第11章

May18，1907。

Thetwoweeksthathavepassedhavebeenbusy，andmay，astimegoeson，proveeventful。IreallythinktheyhaveplacedmeinadifferentpositionwiththeBlueMountaineers——certainlysofarasthoseinthispartofthecountryareconcerned。Theyarenolongersuspiciousofme——whichismuch；thoughtheyhavenotyetreceivedmeintotheirconfidence。Isupposethiswillcomeintime，butImustnottrytohustlethem。Alreadytheyarewilling，sofarasIcansee，tousemetotheirownends。Theyacceptedthesignallingideaveryreadily，andarequitewillingtodrillasmuchasIlike。Thiscanbe（andIthinkis，initsway）apleasuretothem。Theyarebornsoldiers，everymanofthem；andpracticetogetherisonlyarealizationoftheirownwishesandafurtherdevelopmentoftheirpowers。IthinkIcanunderstandthetrendoftheirthoughts，andwhatideasofpublicpolicyliebehindthem。Inallthatwehaveattemptedtogetherasyettheyarethemselvesinabsolutepower。ItrestswiththemtocarryoutanyideasImaysuggest，sotheydonotfearanyassumptionofpowerorgovernanceonmypart。Thus，solongastheykeepsecretfrommeboththeirideasofhighpolicyandtheirimmediateintentions，Iampowerlesstodothemill，andIMAYbeofserviceshouldoccasionarise。Well，alltold，thisismuch。

Alreadytheyacceptmeasanindividual，notmerelyoneofthemass。

Iamprettysurethattheyaresatisfiedofmypersonalbonafides。

Itispolicyandnotmistrustthathedgesmein。Well，policyisamatteroftime。Theyareasplendidpeople，butiftheyknewalittlemorethantheydotheywouldunderstandthatthewisestofallpoliciesistrust——whenitcanbegiven。Imustholdmyselfincheck，andneverbebetrayedintoaharshthoughttowardsthem。Poorsouls！withathousandyearsbehindthemofTurkishaggression，strenuouslyattemptedbybothforceandfraud，nowondertheyaresuspicious。Likewiseeveryothernationwithwhomtheyhaveevercomeincontact——exceptone，myown——hasdeceivedorbetrayedthem。

Anyhow，theyarefinesoldiers，andbeforelongweshallhaveanarmythatcannotbeignored。IfIcangetsothattheytrustme，IshallaskSirColintocomeouthere。Hewouldbeasplendidheadfortheirarmy。Hisgreatmilitaryknowledgeandtacticalskillwouldcomeinwell。Itmakesmeglowtothinkofwhatanarmyhewouldturnoutofthissplendidmaterial，andoneespeciallyadaptedforthestyleoffightingwhichwouldbenecessaryinthiscountry。

Ifamereamateurlikemyself，whohasonlyhadexperienceoforganizingthewildestkindofsavages，hasbeenabletoadvanceorcompacttheirindividualstyleoffightingintosystematiceffort，agreatsoldierlikeMacKelpiewillbringthemtoperfectionasafightingmachine。OurHighlanders，whentheycomeout，willforegatherwiththem，asmountaineersalwaysdowitheachother。

Thenweshallhaveaforcewhichcanholditsownagainstanyodds。

IonlyhopethatRookewillbereturningsoon。IwanttoseethoseIngis—MalbronrifleseithersafelystoredintheCastleor，whatisbetter，dividedupamongstthemountaineers——athingwhichwillbedoneattheveryearliestmomentthatIcanaccomplishit。Ihaveaconvictionthatwhenthesemenhavereceivedtheirarmsandammunitionfrommetheywillunderstandmebetter，andnotkeepanysecretsfromme。

AllthisfortnightwhenIwasnotdrillingorgoingaboutamongstthemountaineers，andteachingthemthecodewhichIhavenowgotperfected，Iwasexploringthesideofthemountainnearesttohere。

Icouldnotbeartobestill。ItistorturetometobeidleinmypresentconditionofmindregardingmyLadyoftheShroud……

StrangeIdonotmindmentioningthewordtomyselfnow。Iusedtoatfirst；butthatbitternesshasallgoneaway。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

May19，1907。

IwassorestlessearlythismorningthatbeforedaylightIwasoutexploringonthemountain—side。BychanceIcameacrossasecretplacejustasthedaywasbreaking。Indeed，itwasbythechangeoflightasthefirstsun—raysseemedