly the man standing beside me seized my arm and pointed. I + could just see through the trees, which were lower than elsewhere in + the front of the wood, a Turk moving stealthily; so I waved my hat. + At the same time a rifle underneath me cracked. A second or two + later the spy pitched forward on his face and lay still. At the same + instant my eyes sought the beech-tree, and I saw the close-lying + figure raise itself and slide forward to a joint of the branch. Then + the Gospodar, as he rose, hurled himself forward amid the mass of the + trailing branches. He dropped like a stone, and my heart sank. + + But an instant later he seemed in poise. He had clutched the thin, + trailing branches as he fell; and as he sank a number of leaves which + his motion had torn off floated out round him. + + Again the rifle below me cracked, and then again, and again, and + again. The marauders had taken warning, and were coming out in mass. + But my own eyes were fixed on the tree. Almost as a thunderbolt + falls fell the giant body of the Gospodar, his size lost in the + immensity of his surroundings. He fell in a series of jerks, as he + kept clutching the trailing beech-branches whilst they lasted, and + then other lesser verdure growing out from the fissures in the rock + after the lengthening branches had with all their elasticity reached + their last point. + + At length--for though this all took place in a very few seconds the + gravity of the crisis prolonged them immeasurably--there came a large + space of rock some three times his own length. He did not pause, but + swung himself to one side, so that he should fall close to the + Voivodin and her guards. These men did not seem to notice, for their + attention was fixed on the wood whence they expected their messenger + to signal. But they raised their yataghans in readiness. The shots + had alarmed them; and they meant to do the murder now--messenger or + no messenger + + But though the men did not see the danger from above, the Voivodin + did. She raised her eyes quickly at the first sound, and even from + where we were, before we began to run towards the ravine path, I + could see the triumphant look in her glorious eyes when she + recognized the identity of the man who was seemingly coming straight + down from Heaven itself to help her--as, indeed, she, and we too, can + very well imagine that he did; for if ever heaven had a hand in a + rescue on earth, it was now. + + Even during the last drop from the rocky foliage the Gospodar kept + his head. As he fell he pulled his handjar free, and almost as he + was falling its sweep took off the head of one of the assassins. As + he touched ground he stumbled for an instant, but it was towards his + enemies. Twice with lightning rapidity the handjar swept the air, + and at each sweep a head rolled on the sward. + + The Voivodin held up her tied hands. Again the handjar flashed, this + time downwards, and the lady was free. Without an instant's pause + the Gospodar tore off the gag, and with his left arm round her and + handjar in right hand, stood face toward his living foes. The + Voivodin stooped suddenly, and then, raising the yataghan which had + fallen from the hand of one of the dead marauders, stood armed beside + him. + + The rifles were now cracking fast, as the marauders--those that were + left of them--came rushing out into the open. But well the marksmen + knew their work. Well they bore in mind the Gospodar's command + regarding calmness. They kept picking off the foremost men only, so + that the onward rush never seemed to get more forward. + + As we rushed down the ravine we could see clearly all before us. But + now, just as we were beginning to fear lest some mischance might + allow some of them to reach the glade, there was another cause of + surprise--of rejoicing. + + From the face of the wood seemed to burst all at once a body of men, + all wearing the national cap, so we knew them as our own. They were + all armed with the handjar only, and they came like tigers. They + swept on the rushing Turks as though, for all their swiftness, they + were standing still--literally wiping them out as a child wipes a + lesson from its slate. + + A few seconds later these were followed by a tall figure with long + hair and beard of black mingled with grey. Instinctively we all, as + did those in the valley, shouted with joy. For this was the Vladika + Milosh Plamenac himself. + + I confess that, knowing what I knew, I was for a short space of time + anxious lest, in the terrific excitement in which we were all lapped, + someone might say or do something which might make for trouble later + on. The Gospodar's splendid achievement, which was worthy of any + hero of old romance, had set us all on fire. He himself must have + been wrought to a high pitch of excitement to dare such an act; and + it is not at such a time that discretion must be expected from any + man. Most of all did I fear danger from the womanhood of the + Voivodin. Had I not assisted at her marriage, I might not have + understood then what it must have been to her to be saved from such a + doom at such a time by such a man, who was so much to her, and in + such a way. It would have been only natural if at such a moment of + gratitude and triumph she had proclaimed the secret which we of the + Council of the Nation and her father's Commissioners had so + religiously kept. But none of us knew then either the Voivodin or + the Gospodar Rupert as we do now. It was well that they were as they + are, for the jealousy and suspicion of our mountaineers might, even + at such a moment, and even whilst they throbbed at such a deed, have + so manifested themselves as to have left a legacy of distrust. The + Vladika and I, who of all (save the two immediately concerned) alone + knew, looked at each other apprehensively. But at that instant the + Voivodin, with a swift glance at her husband, laid a finger on her + lip; and he, with quick understanding, gave assurance by a similar + sign. Then she sank before him on one knee, and, raising his hand to + her lips, kissed it, and spoke: + + "Gospodar Rupert, I owe you all that a woman may owe, except to God. + You have given me life and honour! I cannot thank you adequately for + what you have done; my father will try to do so when he returns. But + I am right sure that the men of the Blue Mountains, who so value + honour, and freedom, and liberty, and bravery, will hold you in their + hearts for ever!" + + This was so sweetly spoken, with lips that trembled and eyes that + swam in tears, so truly womanly and so in accord with the custom of + our nation regarding the reverence that women owe to men, that the + hearts of our mountaineers were touched to the quick. Their noble + simplicity found expression in tears. But if the gallant Gospodar + could have for a moment thought that so to weep was unmanly, his + error would have had instant correction. When the Voivodin had risen + to her feet, which she did with queenly dignity, the men around + closed in on the Gospodar like a wave of the sea, and in a second + held him above their heads, tossing on their lifted hands as if on + stormy breakers. It was as though the old Vikings of whom we have + heard, and whose blood flows in Rupert's veins, were choosing a chief + in old fashion. I was myself glad that the men were so taken up with + the Gospodar that they did not see the glory of the moment in the + Voivodin's starry eyes; for else they might have guessed the secret. + I knew from the Vladika's look that he shared my own satisfaction, + even as he had shared my anxiety. + + As the Gospodar Rupert was tossed high on the lifted hands of the + mountaineers, their shouts rose to such a sudden volume that around + us, as far as I could see, the frightened birds rose from the forest, + and their noisy alarm swelled the tumult. + + The Gospodar, ever thoughtful for others, was the first to calm + himself. + + "Come, brothers," he said, "let us gain the hilltop, where we can + signal to the Castle. It is right that the whole nation should share + in the glad tidings that the Voivodin Teuta of Vissarion is free. + But before we go, let us remove the arms and clothing of these + carrion marauders. We may have use for them later on." + + The mountaineers set him down, gently enough. And he, taking the + Voivodin by the hand, and calling the Vladika and myself close to + them, led the way up the ravine path which the marauders had + descended, and thence through the forest to the top of the hill that + dominated the valley. Here we could, from an opening amongst the + trees, catch a glimpse far off of the battlements of Vissarion. + Forthwith the Gospodar signalled; and on the moment a reply of their + awaiting was given. Then the Gospodar signalled the glad news. It + was received with manifest rejoicing. We could not hear any sound so + far away, but we could see the movement of lifted faces and waving + hands, and knew that it was well. But an instant after came a calm + so dread that we knew before the semaphore had begun to work that + there was bad news in store for us. When the news did come, a bitter + wailing arose amongst us; for the news that was signalled ran: + + "The Voivode has been captured by the Turks on his return, and is + held by them at Ilsin." + + In an instant the temper of the mountaineers changed. It was as + though by a flash summer had changed to winter, as though the yellow + glory of the standing corn had been obliterated by the dreary waste + of snow. Nay, more: it was as when one beholds the track of the + whirlwind when the giants of the forest are levelled with the sward. + For a few seconds there was silence; and then, with an angry roar, as + when God speaks in the thunder, came the fierce determination of the + men of the Blue Mountains: + + "To Ilsin! To Ilsin!" and a stampede in the direction of the south + began. For, Illustrious Lady, you, perhaps, who have been for so + short a time at Vissarion, may not know that at the extreme southern + point of the Land of the Blue Mountains lies the little port of + Ilsin, which long ago we wrested from the Turk. + + The stampede was checked by the command, "Halt!" spoken in a + thunderous voice by the Gospodar. Instinctively all stopped. The + Gospodar Rupert spoke again: + + "Had we not better know a little more before we start on our journey? + I shall get by semaphore what details are known. Do you all proceed + in silence and as swiftly as possible. The Vladika and I will wait + here till we have received the news and have sent some instructions, + when we shall follow, and, if we can, overtake you. One thing: be + absolutely silent on what has been. Be secret of every detail--even + as to the rescue of the Voivodin--except what I send." + + Without a word--thus showing immeasurable trust--the whole body--not + a very large one, it is true--moved on, and the Gospodar began + signalling. As I was myself expert in the code, I did not require + any explanation, but followed question and answer on either side. + The first words the Gospodar Rupert signalled were: + + "Silence, absolute and profound, as to everything which has been." + Then he asked for details of the capture of the Voivode. The answer + ran: + + "He was followed from Flushing, and his enemies advised by the spies + all along the route. At Ragusa quite a number of + strangers--travellers seemingly--went on board the packet. When he + got out, the strangers debarked too, and evidently followed him, + though, as yet, we have no details. He disappeared at Ilsin from the + Hotel Reo, whither he had gone. All possible steps are being taken + to trace his movements, and strictest silence and secrecy are + observed." + + His answer was: + + "Good! Keep silent and secret. Am hurrying back. Signal request to + Archbishop and all members of National Council to come to Gadaar with + all speed. There the yacht will meet him. Tell Rooke take yacht all + speed to Gadaar; there meet Archbishop and Council--give him list of + names--and return full speed. Have ready plenty arms, six flying + artillery. Two hundred men, provisions three days. Silence, + silence. All depends on that. All to go on as usual at Castle, + except to those in secret." + + When the receipt of his message had been signalled, we three--for, of + course, the Voivodin was with us; she had refused to leave the + Gospodar--set out hot-foot after our comrades. But by the time we + had descended the hill it was evident that the Voivodin could not + keep up the terrific pace at which we were going. She struggled + heroically, but the long journey she had already taken, and the + hardship and anxiety she had suffered, had told on her. The Gospodar + stopped, and said that it would be better that he should press on--it + was, perhaps, her father's life--and said he would carry her. + + "No, no!" she answered. "Go on! I shall follow with the Vladika. + And then you can have things ready to get on soon after the + Archbishop and Council arrive." They kissed each other after, on her + part, a shy glance at me; and he went on the track of our comrades at + a great pace. I could see him shortly after catch them up,--though + they, too, were going fast. For a few minutes they ran together, he + speaking--I could note it from the way they kept turning their heads + towards him. Then he broke away from them hurriedly. He went like a + stag breaking covert, and was soon out of sight. They halted a + moment or two. Then some few ran on, and all the rest came back + towards us. Quickly they improvised a litter with cords and + branches, and insisted that the Voivodin should use it. In an + incredibly short time we were under way again, and proceeding with + great rapidity towards Vissarion. The men took it in turns to help + with the litter; I had the honour of taking a hand in the work + myself. + + About a third of the way out from Vissarion a number of our people + met us. They were fresh, and as they carried the litter, we who were + relieved were free for speed. So we soon arrived at the Castle. + + Here we found all humming like a hive of bees. The yacht, which + Captain Rooke had kept fired ever since the pursuing party under the + Gospodar had left Vissarion, was already away, and tearing up the + coast at a fearful rate. The rifles and ammunition were stacked on + the quay. The field-guns, too, were equipped, and the cases of + ammunition ready to ship. The men, two hundred of them, were paraded + in full kit, ready to start at a moment's notice. The provision for + three days was all ready to put aboard, and barrels of fresh water to + trundle aboard when the yacht should return. At one end of the quay, + ready to lift on board, stood also the Gospodar's aeroplane, fully + equipped, and ready, if need were, for immediate flight. + + I was glad to see that the Voivodin seemed none the worse for her + terrible experience. She still wore her shroud; but no one seemed to + notice it as anything strange. The whisper had evidently gone round + of what had been. But discretion ruled the day. She and the + Gospodar met as two who had served and suffered in common; but I was + glad to notice that both kept themselves under such control that none + of those not already in the secret even suspected that there was any + love between them, let alone marriage. + + We all waited with what patience we could till word was signalled + from the Castle tower that the yacht had appeared over the northern + horizon, and was coming down fast, keeping inshore as she came. + + When she arrived, we heard to our joy that all concerned had done + their work well. The Archbishop was aboard, and of the National + Council not one was missing. The Gospodar hurried them all into the + great hall of the Castle, which had in the meantime been got ready. + I, too, went with him, but the Voivodin remained without. + + When all were seated, he rose and said: + + "My Lord Archbishop, Vladika, and Lords of the Council all, I have + dared to summon you in this way because time presses, and the life of + one you all love--the Voivode Vissarion--is at stake. This audacious + attempt of the Turk is the old aggression under a new form. It is a + new and more daring step than ever to try to capture your chief and + his daughter, the Voivodin, whom you love. Happily, the latter part + of the scheme is frustrated. The Voivodin is safe and amongst us. + But the Voivode is held prisoner--if, indeed, he be still alive. He + must be somewhere near Ilsin--but where exactly we know not as yet. + We have an expedition ready to start the moment we receive your + sanction--your commands. We shall obey your wishes with our lives. + But as the matter is instant, I would venture to ask one question, + and one only: 'Shall we rescue the Voivode at any cost that may + present itself?' I ask this, for the matter has now become an + international one, and, if our enemies are as earnest as we are, the + issue is war!" + + Having so spoken, and with a dignity and force which is + inexpressible, he withdrew; and the Council, having appointed a + scribe--the monk Cristoferos, whom I had suggested--began its work. + + The Archbishop spoke: + + "Lords of the Council of the Blue Mountains, I venture to ask you + that the answer to the Gospodar Rupert be an instant 'Yes!' together + with thanks and honour to that gallant Englisher, who has made our + cause his own, and who has so valiantly rescued our beloved Voivodin + from the ruthless hands of our enemies." Forthwith the oldest member + of the Council--Nicolos of Volok--rose, and, after throwing a + searching look round the faces of all, and seeing grave nods of + assent--for not a word was spoken--said to him who held the door: + "Summon the Gospodar Rupert forthwith!" When Rupert entered, he + spoke to him: + + "Gospodar Rupert, the Council of the Blue Mountains has only one + answer to give: Proceed! Rescue the Voivode Vissarion, whatever the + cost may be! You hold henceforth in your hand the handjar of our + nation, as already, for what you have done in your valiant rescue of + our beloved Voivodin, your breast holds the heart of our people. + Proceed at once! We give you, I fear, little time; but we know that + such is your own wish. Later, we shall issue formal authorization, + so that if war may ensue, our allies may understand that you have + acted for the nation, and also such letters credential as may be + required by you in this exceptional service. These shall follow you + within an hour. For our enemies we take no account. See, we draw + the handjar that we offer you." As one man all in the hall drew + their handjars, which flashed as a blaze of lightning. + + There did not seem to be an instant's delay. The Council broke up, + and its members, mingling with the people without, took active part + in the preparations. Not many minutes had elapsed when the yacht, + manned and armed and stored as arranged, was rushing out of the + creek. On the bridge, beside Captain Rooke, stood the Gospodar + Rupert and the still-shrouded form of the Voivodin Teuta. I myself + was on the lower deck with the soldiers, explaining to certain of + them the special duties which they might be called on to fulfil. I + held the list which the Gospodar Rupert had prepared whilst we were + waiting for the yacht to arrive from Gadaar. + + PETROF VLASTIMIR. + + + +FROM RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _July_ 9, 1907. + +We went at a terrific pace down the coast, keeping well inshore so as to +avoid, if possible, being seen from the south. Just north of Ilsin a +rocky headland juts out, and that was our cover. On the north of the +peninsula is a small land-locked bay, with deep water. It is large +enough to take the yacht, though a much larger vessel could not safely +enter. We ran in, and anchored close to the shore, which has a rocky +frontage--a natural shelf of rock, which is practically the same as a +quay. Here we met the men who had come from Ilsin and the neighbourhood +in answer to our signalling earlier in the day. They gave us the latest +information regarding the kidnapping of the Voivode, and informed us that +every man in that section of the country was simply aflame about it. +They assured us that we could rely on them, not merely to fight to the +death, but to keep silence absolutely. Whilst the seamen, under the +direction of Rooke, took the aeroplane on shore and found a suitable +place for it, where it was hidden from casual view, but from which it +could be easily launched, the Vladika and I--and, of course, my +wife--were hearing such details as were known of the disappearance of her +father. + +It seems that he travelled secretly in order to avoid just such a +possibility as has happened. No one knew of his coming till he came to +Fiume, whence he sent a guarded message to the Archbishop, which the +latter alone would understand. But this Turkish agents were evidently on +his track all the time, and doubtless the Bureau of Spies was kept well +advised. He landed at Ilsin from a coasting steamer from Ragusa to the +Levant. + +For two days before his coming there had been quite an unusual number of +arrivals at the little port, at which arrivals are rare. And it turned +out that the little hotel--the only fairly good one in Ilsin--was almost +filled up. Indeed, only one room was left, which the Voivode took for +the night. The innkeeper did not know the Voivode in his disguise, but +suspected who it was from the description. He dined quietly, and went to +bed. His room was at the back, on the ground-floor, looking out on the +bank of the little River Silva, which here runs into the harbour. No +disturbance was heard in the night. Late in the morning, when the +elderly stranger had not made his appearance, inquiry was made at his +door. He did not answer, so presently the landlord forced the door, and +found the room empty. His luggage was seemingly intact, only the clothes +which he had worn were gone. A strange thing was that, though the bed +had been slept in and his clothes were gone, his night-clothes were not +to be found, from which it was argued by the local authorities, when they +came to make inquiry, that he had gone or been taken from the room in his +night-gear, and that his clothes had been taken with him. There was +evidently some grim suspicion on the part of the authorities, for they +had commanded absolute silence on all in the house. When they came to +make inquiry as to the other guests, it was found that one and all had +gone in the course of the morning, after paying their bills. None of +them had any heavy luggage, and there was nothing remaining by which they +might be traced or which would afford any clue to their identity. The +authorities, having sent a confidential report to the seat of government, +continued their inquiries, and even now all available hands were at work +on the investigation. When I had signalled to Vissarion, before my +arrival there, word had been sent through the priesthood to enlist in the +investigation the services of all good men, so that every foot of ground +in that section of the Blue Mountains was being investigated. The +port-master was assured by his watchmen that no vessel, large or small, +had heft the harbour during the night. The inference, therefore, was +that the Voivode's captors had made inland with him--if, indeed, they +were not already secreted in or near the town. + +Whilst we were receiving the various reports, a hurried message came that +it was now believed that the whole party were in the Silent Tower. This +was a well-chosen place for such an enterprise. It was a massive tower +of immense strength, built as a memorial--and also as a "keep"--after one +of the massacres of the invading Turks. + +It stood on the summit of a rocky knoll some ten miles inland from the +Port of Ilsin. It was a place shunned as a rule, and the country all +around it was so arid and desolate that there were no residents near it. +As it was kept for state use, and might be serviceable in time of war, it +was closed with massive iron doors, which were kept locked except upon +certain occasions. The keys were at the seat of government at Plazac. +If, therefore, it had been possible to the Turkish marauders to gain +entrance and exit, it might be a difficult as well as a dangerous task to +try to cut the Voivode out. His presence with them was a dangerous +menace to any force attacking them, for they would hold his life as a +threat. + +I consulted with the Vladika at once as to what was best to be done. And +we decided that, though we should put a cordon of guards around it at a +safe distance to prevent them receiving warning, we should at present +make no attack. + +We made further inquiry as to whether there had been any vessel seen in +the neighbourhood during the past few days, and were informed that once +or twice a warship had been seen on the near side of the southern +horizon. This was evidently the ship which Rooke had seen on his rush +down the coast after the abduction of the Voivodin, and which he had +identified as a Turkish vessel. The glimpses of her which had been had +were all in full daylight--there was no proof that she had not stolen up +during the night-time without lights. But the Vladika and I were +satisfied that the Turkish vessel was watching--was in league with both +parties of marauders--and was intended to take off any of the strangers, +or their prey, who might reach Ilsin undetected. It was evidently with +this view that the kidnappers of Teuta had, in the first instance, made +with all speed for the south. It was only when disappointed there that +they headed up north, seeking in desperation for some chance of crossing +the border. That ring of steel had so far well served its purpose. + +I sent for Rooke, and put the matter before him. He had thought it out +for himself to the same end as we had. His deduction was: + +"Let us keep the cordon, and watch for any signal from the Silent Tower. +The Turks will tire before we shall. I undertake to watch the Turkish +warship. During the night I shall run down south, without lights, and +have a look at her, even if I have to wait till the grey of the dawn to +do so. She may see us; but if she does I shall crawl away at such pace +that she shall not get any idea of our speed. She will certainly come +nearer before a day is over, for be sure the bureau of spies is kept +advised, and they know that when the country is awake each day increases +the hazard of them and their plans being discovered. From their caution +I gather that they do not court discovery; and from that that they do not +wish for an open declaration of war. If this be so, why should we not +come out to them and force an issue if need be?" + +When Teuta and I got a chance to be alone, we discussed the situation in +every phase. The poor girl was in a dreadful state of anxiety regarding +her father's safety. At first she was hardly able to speak, or even to +think, coherently. Her utterance was choked, and her reasoning palsied +with indignation. But presently the fighting blood of her race restored +her faculties, and then her woman's quick wit was worth the reasoning of +a camp full of men. Seeing that she was all on fire with the subject, I +sat still and waited, taking care not to interrupt her. For quite a long +time she sat still, whilst the coming night thickened. When she spoke, +the whole plan of action, based on subtle thinking, had mapped itself out +in her mind: + +"We must act quickly. Every hour increases the risk to my father." Here +her voice broke for an instant; but she recovered herself and went on: + +"If you go to the ship, I must not go with you. It would not do for me +to be seen. The Captain doubtless knows of both attempts: that to carry +me off as well as that against my father. As yet he is in ignorance of +what has happened. You and your party of brave, loyal men did their work +so well that no news could go forth. So long, therefore, as the naval +Captain is ignorant, he must delay till the last. But if he saw me he +would know that _that_ branch of the venture had miscarried. He would +gather from our being here that we had news of my father's capture, and +as he would know that the marauders would fail unless they were relieved +by force, he would order the captive to be slain." + +"Yes, dear, to-morrow you had, perhaps, better see the Captain, but +to-night we must try to rescue my father. Here I think I see a way. You +have your aeroplane. Please take me with you into the Silent Tower." + +"Not for a world of chrysolite!" said I, horrified. She took my hand and +held it tight whilst she went on: + +"Dear, I know, I know! Be satisfied. But it is the only way. You can, +I know, get there, and in the dark. But if you were to go in it, it +would give warning to the enemies, and besides, my father would not +understand. Remember, he does not know you; he has never seen you, and +does not, I suppose, even know as yet of your existence. But he would +know me at once, and in any dress. You can manage to lower me into the +Tower by a rope from the aeroplane. The Turks as yet do not know of our +pursuit, and doubtless rely, at all events in part, on the strength and +security of the Tower. Therefore their guard will be less active than it +would at first or later on. I shall post father in all details, and we +shall be ready quickly. Now, dear, let us think out the scheme together. +Let your man's wit and experience help my ignorance, and we shall save my +father!" + +How could I have resisted such pleading--even had it not seemed wise? +But wise it was; and I, who knew what the aeroplane could do under my own +guidance, saw at once the practicalities of the scheme. Of course there +was a dreadful risk in case anything should go wrong. But we are at +present living in a world of risks--and her father's life was at stake. +So I took my dear wife in my arms, and told her that my mind was hers for +this, as my soul and body already were. And I cheered her by saying that +I thought it might be done. + +I sent for Rooke, and told him of the new adventure, and he quite agreed +with me in the wisdom of it. I then told him that he would have to go +and interview the Captain of the Turkish warship in the morning, if I did +not turn up. "I am going to see the Vladika," I said. "He will lead our +own troops in the attack on the Silent Tower. But it will rest with you +to deal with the warship. Ask the Captain to whom or what nation the +ship belongs. He is sure to refuse to tell. In such case mention to him +that if he flies no nation's flag, his vessel is a pirate ship, and that +you, who are in command of the navy of the Blue Mountains, will deal with +him as a pirate is dealt with--no quarter, no mercy. He will temporize, +and perhaps try a bluff; but when things get serious with him he will +land a force, or try to, and may even prepare to shell the town. He will +threaten to, at any rate. In such case deal with him as you think best, +or as near to it as you can." He answered: + +"I shall carry out your wishes with my life. It is a righteous task. +Not that anything of that sort would ever stand in my way. If he attacks +our nation, either as a Turk or a pirate, I shall wipe him out. We shall +see what our own little packet can do. Moreover, any of the marauders +who have entered the Blue Mountains, from sea or otherwise, shall never +get out by sea! I take it that we of my contingent shall cover the +attacking party. It will be a sorry time for us all if that happens +without our seeing you and the Voivodin; for in such case we shall +understand the worst!" Iron as he was, the man trembled. + +"That is so, Rooke," I said. "We are taking a desperate chance, we know. +But the case is desperate! But we all have our duty to do, whatever +happens. Ours and yours is stern; but when we have done it, the result +will be that life will be easier for others--for those that are left." + +Before he left, I asked him to send up to me three suits of the Masterman +bullet-proof clothes of which we had a supply on the yacht. + +"Two are for the Voivodin and myself," I said; "the third is for the +Voivode to put on. The Voivodin will take it with her when she descends +from the aeroplane into the Tower." + +Whilst any daylight was left I went out to survey the ground. My wife +wanted to come with me, but I would not let her. "No," said I; "you will +have at the best a fearful tax on your strength and your nerves. You +will want to be as fresh as is possible when you get on the aeroplane." +Like a good wife, she obeyed, and lay down to rest in the little tent +provided for her. + +I took with me a local man who knew the ground, and who was trusted to be +silent. We made a long detour when we had got as near the Silent Tower +as we could without being noticed. I made notes from my compass as to +directions, and took good notice of anything that could possibly serve as +a landmark. By the time we got home I was pretty well satisfied that if +all should go well I could easily sail over the Tower in the dark. Then +I had a talk with my wife, and gave her full instructions: + +"When we arrive over the Tower," I said, "I shall lower you with a long +rope. You will have a parcel of food and spirit for your father in case +he is fatigued or faint; and, of course, the bullet-proof suit, which he +must put on at once. You will also have a short rope with a belt at +either end--one for your father, the other for you. When I turn the +aeroplane and come back again, you will have ready the ring which lies +midway between the belts. This you will catch into the hook at the end +of the lowered rope. When all is secure, and I have pulled you both up +by the windlass so as to clear the top, I shall throw out ballast which +we shall carry on purpose, and away we go! I am sorry it must be so +uncomfortable for you both, but there is no other way. When we get well +clear of the Tower, I shall take you both up on the platform. If +necessary, I shall descend to do it--and then we shall steer for Ilsin." + +"When all is safe, our men will attack the Tower. We must let them do +it, for they expect it. A few men in the clothes and arms which we took +from your captors will be pursued by some of ours. It is all arranged. +They will ask the Turks to admit them, and if the latter have not learned +of your father's escape, perhaps they will do so. Once in, our men will +try to open the gate. The chances are against them, poor fellows! but +they are all volunteers, and will die fighting. If they win out, great +glory will be theirs." + +"The moon does not rise to-night till just before midnight, so we have +plenty of time. We shall start from here at ten. If all be well, I +shall place you in the Tower with your father in less than a quarter-hour +from that. A few minutes will suffice to clothe him in bullet-proof and +get on his belt. I shall not be away from the Tower more than a very few +minutes, and, please God, long before eleven we shall be safe. Then the +Tower can be won in an attack by our mountaineers. Perhaps, when the +guns are heard on the ship of war--for there is sure to be firing--the +Captain may try to land a shore party. But Rooke will stand in the way, +and if I know the man and _The Lady_, we shall not be troubled with many +Turks to-night. By midnight you and your father can be on the way to +Vissarion. I can interview the naval Captain in the morning." + +My wife's marvellous courage and self-possession stood to her. At half +an hour before the time fixed she was ready for our adventure. She had +improved the scheme in one detail. She had put on her own belt and +coiled the rope round her waist, so the only delay would be in bringing +her father's belt. She would keep the bullet-proof dress intended to be +his strapped in a packet on her back, so that if occasion should be +favourable he would not want to put it on till he and she should have +reached the platform of the aeroplane. In such case, I should not steer +away from the Tower at all, but would pass slowly across it and take up +the captive and his brave daughter before leaving. I had learned from +local sources that the Tower was in several stories. Entrance was by the +foot, where the great iron-clad door was; then came living-rooms and +storage, and an open space at the top. This would probably be thought +the best place for the prisoner, for it was deep-sunk within the massive +walls, wherein was no loophole of any kind. This, if it should so +happen, would be the disposition of things best for our plan. The guards +would at this time be all inside the Tower--probably resting, most of +them--so that it was possible that no one might notice the coming of the +airship. I was afraid to think that all might turn out so well, for in +such case our task would be a simple enough one, and would in all human +probability be crowned with success. + +At ten o'clock we started. Teuta did not show the smallest sign of fear +or even uneasiness, though this was the first time she had even seen an +aeroplane at work. She proved to be an admirable passenger for an +airship. She stayed quite still, holding herself rigidly in the position +arranged, by the cords which I had fixed for her. + +When I had trued my course by the landmarks and with the compass lit by +the Tiny my electric light in the dark box, I had time to look about me. +All seemed quite dark wherever I looked--to land, or sea, or sky. But +darkness is relative, and though each quarter and spot looked dark in +turn, there was not such absolute darkness as a whole. I could tell the +difference, for instance, between land and sea, no matter how far off we +might be from either. Looking upward, the sky was dark; yet there was +light enough to see, and even distinguish broad effects. I had no +difficulty in distinguishing the Tower towards which we were moving, and +that, after all, was the main thing. We drifted slowly, very slowly, as +the air was still, and I only used the minimum pressure necessary for the +engine. I think I now understood for the first time the extraordinary +value of the engine with which my Kitson was equipped. It was noiseless, +it was practically of no weight, and it allowed the machine to progress +as easily as the old-fashioned balloon used to drift before a breeze. +Teuta, who had naturally very fine sight, seemed to see even better than +I did, for as we drew nearer to the Tower, and its round, open top began +to articulate itself, she commenced to prepare for her part of the task. +She it was who uncoiled the long drag-rope ready for her lowering. We +were proceeding so gently that she as well as I had hopes that I might be +able to actually balance the machine on the top of the curving wall--a +thing manifestly impossible on a straight surface, though it might have +been possible on an angle. + +On we crept--on, and on! There was no sign of light about the Tower, and +not the faintest sound to be heard till we were almost close to the line +of the rising wall; then we heard a sound of something like mirth, but +muffled by distance and thick walls. From it we took fresh heart, for it +told us that our enemies were gathered in the lower chambers. If only +the Voivode should be on the upper stage, all would be well. + +Slowly, almost inch by inch, and with a suspense that was agonizing, we +crossed some twenty or thirty feet above the top of the wall. I could +see as we came near the jagged line of white patches where the heads of +the massacred Turks placed there on spikes in old days seemed to give +still their grim warning. Seeing that they made in themselves a +difficulty of landing on the wall, I deflected the plane so that, as we +crept over the wall, we might, if they became displaced, brush them to +the outside of the wall. A few seconds more, and I was able to bring the +machine to rest with the front of the platform jutting out beyond the +Tower wall. Here I anchored her fore and aft with clamps which had been +already prepared. + +Whilst I was doing so Teuta had leaned over the inner edge of the +platform, and whispered as softly as the sigh of a gentle breeze: + +"Hist! hist!" The answer came in a similar sound from some twenty feet +below us, and we knew that the prisoner was alone. Forthwith, having +fixed the hook of the rope in the ring to which was attached her belt, I +lowered my wife. Her father evidently knew her whisper, and was ready. +The hollow Tower--a smooth cylinder within--sent up the voices from it +faint as were the whispers: + +"Father, it is I--Teuta!" + +"My child, my brave daughter!" + +"Quick, father; strap the belt round you. See that it is secure. We +have to be lifted into the air if necessary. Hold together. It will be +easier for Rupert to lift us to the airship." + +"Rupert?" + +"Yes; I shall explain later. Quick, quick! There is not a moment to +lose. He is enormously strong, and can lift us together; but we must +help him by being still, so he won't have to use the windlass, which +might creak." As she spoke she jerked slightly at the rope, which was +our preconcerted signal that I was to lift. I was afraid the windlass +might creak, and her thoughtful hint decided me. I bent my back to the +task, and in a few seconds they were on the platform on which they, at +Teuta's suggestion, lay flat, one at each side of my seat, so as to keep +the best balance possible. + +I took off the clamps, lifted the bags of ballast to the top of the wall, +so that there should be no sound of falling, and started the engine. The +machine moved forward a few inches, so that it tilted towards the outside +of the wall. I threw my weight on the front part of the platform, and we +commenced our downward fall at a sharp angle. A second enlarged the +angle, and without further ado we slid away into the darkness. Then, +ascending as we went, when the engine began to work at its strength, we +turned, and presently made straight for Ilsin. + +The journey was short--not many minutes. It almost seemed as if no time +whatever had elapsed till we saw below us the gleam of lights, and by +them saw a great body of men gathered in military array. We slackened +and descended. The crowd kept deathly silence, but when we were amongst +them we needed no telling that it was not due to lack of heart or absence +of joy. The pressure of their hands as they surrounded us, and the +devotion with which they kissed the hands and feet of both the Voivode +and his daughter, were evidence enough for me, even had I not had my own +share of their grateful rejoicing. + +In the midst of it all the low, stern voice of Rooke, who had burst a way +to the front beside the Vladika, said: + +"Now is the time to attack the Tower. Forward, brothers, but in silence. +Let there not be a sound till you are near the gate; then play your +little comedy of the escaping marauders. And 'twill be no comedy for +them in the Tower. The yacht is all ready for the morning, Mr. Sent +Leger, in case I do not come out of the scrimmage if the bluejackets +arrive. In such case you will have to handle her yourself. God keep +you, my Lady; and you, too, Voivode! Forward!" + +In a ghostly silence the grim little army moved forwards. Rooke and the +men with him disappeared into the darkness in the direction of the +harbour of Ilsin. + + + +FROM THE SCRIPT OF THE VOIVODE, PETER VISSARION, + + + _July_ 7, 1907. + +I had little idea, when I started on my homeward journey, that it would +have such a strange termination. Even I, who ever since my boyhood have +lived in a whirl of adventure, intrigue, or diplomacy--whichever it may +be called--statecraft, and war, had reason to be surprised. I certainly +thought that when I locked myself into my room in the hotel at Ilsin that +I would have at last a spell, however short, of quiet. All the time of +my prolonged negotiations with the various nationalities I had to be at +tension; so, too, on my homeward journey, lest something at the last +moment should happen adversely to my mission. But when I was safe on my +own Land of the Blue Mountains, and laid my head on my pillow, where only +friends could be around me, I thought I might forget care. + +But to wake with a rude hand over my mouth, and to feel myself grasped +tight by so many hands that I could not move a limb, was a dreadful +shock. All after that was like a dreadful dream. I was rolled in a +great rug so tightly that I could hardly breathe, let alone cry out. +Lifted by many hands through the window, which I could hear was softly +opened and shut for the purpose, and carried to a boat. Again lifted +into some sort of litter, on which I was borne a long distance, but with +considerable rapidity. Again lifted out and dragged through a doorway +opened on purpose--I could hear the clang as it was shut behind me. Then +the rug was removed, and I found myself, still in my night-gear, in the +midst of a ring of men. There were two score of them, all Turks, all +strong-looking, resolute men, armed to the teeth. My clothes, which had +been taken from my room, were thrown down beside me, and I was told to +dress. As the Turks were going from the room--shaped like a vault--where +we then were, the last of them, who seemed to be some sort of officer, +said: + +"If you cry out or make any noise whatever whilst you are in this Tower, +you shall die before your time!" Presently some food and water were +brought me, and a couple of blankets. I wrapped myself up and slept till +early in the morning. Breakfast was brought, and the same men filed in. +In the presence of them all the same officer said: + +"I have given instructions that if you make any noise or betray your +presence to anyone outside this Tower, the nearest man is to restore you +to immediate quiet with his yataghan. It you promise me that you will +remain quiet whilst you are within the Tower, I can enlarge your +liberties somewhat. Do you promise?" I promised as he wished; there was +no need to make necessary any stricter measure of confinement. Any +chance of escape lay in having the utmost freedom allowed to me. +Although I had been taken away with such secrecy, I knew that before long +there would be pursuit. So I waited with what patience I could. I was +allowed to go on the upper platform--a consideration due, I am convinced, +to my captors' wish for their own comfort rather than for mine. + +It was not very cheering, for during the daytime I had satisfied myself +that it would be quite impossible for even a younger and more active man +than I am to climb the walls. They were built for prison purposes, and a +cat could not find entry for its claws between the stones. I resigned +myself to my fate as well as I could. Wrapping my blanket round me, I +lay down and looked up at the sky. I wished to see it whilst I could. I +was just dropping to sleep--the unutterable silence of the place broken +only now and again by some remark by my captors in the rooms below +me--when there was a strange appearance just over me--an appearance so +strange that I sat up, and gazed with distended eyes. + +Across the top of the tower, some height above, drifted, slowly and +silently, a great platform. Although the night was dark, it was so much +darker where I was within the hollow of the Tower that I could actually +see what was above me. I knew it was an aeroplane--one of which I had +seen in Washington. A man was seated in the centre, steering; and beside +him was a silent figure of a woman all wrapped in white. It made my +heart beat to see her, for she was figured something like my Teuta, but +broader, less shapely. She leaned over, and a whispered "Ssh!" crept +down to me. I answered in similar way. Whereupon she rose, and the man +lowered her down into the Tower. Then I saw that it was my dear daughter +who had come in this wonderful way to save me. With infinite haste she +helped me to fasten round my waist a belt attached to a rope, which was +coiled round her; and then the man, who was a giant in strength as well +as stature, raised us both to the platform of the aeroplane, which he set +in motion without an instant's delay. + +Within a few seconds, and without any discovery being made of my escape, +we were speeding towards the sea. The lights of Ilsin were in front of +us. Before reaching the town, however, we descended in the midst of a +little army of my own people, who were gathered ready to advance upon the +Silent Tower, there to effect, if necessary, my rescue by force. Small +chance would there have been of my life in case of such a struggle. +Happily, however, the devotion and courage of my dear daughter and of her +gallant companion prevented such a necessity. It was strange to me to +find such joyous reception amongst my friends expressed in such a +whispered silence. There was no time for comment or understanding or the +asking of questions--I was fain to take things as they stood, and wait +for fuller explanation. + +This came later, when my daughter and I were able to converse alone. + +When the expedition went out against the Silent Tower, Teuta and I went +to her tent, and with us came her gigantic companion, who seemed not +wearied, but almost overcome with sleep. When we came into the tent, +over which at a little distance a cordon of our mountaineers stood on +guard, he said to me: + +"May I ask you, sir, to pardon me for a time, and allow the Voivodin to +explain matters to you? She will, I know, so far assist me, for there is +so much work still to be done before we are free of the present peril. +For myself, I am almost overcome with sleep. For three nights I have had +no sleep, but all during that time much labour and more anxiety. I could +hold on longer; but at daybreak I must go out to the Turkish warship that +lies in the offing. She is a Turk, though she does not confess to it; +and she it is who has brought hither the marauders who captured both your +daughter and yourself. It is needful that I go, for I hold a personal +authority from the National Council to take whatever step may be +necessary for our protection. And when I go I should be clear-headed, +for war may rest on that meeting. I shall be in the adjoining tent, and +shall come at once if I am summoned, in case you wish for me before +dawn." Here my daughter struck in: + +"Father, ask him to remain here. We shall not disturb him, I am sure, in +our talking. And, moreover, if you knew how much I owe to him--to his +own bravery and his strength--you would understand how much safer I feel +when he is close to me, though we are surrounded by an army of our brave +mountaineers." + +"But, my daughter," I said, for I was as yet all in ignorance, "there are +confidences between father and daughter which none other may share. Some +of what has been I know, but I want to know all, and it might be better +that no stranger--however valiant he may be, or no matter in what measure +we are bound to him--should be present." To my astonishment, she who had +always been amenable to my lightest wish actually argued with me: + +"Father, there are other confidences which have to be respected in like +wise. Bear with me, dear, till I have told you all, and I am right sure +that you will agree with me. I ask it, father." + +That settled the matter, and as I could see that the gallant gentleman +who had rescued me was swaying on his feet as he waited respectfully, I +said to him: + +"Rest with us, sir. We shall watch over your sleep." + +Then I had to help him, for almost on the instant he sank down, and I had +to guide him to the rugs spread on the ground. In a few seconds he was +in a deep sleep. As I stood looking at him, till I had realized that he +vas really asleep, I could not help marvelling at the bounty of Nature +that could uphold even such a man as this to the last moment of work to +be done, and then allow so swift a collapse when all was over, and he +could rest peacefully. + +He was certainly a splendid fellow. I think I never saw so fine a man +physically in my life. And if the lesson of his physiognomy be true, he +is as sterling inwardly as his external is fair. "Now," said I to Teuta, +"we are to all intents quite alone. Tell me all that has been, so that I +may understand." + +Whereupon my daughter, making me sit down, knelt beside me, and told me +from end to end the most marvellous story I had ever heard or read of. +Something of it I had already known from the Archbishop Paleologue's +later letters, but of all else I was ignorant. Far away in the great +West beyond the Atlantic, and again on the fringe of the Eastern seas, I +had been thrilled to my heart's core by the heroic devotion and fortitude +of my daughter in yielding herself for her country's sake to that fearful +ordeal of the Crypt; of the grief of the nation at her reported death, +news of which was so mercifully and wisely withheld from me as long as +possible; of the supernatural rumours that took root so deep; but no word +or hint had come to me of a man who had come across the orbit of her +life, much less of all that has resulted from it. Neither had I known of +her being carried off, or of the thrice gallant rescue of her by Rupert. +Little wonder that I thought so highly of him even at the first moment I +had a clear view of him when he sank down to sleep before me. Why, the +man must be a marvel. Even our mountaineers could not match such +endurance as his. In the course of her narrative my daughter told me of +how, being wearied with her long waiting in the tomb, and waking to find +herself alone when the floods were out, and even the Crypt submerged, she +sought safety and warmth elsewhere; and how she came to the Castle in the +night, and found the strange man alone. I said: "That was dangerous, +daughter, if not wrong. The man, brave and devoted as he is, must answer +me--your father." At that she was greatly upset, and before going on +with her narrative, drew me close in her arms, and whispered to me: + +"Be gentle to me, father, for I have had much to bear. And be good to +him, for he holds my heart in his breast!" I reassured her with a gentle +pressure--there was no need to speak. She then went on to tell me about +her marriage, and how her husband, who had fallen into the belief that +she was a Vampire, had determined to give even his soul for her; and how +she had on the night of the marriage left him and gone back to the tomb +to play to the end the grim comedy which she had undertaken to perform +till my return; and how, on the second night after her marriage, as she +was in the garden of the Castle--going, as she shyly told me, to see if +all was well with her husband--she was seized secretly, muffled up, +bound, and carried off. Here she made a pause and a digression. +Evidently some fear lest her husband and myself should quarrel assailed +her, for she said: + +"Do understand, father, that Rupert's marriage to me was in all ways +regular, and quite in accord with our customs. Before we were married I +told the Archbishop of my wish. He, as your representative during your +absence, consented himself, and brought the matter to the notice of the +Vladika and the Archimandrites. All these concurred, having exacted from +me--very properly, I think--a sacred promise to adhere to my +self-appointed task. The marriage itself was orthodox in all +ways--though so far unusual that it was held at night, and in darkness, +save for the lights appointed by the ritual. As to that, the Archbishop +himself, or the Archimandrite of Spazac, who assisted him, or the +Vladika, who acted as Paranymph, will, all or any of them, give you full +details. Your representative made all inquiries as to Rupert Sent Leger, +who lived in Vissarion, though he did not know who I was, or from his +point of view who I had been. But I must tell you of my rescue." + +And so she went on to tell me of that unavailing journey south by her +captors; of their bafflement by the cordon which Rupert had established +at the first word of danger to "the daughter of our leader," though he +little knew who the "leader" was, or who was his "daughter"; of how the +brutal marauders tortured her to speed with their daggers; and how her +wounds left blood-marks on the ground as she passed along; then of the +halt in the valley, when the marauders came to know that their road north +was menaced, if not already blocked; of the choosing of the murderers, +and their keeping ward over her whilst their companions went to survey +the situation; and of her gallant rescue by that noble fellow, her +husband--my son I shall call him henceforth, and thank God that I may +have that happiness and that honour! + +Then my daughter went on to tell me of the race back to Vissarion, when +Rupert went ahead of all--as a leader should do; of the summoning of the +Archbishop and the National Council; and of their placing the nation's +handjar in Rupert's hand; of the journey to Ilsin, and the flight of my +daughter--and my son--on the aeroplane. + +The rest I knew. + +As she finished, the sleeping man stirred and woke--broad awake in a +second--sure sign of a man accustomed to campaign and adventure. At a +glance he recalled everything that had been, and sprang to his feet. He +stood respectfully before me for a few seconds before speaking. Then he +said, with an open, engaging smile: + +"I see, sir, you know all. Am I forgiven--for Teuta's sake as well as my +own?" By this time I was also on my feet. A man like that walks +straight into my heart. My daughter, too, had risen, and stood by my +side. I put out my hand and grasped his, which seemed to leap to meet +me--as only the hand of a swordsman can do. + +"I am glad you are my son!" I said. It was all I could say, and I meant +it and all it implied. We shook hands warmly. Teuta was pleased; she +kissed me, and then stood holding my arm with one hand, whilst she linked +her other hand in the arm of her husband. + +He summoned one of the sentries without, and told him to ask Captain +Rooke to come to him. The latter had been ready for a call, and came at +once. When through the open flap of the tent we saw him coming, +Rupert--as I must call him now, because Teuta wishes it; and I like to do +it myself--said: + +"I must be off to board the Turkish vessel before it comes inshore. +Good-bye, sir, in case we do not meet again." He said the last few words +in so low a voice that I only could hear them. Then he kissed his wife, +and told her he expected to be back in time for breakfast, and was gone. +He met Rooke--I am hardly accustomed to call him Captain as yet, though, +indeed, he well deserves it--at the edge of the cordon of sentries, and +they went quickly together towards the port, where the yacht was lying +with steam up. + + + + +BOOK VII: THE EMPIRE OF THE AIR + + +FROM THE REPORT OF CRISTOFEROS, WAR-SCRIBE TO THE NATIONAL COUNCIL. + + + _July_ 7, 1907. + +When the Gospodar Rupert and Captain Rooke came within hailing distance +of the strange ship, the former hailed her, using one after another the +languages of England, Germany, France, Russia, Turkey, Greece, Spain, +Portugal, and another which I did not know; I think it must have been +American. By this time the whole line of the bulwark was covered by a +row of Turkish faces. When, in Turkish, the Gospodar asked for the +Captain, the latter came to the gangway, which had been opened, and stood +there. His uniform was that of the Turkish navy--of that I am prepared +to swear--but he made signs of not understanding what had been said; +whereupon the Gospodar spoke again, but in French this time. I append +the exact conversation which took place, none other joining in it. I +took down in shorthand the words of both as they were spoken: + +THE GOSPODAR. "Are you the Captain of this ship?" + +THE CAPTAIN. "I am." + +GOSPODAR. "To what nationality do you belong?" + +CAPTAIN. "It matters not. I am Captain of this ship." + +GOSPODAR. "I alluded to your ship. What national flag is she under?" + +CAPTAIN (_throwing his eye over the top-hamper_). "I do not see that any +flag is flying." + +GOSPODAR. "I take it that, as commander, you can allow me on board with +my two companions?" + +CAPTAIN. "I can, upon proper request being made!" + +GOSPODAR (_taking off his cap_). "I ask your courtesy, Captain. I am +the representative and accredited officer of the National Council of the +Land of the Blue Mountains, in whose waters you now are; and on their +account I ask for a formal interview on urgent matters." + +The Turk, who was, I am bound to say, in manner most courteous as yet, +gave some command to his officers, whereupon the companion-ladders and +stage were lowered and the gangway manned, as is usual for the reception +on a ship of war of an honoured guest. + +CAPTAIN. "You are welcome, sir--you and your two companions--as you +request." + +The Gospodar bowed. Our companion-ladder was rigged on the instant, and +a launch lowered. The Gospodar and Captain Rooke--taking me with +them--entered, and rowed to the warship, where we were all honourably +received. There were an immense number of men on board, soldiers as well +as seamen. It looked more like a warlike expedition than a fighting-ship +in time of peace. As we stepped on the deck, the seamen and marines, who +were all armed as at drill, presented arms. The Gospodar went first +towards the Captain, and Captain Rooke and I followed close behind him. +The Gospodar spoke: + +"I am Rupert Sent Leger, a subject of his Britannic Majesty, presently +residing at Vissarion, in the Land of the Blue Mountains. I am at +present empowered to act for the National Council in all matters. Here +is my credential!" As he spoke he handed to the Captain a letter. It +was written in five different languages--Balkan, Turkish, Greek, English, +and French. The Captain read it carefully all through, forgetful for the +moment that he had seemingly been unable to understand the Gospodar's +question spoken in the Turkish tongue. Then he answered: + +"I see the document is complete. May I ask on what subject you wish to +see me?" + +GOSPODAR. "You are here in a ship of war in Blue Mountain waters, yet +you fly no flag of any nation. You have sent armed men ashore in your +boats, thus committing an act of war. The National Council of the Land +of the Blue Mountains requires to know what nation you serve, and why the +obligations of international law are thus broken." + +The Captain seemed to wait for further speech, but the Gospodar remained +silent; whereupon the former spoke. + +CAPTAIN. "I am responsible to my own--chiefs. I refuse to answer your +question." + +The Gospodar spoke at once in reply. + +GOSPODAR. "Then, sir, you, as commander of a ship--and especially a ship +of war--must know that in thus violating national and maritime laws you, +and all on board this ship, are guilty of an act of piracy. This is not +even piracy on the high seas. You are not merely within territorial +waters, but you have invaded a national port. As you refuse to disclose +the nationality of your ship, I accept, as you seem to do, your status as +that of a pirate, and shall in due season act accordingly." + +CAPTAIN (_with manifest hostility_). "I accept the responsibility of my +own acts. Without admitting your contention, I tell you now that +whatever action you take shall be at your own peril and that of your +National Council. Moreover, I have reason to believe that my men who +were sent ashore on special service have been beleaguered in a tower +which can be seen from the ship. Before dawn this morning firing was +heard from that direction, from which I gather that attack was made on +them. They, being only a small party, may have been murdered. If such +be so, I tell you that you and your miserable little nation, as you call +it, shall pay such blood-money as you never thought of. I am responsible +for this, and, by Allah! there shall be a great revenge. You have not in +all your navy--if navy you have at all--power to cope with even one ship +like this, which is but one of many. My guns shall be trained on Ilsin, +to which end I have come inshore. You and your companions have free +conduct back to port; such is due to the white flag which you fly. +Fifteen minutes will bring you back whence you came. Go! And remember +that whatever you may do amongst your mountain defiles, at sea you cannot +even defend yourselves." + +GOSPODAR (_slowly and in a ringing voice_). "The Land of the Blue +Mountains has its own defences on sea and land. Its people know how to +defend themselves." + +CAPTAIN (_taking out his watch_). "It is now close on five bells. At +the first stroke of six bells our guns shall open fire." + +GOSPODAR (_calmly_). "It is my last duty to warn you, sir--and to warn +all on this ship--that much may happen before even the first stroke of +six bells. Be warned in time, and give over this piratical attack, the +very threat of which may be the cause of much bloodshed." + +CAPTAIN (_violently_). "Do you dare to threaten me, and, moreover, my +ship's company? We are one, I tell you, in this ship; and the last man +shall perish like the first ere this enterprise fail. Go!" + +With a bow, the Gospodar turned and went down the ladder, we following +him. In a couple of minutes the yacht was on her way to the port. + + + +FROM RUPERT'S JOURNAL. + + + _July_ 10, 1907. + +When we turned shoreward after my stormy interview with the pirate +Captain--I can call him nothing else at present, Rooke gave orders to a +quartermaster on the bridge, and _The Lady_ began to make to a little +northward of Ilsin port. Rooke himself went aft to the wheel-house, +taking several men with him. + +When we were quite near the rocks--the water is so deep here that there +is no danger--we slowed down, merely drifting along southwards towards +the port. I was myself on the bridge, and could see all over the decks. +I could also see preparations going on upon the warship. Ports were +opened, and the great guns on the turrets were lowered for action. When +we were starboard broadside on to the warship, I saw the port side of the +steering-house open, and Rooke's men sliding out what looked like a huge +grey crab, which by tackle from within the wheel-house was lowered softly +into the sea. The position of the yacht hid the operation from sight of +the warship. The doors were shut again, and the yacht's pace began to +quicken. We ran into the port. I had a vague idea that Rooke had some +desperate project on hand. Not for nothing had he kept the wheel-house +locked on that mysterious crab. + +All along the frontage was a great crowd of eager men. But they had +considerately left the little mole at the southern entrance, whereon was +a little tower, on whose round top a signal-gun was placed, free for my +own use. When I was landed on this pier I went along to the end, and, +climbing the narrow stair within, went out on the sloping roof. I stood +up, for I was determined to show the Turks that I was not afraid for +myself, as they would understand when the bombardment should begin. It +was now but a very few minutes before the fatal hour--six bells. But all +the same I was almost in a state of despair. It was terrible to think of +all those poor souls in the town who had done nothing wrong, and who were +to be wiped out in the coming blood-thirsty, wanton attack. I raised my +glasses to see how preparations were going on upon the warship. + +As I looked I had a momentary fear that my eyesight was giving way. At +one moment I had the deck of the warship focussed with my glasses, and +could see every detail as the gunners waited for the word to begin the +bombardment with the great guns of the barbettes. The next I saw nothing +but the empty sea. Then in another instant there was the ship as before, +but the details were blurred. I steadied myself against the signal-gun, +and looked again. Not more than two, or at the most three, seconds had +elapsed. The ship was, for the moment, full in view. As I looked, she +gave a queer kind of quick shiver, prow and stern, and then sideways. It +was for all the world like a rat shaken in the mouth of a skilled +terrier. Then she remained still, the one placid thing to be seen, for +all around her the sea seemed to shiver in little independent eddies, as +when water is broken without a current to guide it. + +I continued to look, and when the deck was, or seemed, quite still--for +the shivering water round the ship kept catching my eyes through the +outer rays of the lenses--I noticed that nothing was stirring. The men +who had been at the guns were all lying down; the men in the +fighting-tops had leaned forward or backward, and their arms hung down +helplessly. Everywhere was desolation--in so far as life was concerned. +Even a little brown bear, which had been seated on the cannon which was +being put into range position, had jumped or fallen on deck, and lay +there stretched out--and still. It was evident that some terrible shock +had been given to the mighty war-vessel. Without a doubt or a thought +why I did so, I turned my eyes towards where _The Lady_ lay, port +broadside now to the inside, in the harbour mouth. I had the key now to +the mystery of Rooke's proceedings with the great grey crab. + +As I looked I saw just outside the harbour a thin line of cleaving water. +This became more marked each instant, till a steel disc with glass eyes +that shone in the light of the sun rose above the water. It was about +the size of a beehive, and was shaped like one. It made a straight line +for the aft of the yacht. At the same moment, in obedience to some +command, given so quietly that I did not hear it, the men went below--all +save some few, who began to open out doors in the port side of the +wheel-house. The tackle was run out through an opened gangway on that +side, and a man stood on the great hook at the lower end, balancing +himself by hanging on the chain. In a few seconds he came up again. The +chain tightened and the great grey crab rose over the edge of the deck, +and was drawn into the wheel-house, the doors of which were closed, +shutting in a few only of the men. + +I waited, quite quiet. After a space of a few minutes, Captain Rooke in +his uniform walked out of the wheel-house. He entered a small boat, +which had been in the meantime lowered for the purpose, and was rowed to +the steps on the mole. Ascending these, he came directly towards the +signal-tower. When he had ascended and stood beside me, he saluted. + +"Well?" I asked. + +"All well, sir," he answered. "We shan't have any more trouble with that +lot, I think. You warned that pirate--I wish he had been in truth a +clean, honest, straightforward pirate, instead of the measly Turkish swab +he was--that something might occur before the first stroke of six bells. +Well, something has occurred, and for him and all his crew that six bells +will never sound. So the Lord fights for the Cross against the Crescent! +Bismillah. Amen!" He said this in a manifestly formal way, as though +declaiming a ritual. The next instant he went on in the thoroughly +practical conventional way which was usual to him: + +"May I ask a favour, Mr. Sent Leger?" + +"A thousand, my dear Rooke," I said. "You can't ask me anything which I +shall not freely grant. And I speak within my brief from the National +Council. You have saved Ilsin this day, and the Council will thank you +for it in due time." + +"Me, sir?" he said, with a look of surprise on his face which seemed +quite genuine. "If you think that, I am well out of it. I was afraid, +when I woke, that you might court-martial me!" + +"Court-martial you! What for?" I asked, surprised in my turn. + +"For going to sleep on duty, sir! And the fact is, I was worn out in the +attack on the Silent Tower last night, and when you had your interview +with the pirate--all good pirates forgive me for the blasphemy! +Amen!--and I knew that everything was going smoothly, I went into the +wheel-house and took forty winks." He said all this without moving so +much as an eyelid, from which I gathered that he wished absolute silence +to be observed on my part. Whilst I was revolving this in my mind he +went on: + +"Touching that request, sir. When I have left you and the Voivode--and +the Voivodin, of course--at Vissarion, together with such others as you +may choose to bring there with you, may I bring the yacht back here for a +spell? I rather think that there is a good deal of cleaning up to be +done, and the crew of _The Lady_ with myself are the men to do it. We +shall be back by nightfall at the creek." + +"Do as you think best, Admiral Rooke," I said. + +"Admiral?" + +"Yes, Admiral. At present I can only say that tentatively, but by +to-morrow I am sure the National Council will have confirmed it. I am +afraid, old friend, that your squadron will be only your flagship for the +present; but later we may do better." + +"So long as I am Admiral, your honour, I shall have no other flagship +than _The Lady_. I am not a young man, but, young or old, my pennon +shall float over no other deck. Now, one other favour, Mr. Sent Leger? +It is a corollary of the first, so I do not hesitate to ask. May I +appoint Lieutenant Desmond, my present First Officer, to the command of +the battleship? Of course, he will at first only command the prize crew; +but in such case he will fairly expect the confirmation of his rank +later. I had better, perhaps, tell you, sir, that he is a very capable +seaman, learned in all the sciences that pertain to a battleship, and +bred in the first navy in the world." + +"By all means, Admiral. Your nomination shall, I think I may promise +you, be confirmed." + +Not another word we spoke. I returned with him in his boat to _The +Lady_, which was brought to the dock wall, where we were received with +tumultuous cheering. + +I hurried off to my Wife and the Voivode. Rooke, calling Desmond to him, +went on the bridge of _The Lady_, which turned, and went out at terrific +speed to the battleship, which was already drifting up northward on the +tide. + + + +FROM THE REPORT OF CRISTOFEROS, SCRIBE OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE +LAND OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. + + + _July_ 8, 1907. + +The meeting of the National Council, July 6, was but a continuation of +that held before the rescue of the Voivodin Vissarion, the members of the +Council having been during the intervening night housed in the Castle of +Vissarion. When, in the early morning, they met, all were jubilant; for +late at night the fire-signal had flamed up from Ilsin with the glad news +that the Voivode Peter Vissarion was safe, having been rescued with great +daring on an aeroplane by his daughter and the Gospodar Rupert, as the +people call him--Mister Rupert Sent Leger, as he is in his British name +and degree. + +Whilst the Council was sitting, word came that a great peril to the town +of Ilsin had been averted. A war-vessel acknowledging to no nationality, +and therefore to be deemed a pirate, had threatened to bombard the town; +but just before the time fixed for the fulfilment of her threat, she was +shaken to such an extent by some sub-aqueous means that, though she +herself was seemingly uninjured, nothing was left alive on board. Thus +the Lord preserves His own! The consideration of this, as well as the +other incident, was postponed until the coming Voivode and the Gospodar +Rupert, together with who were already on their way hither. + + + +THE SAME (LATER IN THE SAME DAY). + + +The Council resumed its sitting at four o'clock. The Voivode Peter +Vissarion and the Voivodin Teuta had arrived with the "Gospodar Rupert," +as the mountaineers call him (Mr. Rupert Sent Leger) on the armoured +yacht he calls _The Lady_. The National Council showed great pleasure +when the Voivode entered the hall in which the Council met. He seemed +much gratified by the reception given to him. Mr. Rupert Sent Leger, by +the express desire of the Council, was asked to be present at the +meeting. He took a seat at the bottom of the hall, and seemed to prefer +to remain there, though asked by the President of the Council to sit at +the top of the table with himself and the Voivode. + +When the formalities of such Councils had been completed, the Voivode +handed to the President a memorandum of his report on his secret mission +to foreign Courts on behalf of the National Council. He then explained +at length, for the benefit of the various members of the Council, the +broad results of his mission. The result was, he said, absolutely +satisfactory. Everywhere he had been received with distinguished +courtesy, and given a sympathetic hearing. Several of the Powers +consulted had made delay in giving final answers, but this, he explained, +was necessarily due to new considerations arising from the international +complications which were universally dealt with throughout the world as +"the Balkan Crisis." In time, however (the Voivode went on), these +matters became so far declared as to allow the waiting Powers to form +definite judgment--which, of course, they did not declare to him--as to +their own ultimate action. The final result--if at this initial stage +such tentative setting forth of their own attitude in each case can be so +named--was that he returned full of hope (founded, he might say, upon a +justifiable personal belief) that the Great Powers throughout the +world--North, South, East, and West--were in thorough sympathy with the +Land of the Blue Mountains in its aspirations for the continuance of its +freedom. "I also am honoured," he continued, "to bring to you, the Great +Council of the nation, the assurance of protection against unworthy +aggression on the part of neighbouring nations of present greater +strength." + +Whilst he was speaking, the Gospodar Rupert was writing a few words on a +strip of paper, which he sent up to the President. When the Voivode had +finished speaking, there was a prolonged silence. The President rose, +and in a hush said that the Council would like to hear Mr. Rupert Sent +Leger, who had a communication to make regarding certain recent events. + +Mr. Rupert Sent Leger rose, and reported how, since he had been entrusted +by the Council with the rescue of the Voivode Peter of Vissarion, he had, +by aid of the Voivodin, effected the escape of the Voivode from the +Silent Tower; also that, following this happy event, the mountaineers, +who had made a great cordon round the Tower so soon as it was known that +the Voivode had been imprisoned within it, had stormed it in the night. +As a determined resistance was offered by the marauders, who had used it +as a place of refuge, none of these escaped. He then went on to tell how +he sought interview with the Captain of the strange warship, which, +without flying any flag, invaded our waters. He asked the President to +call on me to read the report of that meeting. This, in obedience to his +direction, I did. The acquiescent murmuring of the Council showed how +thoroughly they endorsed Mr. Sent Leger's words and acts. + +When I resumed my seat, Mr. Sent Leger described how, just before the +time fixed by the "pirate Captain"--so he designated him, as did every +speaker thereafter--the warship met with some under-sea accident, which +had a destructive effect on all on board her. Then he added certain +words, which I give verbatim, as I am sure that others will some time +wish to remember them in their exactness: + +"By the way, President and Lords of the Council, I trust I may ask you to +confirm Captain Rooke, of the armoured yacht _The Lady_, to be Admiral of +the Squadron of the Land of the Blue Mountains, and also Captain +(tentatively) Desmond, late First-Lieutenant of _The Lady_, to the +command of the second warship of our fleet--the as yet unnamed vessel, +whose former Captain threatened to bombard Ilsin. My Lords, Admiral +Rooke has done great service to the Land of the Blue Mountains, and +deserves well at your hands. You will have in him, I am sure, a great +official. One who will till his last breath give you good and loyal +service." + +He had sat down, the President put to the Council resolutions, which were +passed by acclamation. Admiral Rooke was given command of the navy, and +Captain Desmond confirmed in his appointment to the captaincy of the new +ship, which was, by a further resolution, named _The Gospodar Rupert_. + +In thanking the Council for acceding to his request, and for the great +honour done him in the naming of the ship, Mr. Sent Leger said: + +"May I ask that the armoured yacht _The Lady_ be accepted by you, the +National Council, on behalf of the nation, as a gift on behalf of the +cause of freedom from the Voivodin Teuta?" + +In response to the mighty cheer of the Council with which the splendid +gift was accepted the Gospodar Rupert--Mr. Sent Leger--bowed, and went +quietly out of the room. + +As no agenda of the meeting had been prepared, there was for a time, not +silence, but much individual conversation. In the midst of it the +Voivode rose up, whereupon there was a strict silence. All listened with +an intensity of eagerness whilst he spoke. + +"President and Lords of the Council, Archbishop, and Vladika, I should +but ill show my respect did I hesitate to tell you at this the first +opportunity I have had of certain matters personal primarily to myself, +but which, in the progress of recent events, have come to impinge on the +affairs of the nation. Until I have done so, I shall not feel that I +have done a duty, long due to you or your predecessors in office, and +which I hope you will allow me to say that I have only kept back for +purposes of statecraft. May I ask that you will come back with me in +memory to the year 1890, when our struggle against Ottoman aggression, +later on so successfully brought to a close, was begun. We were then in +a desperate condition. Our finances had run so low that we could not +purchase even the bread which we required. Nay, more, we could not +procure through the National Exchequer what we wanted more than +bread--arms of modern effectiveness; for men may endure hunger and yet +fight well, as the glorious past of our country has proved again and +again and again. But when our foes are better armed than we are, the +penalty is dreadful to a nation small as our own is in number, no matter +how brave their hearts. In this strait I myself had to secretly raise a +sufficient sum of money to procure the weapons we needed. To this end I +sought the assistance of a great merchant-prince, to whom our nation as +well as myself was known. He met me in the same generous spirit which he +had shown to other struggling nationalities throughout a long and +honourable career. When I pledged to him as security my own estates, he +wished to tear up the bond, and only under pressure would he meet my +wishes in this respect. Lords of the Council, it was his money, thus +generously advanced, which procured for us the arms with which we hewed +out our freedom. + +"Not long ago that noble merchant--and here I trust you will pardon me +that I am so moved as to perhaps appear to suffer in want of respect to +this great Council--this noble merchant passed to his account--leaving to +a near kinsman of his own the royal fortune which he had amassed. Only a +few hours ago that worthy kinsman of the benefactor of our nation made it +known to me that in his last will he had bequeathed to me, by secret +trust, the whole of those estates which long ago I had forfeited by +effluxion of time, inasmuch as I had been unable to fulfil the terms of +my voluntary bond. It grieves me to think that I have had to keep you so +long in ignorance of the good thought and wishes and acts of this great +man. + +"But it was by his wise counsel, fortified by my own judgment, that I was +silent; for, indeed, I feared, as he did, lest in our troublous times +some doubting spirit without our boundaries, or even within it, might +mistrust the honesty of my purposes for public good, because I was no +longer one whose whole fortune was invested within our confines. This +prince-merchant, the great English Roger Melton--let his name be for ever +graven on the hearts of our people!--kept silent during his own life, and +enjoined on others to come after him to keep secret from the men of the +Blue Mountains that secret loan made to me on their behalf, lest in their +eyes I, who had striven to be their friend and helper, should suffer +wrong repute. But, happily, he has left me free to clear myself in your +eyes. Moreover, by arranging to have--under certain contingencies, which +have come to pass--the estates which were originally my own retransferred +to me, I have no longer the honour of having given what I could to the +national cause. All such now belongs to him; for it was his money--and +his only--which purchased our national armament. + +"His worthy kinsman you already know, for he has not only been amongst +you for many months, but has already done you good service in his own +person. He it was who, as a mighty warrior, answered the summons of the +Vladika when misfortune came upon my house in the capture by enemies of +my dear daughter, the Voivodin Teuta, whom you hold in your hearts; who, +with a chosen band of our brothers, pursued the marauders, and himself, +by a deed of daring and prowess, of which poets shall hereafter sing, +saved her, when hope itself seemed to be dead, from their ruthless hands, +and brought her back to us; who administered condign punishment to the +miscreants who had dared to so wrong her. He it was who later took me, +your servant, out of the prison wherein another band of Turkish +miscreants held me captive; rescued me, with the help of my dear +daughter, whom he had already freed, whilst I had on my person the +documents of international secrecy of which I have already advised +you--rescued me whilst I had been as yet unsubjected to the indignity of +search. + +"Beyond this you know now that of which I was in partial ignorance: how +he had, through the skill and devotion of your new Admiral, wrought +destruction on a hecatomb of our malignant foes. You who have received +for the nation the splendid gift of the little warship, which already +represents a new era in naval armament, can understand the great-souled +generosity of the man who has restored the vast possessions of my House. +On our way hither from Ilsin, Rupert Sent Leger made known to me the +terms of the trust of his noble uncle, Roger Melton, and--believe me that +he did so generously, with a joy that transcended my own--restored to the +last male of the Vissarion race the whole inheritance of a noble line. + +"And now, my Lords of the Council, I come to another matter, in which I +find myself in something of a difficulty, for I am aware that in certain +ways you actually know more of it than even I myself do. It is regarding +the marriage of my daughter to Rupert Sent Leger. It is known to me that +the matter has been brought before you by the Archbishop, who, as +guardian of my daughter during my absence on the service of the nation, +wished to obtain your sanction, as till my return he held her safety in +trust. This was so, not from any merit of mine, but because she, in her +own person, had undertaken for the service of our nation a task of almost +incredible difficulty. My Lords, were she child of another father, I +should extol to the skies her bravery, her self-devotion, her loyalty to +the land she loves. Why, then, should I hesitate to speak of her deeds +in fitting terms, since it is my duty, my glory, to hold them in higher +honour than can any in this land? I shall not shame her--or even +myself--by being silent when such a duty urges me to speak, as Voivode, +as trusted envoy of our nation, as father. Ages hence loyal men and +women of our Land of the Blue Mountains will sing her deeds in song and +tell them in story. Her name, Teuta, already sacred in these regions, +where it was held by a great Queen, and honoured by all men, will +hereafter be held as a symbol and type of woman's devotion. Oh, my +Lords, we pass along the path of life, the best of us but a little time +marching in the sunlight between gloom and gloom, and it is during that +march that we must be judged for the future. This brave woman has won +knightly spurs as well as any Paladin of old. So is it meet that ere she +might mate with one worthy of her you, who hold in your hands the safety +and honour of the State, should give your approval. To you was it given +to sit in judgment on the worth of this gallant Englisher, now my son. +You judged him then, before you had seen his valour, his strength, and +skill exercised on behalf of a national cause. You judged wisely, oh, my +brothers, and out of a grateful heart I thank you one and all for it. +Well has he justified your trust by his later acts. When, in obedience +to the summons of the Vladika, he put the nation in a blaze and ranged +our boundaries with a ring of steel, he did so unknowing that what was +dearest to him in the world was at stake. He saved my daughter's honour +and happiness, and won her safety by an act of valour that outvies any +told in history. He took my daughter with him to bring me out from the +Silent Tower on the wings of the air, when earth had for me no +possibility of freedom--I, that had even then in my possession the +documents involving other nations which the Soldan would fain have +purchased with the half of his empire. + +"Henceforth to me, Lords of the Council, this brave man must ever be as a +son of my heart, and I trust that in his name grandsons of my own may +keep in bright honour the name which in glorious days of old my fathers +made illustrious. Did I know how adequately to thank you for your +interest in my child, I would yield up to you my very soul in thanks." + +The speech of the Voivode was received with the honour of the Blue +Mountains--the drawing and raising of handjars. + + + +FROM RUPERT'S JOURNAL. + + + _July_ 14, 1907. + +For nearly a week we waited for some message from Constantinople, fully +expecting either a declaration of war, or else some inquiry so couched as +to make war an inevitable result. The National Council remained on at +Vissarion as the guests of the Voivode, to whom, in accordance with my +uncle's will, I had prepared to re-transfer all his estates. He was, by +the way, unwilling at first to accept, and it was only when I showed him +Uncle Roger's letter, and made him read the Deed of Transfer prepared in +anticipation by Mr. Trent, that he allowed me to persuade him. Finally +he said: + +"As you, my good friends, have so arranged, I must accept, be it only in +honour to the wishes of the dead. But remember, I only do so but for the +present, reserving to myself the freedom to withdraw later if I so +desire." + +But Constantinople was silent. The whole nefarious scheme was one of the +"put-up jobs" which are part of the dirty work of a certain order of +statecraft--to be accepted if successful; to be denied in case of +failure. + +The matter stood thus: Turkey had thrown the dice--and lost. Her men +were dead; her ship was forfeit. It was only some ten days after the +warship was left derelict with every living thing--that is, everything +that had been living--with its neck broken, as Rooke informed me, when he +brought the ship down the creek, and housed it in the dock behind the +armoured gates--that we saw an item in _The Roma_ copied from _The +Constantinople Journal_ of July 9: + + "LOSS OF AN OTTOMAN IRONCLAD WITH ALL HANDS. + + "News has been received at Constantinople of the total loss, with all + hands, of one of the newest and finest warships in the Turkish + fleet--_The Mahmoud_, Captain Ali Ali--which foundered in a storm on + the night of July 5, some distance off Cabrera, in the Balearic + Isles. There were no survivors, and no wreckage was discovered by + the ships which went in relief--the _Pera_ and the _Mustapha_--or + reported from anywhere along the shores of the islands, of which + exhaustive search was made. _The Mahmoud_ was double-manned, as she + carried a full extra crew sent on an educational cruise on the most + perfectly scientifically equipped warship on service in the + Mediterranean waters." + +When the Voivode and I talked over the matter, he said: + +"After all, Turkey is a shrewd Power. She certainly seems to know when +she is beaten, and does not intend to make a bad thing seem worse in the +eyes of the world." + +Well, 'tis a bad wind that blows good to nobody. As _The Mahmoud_ was +lost off the Balearics, it cannot have been her that put the marauders on +shore and trained her big guns on Ilsin. We take it, therefore, that the +latter must have been a pirate, and as we have taken her derelict in our +waters, she is now ours in all ways. Anyhow, she is ours, and is the +first ship of her class in the navy of the Blue Mountains. I am inclined +to think that even if she was--or is still--a Turkish ship, Admiral Rooke +would not be inclined to let her go. As for Captain Desmond, I think he +would go straight out of his mind if such a thing was to be even +suggested to him. + +It will be a pity if we have any more trouble, for life here is very +happy with us all now. The Voivode is, I think, like a man in a dream. +Teuta is ideally happy, and the real affection which sprang up between +them when she and Aunt Janet met is a joy to think of. I had posted +Teuta about her, so that when they should meet my wife might not, by any +inadvertence, receive or cause any pain. But the moment Teuta saw her +she ran straight over to her and lifted her in her strong young arms, +and, raising her up as one would lift a child, kissed her. Then, when +she had put her sitting in the chair from which she had arisen when we +entered the room, she knelt down before her, and put her face down in her +lap. Aunt Janet's face was a study; I myself could hardly say whether at +the first moment surprise or joy predominated. But there could be no +doubt about it the instant after. She seemed to beam with happiness. +When Teuta knelt to her, she could only say: + +"My dear, my dear, I am glad! Rupert's wife, you and I must love each +other very much." Seeing that they were laughing and crying in each +other's arms, I thought it best to come away and leave them alone. And I +didn't feel a bit lonely either when I was out of sight of them. I knew +that where those two dear women were there was a place for my own heart. + +When I came back, Teuta was sitting on Aunt Janet's knee. It seemed +rather stupendous for the old lady, for Teuta is such a splendid creature +that even when she sits on my own knee and I catch a glimpse of us in +some mirror, I cannot but notice what a nobly-built girl she is. + +My wife was jumping up as soon as I was seen, but Aunt Janet held her +tight to her, and said: + +"Don't stir, dear. It is such happiness to me to have you there. Rupert +has always been my 'little boy,' and, in spite of all his being such a +giant, he is so still. And so you, that he loves, must be my little +girl--in spite of all your beauty and your strength--and sit on my knee, +till you can place there a little one that shall be dear to us all, and +that shall let me feel my youth again. When first I saw you I was +surprised, for, somehow, though I had never seen you nor even heard of +you, I seemed to know your face. Sit where you are, dear. It is only +Rupert--and we both love him." + +Teuta looked at me, flushing rosily; but she sat quiet, and drew the old +lady's white head on her young breast. + + + +JANET MACKELPIE'S NOTES. + + + _July_ 8, 1907. + +I used to think that whenever Rupert should get married or start on the +way to it by getting engaged--I would meet his future wife with something +of the same affection that I have always had for himself. But I know now +that what was really in my mind was _jealousy_, and that I was really +fighting against my own instincts, and pretending to myself that I was +not jealous. Had I ever had the faintest idea that she would be anything +the least like Teuta, that sort of feeling should never have had even a +foothold. No wonder my dear boy is in love with her, for, truth to tell, +I am in love with her myself. I don't think I ever met a creature--a +woman creature, of course, I mean--with so many splendid qualities. I +almost fear to say it, lest it should seem to myself wrong; but I think +she is as good as a woman as Rupert is as a man. And what more than that +can I say? I thought I loved her and trusted her, and knew her all I +could, until this morning. + +I was in my own room, as it is still called. For, though Rupert tells me +in confidence that under his uncle's will the whole estate of Vissarion, +Castle and all, really belongs to the Voivode, and though the Voivode has +been persuaded to accept the position, he (the Voivode) will not allow +anything to be changed. He will not even hear a word of my going, or +changing my room, or anything. And Rupert backs him up in it, and Teuta +too. So what am I to do but let the dears have their way? + +Well, this morning, when Rupert was with the Voivode at a meeting of the +National Council in the Great Hall, Teuta came to me, and (after closing +the door and bolting it, which surprised me a little) came and knelt down +beside me, and put her face in my lap. I stroked her beautiful black +hair, and said: + +"What is it, Teuta darling? Is there any trouble? And why did you bolt +the door? Has anything happened to Rupert?" When she looked up I saw +that her beautiful black eyes, with the stars in them, were overflowing +with tears not yet shed. But she smiled through them, and the tears did +not fall. When I saw her smile my heart was eased, and I said without +thinking: "Thank God, darling, Rupert is all right." + +"I thank God, too, dear Aunt Janet!" she said softly; and I took her in +my arms and laid her head on my breast. + +"Go on, dear," I said; "tell me what it is that troubles you?" This time +I saw the tears drop, as she lowered her head and hid her face from me. + +"I'm afraid I have deceived you, Aunt Janet, and that you will +not--cannot--forgive me." + +"Lord save you, child!" I said, "there's nothing that you could do that I +could not and would not forgive. Not that you would ever do anything +base, for that is the only thing that is hard to forgive. Tell me now +what troubles you." + +She looked up in my eyes fearlessly, this time with only the signs of +tears that had been, and said proudly: + +"Nothing base, Aunt Janet. My father's daughter would not willingly be +base. I do not think she could. Moreover, had I ever done anything base +I should not be here, for--for--I should never have been Rupert's wife!" + +"Then what is it? Tell your old Aunt Janet, dearie." She answered me +with another question: + +"Aunt Janet, do you know who I am, and how I first met Rupert?" + +"You are the Voivodin Teuta Vissarion--the daughter of the Voivode--Or, +rather, you were; you are now Mrs. Rupert Sent Leger. For he is still an +Englishman, and a good subject of our noble King." + +"Yes, Aunt Janet," she said, "I am that, and proud to be it--prouder than +I would be were I my namesake, who was Queen in the old days. But how +and where did I see Rupert first?" I did not know, and frankly told her +so. So she answered her question herself: + +"I saw him first in his own room at night." I knew in my heart that in +whatever she did had been nothing wrong, so I sat silent waiting for her +to go on: + +"I was in danger, and in deadly fear. I was afraid I might die--not that +I fear death--and I wanted help and warmth. I was not dressed as I am +now!" + +On the instant it came to me how I knew her face, even the first time I +had seen it. I wished to help her out of the embarrassing part of her +confidence, so I said: + +"Dearie, I think I know. Tell me, child, will you put on the frock . . . +the dress . . . costume you wore that night, and let me see you in it? +It is not mere idle curiosity, my child, but something far, far above +such idle folly." + +"Wait for me a minute, Aunt Janet," she said, as she rose up; "I shall +not be long." Then she left the room. + +In a very few minutes she was back. Her appearance might have frightened +some people, for she was clad only in a shroud. Her feet were bare, and +she walked across the room with the gait of an empress, and stood before +me with her eyes modestly cast down. But when presently she looked up +and caught my eyes, a smile rippled over her face. She threw herself +once more before me on her knees, and embraced me as she said: + +"I was afraid I might frighten you, dear." I knew I could truthfully +reassure her as to that, so I proceeded to do so: + +"Do not worry yourself, my dear. I am not by nature timid. I come of a +fighting stock which has sent out heroes, and I belong to a family +wherein is the gift of Second Sight. Why should we fear? We know! +Moreover, I saw you in that dress before. Teuta, I saw you and Rupert +married!" This time she herself it was that seemed disconcerted. + +"Saw us married! How on earth did you manage to be there?" + +"I was not there. My Seeing was long before! Tell me, dear, what day, +or rather what night, was it that you first saw Rupert?" She answered +sadly: + +"I do not know. Alas! I lost count of the days as I lay in the tomb in +that dreary Crypt." + +"Was your--your clothing wet that night?" I asked. + +"Yes. I had to leave the Crypt, for a great flood was out, and the +church was flooded. I had to seek help--warmth--for I feared I might +die. Oh, I was not, as I have told you, afraid of death. But I had +undertaken a terrible task to which I had pledged myself. It was for my +father's sake, and the sake of the Land, and I felt that it was a part of +my duty to live. And so I lived on, when death would have been relief. +It was to tell you all about this that I came to your room to-day. But +how did you see me--us--married?" + +"Ah, my child!" I answered, "that was before the marriage took place. +The morn after the night that you came in the wet, when, having been +troubled in uncanny dreaming, I came to see if Rupert was a'richt, I lost +remembrance o' my dreaming, for the floor was all wet, and that took off +my attention. But later, the morn after Rupert used his fire in his room +for the first time, I told him what I had dreamt; for, lassie, my dear, I +saw ye as bride at that weddin' in fine lace o'er yer shrood, and +orange-flowers and ithers in yer black hair; an' I saw the stars in yer +bonny een--the een I love. But oh, my dear, when I saw the shrood, and +kent what it might mean, I expeckit to see the worms crawl round yer +feet. But do ye ask yer man to tell ye what I tell't him that morn. +'Twill interest ye to know how the hairt o' men can learn by dreams. Has +he ever tellt ye aught o' this?" + +"No, dear," she said simply. "I think that perhaps he was afraid that +one or other of us, if not both, might be upset by it if he did. You +see, he did not tell you anything at all of our meeting, though I am sure +that he will be glad when he knows that we both know all about it, and +have told each other everything." + +That was very sweet of her, and very thoughtful in all ways, so I said +that which I thought would please her best--that is, the truth: + +"Ah, lassie, that is what a wife should be--what a wife should do. +Rupert is blessed and happy to have his heart in your keeping." + +I knew from the added warmth of her kiss what I had said had pleased her. + +_Letter from Ernest Roger Halbard Melton_, _Humcroft_, _Salop_, _to +Rupert Sent Leger_, _Vissarion_, _Land of the Blue Mountains_. + + _July_ 29, 1907. + + MY DEAR COUSIN RUPERT, + + We have heard such glowing accounts of Vissarion that I am coming out + to see you. As you are yourself now a landowner, you will understand + that my coming is not altogether a pleasure. Indeed, it is a duty + first. When my father dies I shall be head of the family--the family + of which Uncle Roger, to whom we were related, was a member. It is + therefore meet and fitting that I should know something of our family + branches and of their Seats. I am not giving you time for much + warning, so am coming on immediately--in fact, I shall arrive almost + as soon as this letter. But I want to catch you in the middle of + your tricks. I hear that the Blue Mountaineer girls are peaches, so + don't send them _all_ away when you hear I'm coming! + + Do send a yacht up to Fiume to meet me. I hear you have all sorts of + craft at Vissarion. The MacSkelpie, I hear, said you received her as + a Queen; so I hope you will do the decent by one of your own flesh + and blood, and the future Head of the House at that. I shan't bring + much of a retinue with me. _I_ wasn't made a billionaire by old + Roger, so can only take my modest "man Friday"--whose name is + Jenkinson, and a Cockney at that. So don't have too much gold lace + and diamond-hilted scimitars about, like a good chap, or else he'll + want the very worst--his wyges ryzed. That old image Rooke that came + over for Miss McS., and whom by chance I saw at the attorney man's, + might pilot me down from Fiume. The old + gentleman-by-Act-of-Parliament Mr. Bingham Trent (I suppose he has + hyphened it by this time) told me that Miss McS. said he "did her + proud" when she went over under his charge. I shall be at Fiume on + the evening of Wednesday, and shall stay at the Europa, which is, I + am told, the least indecent hotel in the place. So you know where to + find me, or any of your attendant demons can know, in case I am to + suffer "substituted service." + + Your affectionate Cousin, + ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON. + +_Letter from Admiral Rooke to the Gospodar Rupert_. + + _August_ 1, 1907. + + SIR, + + In obedience to your explicit direction that I should meet Mr. Ernest + R. H. Melton at Fiume, and report to you exactly what occurred, + "without keeping anything back,"--as you will remember you said, I + beg to report. + + I brought the steam-yacht _Trent_ to Fiume, arriving there on the + morning of Thursday. At 11.30 p.m. I went to meet the train from + St. Peter, due 11.40. It was something late, arriving just as the + clock was beginning to strike midnight. Mr. Melton was on board, and + with him his valet Jenkinson. I am bound to say that he did not seem + very pleased with his journey, and expressed much disappointment at + not seeing Your Honour awaiting him. I explained, as you directed, + that you had to attend with the Voivode Vissarion and the Vladika the + National Council, which met at Plazac, or that otherwise you would + have done yourself the pleasure of coming to meet him. I had, of + course, reserved rooms (the Prince of Wales's suite), for him at the + Re d'Ungheria, and had waiting the carriage which the proprietor had + provided for the Prince of Wales when he stayed there. Mr. Melton + took his valet with him (on the box-seat), and I followed in a + _Stadtwagen_ with the luggage. When I arrived, I found the _maitre + d'hotel_ in a stupor of concern. The English nobleman, he said, had + found fault with everything, and used to him language to which he was + not accustomed. I quieted him, telling him that the stranger was + probably unused to foreign ways, and assuring him that Your Honour + had every faith in him. He announced himself satisfied and happy at + the assurance. But I noticed that he promptly put everything in the + hands of the headwaiter, telling him to satisfy the milor at any + cost, and then went away to some urgent business in Vienna. Clever + man! + + I took Mr. Melton's orders for our journey in the morning, and asked + if there was anything for which he wished. He simply said to me: + + "Everything is rotten. Go to hell, and shut the door after you!" + His man, who seems a very decent little fellow, though he is as vain + as a peacock, and speaks with a Cockney accent which is simply + terrible, came down the passage after me, and explained "on his own," + as he expressed it, that his master, "Mr. Ernest," was upset by the + long journey, and that I was not to mind. I did not wish to make him + uncomfortable, so I explained that I minded nothing except what Your + Honour wished; that the steam-yacht would be ready at 7 a.m.; and + that I should be waiting in the hotel from that time on till Mr. + Melton cared to start, to bring him aboard. + + In the morning I waited till the man Jenkinson came and told me that + Mr. Ernest would start at ten. I asked if he would breakfast on + board; he answered that he would take his _cafe-complet_ at the + hotel, but breakfast on board. + + We left at ten, and took the electric pinnace out to the _Trent_, + which lay, with steam up, in the roads. Breakfast was served on + board, by his orders, and presently he came up on the bridge, where I + was in command. He brought his man Jenkinson with him. Seeing me + there, and not (I suppose) understanding that I was in command, he + unceremoniously ordered me to go on the deck. Indeed, he named a + place much lower. I made a sign of silence to the quartermaster at + the wheel, who had released the spokes, and was going, I feared, to + make some impertinent remark. Jenkinson joined me presently, and + said, as some sort of explanation of his master's discourtesy (of + which he was manifestly ashamed), if not as an amende: + + "The governor is in a hell of a wax this morning." + + When we got in sight of Meleda, Mr. Melton sent for me and asked me + where we were to land. I told him that, unless he wished to the + contrary, we were to run to Vissarion; but that my instructions were + to land at whatever port he wished. Whereupon he told me that he + wished to stay the night at some place where he might be able to see + some "life." He was pleased to add something, which I presume he + thought jocular, about my being able to "coach" him in such matters, + as doubtless even "an old has-been like you" had still some sort of + an eye for a pretty girl. I told him as respectfully as I could that + I had no knowledge whatever on such subjects, which were possibly of + some interest to younger men, but of none to me. He said no more; so + after waiting for further orders, but without receiving any, I said: + + "I suppose, sir, we shall run to Vissarion?" + + "Run to the devil, if you like!" was his reply, as he turned away. + When we arrived in the creek at Vissarion, he seemed much + milder--less aggressive in his manner; but when he heard that you + were detained at Plazac, he got rather "fresh"--I use the American + term--again. I greatly feared there would be a serious misfortune + before we got into the Castle, for on the dock was Julia, the wife of + Michael, the Master of the Wine, who is, as you know, very beautiful. + Mr. Melton seemed much taken with her; and she, being flattered by + the attention of a strange gentleman and Your Honour's kinsman, put + aside the stand-offishness of most of the Blue Mountain women. + Whereupon Mr. Melton, forgetting himself, took her in his arms and + kissed her. Instantly there was a hubbub. The mountaineers present + drew their handjars, and almost on the instant sudden death appeared + to be amongst us. Happily the men waited as Michael, who had just + arrived on the quay-wall as the outrage took place, ran forward, + wheeling his handjar round his head, and manifestly intending to + decapitate Mr. Melton. On the instant--I am sorry to say it, for it + created a terribly bad effect--Mr. Melton dropped on his knees in a + state of panic. There was just this good use in it--that there was a + pause of a few seconds. During that time the little Cockney valet, + who has the heart of a man in him, literally burst his way forward, + and stood in front of his master in boxing attitude, calling out: + + "'Ere, come on, the 'ole lot of ye! 'E ain't done no 'arm. He honly + kissed the gal, as any man would. If ye want to cut off somebody's + 'ed, cut off mine. I ain't afride!" There was such genuine pluck in + this, and it formed so fine a contrast to the other's craven attitude + (forgive me, Your Honour; but you want the truth!), that I was glad + he was an Englishman, too. The mountaineers recognized his spirit, + and saluted with their handjars, even Michael amongst the number. + Half turning his head, the little man said in a fierce whisper: + + "Buck up, guv'nor! Get up, or they'll slice ye! 'Ere's Mr. Rooke; + 'e'll see ye through it." + + By this time the men were amenable to reason, and when I reminded + them that Mr. Melton was Your Honour's cousin, they put aside their + handjars and went about their work. I asked Mr. Melton to follow, + and led the way to the Castle. + + When we got close to the great entrance within the walled courtyard, + we found a large number of the servants gathered, and with them many + of the mountaineers, who have kept an organized guard all round the + Castle ever since the abducting of the Voivodin. As both Your Honour + and the Voivode were away at Plazac, the guard had for the time been + doubled. When the steward came and stood in the doorway, the + servants stood off somewhat, and the mountaineers drew back to the + farther sides and angles of the courtyard. The Voivodin had, of + course, been informed of the guest's (your cousin) coming, and came + to meet him in the old custom of the Blue Mountains. As Your Honour + only came to the Blue Mountains recently, and as no occasion has been + since then of illustrating the custom since the Voivode was away, and + the Voivodin then believed to be dead, perhaps I, who have lived here + so long, may explain: + + When to an old Blue Mountain house a guest comes whom it is wished to + do honour, the Lady, as in the vernacular the mistress of the house + is called, comes herself to meet the guest at the door--or, rather, + _outside_ the door--so that she can herself conduct him within. It + is a pretty ceremony, and it is said that of old in kingly days the + monarch always set much store by it. The custom is that, when she + approaches the honoured guest (he need not be royal), she bends--or + more properly kneels--before him and kisses his hand. It has been + explained by historians that the symbolism is that the woman, showing + obedience to her husband, as the married woman of the Blue Mountains + always does, emphasizes that obedience to her husband's guest. The + custom is always observed in its largest formality when a young wife + receives for the first time a guest, and especially one whom her + husband wishes to honour. The Voivodin was, of course, aware that + Mr. Melton was your kinsman, and naturally wished to make the + ceremony of honour as marked as possible, so as to show overtly her + sense of her husband's worth. + + When we came into the courtyard, I held back, of course, for the + honour is entirely individual, and is never extended to any other, no + matter how worthy he may be. Naturally Mr. Melton did not know the + etiquette of the situation, and so for that is not to be blamed. He + took his valet with him when, seeing someone coming to the door, he + went forward. I thought he was going to rush to his welcomer. Such, + though not in the ritual, would have been natural in a young kinsman + wishing to do honour to the bride of his host, and would to anyone + have been both understandable and forgivable. It did not occur to me + at the time, but I have since thought that perhaps he had not then + heard of Your Honour's marriage, which I trust you will, in justice + to the young gentleman, bear in mind when considering the matter. + Unhappily, however, he did not show any such eagerness. On the + contrary, he seemed to make a point of showing indifference. It + seemed to me myself that he, seeing somebody wishing to make much of + him, took what he considered a safe opportunity of restoring to + himself his own good opinion, which must have been considerably + lowered in the episode of the Wine Master's wife. + + The Voivodin, thinking, doubtless, Your Honour, to add a fresh lustre + to her welcome, had donned the costume which all her nation has now + come to love and to accept as a dress of ceremonial honour. She wore + her shroud. It moved the hearts of all of us who looked on to see + it, and we appreciated its being worn for such a cause. But Mr. + Melton did not seem to care. As he had been approaching she had + begun to kneel, and was already on her knees whilst he was several + yards away. There he stopped and turned to speak to his valet, put a + glass in his eye, and looked all round him and up and down--indeed, + everywhere except at the Great Lady, who was on her knees before him, + waiting to bid him welcome. I could see in the eyes of such of the + mountaineers as were within my range of vision a growing animosity; + so, hoping to keep down any such expression, which I knew would cause + harm to Your Honour and the Voivodin, I looked all round them + straight in their faces with a fixed frown, which, indeed, they + seemed to understand, for they regained, and for the time maintained, + their usual dignified calm. The Voivodin, may I say, bore the trial + wonderfully. No human being could see that she was in any degree + pained or even surprised. Mr. Melton stood looking round him so long + that I had full time to regain my own attitude of calm. At last he + seemed to come back to the knowledge that someone was waiting for + him, and sauntered leisurely forward. There was so much + insolence--mind you, not insolence that was intended to appear as + such--in his movement that the mountaineers began to steal forward. + When he was close up to the Voivodin, and she put out her hand to + take his, he put forward _one finger_! I could hear the intake of + the breath of the men, now close around, for I had moved forward, + too. I thought it would be as well to be close to your guest, lest + something should happen to him. The Voivodin still kept her splendid + self-control. Raising the finger put forward by the guest with the + same deference as though it had been the hand of a King, she bent her + head down and kissed it. Her duty of courtesy now done, she was + preparing to rise, when he put his hand into his pocket, and, pulling + out a sovereign, offered it to her. His valet moved his hand + forward, as if to pull back his arm, but it was too late. I am sure, + Your Honour, that no affront was intended. He doubtless thought that + he was doing a kindness of the sort usual in England when one "tips" + a housekeeper. But all the same, to one in her position, it was an + affront, an insult, open and unmistakable. So it was received by the + mountaineers, whose handjars flashed out as one. For a second it was + so received even by the Voivodin, who, with face flushing scarlet, + and the stars in her eves flaming red, sprang to her feet. But in + that second she had regained herself, and to all appearances her + righteous anger passed away. Stooping, she took the hand of her + guest and raised it--you know how strong she is--and, holding it in + hers, led him into the doorway, saying: + + "You are welcome, kinsman of my husband, to the house of my father, + which is presently my husband's also. Both are grieved that, duty + having called them away for the time, they are unable to be here to + help me to greet you." + + I tell you, Your Honour, that it was a lesson in self-respect which + anyone who saw it can never forget. As to me, it makes my flesh + quiver, old as I am, with delight, and my heart leap. + + May I, as a faithful servant who has had many years of experience, + suggest that Your Honour should seem--for the present, at any + rate--not to know any of these things which I have reported, as you + wished me to do. Be sure that the Voivodin will tell you her + gracious self aught that she would wish you to know. And such + reticence on your part must make for her happiness, even if it did + not for your own. + + So that you may know all, as you desired, and that you may have time + to school yourself to whatever attitude you think best to adopt, I + send this off to you at once by fleet messenger. Were the aeroplane + here, I should take it myself. I leave here shortly to await the + arrival of Sir Colin at Otranto. + + Your Honour's faithful servant, + ROOKE. + + + +JANET MACKELPIE'S NOTES. + + + _August_ 9, 1907. + +To me it seems very providential that Rupert was not at home when that +dreadful young man Ernest Melton arrived, though it is possible that if +Rupert had been present he would not have dared to conduct himself so +badly. Of course, I heard all about it from the maids; Teuta never +opened her lips to me on the subject. It was bad enough and stupid +enough for him to try to kiss a decent young woman like Julia, who is +really as good as gold and as modest as one of our own Highland lassies; +but to think of him insulting Teuta! The little beast! One would think +that a champion idiot out of an Equatorial asylum would know better! If +Michael, the Wine Master, wanted to kill him, I wonder what my Rupert and +hers would have done? I am truly thankful that he was not present. And +I am thankful, too, that I was not present either, for I should have made +an exhibition of myself, and Rupert would not have liked that. He--the +little beast! might have seen from the very dress that the dear girl wore +that there was something exceptional about her. But on one account I +should have liked to see her. They tell me that she was, in her true +dignity, like a Queen, and that her humility in receiving her husband's +kinsman was a lesson to every woman in the Land. I must be careful not +to let Rupert know that I have heard of the incident. Later on, when it +is all blown over and the young man has been got safely away, I shall +tell him of it. Mr. Rooke--Lord High Admiral Rooke, I should say--must +be a really wonderful man to have so held himself in check; for, from +what I have heard of him, he must in his younger days have been worse +than Old Morgan of Panama. Mr. Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, of Humcroft, +Salop, little knows how near he was to being "cleft to the chine" also. + +Fortunately, I had heard of his meeting with Teuta before he came to see +me, for I did not get back from my walk till after he had arrived. +Teuta's noble example was before me, and I determined that I, too, would +show good manners under any circumstances. But I didn't know how mean he +is. Think of his saying to me that Rupert's position here must be a +great source of pride to me, who had been his nursery governess. He said +"nursemaid" first, but then stumbled in his words, seeming to remember +something. I did not turn a hair, I am glad to say. It is a mercy Uncle +Colin was not here, for I honestly believe that, if he had been, he would +have done the "cleaving to the chine" himself. It has been a narrow +escape for Master Ernest, for only this morning Rupert had a message, +sent on from Gibraltar, saying that he was arriving with his clansmen, +and that they would not be far behind his letter. He would call at +Otranto in case someone should come across to pilot him to Vissarion. +Uncle told me all about that young cad having offered him one finger in +Mr. Trent's office, though, of course, he didn't let the cad see that he +noticed it. I have no doubt that, when he does arrive, that young man, +if he is here still, will find that he will have to behave himself, if it +be only on Sir Colin's account alone. + + + +THE SAME (LATER). + + +I had hardly finished writing when the lookout on the tower announced +that the _Teuta_, as Rupert calls his aeroplane, was sighted crossing the +mountains from Plazac. I hurried up to see him arrive, for I had not as +yet seen him on his "aero." Mr. Ernest Melton came up, too. Teuta was, +of course, before any of us. She seems to know by instinct when Rupert +is coming. + +It was certainly a wonderful sight to see the little aeroplane, with +outspread wings like a bird in flight, come sailing high over the +mountains. There was a head-wind, and they were beating against it; +otherwise we should not have had time to get to the tower before the +arrival. + +When once the "aero" had begun to drop on the near side of the mountains, +however, and had got a measure of shelter from them, her pace was +extraordinary. We could not tell, of course, what sort of pace she came +at from looking at herself. But we gathered some idea from the rate at +which the mountains and hills seemed to slide away from under her. When +she got over the foot-hills, which are about ten miles away, she came on +at a swift glide that seemed to throw the distance behind her. When +quite close, she rose up a little till she was something higher than the +Tower, to which she came as straight as an arrow from the bow, and glided +to her moorings, stopping dead as Rupert pulled a lever, which seemed to +turn a barrier to the wind. The Voivode sat beside Rupert, but I must +say that he seemed to hold on to the bar in front of him even more firmly +than Rupert held to his steering-gear. + +When they had alighted, Rupert greeted his cousin with the utmost +kindness, and bade him welcome to Vissarion. + +"I see," he said, "you have met Teuta. Now you may congratulate me, if +you wish." + +Mr. Melton made a long rodomontade about her beauty, but presently, +stumbling about in his speech, said something regarding it being unlucky +to appear in grave-clothes. Rupert laughed, and clapped him on the +shoulder as he answered: + +"That pattern of frock is likely to become a national dress for loyal +women of the Blue Mountains. When you know something of what that dress +means to us all at present you will understand. In the meantime, take it +that there is not a soul in the nation that does not love it and honour +her for wearing it." To which the cad replied: + +"Oh, indeed! I thought it was some preparation for a fancy-dress ball." +Rupert's comment on this ill-natured speech was (for him) quite grumpily +given: + +"I should not advise you to think such things whilst you are in this part +of the world, Ernest. They bury men here for much less." + +The cad seemed struck with something--either what Rupert had said or his +manner of saying it--for he was silent for several seconds before he +spoke. + +"I'm very tired with that long journey, Rupert. Would you and Mrs. Sent +Leger mind if I go to my own room and turn in? My man can ask for a cup +of tea and a sandwich for me." + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL. + + + _August_ 10, 1907. + +When Ernest said he wished to retire it was about the wisest thing he +could have said or done, and it suited Teuta and me down to the ground. +I could see that the dear girl was agitated about something, so thought +it would be best for her to be quiet, and not worried with being civil to +the Bounder. Though he is my cousin, I can't think of him as anything +else. The Voivode and I had certain matters to attend to arising out of +the meeting of the Council, and when we were through the night was +closing in. When I saw Teuta in our own rooms she said at once: + +"Do you mind, dear, if I stay with Aunt Janet to-night? She is very +upset and nervous, and when I offered to come to her she clung to me and +cried with relief." + +So when I had had some supper, which I took with the Voivode, I came down +to my old quarters in the Garden Room, and turned in early. + +I was awakened a little before dawn by the coming of the fighting monk +Theophrastos, a notable runner, who had an urgent message for me. This +was the letter to me given to him by Rooke. He had been cautioned to +give it into no other hand, but to find me wherever I might be, and +convey it personally. When he had arrived at Plazac I had left on the +aeroplane, so he had turned back to Vissarion. + +When I read Rooke's report of Ernest Melton's abominable conduct I was +more angry with him than I can say. Indeed, I did not think before that +that I could be angry with him, for I have always despised him. But this +was too much. However, I realized the wisdom of Rooke's advice, and went +away by myself to get over my anger and reacquire my self-mastery. The +aeroplane _Teuta_ was still housed on the tower, so I went up alone and +took it out. + +When I had had a spin of about a hundred miles I felt better. The +bracing of the wind and the quick, exhilarating motion restored me to +myself, and I felt able to cope with Master Ernest, or whatever else +chagrinable might come along, without giving myself away. As Teuta had +thought it better to keep silence as to Ernest's affront, I felt I must +not acknowledge it; but, all the same, I determined to get rid of him +before the day was much older. + +When I had had my breakfast I sent word to him by a servant that I was +coming to his rooms, and followed not long behind the messenger. + +He was in a suit of silk pyjamas, such as not even Solomon in all his +glory was arrayed in. I closed the door behind me before I began to +speak. He listened, at first amazed, then disconcerted, then angry, and +then cowering down like a whipped hound. I felt that it was a case for +speaking out. A bumptious ass like him, who deliberately insulted +everyone he came across--for if all or any of his efforts in that way +were due to mere elemental ignorance he was not fit to live, but should +be silenced on sight as a modern Caliban--deserved neither pity nor +mercy. To extend to him fine feeling, tolerance, and such-like +gentlenesses would be to deprive the world of them without benefit to +any. So well as I can remember, what I said was something like this: + +"Ernest, as you say, you've got to go, and to go quick, you understand. +I dare say you look on this as a land of barbarians, and think that any +of your high-toned refinements are thrown away on people here. Well, +perhaps it is so. Undoubtedly, the structure of the country is rough; +the mountains may only represent the glacial epoch; but so far as I can +gather from some of your exploits--for I have only learned a small part +as yet--you represent a period a good deal farther back. You seem to +have given our folk here an exhibition of the playfulness of the hooligan +of the Saurian stage of development; but the Blue Mountains, rough as +they are, have come up out of the primeval slime, and even now the people +aim at better manners. They may be rough, primitive, barbarian, +elemental, if you will, but they are not low down enough to tolerate +either your ethics or your taste. My dear cousin, your life is not safe +here! I am told that yesterday, only for the restraint exercised by +certain offended mountaineers on other grounds than your own worth, you +would have been abbreviated by the head. Another day of your fascinating +presence would do away with this restraint, and then we should have a +scandal. I am a new-comer here myself--too new a comer to be able to +afford a scandal of that kind--and so I shall not delay your going. +Believe me, my dear cousin, Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, of Humcroft, +Salop, that I am inconsolable about your resolution of immediate +departure, but I cannot shut my eyes to its wisdom. At present the +matter is altogether amongst ourselves, and when you have gone--if it be +immediately--silence will be observed on all hands for the sake of the +house wherein you are a guest; but if there be time for scandal to +spread, you will be made, whether you be alive or dead, a European +laughing-stock. Accordingly, I have anticipated your wishes, and have +ordered a fast steam yacht to take you to Ancona, or to whatever other +port you may desire. The yacht will be under the command of Captain +Desmond, of one of our battleships--a most determined officer, who will +carry out any directions which may be given to him. This will insure +your safety so far as Italian territory. Some of his officials will +arrange a special carriage for you up to Flushing, and a cabin on the +steamer to Queenboro'. A man of mine will travel on the train and +steamer with you, and will see that whatever you may wish in the way of +food or comfort will be provided. Of course, you understand, my dear +cousin, that you are my guest until you arrive in London. I have not +asked Rooke to accompany you, as when he went to meet you, it was a +mistake. Indeed, there might have been a danger to you which I never +contemplated--a quite unnecessary danger, I assure you. But happily +Admiral Rooke, though a man of strong passions, has wonderful +self-control." + +"Admiral Rooke?" he queried. "Admiral?" + +"Admiral, certainly," I replied, "but not an ordinary Admiral--one of +many. He is _the_ Admiral--the Lord High Admiral of the Land of the Blue +Mountains, with sole control of its expanding navy. When such a man is +treated as a valet, there may be . . . But why go into this? It is all +over. I only mention it lest anything of a similar kind should occur +with Captain Desmond, who is a younger man, and therefore with probably +less self-repression." + +I saw that he had learned his lesson, and so said no more on the subject. + +There was another reason for his going which I did not speak of. Sir +Colin MacKelpie was coming with his clansmen, and I knew he did not like +Ernest Melton. I well remembered that episode of his offering one finger +to the old gentleman in Mr. Trent's office, and, moreover, I had my +suspicions that Aunt Janet's being upset was probably in some measure due +to some rudeness of his that she did not wish to speak about. He is +really an impossible young man, and is far better out of this country +than in it. If he remained here, there would be some sort of a tragedy +for certain. + +I must say that it was with a feeling of considerable relief that I saw +the yacht steam out of the creek, with Captain Desmond on the bridge and +my cousin beside him. + +Quite other were my feelings when, an hour after, _The Lady_ came flying +into the creek with the Lord High Admiral on the bridge, and beside him, +more splendid and soldier-like than ever, Sir Colin MacKelpie. Mr. +Bingham Trent was also on the bridge. + +The General was full of enthusiasm regarding his regiment, for in all, +those he brought with him and those finishing their training at home, the +force is near the number of a full regiment. When we were alone he +explained to me that all was arranged regarding the non-commissioned +officers, but that he had held over the question of officers until we +should have had a suitable opportunity of talking the matter over +together. He explained to me his reasons, which were certainly simple +and cogent. Officers, according to him, are a different class, and +accustomed to a different standard altogether of life and living, of +duties and pleasures. They are harder to deal with and more difficult to +obtain. "There was no use," he said, "in getting a lot of failures, with +old-crusted ways of their own importance. We must have young men for our +purpose--that is, men not old, but with some experience--men, of course, +who know how to behave themselves, or else, from what little I have seen +of the Blue Mountaineers, they wouldn't last long here if they went on as +some of them do elsewhere. I shall start things here as you wish me to, +for I am here, my dear boy, to stay with you and Janet, and we shall, if +it be given to us by the Almighty, help to build up together a new +'nation'--an ally of Britain, who will stand at least as an outpost of +our own nation, and a guardian of our eastern road. When things are +organized here on the military side, and are going strong, I shall, if +you can spare me, run back to London for a few weeks. Whilst I am there +I shall pick up a lot of the sort of officers we want. I know that there +are loads of them to be had. I shall go slowly, however, and carefully, +too, and every man I bring back will be recommended to me by some old +soldier whom I know, and who knows the man he recommends, and has seen +him work. We shall have, I dare say, an army for its size second to none +in the world, and the day may come when your old country will be proud of +your new one. Now I'm off to see that all is ready for my people--your +people now." + +I had had arrangements made for the comfort of the clansmen and the +women, but I knew that the good old soldier would see for himself that +his men were to be comfortable. It was not for nothing that he +was--is--looked on as perhaps the General most beloved by his men in the +whole British Army. + +When he had gone, and I was alone, Mr. Trent, who had evidently been +waiting for the opportunity, came to me. When we had spoken of my +marriage and of Teuta, who seems to have made an immense impression on +him, he said suddenly: + +"I suppose we are quite alone, and that we shall not be interrupted?" I +summoned the man outside--there is always a sentry on guard outside my +door or near me, wherever I may be--and gave orders that I was not to be +disturbed until I gave fresh orders. "If," I said, "there be anything +pressing or important, let the Voivodin or Miss MacKelpie know. If +either of them brings anyone to me, it will be all right." + +When we were quite alone Mr. Trent took a slip of paper and some +documents from the bag which was beside him. He then read out items from +the slip, placing as he did so the documents so checked over before him. + +1. New Will made on marriage, to be signed presently. + +2. Copy of the Re-conveyance of Vissarion estates to Peter Vissarion, as +directed by Will of Roger Melton. + +3. Report of Correspondence with Privy Council, and proceedings +following. + +Taking up the last named, he untied the red tape, and, holding the bundle +in his hand, went on: + +"As you may, later on, wish to examine the details of the Proceedings, I +have copied out the various letters, the originals of which are put +safely away in my strong-room where, of course, they are always available +in case you may want them. For your present information I shall give you +a rough synopsis of the Proceedings, referring where advisable to this +paper. + +"On receipt of your letter of instructions regarding the Consent of the +Privy Council to your changing your nationality in accordance with the +terms of Roger Melton's Will, I put myself in communication with the +Clerk of the Privy Council, informing him of your wish to be naturalized +in due time to the Land of the Blue Mountains. After some letters +between us, I got a summons to attend a meeting of the Council. + +"I attended, as required, taking with me all necessary documents, and +such as I conceived might be advisable to produce, if wanted. + +"The Lord President informed me that the present meeting of the Council +was specially summoned in obedience to the suggestion of the King, who +had been consulted as to his personal wishes on the subject--should he +have any. The President then proceeded to inform me officially that all +Proceedings of the Privy Council were altogether confidential, and were +not to be made public under any circumstances. He was gracious enough to +add: + +"'The circumstances of this case, however, are unique; and as you act for +another, we have thought it advisable to enlarge your permission in the +matter, so as to allow you to communicate freely with your principal. As +that gentleman is settling himself in a part of the world which has been +in the past, and may be again, united to this nation by some common +interest, His Majesty wishes Mr. Sent Leger to feel assured of the +good-will of Great Britain to the Land of the Blue Mountains, and even of +his own personal satisfaction that a gentleman of so distinguished a +lineage and such approved personal character is about to be--within his +own scope--a connecting-link between the nations. To which end he has +graciously announced that, should the Privy Council acquiesce in the +request of Denaturalization, he will himself sign the Patent therefor. + +"'The Privy Council has therefore held private session, at which the +matter has been discussed in its many bearings; and it is content that +the change can do no harm, but may be of some service to the two nations. +We have, therefore, agreed to grant the prayer of the Applicant; and the +officials of the Council have the matter of the form of Grant in hand. +So you, sir, may rest satisfied that as soon as the formalities--which +will, of course, require the formal signing of certain documents by the +Applicant--can be complied with, the Grant and Patent will obtain.'" + +Having made this statement in formal style, my old friend went on in more +familiar way: + +"And so, my dear Rupert, all is in hand; and before very long you will +have the freedom required under the Will, and will be at liberty to take +whatever steps may be necessary to be naturalized in your new country. + +"I may tell you, by the way, that several members of the Council made +very complimentary remarks regarding you. I am forbidden to give names, +but I may tell you facts. One old Field-Marshal, whose name is familiar +to the whole world, said that he had served in many places with your +father, who was a very valiant soldier, and that he was glad that Great +Britain was to have in the future the benefit of your father's son in a +friendly land now beyond the outposts of our Empire, but which had been +one with her in the past, and might be again. + +"So much for the Privy Council. We can do no more at present until you +sign and have attested the documents which I have brought with me. + +"We can now formally complete the settlement of the Vissarion estates, +which must be done whilst you are a British citizen. So, too, with the +Will, the more formal and complete document, which is to take the place +of that short one which you forwarded to me the day after your marriage. +It may be, perhaps, necessary or advisable that, later on, when you are +naturalized here, you shall make a new Will in strictest accordance with +local law." + + + +TEUTA SENT LEGER'S DIARY. + + + _August_ 19, 1907. + +We had a journey to-day that was simply glorious. We had been waiting to +take it for more than a week. Rupert not only wanted the weather +suitable, but he had to wait till the new aeroplane came home. It is +more than twice as big as our biggest up to now. None of the others +could take all the party which Rupert wanted to go. When he heard that +the aero was coming from Whitby, where it was sent from Leeds, he +directed by cable that it should be unshipped at Otranto, whence he took +it here all by himself. I wanted to come with him, but he thought it +better not. He says that Brindisi is too busy a place to keep anything +quiet--if not secret--and he wants to be very dark indeed about this, as +it is worked by the new radium engine. Ever since they found radium in +our own hills he has been obsessed by the idea of an aerial navy for our +protection. And after to-day's experiences I think he is right. As he +wanted to survey the whole country at a glimpse, so that the general +scheme of defence might be put in hand, we had to have an aero big enough +to take the party as well as fast enough to do it rapidly, and all at +once. We had, in addition to Rupert, my father, and myself, Sir Colin +and Lord High Admiral Rooke (I do like to give that splendid old fellow +his full title!). The military and naval experts had with them +scientific apparatus of various kinds, also cameras and range-finders, so +that they could mark their maps as they required. Rupert, of course, +drove, and I acted as his assistant. Father, who has not yet become +accustomed to aerial travel, took a seat in the centre (which Rupert had +thoughtfully prepared for him), where there is very little motion. I +must say I was amazed to see the way that splendid old soldier Sir Colin +bore himself. He had never been on an aeroplane before, but, all the +same, he was as calm as if he was on a rock. Height or motion did not +trouble him. Indeed, he seemed to _enjoy_ himself all the time. The +Admiral is himself almost an expert, but in any case I am sure he would +have been unconcerned, just as he was in the _Crab_ as Rupert has told +me. + +We left just after daylight, and ran down south. When we got to the east +of Ilsin, we kept slightly within the border-line, and went north or east +as it ran, making occasional loops inland over the mountains and back +again. When we got up to our farthest point north, we began to go much +slower. Sir Colin explained that for the rest all would be comparatively +plain-sailing in the way of defence; but that as any foreign Power other +than the Turk must attack from seaward, he would like to examine the +seaboard very carefully in conjunction with the Admiral, whose advice as +to sea defence would be invaluable. + +Rupert was fine. No one could help admiring him as he sat working his +lever and making the great machine obey every touch. He was wrapped up +in his work. I don't believe that whilst he was working he ever thought +of even me. He _is_ splendid! + +We got back just as the sun was dropping down over the Calabrian +Mountains. It is quite wonderful how the horizon changes when you are +sailing away up high on an aeroplane. Rupert is going to teach me how to +manage one all by myself, and when I am fit he will give me one, which he +is to have specially built for me. + +I think I, too, have done some good work--at least, I have got some good +ideas--from our journey to-day. Mine are not of war, but of peace, and I +think I see a way by which we shall be able to develop our country in a +wonderful way. I shall talk the idea over with Rupert to-night, when we +are alone. In the meantime Sir Colin and Admiral Rooke will think their +plans over individually, and to-morrow morning together. Then the next +day they, too, are to go over their idea with Rupert and my father, and +something may be decided then. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _August_ 21, 1907. + +Our meeting on the subject of National Defence, held this afternoon, went +off well. We were five in all, for with permission of the Voivode and +the two fighting-men, naval and military, I brought Teuta with me. She +sat beside me quite quietly, and never made a remark of any kind till the +Defence business had been gone through. Both Sir Colin and Admiral Rooke +were in perfect agreement as to the immediate steps to be taken for +defence. In the first instance, the seaboard was to be properly +fortified in the necessary places, and the navy largely strengthened. +When we had got thus far I asked Rooke to tell of the navy increase +already in hand. Whereupon he explained that, as we had found the small +battleship _The Lady_ of an excellent type for coast defence, acting only +in home waters, and of a size to take cover where necessary at many +places on our own shores, we had ordered nine others of the same pattern. +Of these the first four were already in hand, and were proceeding with +the greatest expedition. The General then supplemented this by saying +that big guns could be used from points judiciously chosen on the +seaboard, which was in all so short a length that no very great quantity +of armament would be required. + +"We can have," he said, "the biggest guns of the most perfect kind yet +accomplished, and use them from land batteries of the most up-to-date +pattern. The one serious proposition we have to deal with is the defence +of the harbour--as yet quite undeveloped--which is known as the 'Blue +Mouth.' Since our aerial journey I have been to it by sea with Admiral +Rooke in _The Lady_, and then on land with the Vladika, who was born on +its shores, and who knows every inch of it. + +"It is worth fortifying--and fortifying well, for as a port it is +peerless in Mediterranean seas. The navies of the world might ride in +it, land-locked, and even hidden from view seawards. The mountains which +enclose it are in themselves absolute protection. In addition, these can +only be assailed from our own territory. Of course, Voivode, you +understand when I say 'our' I mean the Land of the Blue Mountains, for +whose safety and well-being I am alone concerned. Any ship anchoring in +the roads of the Blue Mouth would have only one need--sufficient length +of cable for its magnificent depth. + +"When proper guns are properly placed on the steep cliffs to north and +south of the entrance, and when the rock islet between has been armoured +and armed as will be necessary, the Mouth will be impregnable. But we +should not depend on the aiming of the entrance alone. At certain +salient points--which I have marked upon this map--armour-plated sunken +forts within earthworks should be established. There should be covering +forts on the hillsides, and, of course, the final summits protected. +Thus we could resist attack on any side or all sides--from sea or land. +That port will yet mean the wealth as well as the strength of this +nation, so it will be well to have it properly protected. This should be +done soon, and the utmost secrecy observed in the doing of it, lest the +so doing should become a matter of international concern." + +Here Rooke smote the table hard. + +"By God, that is true! It has been the dream of my own life for this +many a year." + +In the silence which followed the sweet, gentle voice of Teuta came clear +as a bell: + +"May I say a word? I am emboldened to, as Sir Colin has spoken so +splendidly, and as the Lord High Admiral has not hesitated to mention his +dreaming. I, too, have had a dream--a day-dream--which came in a flash, +but no less a dream, for all that. It was when we hung on the aeroplane +over the Blue Mouth. It seemed to me in an instant that I saw that +beautiful spot as it will some time be--typical, as Sir Colin said, of +the wealth as well as the strength of this nation; a mart for the world +whence will come for barter some of the great wealth of the Blue +Mountains. That wealth is as yet undeveloped. But the day is at hand +when we may begin to use it, and through that very port. Our mountains +and their valleys are clad with trees of splendid growth, virgin forests +of priceless worth; hard woods of all kinds, which have no superior +throughout the world. In the rocks, though hidden as yet, is vast +mineral wealth of many kinds. I have been looking through the reports of +the geological exports of the Commission of Investigation which my +husband organized soon after he came to live here, and, according to +them, our whole mountain ranges simply teem with vast quantities of +minerals, almost more precious for industry than gold and silver are for +commerce--though, indeed, gold is not altogether lacking as a mineral. +When once our work on the harbour is done, and the place has been made +secure against any attempt at foreign aggression, we must try to find a +way to bring this wealth of woods and ores down to the sea. + +"And then, perhaps, may begin the great prosperity of our Land, of which +we have all dreamt." + +She stopped, all vibrating, almost choked with emotion. We were all +moved. For myself, I was thrilled to the core. Her enthusiasm was +all-sweeping, and under its influence I found my own imagination +expanding. Out of its experiences I spoke: + +"And there is a way. I can see it. Whilst our dear Voivodin was +speaking, the way seemed to clear. I saw at the back of the Blue Mouth, +where it goes deepest into the heart of the cliffs, the opening of a +great tunnel, which ran upward over a steep slope till it debouched on +the first plateau beyond the range of the encompassing cliffs. Thither +came by various rails of steep gradient, by timber-shoots and +cable-rails, by aerial cables and precipitating tubes, wealth from over +ground and under it; for as our Land is all mountains, and as these tower +up to the clouds, transport to the sea shall be easy and of little cost +when once the machinery is established. As everything of much weight +goes downward, the cars of the main tunnel of the port shall return +upward without cost. We can have from the mountains a head of water +under good control, which will allow of endless hydraulic power, so that +the whole port and the mechanism of the town to which it will grow can be +worked by it. + +"This work can be put in hand at once. So soon as the place shall be +perfectly surveyed and the engineering plans got ready, we can start on +the main tunnel, working from the sea-level up, so that the cost of the +transport of material will be almost nil. This work can go on whilst the +forts are building; no time need be lost. + +"Moreover, may I add a word on National Defence? We are, though old in +honour, a young nation as to our place amongst Great Powers. And so we +must show the courage and energy of a young nation. The Empire of the +Air is not yet won. Why should not we make a bid for it? As our +mountains are lofty, so shall we have initial power of attack or defence. +We can have, in chosen spots amongst the clouds, depots of war +aeroplanes, with which we can descend and smite our enemies quickly on +land or sea. We shall hope to live for Peace; but woe to those who drive +us to War!" + +There is no doubt that the Vissarions are a warlike race. As I spoke, +Teuta took one of my hands and held it hard. The old Voivode, his eyes +blazing, rose and stood beside me and took the other. The two old +fighting-men of the land and the sea stood up and saluted. + +This was the beginning of what ultimately became "The National Committee +of Defence and Development." + +I had other, and perhaps greater, plans for the future in my mind; but +the time had not come for their utterance. + +To me it seems not only advisable, but necessary, that the utmost +discretion be observed by all our little group, at all events for the +present. There seems to be some new uneasiness in the Blue Mountains. +There are constant meetings of members of the Council, but no formal +meeting of the Council, as such, since the last one at which I was +present. There is constant coming and going amongst the mountaineers, +always in groups, small or large. Teuta and I, who have been about very +much on the aeroplane, have both noticed it. But somehow we--that is, +the Voivode and myself--are left out of everything; but we have not said +as yet a word on the subject to any of the others. The Voivode notices, +but he says nothing; so I am silent, and Teuta does whatever I ask. Sir +Colin does not notice anything except the work he is engaged on--the +planning the defences of the Blue Mouth. His old scientific training as +an engineer, and his enormous experience of wars and sieges--for he was +for nearly fifty years sent as military representative to all the great +wars--seem to have become directed on that point. He is certainly +planning it all out in a wonderful way. He consults Rooke almost hourly +on the maritime side of the question. The Lord High Admiral has been a +watcher all his life, and very few important points have ever escaped +him, so that he can add greatly to the wisdom of the defensive +construction. He notices, I think, that something is going on outside +ourselves; but he keeps a resolute silence. + +What the movement going on is I cannot guess. It is not like the +uneasiness that went before the abduction of Teuta and the Voivode, but +it is even more pronounced. That was an uneasiness founded on some +suspicion. This is a positive thing, and has definite meaning--of some +sort. We shall, I suppose, know all about it in good time. In the +meantime we go on with our work. Happily the whole Blue Mouth and the +mountains round it are on my own property, the portion acquired long ago +by Uncle Roger, exclusive of the Vissarion estate. I asked the Voivode +to allow me to transfer it to him, but he sternly refused and forbade me, +quite peremptorily, to ever open the subject to him again. "You have +done enough already," he said. "Were I to allow you to go further, I +should feel mean. And I do not think you would like your wife's father +to suffer that feeling after a long life, which he has tried to live in +honour." + +I bowed, and said no more. So there the matter rests, and I have to take +my own course. I have had a survey made, and on the head of it the +Tunnel to the harbour is begun. + + + + +BOOK VIII: THE FLASHING OF THE HANDJAR + + +PRIVATE MEMORANDUM OF THE MEETING OF VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL +COUNCIL, HELD AT THE STATE HOUSE OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AT PLAZAC ON +MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1907. + + +(_Written by Cristoferos_, _Scribe of the Council_, _by instruction of +those present_.) + +When the private meeting of various Members of the National Council had +assembled in the Council Hall of the State House at Plazac, it was as a +preliminary decided unanimously that now or hereafter no names of those +present were to be mentioned, and that officials appointed for the +purposes of this meeting should be designated by office only, the names +of all being withheld. + +The proceedings assumed the shape of a general conversation, quite +informal, and therefore not to be recorded. The nett outcome was the +unanimous expression of an opinion that the time, long contemplated by +very many persons throughout the nation, had now come when the +Constitution and machinery of the State should be changed; that the +present form of ruling by an Irregular Council was not sufficient, and +that a method more in accord with the spirit of the times should be +adopted. To this end Constitutional Monarchy, such as that holding in +Great Britain, seemed best adapted. Finally, it was decided that each +Member of the Council should make a personal canvass of his district, +talk over the matter with his electors, and bring back to another +meeting--or, rather, as it was amended, to this meeting postponed for a +week, until September 2nd--the opinions and wishes received. Before +separating, the individual to be appointed King, in case the new idea +should prove grateful to the nation, was discussed. The consensus of +opinion was entirely to the effect that the Voivode Peter Vissarion +should, if he would accept the high office, be appointed. It was urged +that, as his daughter, the Voivodin Teuta, was now married to the +Englishman, Rupert Sent Leger--called generally by the mountaineers "the +Gospodar Rupert"--a successor to follow the Voivode when God should call +him would be at hand--a successor worthy in every way to succeed to so +illustrious a post. It was urged by several speakers, with general +acquiescence, that already Mr. Sent Leger's services to the State were +such that he would be in himself a worthy person to begin the new +Dynasty; but that, as he was now allied to the Voivode Peter Vissarion, +it was becoming that the elder, born of the nation, should receive the +first honour. + + + +THE SAME--_Continued_. + + +The adjourned meeting of certain members of the National Council was +resumed in the Hall of the State House at Plazac on Monday, September +2nd, 1907. By motion the same chairman was appointed, and the rule +regarding the record renewed. + +Reports were made by the various members of the Council in turn, +according to the State Roll. Every district was represented. The +reports were unanimously in favour of the New Constitution, and it was +reported by each and all of the Councillors that the utmost enthusiasm +marked in every case the suggestion of the Voivode Peter Vissarion as the +first King to be crowned under the new Constitution, and that remainder +should be settled on the Gospodar Rupert (the mountaineers would only +receive his lawful name as an alternative; one and all said that he would +be "Rupert" to them and to the nation--for ever). + +The above matter having been satisfactorily settled, it was decided that +a formal meeting of the National Council should be held at the State +House, Plazac, in one week from to-day, and that the Voivode Peter +Vissarion should be asked to be in the State House in readiness to +attend. It was also decided that instruction should be given to the High +Court of National Law to prepare and have ready, in skeleton form, a +rescript of the New Constitution to be adopted, the same to be founded on +the Constitution and Procedure of Great Britain, so far as the same may +be applicable to the traditional ideas of free Government in the Land of +the Blue Mountains. + +By unanimous vote this private and irregular meeting of "Various National +Councillors" was then dissolved. + + + +RECORD OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE LAND OF THE +BLUE MOUNTAINS, HELD AT PLAZAC ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 1907, TO +CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF A NEW CONSTITUTION, AND TO GIVE PERMANENT EFFECT +TO THE SAME IF, AND WHEN, DECIDED UPON. + + +(_Kept by the Monk Cristoferos_, _Scribe to the National Council_.) + +The adjourned meeting duly took place as arranged. There was a full +attendance of Members of the Council, together with the Vladika, the +Archbishop, the Archimandrites of Spazac, of Ispazar, of Domitan, and +Astrag; the Chancellor; the Lord of the Exchequer; the President of the +High Court of National Law; the President of the Council of Justice; and +such other high officials as it is customary to summon to meetings of the +National Council on occasions of great importance. The names of all +present will be found in the full report, wherein are given the ipsissima +verba of the various utterances made during the consideration of the +questions discussed, the same having been taken down in shorthand by the +humble scribe of this precis, which has been made for the convenience of +Members of the Council and others. + +The Voivode Peter Vissarion, obedient to the request of the Council, was +in attendance at the State House, waiting in the "Chamber of the High +Officers" until such time as he should be asked to come before the +Council. + +The President put before the National Council the matter of the new +Constitution, outlining the headings of it as drawn up by the High Court +of National Law, and the Constitution having been formally accepted _nem. +con._ by the National Council on behalf of the people, he proposed that +the Crown should be offered to the Voivode Peter Vissarion, with +remainder to the "Gospodar Rupert" (legally, Rupert Sent Leger), husband +of his only child, the Voivodin Teuta. This also was received with +enthusiasm, and passed _nem. con._ + +Thereupon the President of Council, the Archbishop, and the Vladika, +acting together as a deputation, went to pray the attention of the +Voivode Peter Vassarion. + +When the Voivode entered, the whole Council and officials stood up, and +for a few seconds waited in respectful silence with heads bowed down. +Then, as if by a common impulse--for no word was spoken nor any signal +given--they all drew their handjars, and stood to attention--with points +raised and edges of the handjars to the front. + +The Voivode stood very still. He seemed much moved, but controlled +himself admirably. The only time when be seemed to lose his self-control +was when, once again with a strange simultaneity, all present raised +their handjars on high, and shouted: "Hail, Peter, King!" Then lowering +their points till these almost touched the ground, they once again stood +with bowed heads. + +When he had quite mastered himself, the Voivode Peter Vissarion spoke: + +"How can I, my brothers, sufficiently thank you, and, through you, the +people of the Blue Mountains, for the honour done to me this day? In +very truth it is not possible, and therefore I pray you to consider it as +done, measuring my gratitude in the greatness of your own hearts. Such +honour as you offer to me is not contemplated by any man in whose mind a +wholesome sanity rules, nor is it even the dream of fervent imagination. +So great is it, that I pray you, men with hearts and minds like my own, +to extend to me, as a further measure of your generosity, a little time +to think it over. I shall not want long, for even already, with the +blaze of honour fresh upon me, I see the cool shadow of Duty, though his +substance is yet hardly visible. Give me but an hour of solitude--an +hour at most--if it do not prolong this your session unduly. It may be +that a lesser time will serve, but in any case I promise you that, when I +can see a just and fitting issue to my thought, I shall at once return." + +The President of the Council looked around him, and, seeing everywhere +the bowing heads of acquiescence, spoke with a reverent gravity: + +"We shall wait in patience whatsoever time you will, and may the God who +rules all worthy hearts guide you to His Will!" + +And so in silence the Voivode passed out of the hall. + +From my seat near a window I could watch him go, as with measured steps +he passed up the hill which rises behind the State House, and disappeared +into the shadow of the forest. Then my work claimed me, for I wished to +record the proceedings so far whilst all was fresh in my mind. In +silence, as of the dead, the Council waited, no man challenging opinion +of his neighbour even by a glance. + +Almost a full hour had elapsed when the Voivode came again to the +Council, moving with slow and stately gravity, as has always been his +wont since age began to hamper the movement which in youth had been so +notable. The Members of the Council all stood up uncovered, and so +remained while he made announcement of his conclusion. He spoke slowly; +and as his answer was to be a valued record of this Land and its Race, I +wrote down every word as uttered, leaving here and there space for +description or comment, which spaces I have since then filled in. + +"Lords of the National Council, Archbishop, Vladika, Lords of the Council +of Justice and of National Law, Archimandrites, and my brothers all, I +have, since I left you, held in the solitude of the forest counsel with +myself--and with God; and He, in His gracious wisdom, has led my thinking +to that conclusion which was from the first moment of knowledge of your +intent presaged in my heart. Brothers, you know--or else a long life has +been spent in vain--that my heart and mind are all for the nation--my +experience, my life, my handjar. And when all is for her, why should I +shrink to exercise on her behalf my riper judgment though the same should +have to combat my own ambition? For ten centuries my race has not failed +in its duty. Ages ago the men of that time trusted in the hands of my +ancestors the Kingship, even as now you, their children, trust me. But +to me it would be base to betray that trust, even by the smallest tittle. +That would I do were I to take the honour of the crown which you have +tendered to me, so long as there is another more worthy to wear it. Were +there none other, I should place myself in your hands, and yield myself +over to blind obedience of your desires. But such an one there is; dear +to you already by his own deeds, now doubly dear to me, since he is my +son by my daughter's love. He is young, whereas I am old. He is strong +and brave and true; but my days of the usefulness of strength and bravery +are over. For myself, I have long contemplated as the crown of my later +years a quiet life in one of our monasteries, where I can still watch the +whirl of the world around us on your behalf, and be a counsellor of +younger men of more active minds. Brothers, we are entering on stirring +times. I can see the signs of their coming all around us. North and +South--the Old Order and the New, are about to clash, and we lie between +the opposing forces. True it is that the Turk, after warring for a +thousand years, is fading into insignificance. But from the North where +conquests spring, have crept towards our Balkans the men of a mightier +composite Power. Their march has been steady; and as they came, they +fortified every step of the way. Now they are hard upon us, and are +already beginning to swallow up the regions that we have helped to win +from the dominion of Mahound. The Austrian is at our very gates. Beaten +back by the Irredentists of Italy, she has so enmeshed herself with the +Great Powers of Europe that she seems for the moment to be impregnable to +a foe of our stature. There is but one hope for us--the uniting of the +Balkan forces to turn a masterly front to North and West as well as to +South and East. Is that a task for old hands to undertake? No; the +hands must be young and supple; and the brain subtle, as well as the +heart be strong, of whomsoever would dare such an accomplishment. Should +I accept the crown, it would only postpone the doing of that which must +ultimately be done. What avail would it be if, when the darkness closes +over me, my daughter should be Queen Consort to the first King of a new +dynasty? You know this man, and from your record I learn that you are +already willing to have him as King to follow me. Why not begin with +him? He comes of a great nation, wherein the principle of freedom is a +vital principle that quickens all things. That nation has more than once +shown to us its friendliness; and doubtless the very fact that an +Englishman would become our King, and could carry into our Government the +spirit and customs which have made his own country great, would do much +to restore the old friendship, and even to create a new one, which would +in times of trouble bring British fleets to our waters, and British +bayonets to support our own handjars. It is within my own knowledge, +though as yet unannounced to you, that Rupert Sent Leger has already +obtained a patent, signed by the King of England himself, allowing him to +be denaturalized in England, so that he can at once apply for +naturalization here. I know also that he has brought hither a vast +fortune, by aid of which he is beginning to strengthen our hands for war, +in case that sad eventuality should arise. Witness his late ordering to +be built nine other warships of the class that has already done such +effective service in overthrowing the Turk--or the pirate, whichever he +may have been. He has undertaken the defence of the Blue Mouth at his +own cost in a way which will make it stronger than Gibraltar, and secure +us against whatever use to which the Austrian may apply the vast forces +already gathered in the Bocche di Cattaro. He is already founding aerial +stations on our highest peaks for use of the war aeroplanes which are +being built for him. It is such a man as this who makes a nation great; +and right sure I am that in his hands this splendid land and our noble, +freedom-loving people will flourish and become a power in the world. +Then, brothers, let me, as one to whom this nation and its history and +its future are dear, ask you to give to the husband of my daughter the +honour which you would confer on me. For her I can speak as well as for +myself. She shall suffer nothing in dignity either. Were I indeed King, +she, as my daughter, would be a Princess of the world. As it will be, +she shall be companion and Queen of a great King, and her race, which is +mine, shall flourish in all the lustre of the new Dynasty. + +"Therefore on all accounts, my brothers, for the sake of our dear Land of +the Blue Mountains, make the Gospodar Rupert, who has so proved himself, +your King. And make me happy in my retirement to the cloister." + +When the Voivode ceased to speak, all still remained silent and standing. +But there was no mistaking their acquiescence in his most generous +prayer. The President of the Council well interpreted the general wish +when he said: + +"Lords of the National Council, Archbishop, Vladika, Lords of the +Councils of Justice and National Law, Archimandrites, and all who are +present, is it agreed that we prepare at leisure a fitting reply to the +Voivode Peter of the historic House of Vissarion, stating our agreement +with his wish?" + +To which there was a unanimous answer: + +"It is." He went on: + +"Further. Shall we ask the Gospodar Rupert of the House of Sent Leger, +allied through his marriage to the Voivodin Teuta, daughter and only +child of the Voivode Peter of Vissarion, to come hither to-morrow? And +that, when he is amongst us, we confer on him the Crown and Kingship of +the Land of the Blue Mountains?" + +Again came the answer: "It is." + +But this time it rang out like the sound of a gigantic trumpet, and the +handjars flashed. + +Whereupon the session was adjourned for the space of a day. + + + +THE SAME--_Continued_. + + + _September_ 10, 1907. + +When the National Council met to-day the Voivode Peter Vissarion sat with +them, but well back, so that at first his presence was hardly noticeable. +After the necessary preliminaries had been gone through, they requested +the presence of the Gospodar Rupert--Mr. Rupert Sent Leger--who was +reported as waiting in the "Chamber of the High Officers." He at once +accompanied back to the Hall the deputation sent to conduct him. As he +made his appearance in the doorway the Councillors stood up. There was a +burst of enthusiasm, and the handjars flashed. For an instant he stood +silent, with lifted hand, as though indicating that he wished to speak. +So soon as this was recognized, silence fell on the assembly, and he +spoke: + +"I pray you, may the Voivodin Teuta of Vissarion, who has accompanied me +hither, appear with me to hear your wishes?" There was an immediate and +enthusiastic acquiescence, and, after bowing his thanks, he retired to +conduct her. + +Her appearance was received with an ovation similar to that given to +Gospodar Rupert, to which she bowed with dignified sweetness. She, with +her husband, was conducted to the top of the Hall by the President, who +came down to escort them. In the meantime another chair had been placed +beside that prepared for the Gospodar, and these two sat. + +The President then made the formal statement conveying to the "Gospodar +Rupert" the wishes of the Council, on behalf of the nation, to offer to +him the Crown and Kingship of the Land of the Blue Mountains. The +message was couched in almost the same words as had been used the +previous day in making the offer to the Voivode Peter Vissarion, only +differing to meet the special circumstances. The Gospodar Rupert +listened in grave silence. The whole thing was manifestly quite new to +him, but he preserved a self-control wonderful under the circumstances. +When, having been made aware of the previous offer to the Voivode and the +declared wish of the latter, he rose to speak, there was stillness in the +Hall. He commenced with a few broken words of thanks; then he grew +suddenly and strangely calm as he went on: + +"But before I can even attempt to make a fitting reply, I should know if +it is contemplated to join with me in this great honour my dear wife the +Voivodin Teuta of Vissarion, who has so splendidly proved her worthiness +to hold any place in the government of the Land. I fain would . . . " + +He was interrupted by the Voivodin, who, standing up beside him and +holding his left arm, said: + +"Do not, President, and Lords all, think me wanting in that respect of a +wife for husband which in the Blue Mountains we hold so dear, if I +venture to interrupt my lord. I am here, not merely as a wife, but as +Voivodin of Vissarion, and by the memory of all the noble women of that +noble line I feel constrained to a great duty. We women of Vissarion, in +all the history of centuries, have never put ourselves forward in rivalry +of our lords. Well I know that my own dear lord will forgive me as wife +if I err; but I speak to you, the Council of the nation, from another +ground and with another tongue. My lord does not, I fear, know as you +do, and as I do too, that of old, in the history of this Land, when +Kingship was existent, that it was ruled by that law of masculine +supremacy which, centuries after, became known as the _Lex Salica_. +Lords of the Council of the Blue Mountains, I am a wife of the Blue +Mountains--as a wife young as yet, but with the blood of forty +generations of loyal women in my veins. And it would ill become me, whom +my husband honours--wife to the man whom you would honour--to take a part +in changing the ancient custom which has been held in honour for all the +thousand years, which is the glory of Blue Mountain womanhood. What an +example such would be in an age when self-seeking women of other nations +seek to forget their womanhood in the struggle to vie in equality with +men! Men of the Blue Mountains, I speak for our women when I say that we +hold of greatest price the glory of our men. To be their companions is +our happiness; to be their wives is the completion of our lives; to be +mothers of their children is our share of the glory that is theirs. + +"Therefore, I pray you, men of the Blue Mountains, let me but be as any +other wife in our land, equal to them in domestic happiness, which is our +woman's sphere; and if that priceless honour may be vouchsafed to me, and +I be worthy and able to bear it, an exemplar of woman's rectitude." With +a low, modest, graceful bow, she sat down. + +There was no doubt as to the reception of her renunciation of Queenly +dignity. There was more honour to her in the quick, fierce shout which +arose, and the unanimous upward swing of the handjars, than in the +wearing of any crown which could adorn the head of woman. + +The spontaneous action of the Gospodar Rupert was another source of joy +to all--a fitting corollary to what had gone before. He rose to his +feet, and, taking his wife in his arms, kissed her before all. Then they +sat down, with their chairs close, bashfully holding hands like a pair of +lovers. + +Then Rupert arose--he is Rupert now; no lesser name is on the lips of his +people henceforth. With an intense earnestness which seemed to glow in +his face, he said simply: + +"What can I say except that I am in all ways, now and for ever, obedient +to your wishes?" Then, raising his handjar and holding it before him, he +kissed the hilt, saying: + +"Hereby I swear to be honest and just--to be, God helping me, such a King +as you would wish--in so far as the strength is given me. Amen." + +This ended the business of the Session, and the Council showed unmeasured +delight. Again and again the handjars flashed, as the cheers rose "three +times three" in British fashion. + +When Rupert--I am told I must not write him down as "King Rupert" until +after the formal crowning, which is ordained for Wednesday, October +16th,--and Teuta had withdrawn, the Voivode Peter Vissarion, the +President and Council conferred in committee with the Presidents of the +High Courts of National Law and of Justice as to the formalities to be +observed in the crowning of the King, and of the formal notification to +be given to foreign Powers. These proceedings kept them far into the +night. + + + +FROM "_The London Messenger_." + + +CORONATION FESTIVITIES OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. + +(_From our Special Correspondent_.) + + PLAZAC, + _October_ 14, 1907. + +As I sat down to a poorly-equipped luncheon-table on board the +Austro-Orient liner _Franz Joseph_, I mourned in my heart (and I may say +incidentally in other portions of my internal economy) the comfort and +gastronomic luxury of the King and Emperor Hotel at Trieste. A brief +comparison between the menus of to-day's lunch and yesterday's will +afford to the reader a striking object-lesson: +_Trieste_. _Steamer_. +Eggs a la cocotte. Scrambled eggs on toast. +Stewed chicken, with paprika. Cold chicken. +Devilled slices of Westphalian Cold ham. +ham (boiled in wine). +Tunny fish, pickled. Bismarck herrings. +Rice, burst in cream. Stewed apples. +Guava jelly. Swiss cheese. +Consequence: Yesterday I was well and happy, and looked forward to a good +night's sleep, which came off. To-day I am dull and heavy, also +restless, and I am convinced that at sleeping-time my liver will have it +all its own way. + +The journey to Ragusa, and thence to Plazac, is writ large with a pigment +of misery on at least one human heart. Let a silence fall upon it! In +such wise only can Justice and Mercy join hands. + +Plazac is a miserable place. There is not a decent hotel in it. It was +perhaps on this account that the new King, Rupert, had erected for the +alleged convenience of his guests of the Press a series of large +temporary hotels, such as were in evidence at the St. Louis Exposition. +Here each guest was given a room to himself, somewhat after the nature of +the cribs in a Rowton house. From my first night in it I am able to +speak from experience of the sufferings of a prisoner of the third class. +I am, however, bound to say that the dining and reception rooms were, +though uncomfortably plain, adequate for temporary use. Happily we shall +not have to endure many more meals here, as to-morrow we all dine with +the King in the State House; and as the cuisine is under the control of +that _cordon bleu_, Gaston de Faux Pas, who so long controlled the +gastronomic (we might almost say Gastonomic) destinies of the Rois des +Diamants in the Place Vendome, we may, I think, look forward to not going +to bed hungry. Indeed, the anticipations formed from a survey of our +meagre sleeping accommodation were not realized at dinnertime to-night. +To our intense astonishment, an excellent dinner was served, though, to +be sure, the cold dishes predominated (a thing I always find bad for +one's liver). Just as we were finishing, the King (nominated) came +amongst us in quite an informal way, and, having bidden us a hearty +welcome, asked that we should drink a glass of wine together. This we +did in an excellent (if rather sweet) glass of Cliquot '93. King Rupert +(nominated) then asked us to resume our seats. He walked between the +tables, now and again recognizing some journalistic friend whom he had +met early in life in his days of adventure. The men spoken to seemed +vastly pleased--with themselves probably. Pretty bad form of them, I +call it! For myself, I was glad I had not previously met him in the same +casual way, as it saved me from what I should have felt a +humiliation--the being patronized in that public way by a prospective +King who had not (in a Court sense) been born. The writer, who is by +profession a barrister-at-law, is satisfied at being himself a county +gentleman and heir to an historic estate in the ancient county of Salop, +which can boast a larger population than the Land of the Blue Mountains. + +EDITORIAL NOTE.--We must ask our readers to pardon the report in +yesterday's paper sent from Plazac. The writer was not on our regular +staff, but asked to be allowed to write the report, as he was a kinsman +of King Rupert of the Blue Mountains, and would therefore be in a +position to obtain special information and facilities of description +"from inside," as he puts it. On reading the paper, we cabled his +recall; we cabled also, in case he did not obey, to have his ejectment +effected forthwith. + +We have also cabled Mr. Mordred Booth, the well-known correspondent, who +was, to our knowledge, in Plazac for his own purposes, to send us full +(and proper) details. We take it our readers will prefer a graphic +account of the ceremony to a farrago of cheap menus, comments on his own +liver, and a belittling of an Englishman of such noble character and +achievements that a rising nation has chosen him for their King, and one +whom our own nation loves to honour. We shall not, of course, mention +our abortive correspondent's name, unless compelled thereto by any future +utterance of his. + + + +FROM "_The London Messenger_." + + +THE CORONATION OF KING RUPERT OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS. + +(_By our Special Correspondent_, _Mordred Booth_.) + + PLAZAC, + _October_ 17, 1907. + +Plazac does not boast of a cathedral or any church of sufficient +dimensions for a coronation ceremony on an adequate scale. It was +therefore decided by the National Council, with the consent of the King, +that it should be held at the old church of St. Sava at Vissarion--the +former home of the Queen. Accordingly, arrangements had been made to +bring thither on the warships on the morning of the coronation the whole +of the nation's guests. In St. Sava's the religious ceremony would take +place, after which there would be a banquet in the Castle of Vissarion. +The guests would then return on the warships to Plazac, where would be +held what is called here the "National Coronation." + +In the Land of the Blue Mountains it was customary in the old days, when +there were Kings, to have two ceremonies--one carried out by the official +head of the national Church, the Greek Church; the other by the people in +a ritual adopted by themselves, on much the same basis as the Germanic +Folk-Moot. The Blue Mountains is a nation of strangely loyal tendencies. +What was a thousand years ago is to be to-day--so far, of course, as is +possible under the altered condition of things. + +The church of St. Sava is very old and very beautiful, built in the +manner of old Greek churches, full of monuments of bygone worthies of the +Blue Mountains. But, of course, neither it nor the ceremony held in it +to-day can compare in splendour with certain other ceremonials--for +instance, the coronation of the penultimate Czar in Moscow, of Alfonso +XII. in Madrid, of Carlos I. in Lisbon. + +The church was arranged much after the fashion of Westminster Abbey for +the coronation of King Edward VII., though, of course, not so many +persons present, nor so much individual splendour. Indeed, the number of +those present, outside those officially concerned and the Press of the +world, was very few. + +The most striking figure present--next to King Rupert, who is seven feet +high and a magnificent man--was the Queen Consort, Teuta. She sat in +front of a small gallery erected for the purpose just opposite the +throne. She is a strikingly beautiful woman, tall and finely-formed, +with jet-black hair and eyes like black diamonds, but with the unique +quality that there are stars in them which seem to take varied colour +according to each strong emotion. But it was not even her beauty or the +stars in her eyes which drew the first glance of all. These details +showed on scrutiny, but from afar off the attractive point was her dress. +Surely never before did woman, be she Queen or peasant, wear such a +costume on a festive occasion. + +She was dressed in a white _Shroud_, and in that only. I had heard +something of the story which goes behind that strange costume, and shall +later on send it to you. {2} + +When the procession entered the church through the great western door, +the national song of the Blue Mountains, "Guide our feet through +darkness, O Jehovah," was sung by an unseen choir, in which the organ, +supplemented by martial instruments, joined. The Archbishop was robed in +readiness before the altar, and close around him stood the Archimandrites +of the four great monasteries. The Vladika stood in front of the Members +of the National Council. A little to one side of this body was a group +of high officials, Presidents of the Councils of National Law and +Justice, the Chancellor, etc.--all in splendid robes of great +antiquity--the High Marshall of the Forces and the Lord high Admiral. + +When all was ready for the ceremonial act of coronation, the Archbishop +raised his hand, whereupon the music ceased. Turning around, so that he +faced the Queen, who thereon stood up, the King drew his handjar and +saluted her in Blue Mountain fashion--the point raised as high possible, +and then dropped down till it almost touches the ground. Every man in +the church, ecclesiastics and all, wear the handjar, and, following the +King by the interval of a second, their weapons flashed out. There was +something symbolic, as well as touching, in this truly royal salute, led +by the King. His handjar is a mighty blade, and held high in the hands +of a man of his stature, it overtowered everything in the church. It was +an inspiriting sight. No one who saw will ever forget that noble +flashing of blades in the thousand-year-old salute . . . + +The coronation was short, simple, and impressive. Rupert knelt whilst +the Archbishop, after a short, fervent prayer, placed on his head the +bronze crown of the first King of the Blue Mountains, Peter. This was +handed to him by the Vladika, to whom it was brought from the National +Treasury by a procession of the high officers. A blessing of the new +King and his Queen Teuta concluded the ceremony. Rupert's first act on +rising from his knees was to draw his handjar and salute his people. + +After the ceremony in St. Sava, the procession was reformed, and took its +way to the Castle of Vissarion, which is some distance off across a +picturesque creek, bounded on either side by noble cliffs of vast height. +The King led the way, the Queen walking with him and holding his hand . . +. The Castle of Vissarion is of great antiquity, and picturesque beyond +belief. I am sending later on, as a special article, a description of it +. . . + +The "Coronation Feast," as it was called on the menu, was held in the +Great Hall, which is of noble proportions. I enclose copy of the menu, +as our readers may wish to know something of the details of such a feast +in this part of the world. + +One feature of the banquet was specially noticeable. As the National +Officials were guests of the King and Queen, they were waited on and +served by the King and Queen in person. The rest of the guests, +including us of the Press, were served by the King's household, not the +servants--none of that cult were visible--but by the ladies and gentlemen +of the Court. + +There was only one toast, and that was given by the King, all standing: +"The Land of the Blue Mountains, and may we all do our duty to the Land +we love!" Before drinking, his mighty handjar flashed out again, and in +an instant every table at which the Blue Mountaineers sat was ringed with +flashing steel. I may add parenthetically that the handjar is +essentially the national weapon. I do not know if the Blue Mountaineers +take it to bed with them, but they certainly wear it everywhere else. +Its drawing seems to emphasize everything in national life . . . + +We embarked again on the warships--one a huge, steel-plated Dreadnought, +up to date in every particular, the other an armoured yacht most complete +in every way, and of unique speed. The King and Queen, the Lords of the +Council, together with the various high ecclesiastics and great +officials, went on the yacht, which the Lord High Admiral, a man of +remarkably masterful physiognomy, himself steered. The rest of those +present at the Coronation came on the warship. The latter went fast, but +the yacht showed her heels all the way. However, the King's party waited +in the dock in the Blue Mouth. From this a new cable-line took us all to +the State House at Plazac. Here the procession was reformed, and wound +its way to a bare hill in the immediate vicinity. The King and +Queen--the King still wearing the ancient bronze crown with which the +Archbishop had invested him at St. Sava's--the Archbishop, the Vladika, +and the four Archimandrites stood together at the top of the hill, the +King and Queen being, of course, in the front. A courteous young +gentleman, to whom I had been accredited at the beginning of the day--all +guests were so attended--explained to me that, as this was the national +as opposed to the religious ceremony, the Vladika, who is the official +representative of the laity, took command here. The ecclesiastics were +put prominently forward, simply out of courtesy, in obedience to the wish +of the people, by whom they were all greatly beloved. + +Then commenced another unique ceremony, which, indeed, might well find a +place in our Western countries. As far as ever we could see were masses +of men roughly grouped, not in any uniform, but all in national costume, +and armed only with the handjar. In the front of each of these groups or +bodies stood the National Councillor for that district, distinguishable +by his official robe and chain. There were in all seventeen of these +bodies. These were unequal in numbers, some of them predominating +enormously over others, as, indeed, might be expected in so mountainous a +country. In all there were present, I was told, over a hundred thousand +men. So far as I can judge from long experience of looking at great +bodies of men, the estimate was a just one. I was a little surprised to +see so many, for the population of the Blue Mountains is never accredited +in books of geography as a large one. When I made inquiry as to how the +frontier guard was being for the time maintained, I was told: + +"By the women mainly. But, all the same, we have also a male guard which +covers the whole frontier except that to seaward. Each man has with him +six women, so that the whole line is unbroken. Moreover, sir, you must +bear in mind that in the Blue Mountains our women are trained to arms as +well as our men--ay, and they could give a good account of themselves, +too, against any foe that should assail us. Our history shows what women +can do in defence. I tell you, the Turkish population would be bigger +to-day but for the women who on our frontier fought of old for defence of +their homes!" + +"No wonder this nation has kept her freedom for a thousand years!" I +said. + +At a signal given by the President of the National Council one of the +Divisions moved forwards. It was not an ordinary movement, but an +intense rush made with all the _elan_ and vigour of hardy and +highly-trained men. They came on, not merely at the double, but as if +delivering an attack. Handjar in hand, they rushed forward. I can only +compare their rush to an artillery charge or to an attack of massed +cavalry battalions. It was my fortune to see the former at Magenta and +the latter at Sadowa, so that I know what such illustration means. I may +also say that I saw the relief column which Roberts organized rush +through a town on its way to relieve Mafeking; and no one who had the +delight of seeing that inspiring progress of a flying army on their way +to relieve their comrades needs to be told what a rush of armed men can +be. With speed which was simply desperate they ran up the hill, and, +circling to the left, made a ring round the topmost plateau, where stood +the King. When the ring was complete, the stream went on lapping round +and round till the whole tally was exhausted. In the meantime another +Division had followed, its leader joining close behind the end of the +first. Then came another and another. An unbroken line circled and +circled round the hill in seeming endless array, till the whole slopes +were massed with moving men, dark in colour, and with countless +glittering points everywhere. When the whole of the Divisions had thus +surrounded the King, there was a moment's hush--a silence so still that +it almost seemed as if Nature stood still also. We who looked on were +almost afraid to breathe. + +Then suddenly, without, so far as I could see, any fugleman or word of +command, the handjars of all that mighty array of men flashed upward as +one, and like thunder pealed the National cry: + +"The Blue Mountains and Duty!" + +After the cry there was a strange subsidence which made the onlooker rub +his eyes. It seemed as though the whole mass of fighting men had +partially sunk into the ground. Then the splendid truth burst upon +us--the whole nation was kneeling at the feet of their chosen King, who +stood upright. + +Another moment of silence, as King Rupert, taking off his crown, held it +up in his left hand, and, holding his great handjar high in his right, +cried in a voice so strong that it came ringing over that serried mass +like a trumpet: + +"To Freedom of our Nation, and to Freedom within it, I dedicate these and +myself. I swear!" + +So saying, he, too, sank on his knees, whilst we all instinctively +uncovered. + +The silence which followed lasted several seconds; then, without a sign, +as though one and all acted instinctively, the whole body stood up. +Thereupon was executed a movement which, with all my experience of +soldiers and war, I never saw equalled--not with the Russian Royal Guard +saluting the Czar at his Coronation, not with an impi of Cetewayo's Zulus +whirling through the opening of a kraal. + +For a second or two the whole mass seemed to writhe or shudder, and then, +lo! the whole District Divisions were massed again in completeness, its +Councillors next the King, and the Divisions radiating outwards down the +hill like wedges. + +This completed the ceremony, and everything broke up into units. Later, +I was told by my official friend that the King's last movement--the oath +as he sank to his knees--was an innovation of his own. All I can say is, +if, in the future, and for all time, it is not taken for a precedent, and +made an important part of the Patriotic Coronation ceremony, the Blue +Mountaineers will prove themselves to be a much more stupid people than +they seem at present to be. + +The conclusion of the Coronation festivities was a time of unalloyed joy. +It was the banquet given to the King and Queen by the nation; the guests +of the nation were included in the royal party. It was a unique +ceremony. Fancy a picnic-party of a hundred thousand persons, nearly all +men. There must have been made beforehand vast and elaborate +preparations, ramifying through the whole nation. Each section had +brought provisions sufficient for their own consumption in addition to +several special dishes for the guest-tables; but the contribution of each +section was not consumed by its own members. + +It was evidently a part of the scheme that all should derive from a +common stock, so that the feeling of brotherhood and common property +should be preserved in this monumental fashion. + +The guest-tables were the only tables to be seen. The bulk of the +feasters sat on the ground. The tables were brought forward by the men +themselves--no such thing as domestic service was known on this day--from +a wood close at hand, where they and the chairs had been placed in +readiness. The linen and crockery used had been sent for the purpose +from the households of every town and village. The flowers were plucked +in the mountains early that morning by the children, and the gold and +silver plate used for adornment were supplied from the churches. Each +dish at the guest-tables was served by the men of each section in turn. + +Over the whole array seemed to be spread an atmosphere of joyousness, of +peace, of brotherhood. It would be impossible to adequately describe +that amazing scene, a whole nation of splendid men surrounding their new +King and Queen, loving to honour and serve them. Scattered about through +that vast crowd were groups of musicians, chosen from amongst themselves. +The space covered by this titanic picnic was so vast that there were few +spots from which you could hear music proceeding from different quarters. + +After dinner we all sat and smoked; the music became rather vocal than +instrumental--indeed, presently we did not hear the sound of any +instrument at all. Only knowing a few words of Balkan, I could not +follow the meanings of the songs, but I gathered that they were all +legendary or historical. To those who could understand, as I was +informed by my tutelary young friend, who stayed beside me the whole of +this memorable day, we were listening to the history of the Land of the +Blue Mountains in ballad form. Somewhere or other throughout that vast +concourse each notable record of ten centuries was being told to eager +ears. + +It was now late in the day. Slowly the sun had been dropping down over +the Calabrian Mountains, and the glamorous twilight was stealing over the +immediate scene. No one seemed to notice the coming of the dark, which +stole down on us with an unspeakable mystery. For long we sat still, the +clatter of many tongues becoming stilled into the witchery of the scene. +Lower the sun sank, till only the ruddiness of the afterglow lit the +expanse with rosy light; then this failed in turn, and the night shut +down quickly. + +At last, when we could just discern the faces close to us, a simultaneous +movement began. Lights began to flash out in places all over the +hillside. At first these seemed as tiny as glow-worms seen in a summer +wood, but by degrees they grew till the space was set with little circles +of light. These in turn grew and grew in both number and strength. +Flames began to leap out from piles of wood, torches were lighted and +held high. Then the music began again, softly at first, but then louder +as the musicians began to gather to the centre, where sat the King and +Queen. The music was wild and semi-barbaric, but full of sweet melody. +It somehow seemed to bring before us a distant past; one and all, +according to the strength of our imagination and the volume of our +knowledge, saw episodes and phases of bygone history come before us. +There was a wonderful rhythmic, almost choric, force in the time kept, +which made it almost impossible to sit still. It was an invitation to +the dance such as I had never before heard in any nation or at any time. +Then the lights began to gather round. Once more the mountaineers took +something of the same formation as at the crowning. Where the royal +party sat was a level mead, with crisp, short grass, and round it what +one might well call the Ring of the Nation was formed. + +The music grew louder. Each mountaineer who had not a lit torch already +lighted one, and the whole rising hillside was a glory of light. The +Queen rose, and the King an instant after. As they rose men stepped +forward and carried away their chairs, or rather thrones. The Queen gave +the King her hand--this is, it seems, the privilege of the wife as +distinguished from any other woman. Their feet took the time of the +music, and they moved into the centre of the ring. + +That dance was another thing to remember, won from the haunting memories +of that strange day. At first the King and Queen danced all alone. They +began with stately movement, but as the music quickened their feet kept +time, and the swing of their bodies with movements kept growing more and +more ecstatic at every beat till, in true Balkan fashion, the dance +became a very agony of passionate movement. + +At this point the music slowed down again, and the mountaineers began to +join in the dance. At first slowly, one by one, they joined in, the +Vladika and the higher priests leading; then everywhere the whole vast +crowd began to dance, till the earth around us seemed to shake. The +lights quivered, flickered, blazed out again, and rose and fell as that +hundred thousand men, each holding a torch, rose and fell with the rhythm +of the dance. Quicker, quicker grew the music, faster grew the rushing +and pounding of the feet, till the whole nation seemed now in an ecstasy. + +I stood near the Vladika, and in the midst of this final wildness I saw +him draw from his belt a short, thin flute; then he put it to his lips +and blew a single note--a fierce, sharp note, which pierced the volume of +sound more surely than would the thunder of a cannon-shot. On the +instant everywhere each man put his torch under his foot. + +There was complete and immediate darkness, for the fires, which had by +now fallen low, had evidently been trodden out in the measure of the +dance. The music still kept in its rhythmic beat, but slower than it had +yet been. Little by little this beat was pointed and emphasized by the +clapping of hands--at first only a few, but spreading till everyone +present was beating hands to the slow music in the darkness. This lasted +a little while, during which, looking round, I noticed a faint light +beginning to steal up behind the hills. The moon was rising. + +Again there came a note from the Vladika's flute--a single note, sweet +and subtle, which I can only compare with a note from a nightingale, +vastly increased in powers. It, too, won through the thunder of the +hand-claps, and on the second the sound ceased. The sudden stillness, +together with the darkness, was so impressive that we could almost hear +our hearts beating. And then came through the darkness the most +beautiful and impressive sound heard yet. That mighty concourse, without +fugleman of any sort, began, in low, fervent voice, to sing the National +Anthem. At first it was of so low tone as to convey the idea of a mighty +assembly of violinists playing with the mutes on. But it gradually rose +till the air above us seemed to throb and quiver. Each syllable--each +word--spoken in unison by the vast throng was as clearly enunciated as +though spoken by a single voice: + +"Guide our feet through darkness, O Jehovah." + +This anthem, sung out of full hearts, remains on our minds as the last +perfection of a perfect day. For myself, I am not ashamed to own that it +made me weep like a child. Indeed, I cannot write of it now as I would; +it unmans me so! + + * * * * * + +In the early morning, whilst the mountains were still rather grey than +blue, the cable-line took us to the Blue Mouth, where we embarked in the +King's yacht, _The Lady_, which took us across the Adriatic at a pace +which I had hitherto considered impossible. The King and Queen came to +the landing to see us off. They stood together at the right-hand side of +the red-carpeted gangway, and shook hands with each guest as he went on +board. The instant the last passenger had stepped on deck the gangway +was withdrawn. The Lord High Admiral, who stood on the bridge, raised +his hand, and we swept towards the mouth of the gulf. Of course, all +hats were off, and we cheered frantically. I can truly say that if King +Rupert and Queen Teuta should ever wish to found in the Blue Mountains a +colony of diplomatists and journalists, those who were their guests on +this great occasion will volunteer to a man. I think old Hempetch, who +is the doyen of English-speaking journalists, voiced our sentiments when +he said: + +"May God bless them and theirs with every grace and happiness, and send +prosperity to the Land and the rule!" I think the King and Queen heard +us cheer, they turned to look at our flying ship again. + + + + +BOOK IX: BALKA + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_ (_Longe Intervallo_). + + + _February_ 10, 1908. + +It is so long since I even thought of this journal that I hardly know +where to begin. I always heard that a married man is a pretty busy man; +but since I became one, though it is a new life to me, and of a happiness +undreamt of, I _know_ what that life is. But I had no idea that this +King business was anything like what it is. Why, it never leaves me a +moment at all to myself--or, what is worse, to Teuta. If people who +condemn Kings had only a single month of my life in that capacity, they +would form an opinion different from that which they hold. It might be +useful to have a Professor of Kingship in the Anarchists' +College--whenever it is founded! + +Everything has gone on well with us, I am glad to say. Teuta is in +splendid health, though she has--but only very lately--practically given +up going on her own aeroplane. It was, I know, a great sacrifice to +make, just as she had become an expert at it. They say here that she is +one of the best drivers in the Blue Mountains--and that is in the world, +for we have made that form of movement our own. Ever since we found the +pitch-blende pockets in the Great Tunnel, and discovered the simple +process of extracting the radium from it, we have gone on by leaps and +bounds. When first Teuta told me she would "aero" no more for a while, I +thought she was wise, and backed her up in it: for driving an aeroplane +is trying work and hard on the nerves. I only learned then the reason +for her caution--the usual one of a young wife. That was three months +ago, and only this morning she told me she would not go sailing in the +air, even with me, till she could do so "without risk"--she did not mean +risk to herself. Aunt Janet knew what she meant, and counselled her +strongly to stick to her resolution. So for the next few months I am to +do my air-sailing alone. + +The public works which we began immediately after the Coronation are +going strong. We began at the very beginning on an elaborate system. +The first thing was to adequately fortify the Blue Mouth. Whilst the +fortifications were being constructed we kept all the warships in the +gulf. But when the point of safety was reached, we made the ships do +sentry-go along the coast, whilst we trained men for service at sea. It +is our plan to take by degrees all the young men and teach them this +wise, so that at the end the whole population shall be trained for sea as +well as for land. And as we are teaching them the airship service, too, +they will be at home in all the elements--except fire, of course, though +if that should become a necessity, we shall tackle it too! + +We started the Great Tunnel at the farthest inland point of the Blue +Mouth, and ran it due east at an angle of 45 degrees, so that, when +complete, it would go right through the first line of hills, coming out +on the plateau Plazac. The plateau is not very wide--half a mile at +most--and the second tunnel begins on the eastern side of it. This new +tunnel is at a smaller angle, as it has to pierce the second hill--a +mountain this time. When it comes out on the east side of that, it will +tap the real productive belt. Here it is that our hardwood-trees are +finest, and where the greatest mineral deposits are found. This plateau +is of enormous length, and runs north arid south round the great bulk of +the central mountain, so that in time, when we put up a circular railway, +we can bring, at a merely nominal cost, all sorts of material up or down. +It is on this level that we have built the great factories for war +material. We are tunnelling into the mountains, where are the great +deposits of coal. We run the trucks in and out on the level, and can get +perfect ventilation with little cost or labour. Already we are mining +all the coal which we consume within our own confines, and we can, if we +wish, within a year export largely. The great slopes of these tunnels +give us the necessary aid of specific gravity, and as we carry an endless +water-supply in great tubes that way also, we can do whatever we wish by +hydraulic power. As one by one the European and Asiatic nations began to +reduce their war preparations, we took over their disbanded workmen +though our agents, so that already we have a productive staff of skilled +workmen larger than anywhere else in the world. I think myself that we +were fortunate in being able to get ahead so fast with our preparations +for war manufacture, for if some of the "Great Powers," as they call +themselves, knew the measure of our present production, they would +immediately try to take active measures against us. In such case we +should have to fight them, which would delay us. But if we can have +another year untroubled, we shall, so far as war material is concerned, +be able to defy any nation in the world. And if the time may only come +peacefully till we have our buildings and machinery complete, we can +prepare war-stores and implements for the whole Balkan nations. And +then--But that is a dream. We shall know in good time. + +In the meantime all goes well. The cannon foundries are built and +active. We are already beginning to turn out finished work. Of course, +our first guns are not very large, but they are good. The big guns, and +especially siege-guns, will come later. And when the great extensions +are complete, and the boring and wire-winding machines are in working +order, we can go merrily on. I suppose that by that time the whole of +the upper plateau will be like a manufacturing town--at any rate, we have +plenty of raw material to hand. The haematite mines seem to be +inexhaustible, and as the raising of the ore is cheap and easy by means +of our extraordinary water-power, and as coal comes down to the plateau +by its own gravity on the cable-line, we have natural advantages which +exist hardly anywhere else in the world--certainly not all together, as +here. That bird's eye view of the Blue Mouth which we had from the +aeroplane when Teuta saw that vision of the future has not been in vain. +The aeroplane works are having a splendid output. The aeroplane is a +large and visible product; there is no mistaking when it is there! We +have already a large and respectable aerial fleet. The factories for +explosives are, of course, far away in bare valleys, where accidental +effects are minimized. So, too, are the radium works, wherein unknown +dangers may lurk. The turbines in the tunnel give us all the power we +want at present, and, later on, when the new tunnel, which we call the +"water tunnel," which is already begun, is complete, the available power +will be immense. All these works are bringing up our shipping, and we +are in great hopes for the future. + +So much for our material prosperity. But with it comes a larger life and +greater hopes. The stress of organizing and founding these great works +is practically over. As they are not only self-supporting, but largely +productive, all anxiety in the way of national expenditure is minimized. +And, more than all, I am able to give my unhampered attention to those +matters of even more than national importance on which the ultimate +development, if not the immediate strength, of our country must depend. + +I am well into the subject of a great Balkan Federation. This, it turns +out, has for long been the dream of Teuta's life, as also that of the +present Archimandrite of Plazac, her father, who, since I last touched +this journal, having taken on himself a Holy Life, was, by will of the +Church, the Monks, and the People, appointed to that great office on the +retirement of Petrof Vlastimir. + +Such a Federation had long been in the air. For myself, I had seen its +inevitableness from the first. The modern aggressions of the Dual +Nation, interpreted by her past history with regard to Italy, pointed +towards the necessity of such a protective measure. And now, when Servia +and Bulgaria were used as blinds to cover her real movements to +incorporate with herself as established the provinces, once Turkish, +which had been entrusted to her temporary protection by the Treaty of +Berlin; when it would seem that Montenegro was to be deprived for all +time of the hope of regaining the Bocche di Cattaro, which she had a +century ago won, and held at the point of the sword, until a Great Power +had, under a wrong conviction, handed it over to her neighbouring +Goliath; when the Sandjack of Novi-Bazar was threatened with the fate +which seemed to have already overtaken Bosnia and Herzegovina; when +gallant little Montenegro was already shut out from the sea by the +octopus-like grip of Dalmatia crouching along her western shore; when +Turkey was dwindling down to almost ineptitude; when Greece was almost a +byword, and when Albania as a nation--though still nominally subject--was +of such unimpaired virility that there were great possibilities of her +future, it was imperative that something must happen if the Balkan race +was not to be devoured piecemeal by her northern neighbours. To the end +of ultimate protection I found most of them willing to make defensive +alliance. + +And as the true defence consists in judicious attack, I have no doubt +that an alliance so based must ultimately become one for all purposes. +Albania was the most difficult to win to the scheme, as her own +complications with her suzerain, combined with the pride and +suspiciousness of her people, made approach a matter of extreme caution. +It was only possible when I could induce her rulers to see that, no +matter how great her pride and valour, the magnitude of northern advance, +if unchecked, must ultimately overwhelm her. + +I own that this map-making was nervous work, for I could not shut my eyes +to the fact that German lust of enlargement lay behind Austria's advance. +At and before that time expansion was the dominant idea of the three +Great Powers of Central Europe. Russia went eastward, hoping to gather +to herself the rich north-eastern provinces of China, till ultimately she +should dominate the whole of Northern Europe and Asia from the Gulf of +Finland to the Yellow Sea. Germany wished to link the North Sea to the +Mediterranean by her own territory, and thus stand as a flawless barrier +across Europe from north to south. + +When Nature should have terminated the headship of the Empire-Kingdom, +she, as natural heir, would creep southward through the German-speaking +provinces. Thus Austria, of course kept in ignorance of her neighbour's +ultimate aims, had to extend towards the south. She had been barred in +her western movement by the rise of the Irredentist party in Italy, and +consequently had to withdraw behind the frontiers of Carinthia, Carniola, +and Istria. + +My own dream of the new map was to make "Balka"--the Balkan +Federation--take in ultimately all south of a line drawn from the Isle of +Serpents to Aquileia. There would--must--be difficulties in the carrying +out of such a scheme. Of course, it involved Austria giving up Dalmatia, +Istria, and Sclavonia, as well as a part of Croatia and the Hungarian +Banat. On the contrary, she might look for centuries of peace in the +south. But it would make for peace so strongly that each of the States +impinging on it would find it worth while to make a considerable +sacrifice to have it effected. To its own integers it would offer a +lasting settlement of interests which at present conflicted, and a share +in a new world-power. Each of these integers would be absolutely +self-governing and independent, being only united for purposes of mutual +good. I did not despair that even Turkey and Greece, recognizing that +benefit and safety would ensue without the destruction or even minimizing +of individuality, would, sooner or later, come into the Federation. The +matter is already so far advanced that within a month the various rulers +of the States involved are to have a secret and informal meeting. +Doubtless some larger plan and further action will be then evolved. It +will be an anxious time for all in this zone--and outside it--till this +matter is all settled. In any case, the manufacture of war material will +go on until it is settled, one way or another. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _March_ 6, 1908. + +I breathe more freely. The meeting has taken place here at Vissarion. +Nominal cause of meeting: a hunting-party in the Blue Mountains. Not any +formal affair. Not a Chancellor or Secretary of State or Diplomatist of +any sort present. All headquarters. It was, after all, a real +hunting-party. Good sportsmen, plenty of game, lots of beaters, +everything organized properly, and an effective tally of results. I +think we all enjoyed ourselves in the matter of sport; and as the +political result was absolute unanimity of purpose and intention, there +could be no possible cause of complaint. + +So it is all decided. Everything is pacific. There is not a suggestion +even of war, revolt, or conflicting purpose of any kind. We all go on +exactly as we are doing for another year, pursuing our own individual +objects, just as at present. But we are all to see that in our own +households order prevails. All that is supposed to be effective is to be +kept in good working order, and whatever is, at present, not adequate to +possibilities is to be made so. This is all simply protective and +defensive. We understand each other. But if any hulking stranger should +undertake to interfere in our domestic concerns, we shall all unite on +the instant to keep things as we wish them to remain. We shall be ready. +Alfred's maxim of Peace shall be once more exemplified. In the meantime +the factories shall work overtime in our own mountains, and the output +shall be for the general good of our special community--the bill to be +settled afterwards amicably. There can hardly be any difference of +opinion about that, as the others will be the consumers of our surplus +products. We are the producers, who produce for ourselves first, and +then for the limited market of those within the Ring. As we undertake to +guard our own frontiers--sea and land--and are able to do so, the goods +are to be warehoused in the Blue Mountains until required--if at all--for +participation in the markets of the world, and especially in the European +market. If all goes well and the markets are inactive, the goods shall +be duly delivered to the purchasers as arranged. + +So much for the purely mercantile aspect. + + + +THE VOIVODIN JANET MACKELPIE'S NOTES. + + + _May_ 21, 1908. + +As Rupert began to neglect his Journal when he was made a King, so, too, +I find in myself a tendency to leave writing to other people. But one +thing I shall not be content to leave to others--little Rupert. The baby +of Rupert and Teuta is much too precious a thing to be spoken of except +with love, quite independent of the fact that he will be, in natural +course, a King! So I have promised Teuta that whatever shall be put into +this record of the first King of the Sent Leger Dynasty relating to His +Royal Highness the Crown Prince shall only appear in either her hand or +my own. And she has deputed the matter to me. + +Our dear little Prince arrived punctually and in perfect condition. The +angels that carried him evidently took the greatest care of him, and +before they left him they gave him dower of all their best. He is a +dear! Like both his father and his mother, and that says everything. My +own private opinion is that he is a born King! He does not know what +fear is, and he thinks more of everyone else than he does of his dear +little self. And if those things do not show a truly royal nature, I do +not know what does . . . + +Teuta has read this. She held up a warning finger, and said: + +"Aunt Janet dear, that is all true. He is a dear, and a King, and an +angel! But we mustn't have too much about him just yet. This book is to +be about Rupert. So our little man can only be what we shall call a +corollary." And so it is. + +I should mention here that the book is Teuta's idea. Before little +Rupert came she controlled herself wonderfully, doing only what was +thought best for her under the circumstances. As I could see that it +would be a help for her to have some quiet occupation which would +interest her without tiring her, I looked up (with his permission, of +course) all Rupert's old letters and diaries, and journals and +reports--all that I had kept for him during his absences on his +adventures. At first I was a little afraid they might harm her, for at +times she got so excited over some things that I had to caution her. +Here again came in her wonderful self-control. I think the most soothing +argument I used with her was to point out that the dear boy had come +through all the dangers safely, and was actually with us, stronger and +nobler than ever. + +After we had read over together the whole matter several times--for it +was practically new to me too, and I got nearly as excited as she was, +though I have known him so much longer--we came to the conclusion that +this particular volume would have to be of selected matter. There is +enough of Rupert's work to make a lot of volumes and we have an ambitious +literary project of some day publishing an _edition de luxe_ of his whole +collected works. It will be a rare showing amongst the works of Kings. +But this is to be all about himself, so that in the future it may serve +as a sort of backbone of his personal history. + +By-and-by we came to a part when we had to ask him questions; and he was +so interested in Teuta's work--he is really bound up body and soul in his +beautiful wife, and no wonder--that we had to take him into full +confidence. He promised he would help us all he could by giving us the +use of his later journals, and such letters and papers as he had kept +privately. He said he would make one condition--I use his own words: "As +you two dear women are to be my editors, you must promise to put in +everything exactly as I wrote it. It will not do to have any fake about +this. I do not wish anything foolish or egotistical toned down out of +affection for me. It was all written in sincerity, and if I had faults, +they must not be hidden. If it is to be history, it must be true +history, even if it gives you and me or any of us away." + +So we promised. + +He also said that, as Sir Edward Bingham Trent, Bart.--as he is now--was +sure to have some matter which we should like, he would write and ask him +to send such to us. He also said that Mr. Ernest Roger Halbard Melton, +of Humcroft, Salop (he always gives this name and address in full, which +is his way of showing contempt), would be sure to have some relevant +matter, and that he would have him written to on the subject. This he +did. The Chancellor wrote him in his most grandiloquent style. Mr. E. +R. H. Melton, of H., S., replied by return post. His letter is a +document which speaks for itself: + + HUMCROFT, SALOP, + _May_ 30, 1908. + + MY DEAR COUSIN KING RUPERT, + + I am honoured by the request made on your behalf by the Lord High + Chancellor of your kingdom that I should make a literary contribution + to the volume which my cousin, Queen Teuta, is, with the help of your + former governess, Miss MacKelpie, compiling. I am willing to do so, + as you naturally wish to have in that work some contemporary record + made by the Head of the House of Melton, with which you are + connected, though only on the distaff side. It is a natural ambition + enough, even on the part of a barbarian--or perhaps + semi-barbarian--King, and far be it from me, as Head of the House, to + deny you such a coveted privilege. Perhaps you may not know that I + am now Head of the House; my father died three days ago. I offered + my mother the use of the Dower House--to the incumbency of which, + indeed, she is entitled by her marriage settlement. But she + preferred to go to live at her seat, Carfax, in Kent. She went this + morning after the funeral. In letting you have the use of my + manuscript I make only one stipulation, but that I expect to be + rigidly adhered to. It is that all that I have written be put in the + book _in extenso_. I do not wish any record of mine to be garbled to + suit other ends than those ostensible, or whatever may be to the + honour of myself or my House to be burked. I dare say you have + noticed, my dear Rupert, that the compilers of family histories + often, through jealousy, alter matter that they are allowed to use so + as to suit their own purpose or minister to their own vanity. I + think it right to tell you that I have had a certified copy made by + Petter and Galpin, the law stationers, so that I shall be able to + verify whether my stipulation has been honourably observed. I am + having the book, which is naturally valuable, carefully packed, and + shall have it forwarded to Sir Edward Bingham Trent, Baronet (which + he now is--Heaven save the mark!), the Attorney. Please see that he + returns it to me, and in proper order. He is not to publish for + himself anything in it about him. A man of that class is apt to + advertise the fact of anyone of distinction taking any notice of him. + I would bring out the MS. to you myself, and stay for a while with + you for some sport, only your lot--subjects I suppose you call + them!--are such bounders that a gentleman's life is hardly safe + amongst them. I never met anyone who had so poor an appreciation of + a joke as they have. By the way, how is Teuta? She is one of them. + I heard all about the hatching business. I hope the kid is all + right. This is only a word in your ear, so don't get cocky, old son. + I am open to a godfathership. Think of that, Hedda! Of course, if + the other godfather and the godmother are up to the mark; I don't + want to have to boost up the whole lot! Savvy? Kiss Teuta and the + kid for me. I must have the boy over here for a bit later on--when + he is presentable, and has learned not to be a nuisance. It will be + good for him to see something of a real first-class English country + house like Humcroft. To a person only accustomed to rough ways and + meagre living its luxury will make a memory which will serve in time + as an example to be aimed at. I shall write again soon. Don't + hesitate to ask any favour which I may be able to confer on you. So + long! + + Your affectionate cousin, + ERNEST ROGER HALBARD MELTON. + +_Extract from Letter from E. Bingham Trent to Queen Teuta of the Blue +Mountains_. + + . . . So I thought the best way to serve that appalling cad would be + to take him at his word, and put in his literary contribution in + full. I have had made and attested a copy of his "Record," as he + calls it, so as to save you trouble. But I send the book itself, + because I am afraid that unless you see his words in his own writing, + you will not believe that he or anyone else ever penned seriously a + document so incriminating. I am sure he must have forgotten what he + had written, for even such a dull dog as he is could never have made + public such a thing knowingly. . . Such a nature has its revenges on + itself. In this case the officers of revenge are his _ipsissima + verba_. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _February_ 1, 1909. + +All is now well in train. When the Czar of Russia, on being asked by the +Sclavs (as was meet) to be the referee in the "Balkan Settlement," +declined on the ground that he was himself by inference an interested +party, it was unanimously agreed by the Balkan rulers that the Western +King should be asked to arbitrate, as all concerned had perfect +confidence in his wisdom, as well as his justice. To their wish he +graciously assented. The matter has now been for more than six months in +his hands, and he has taken endless trouble to obtain full information. +He has now informed us through his Chancellor that his decision is almost +ready, and will be communicated as soon as possible. + +We have another hunting-party at Vissarion next week. Teuta is looking +forward to it with extraordinary interest. She hopes then to present to +our brothers of the Balkans our little son, and she is eager to know if +they endorse her mother-approval of him. + + + +RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_. + + + _April_ 15, 1909. + +The arbitrator's decision has been communicated to us through the +Chancellor of the Western King, who brought it to us himself as a special +act of friendliness. It met with the enthusiastic approval of all. The +Premier remained with us during the progress of the hunting-party, which +was one of the most joyous occasions ever known. We are all of good +heart, for the future of the Balkan races is now assured. The +strife--internal and external--of a thousand years has ceased, and we +look with hope for a long and happy time. The Chancellor brought +messages of grace and courtliness and friendliness to all. And when I, +as spokesman of the party, asked him if we might convey a request of His +Majesty that he would honour us by attending the ceremony of making known +formally the Balkan Settlement, he answered that the King had authorized +him to say that he would, if such were wished by us, gladly come; and +that if he should come, he would attend with a fleet as an escort. The +Chancellor also told me from himself that it might be possible to have +other nationalities represented on such a great occasion by Ambassadors +and even fleets, though the monarchs themselves might not be able to +attend. He hinted that it might be well if I put the matter in train. +(He evidently took it for granted that, though I was only one of several, +the matter rested with me--possibly he chose me as the one to whom to +make the confidence, as I was born a stranger.) As we talked it over, he +grew more enthusiastic, and finally said that, as the King was taking the +lead, doubtless all the nations of the earth friendly to him would like +to take a part in the ceremony. So it is likely to turn out practically +an international ceremony of a unique kind. Teuta will love it, and we +shall all do what we can. + + + +JANET MACKELPIE'S NOTES. + + + _June_ 1, 1909. + +Our dear Teuta is full of the forthcoming celebration of the Balkan +Federation, which is to take place this day month, although I must say, +for myself, that the ceremony is attaining to such dimensions that I am +beginning to have a sort of vague fear of some kind. It almost seems +uncanny. Rupert is working unceasingly--has been for some time. For +weeks past he seems to have been out day and night on his aeroplane, +going through and round over the country arranging matters, and seeing +for himself that what has been arranged is being done. Uncle Colin is +always about, too, and so is Admiral Rooke. But now Teuta is beginning +to go with Rupert. That girl is simply fearless--just like Rupert. And +they both seem anxious that little Rupert shall be the same. Indeed, he +is the same. A few mornings ago Rupert and Teuta were about to start +just after dawn from the top of the Castle. Little Rupert was there--he +is always awake early and as bright as a bee. I was holding him in my +arms, and when his mother leant over to kiss him good-bye, he held out +his arms to her in a way that said as plainly as if he had spoken, "Take +me with you." + +She looked appealingly at Rupert, who nodded, and said: "All right. Take +him, darling. He will have to learn some day, and the sooner the +better." The baby, looking eagerly from one to the other with the same +questioning in his eyes as there is sometimes in the eyes of a kitten or +a puppy--but, of course, with an eager soul behind it--saw that he was +going, and almost leaped into his mother's arms. I think she had +expected him to come, for she took a little leather dress from Margareta, +his nurse, and, flushing with pride, began to wrap him in it. When +Teuta, holding him in her arms, stepped on the aeroplane, and took her +place in the centre behind Rupert, the young men of the Crown Prince's +Guard raised a cheer, amid which Rupert pulled the levers, and they +glided off into the dawn. + +The Crown Prince's Guard was established by the mountaineers themselves +the day of his birth. Ten of the biggest and most powerful and cleverest +young men of the nation were chosen, and were sworn in with a very +impressive ceremony to guard the young Prince. They were to so arrange +and order themselves and matters generally that two at least of them +should always have him, or the place in which he was, within their sight. +They all vowed that the last of their lives should go before harm came to +him. Of course, Teuta understood, and so did Rupert. And these young +men are the persons most privileged in the whole Castle. They are dear +boys, every one of them, and we are all fond of them and respect them. +They simply idolize the baby. + +Ever since that morning little Rupert has, unless it is at a time +appointed for his sleeping, gone in his mother's arms. I think in any +other place there would be some State remonstrance at the whole royal +family being at once and together in a dangerous position, but in the +Blue Mountains danger and fear are not thought of--indeed, they can +hardly be in their terminology. And I really think the child enjoys it +even more than his parents. He is just like a little bird that has found +the use of his wings. Bless him! + +I find that even I have to study Court ritual a little. So many +nationalities are to be represented at the ceremony of the "Balkan +Settlement," and so many Kings and Princes and notabilities of all kinds +are coming, that we must all take care not to make any mistakes. The +Press alone would drive anyone silly. Rupert and Teuta come and sit with +me sometimes in the evening when we are all too tired to work, and they +rest themselves by talking matters over. Rupert says that there will be +over five hundred reporters, and that the applications for permission are +coming in so fast that there may be a thousand when the day comes. Last +night he stopped in the middle of speaking of it, and said: + +"I have an inspiration! Fancy a thousand journalists,--each wanting to +get ahead of the rest, and all willing to invoke the Powers of Evil for +exclusive information! The only man to look after this department is +Rooke. He knows how to deal with men, and as we have already a large +staff to look after the journalistic guests, he can be at the head, and +appoint his own deputies to act for him. Somewhere and sometime the +keeping the peace will be a matter of nerve and resolution, and Rooke is +the man for the job." + +We were all concerned about one thing, naturally important in the eyes of +a woman: What robes was Teuta to wear? In the old days, when there were +Kings and Queens, they doubtless wore something gorgeous or impressive; +but whatever it was that they wore has gone to dust centuries ago, and +there were no illustrated papers in those primitive days. Teuta was +talking to me eagerly, with her dear beautiful brows all wrinkled, when +Rupert who was reading a bulky document of some kind, looked up and said: + +"Of course, darling, you will wear your Shroud?" + +"Capital!" she said, clapping her hands like a joyous child. "The very +thing, and our people will like it." + +I own that for a moment I was dismayed. It was a horrible test of a +woman's love and devotion. At a time when she was entertaining Kings and +notabilities in her own house--and be sure they would all be decked in +their finery--to have to appear in such a garment! A plain thing with +nothing even pretty, let alone gorgeous, about it! I expressed my views +to Rupert, for I feared that Teuta might be disappointed, though she +might not care to say so; but before he could say a word Teuta answered: + +"Oh, thank you so much, dear! I should love that above everything, but I +did not like to suggest it, lest you should think me arrogant or +presuming; for, indeed, Rupert, I am very proud of it, and of the way our +people look on it." + +"Why not?" said Rupert, in his direct way. "It is a thing for us all to +be proud of; the nation has already adopted it as a national emblem--our +emblem of courage and devotion and patriotism, which will always, I hope, +be treasured beyond price by the men and women of our Dynasty, the +Nation, that is--of the Nation that is to be." + +Later on in the evening we had a strange endorsement of the national +will. A "People's Deputation" of mountaineers, without any official +notice or introduction, arrived at the Castle late in the evening in the +manner established by Rupert's "Proclamation of Freedom," wherein all +citizens were entitled to send a deputation to the King, at will and in +private, on any subject of State importance. This deputation was +composed of seventeen men, one selected from each political section, so +that the body as a whole represented the entire nation. They were of all +sorts of social rank and all degrees of fortune, but they were mainly "of +the people." They spoke hesitatingly--possibly because Teuta, or even +because I, was present--but with a manifest earnestness. They made but +one request--that the Queen should, on the great occasion of the Balkan +Federation, wear as robes of State the Shroud that they loved to see her +in. The spokesman, addressing the Queen, said in tones of rugged +eloquence: + +"This is a matter, Your Majesty, that the women naturally have a say in, +so we have, of course, consulted them. They have discussed the matter by +themselves, and then with us, and they are agreed without a flaw that it +will be good for the Nation and for Womankind that you do this thing. +You have shown to them, and to the world at large, what women should do, +what they can do, and they want to make, in memory of your great act, the +Shroud a garment of pride and honour for women who have deserved well of +their country. In the future it can be a garment to be worn only by +privileged women who have earned the right. But they hope, and we hope +with them, that on this occasion of our Nation taking the lead before the +eyes of the world, all our women may wear it on that day as a means of +showing overtly their willingness to do their duty, even to the death. +And so"--here he turned to the King--"Rupert, we trust that Her Majesty +Queen Teuta will understand that in doing as the women of the Blue +Mountains wish, she will bind afresh to the Queen the loyal devotion +which she won from them as Voivodin. Henceforth and for all time the +Shroud shall be a dress of honour in our Land." + +Teuta looked all ablaze with love and pride and devotion. Stars in her +eyes shone like white fire as she assured them of the granting of their +request. She finished her little speech: + +"I feared that if I carried out my own wish, it might look arrogant, but +Rupert has expressed the same wish, and now I feel that I am free to wear +that dress which brought me to you and to Rupert"--here she beamed on +him, and took his hand--"fortified as I am by your wishes and the command +of my lord the King." + +Rupert took her in his arms and kissed her fondly before them all, +saying: + +"Tell your wives, my brothers, and the rest of the Blue Mountain women, +that that is the answer of the husband who loves and honours his wife. +All the world shall see at the ceremony of the Federation of Balka that +we men love and honour the women who are loyal and can die for duty. +And, men of the Blue Mountains, some day before long we shall organize +that great idea, and make it a permanent thing--that the Order of the +Shroud is the highest guerdon that a noble-hearted woman can wear." + +Teuta disappeared for a few moments, and came back with the Crown Prince +in her arms. Everyone present asked to be allowed to kiss him, which +they did kneeling. + + + +THE FEDERATION BALKA. + + +_By the Correspondents of_ "_Free America_." + +The Editors of _Free America_ have thought it well to put in consecutive +order the reports and descriptions of their Special Correspondents, of +whom there were present no less than eight. Not a word they wrote is +omitted, but the various parts of their reports are placed in different +order, so that, whilst nothing which any of them recorded is left out, +the reader may be able to follow the proceedings from the various points +of view of the writers who had the most favourable opportunity of moment. +In so large an assemblage of journalists--there were present over a +thousand--they could not all be present in one place; so our men, in +consultation amongst themselves, arranged to scatter, so as to cover the +whole proceeding from the various "coigns of vantage," using their skill +and experience in selecting these points. One was situated on the summit +of the steel-clad tower in the entrance to the Blue Mouth; another on the +"Press-boat," which was moored alongside King Rupert's armoured yacht, +_The Lady_, whereon were gathered the various Kings and rulers of the +Balkan States, all of whom were in the Federation; another was in a swift +torpedo-boat, with a roving commission to cruise round the harbour as +desired; another took his place on the top of the great mountain which +overlooks Plazac, and so had a bird's-eye view of the whole scene of +operations; two others were on the forts to right and left of the Blue +Mouth; another was posted at the entrance to the Great Tunnel which runs +from the water level right up through the mountains to the plateau, where +the mines and factories are situate; another had the privilege of a place +on an aeroplane, which went everywhere and saw everything. This +aeroplane was driven by an old Special Correspondent of _Free America_, +who had been a chum of our Special in the Japanese and Russian War, and +who has taken service on the Blue Mountain _Official Gazette_. + + PLAZAC, + _June_ 30, 1909. + +Two days before the time appointed for the ceremony the guests of the +Land of the Blue Mountains began to arrive. The earlier comers were +mostly the journalists who had come from almost over the whole inhabited +world. King Rupert, who does things well, had made a camp for their +exclusive use. There was a separate tent for each--of course, a small +one, as there were over a thousand journalists--but there were big tents +for general use scattered about--refectories, reading and writing rooms, +a library, idle rooms for rest, etc. In the rooms for reading and +writing, which were the work-rooms for general use, were newspapers, the +latest attainable from all over the world, Blue-Books, guides, +directories, and all such aids to work as forethought could arrange. +There was for this special service a body of some hundreds of capable +servants in special dress and bearing identification numbers--in fact, +King Rupert "did us fine," to use a slang phrase of pregnant meaning. + +There were other camps for special service, all of them well arranged, +and with plenty of facility for transport. Each of the Federating +Monarchs had a camp of his own, in which he had erected a magnificent +pavilion. For the Western King, who had acted as Arbitrator in the +matter of the Federation, a veritable palace had been built by King +Rupert--a sort of Aladdin's palace it must have been, for only a few +weeks ago the place it occupied was, I was told, only primeval +wilderness. King Rupert and his Queen, Teuta, had a pavilion like the +rest of the Federators of Balka, but infinitely more modest, both in size +and adornments. + +Everywhere were guards of the Blue Mountains, armed only with the +"handjar," which is the national weapon. They wore the national dress, +but so arranged in colour and accoutrement that the general air of +uniformity took the place of a rigid uniform. There must have been at +least seventy or eighty thousand of them. + +The first day was one of investigation of details by the visitors. +During the second day the retinues of the great Federators came. Some of +these retinues were vast. For instance, the Soldan (though only just +become a Federator) sent of one kind or another more than a thousand men. +A brave show they made, for they are fine men, and drilled to perfection. +As they swaggered along, singly or in mass, with their gay jackets and +baggy trousers, their helmets surmounted by the golden crescent, they +looked a foe not to be despised. Landreck Martin, the Nestor of +journalists, said to me, as we stood together looking at them: + +"To-day we witness a new departure in Blue Mountain history. This is the +first occasion for a thousand years that so large a Turkish body has +entered the Blue Mountains with a reasonable prospect of ever getting out +again." + + _July_ 1, 1909. + +To-day, the day appointed for the ceremony, was auspiciously fine, even +for the Blue Mountains, where at this time of year the weather is nearly +always fine. They are early folk in the Blue Mountains, but to-day +things began to hum before daybreak. There were bugle-calls all over the +place--everything here is arranged by calls of musical +instruments--trumpets, or bugles, or drums (if, indeed, the drum can be +called a musical instrument)--or by lights, if it be after dark. We +journalists were all ready; coffee and bread-and-butter had been +thoughtfully served early in our sleeping-tents, and an elaborate +breakfast was going on all the time in the refectory pavilions. We had a +preliminary look round, and then there was a sort of general pause for +breakfast. We took advantage of it, and attacked the sumptuous--indeed, +memorable--meal which was served for us. + +The ceremony was to commence at noon, but at ten o'clock the whole place +was astir--not merely beginning to move, but actually moving; everybody +taking their places for the great ceremony. As noon drew near, the +excitement was intense and prolonged. One by one the various signatories +to the Federation began to assemble. They all came by sea; such of them +as had sea-boards of their own having their fleets around them. Such as +had no fleets of their own were attended by at least one of the Blue +Mountain ironclads. And I am bound to say that I never in my life saw +more dangerous craft than these little warships of King Rupert of the +Blue Mountains. As they entered the Blue Mouth each ship took her +appointed station, those which carried the signatories being close +together in an isolated group in a little bay almost surrounded by high +cliffs in the farthest recesses of the mighty harbour. King Rupert's +armoured yacht all the time lay close inshore, hard by the mouth of the +Great Tunnel which runs straight into the mountain from a wide plateau, +partly natural rock, partly built up with mighty blocks of stone. Here +it is, I am told, that the inland products are brought down to the modern +town of Plazac. Just as the clocks were chiming the half-hour before +noon this yacht glided out into the expanse of the "Mouth." Behind her +came twelve great barges, royally decked, and draped each in the colour +of the signatory nation. On each of these the ruler entered with his +guard, and was carried to Rupert's yacht, he going on the bridge, whilst +his suite remained on the lower deck. In the meantime whole fleets had +been appearing on the southern horizon; the nations were sending their +maritime quota to the christening of "Balka"! In such wonderful order as +can only be seen with squadrons of fighting ships, the mighty throng +swept into the Blue Mouth, and took up their stations in groups. The +only armament of a Great Power now missing was that of the Western King. +But there was time. Indeed, as the crowd everywhere began to look at +their watches a long line of ships began to spread up northward from the +Italian coast. They came at great speed--nearly twenty knots. It was a +really wonderful sight--fifty of the finest ships in the world; the very +latest expression of naval giants, each seemingly typical of its +class--Dreadnoughts, cruisers, destroyers. They came in a wedge, with +the King's yacht flying the Royal Standard the apex. Every ship of the +squadron bore a red ensign long enough to float from the masthead to the +water. From the armoured tower in the waterway one could see the myriad +of faces--white stars on both land and sea--for the great harbour was now +alive with ships and each and all of them alive with men. + +Suddenly, without any direct cause, the white masses became +eclipsed--everyone had turned round, and was looking the other way. I +looked across the bay and up the mountain behind--a mighty mountain, +whose slopes run up to the very sky, ridge after ridge seeming like +itself a mountain. Far away on the very top the standard of the Blue +Mountains was run up on a mighty Flagstaff which seemed like a shaft of +light. It was two hundred feet high, and painted white, and as at the +distance the steel stays were invisible, it towered up in lonely +grandeur. At its foot was a dark mass grouped behind a white space, +which I could not make out till I used my field-glasses. + +Then I knew it was King Rupert and the Queen in the midst of a group of +mountaineers. They were on the aero station behind the platform of the +aero, which seemed to shine--shine, not glitter--as though it were +overlaid with plates of gold. + +Again the faces looked west. The Western Squadron was drawing near to +the entrance of the Blue Mouth. On the bridge of the yacht stood the +Western King in uniform of an Admiral, and by him his Queen in a dress of +royal purple, splendid with gold. Another glance at the mountain-top +showed that it had seemed to become alive. A whole park of artillery +seemed to have suddenly sprung to life, round each its crew ready for +action. Amongst the group at the foot of the Flagstaff we could +distinguish King Rupert; his vast height and bulk stood out from and +above all round him. Close to him was a patch of white, which we +understood to be Queen Teuta, whom the Blue Mountaineers simply adore. + +By this time the armoured yacht, bearing all the signatories to "Balka" +(excepting King Rupert), had moved out towards the entrance, and lay +still and silent, waiting the coming of the Royal Arbitrator, whose whole +squadron simultaneously slowed down, and hardly drifted in the seething +water of their backing engines. + +When the flag which was in the yacht's prow was almost opposite the +armoured fort, the Western King held up a roll of vellum handed to him by +one of his officers. We onlookers held our breath, for in an instant was +such a scene as we can never hope to see again. + +At the raising of the Western King's hand, a gun was fired away on the +top of the mountain where rose the mighty Flagstaff with the standard of +the Blue Mountains. Then came the thunder of salute from the guns, +bright flashes and reports, which echoed down the hillsides in +never-ending sequence. At the first gun, by some trick of signalling, +the flag of the Federated "Balka" floated out from the top of the +Flagstaff, which had been mysteriously raised, and flew above that of the +Blue Mountains. + +At the same moment the figures of Rupert and Teuta sank; they were taking +their places on the aeroplane. An instant after, like a great golden +bird, it seemed to shoot out into the air, and then, dipping its head, +dropped downward at an obtuse angle. We could see the King and Queen +from time waist upwards--the King in Blue Mountain dress of green; the +Queen, wrapped in her white Shroud, holding her baby on her breast. When +far out from the mountain-top and over the Blue Mouth, the wings and tail +of the great bird-like machine went up, and the aero dropped like a +stone, till it was only some few hundred feet over the water. Then the +wings and tail went down, but with diminishing speed. Below the expanse +of the plane the King and Queen were now seen seated together on the tiny +steering platform, which seemed to have been lowered; she sat behind her +husband, after the manner of matrons of the Blue Mountains. That coming +of that aeroplane was the most striking episode of all this wonderful +day. + +After floating for a few seconds, the engines began to work, whilst the +planes moved back to their normal with beautiful simultaneity. There was +a golden aero finding its safety in gliding movement. At the same time +the steering platform was rising, so that once more the occupants were +not far below, but above the plane. They were now only about a hundred +feet above the water, moving from the far end of the Blue Mouth towards +the entrance in the open space between the two lines of the fighting +ships of the various nationalities, all of which had by now their yards +manned--a manoeuvre which had begun at the firing of the first gun on the +mountain-top. As the aero passed along, all the seamen began to cheer--a +cheering which they kept up till the King and Queen had come so close to +the Western King's vessel that the two Kings and Queens could greet each +other. The wind was now beginning to blow westward from the +mountain-top, and it took the sounds towards the armoured fort, so that +at moments we could distinguish the cheers of the various nationalities, +amongst which, more keen than the others, came the soft "Ban Zai!" of the +Japanese. + +King Rupert, holding his steering levers, sat like a man of marble. +Behind him his beautiful wife, clad in her Shroud, and holding in her +arms the young Crown Prince, seemed like a veritable statue. + +The aero, guided by Rupert's unerring hand, lit softly on the after-deck +of the Western King's yacht; and King Rupert, stepping on deck, lifted +from her seat Queen Teuta with her baby in her arms. It was only when +the Blue Mountain King stood amongst other men that one could realize his +enormous stature. He stood literally head and shoulders over every other +man present. + +Whilst the aeroplane was giving up its burden, the Western King and his +Queen were descending from the bridge. The host and hostess, hand in +hand--after their usual fashion, as it seems--hurried forward to greet +their guests. The meeting was touching in its simplicity. The two +monarchs shook hands, and their consorts, representatives of the foremost +types of national beauty of the North and South, instinctively drew close +and kissed each other. Then the hostess Queen, moving towards the +Western King, kneeled before him with the gracious obeisance of a Blue +Mountain hostess, and kissed his hand. + +Her words of greeting were: + +"You are welcome, sire, to the Blue Mountains. We are grateful to you +for all you have done for Balka, and to you and Her Majesty for giving us +the honour of your presence." + +The King seemed moved. Accustomed as he was to the ritual of great +occasions, the warmth and sincerity, together with the gracious humility +of this old Eastern custom, touched him, monarch though he was of a great +land and many races in the Far East. Impulsively he broke through Court +ritual, and did a thing which, I have since been told, won for him for +ever a holy place in the warm hearts of the Blue Mountaineers. Sinking +on his knee before the beautiful shroud-clad Queen, he raised her hand +and kissed it. The act was seen by all in and around the Blue Mouth, and +a mighty cheering rose, which seemed to rise and swell as it ran far and +wide up the hillsides, till it faded away on the far-off mountain-top, +where rose majestically the mighty Flagstaff bearing the standard of the +Balkan Federation. + +For myself, I can never forget that wonderful scene of a nation's +enthusiasm, and the core of it is engraven on my memory. That spotless +deck, typical of all that is perfect in naval use; the King and Queen of +the greatest nation of the earth {3} received by the newest King and +Queen--a King and Queen who won empire for themselves, so that the former +subject of another King received him as a brother-monarch on a +history-making occasion, when a new world-power was, under his tutelage, +springing into existence. The fair Northern Queen in the arms of the +dark Southern Queen with the starry eyes. The simple splendour of +Northern dress arrayed against that of almost peasant plainness of the +giant King of the South. But all were eclipsed--even the thousand years +of royal lineage of the Western King, Rupert's natural dower of stature, +and the other Queen's bearing of royal dignity and sweetness--by the +elemental simplicity of Teuta's Shroud. Not one of all that mighty +throng but knew something of her wonderful story; and not one but felt +glad and proud that such a noble woman had won an empire through her own +bravery, even in the jaws of the grave. + +The armoured yacht, with the remainder of the signatories to the Balkan +Federation, drew close, and the rulers stepped on board to greet the +Western King, the Arbitrator, Rupert leaving his task as personal host +and joining them. He took his part modestly in the rear of the group, +and made a fresh obeisance in his new capacity. + +Presently another warship, _The Balka_, drew close. It contained the +ambassadors of Foreign Powers, and the Chancellors and high officials of +the Balkan nations. It was followed by a fleet of warships, each one +representing a Balkan Power. The great Western fleet lay at their +moorings, but with the exception of manning their yards, took no +immediate part in the proceedings. + +On the deck of the new-comer the Balkan monarchs took their places, the +officials of each State grading themselves behind their monarch. The +Ambassadors formed a foremost group by themselves. + +Last came the Western King, quite alone (save for the two Queens), +bearing in his hand the vellum scroll, the record of his arbitration. +This he proceeded to read, a polyglot copy of it having been already +supplied to every Monarch, Ambassador, and official present. It was a +long statement, but the occasion was so stupendous--so intense--that the +time flew by quickly. The cheering had ceased the moment the Arbitrator +opened the scroll, and a veritable silence of the grave abounded. + +When the reading was concluded Rupert raised his hand, and on the instant +came a terrific salvo of cannon-shots from not only the ships in the +port, but seemingly all up and over the hillsides away to the very +summit. + +When the cheering which followed the salute had somewhat toned down, +those on board talked together, and presentations were made. Then the +barges took the whole company to the armour-clad fort in the entrance-way +to the Blue Mouth. Here, in front, had been arranged for the occasion, +platforms for the starting of aeroplanes. Behind them were the various +thrones of state for the Western King and Queen, and the various rulers +of "Balka"--as the new and completed Balkan Federation had become--_de +jure_ as well as _de facto_. Behind were seats for the rest of the +company. All was a blaze of crimson and gold. We of the Press were all +expectant, for some ceremony had manifestly been arranged, but of all +details of it we had been kept in ignorance. So far as I could tell from +the faces, those present were at best but partially informed. They were +certainly ignorant of all details, and even of the entire programme of +the day. There is a certain kind of expectation which is not concerned +in the mere execution of fore-ordered things. + +The aero on which the King and Queen had come down from the mountain now +arrived on the platform in the charge of a tall young mountaineer, who +stepped from the steering-platform at once. King Rupert, having handed +his Queen (who still carried her baby) into her seat, took his place, and +pulled a lever. The aero went forward, and seemed to fall head foremost +off the fort. It was but a dip, however, such as a skilful diver takes +from a height into shallow water, for the plane made an upward curve, and +in a few seconds was skimming upwards towards the Flagstaff. Despite the +wind, it arrived there in an incredibly short time. Immediately after +his flight another aero, a big one this time, glided to the platform. To +this immediately stepped a body of ten tall, fine-looking young men. The +driver pulled his levers, and the plane glided out on the track of the +King. The Western King, who was noticing, said to the Lord High Admiral, +who had been himself in command of the ship of war, and now stood close +behind him: + +"Who are those men, Admiral?" + +"The Guard of the Crown Prince, Your Majesty. They are appointed by the +Nation." + +"Tell me, Admiral, have they any special duties?" + +"Yes, Your Majesty," came the answer: "to die, if need be, for the young +Prince!" + +"Quite right! That is fine service. But how if any of them should die?" + +"Your Majesty, if one of them should die, there are ten thousand eager to +take his place." + +"Fine, fine! It is good to have even one man eager to give his life for +duty. But ten thousand! That is what makes a nation!" + +When King Rupert reached the platform by the Flagstaff, the Royal +Standard of the Blue Mountains was hauled up under it. Rupert stood up +and raised his hand. In a second a cannon beside him was fired; then, +quick as thought, others were fired in sequence, as though by one +prolonged lightning-flash. The roar was incessant, but getting less in +detonating sound as the distance and the hills subdued it. But in the +general silence which prevailed round us we could hear the sound as +though passing in a distant circle, till finally the line which had gone +northward came back by the south, stopping at the last gun to south'ard +of the Flagstaff. + +"What was that wonderful circle?" asked the King of the Lord High +Admiral. + +"That, Your Majesty, is the line of the frontier of the Blue Mountains. +Rupert has ten thousand cannon in line." + +"And who fires them? I thought all the army must be here." + +"The women, Your Majesty. They are on frontier duty to-day, so that the +men can come here." + +Just at that moment one of the Crown Prince's Guards brought to the side +of the King's aero something like a rubber ball on the end of a string. +The Queen held it out to the baby in her arms, who grabbed at it. The +guard drew back. Pressing that ball must have given some signal, for on +the instant a cannon, elevated to perpendicular, was fired. A shell went +straight up an enormous distance. The shell burst, and sent out both a +light so bright that it could be seen in the daylight, and a red smoke, +which might have been seen from the heights of the Calabrian Mountains +over in Italy. + +As the shell burst, the King's aero seemed once more to spring from the +platform out into mid-air, dipped as before, and glided out over the Blue +Mouth with a rapidity which, to look at, took one's breath away. + +As it came, followed by the aero of the Crown Prince's Guard and a group +of other aeros, the whole mountain-sides seemed to become alive. From +everywhere, right away up to the farthest visible mountain-tops, darted +aeroplanes, till a host of them were rushing with dreadful speed in the +wake of the King. The King turned to Queen Teuta, and evidently said +something, for she beckoned to the Captain of the Crown Prince's Guard, +who was steering the plane. He swerved away to the right, and instead of +following above the open track between the lines of warships, went high +over the outer line. One of those on board began to drop something, +which, fluttering down, landed on every occasion on the bridge of the +ship high over which they then were. + +The Western King said again to the Gospodar Rooke (the Lord High +Admiral): + +"It must need some skill to drop a letter with such accuracy." + +With imperturbable face the Admiral replied: + +"It is easier to drop bombs, Your Majesty." + +The flight of aeroplanes was a memorable sight. It helped to make +history. Henceforth no nation with an eye for either defence or attack +can hope for success without the mastery of the air. + +In the meantime--and after that time, too--God help the nation that +attacks "Balka" or any part of it, so long as Rupert and Teuta live in +the hearts of that people, and bind them into an irresistible unity. + + + + +Footnotes: + + +{1} Vladika, a high functionary in the Land of the Blue Mountains. He +is a sort of official descendant of the old Prince-Bishops who used at +one time to govern the State. In process of time the system has changed, +but the function--shorn of its personal dominance--remains. The nation +is at present governed by the Council. The Church (which is, of course, +the Eastern Church) is represented by the Archbishop, who controls the +whole spiritual functions and organization. The connecting-link between +them--they being quite independent organizations--is the Vladika, who is +_ex officio_ a member of the National Council. By custom he does not +vote, but is looked on as an independent adviser who is in the confidence +of both sides of national control. + +{2} EDITORIAL NOTE--We shall, in our issue of Saturday week, give a full +record of the romantic story of Queen Teuta and her Shroud, written by +Mr. Mordred Booth, and illustrated by our special artist, Mr. Neillison +Browne, who is Mr. Booth's artistic collaborateur in the account of King +Rupert's Coronation. + +{3} Greatest _Kingdom_--_Editor Free America_. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LADY OF THE SHROUD*** + + +******* This file should be named 3095.txt or 3095.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/0/9/3095 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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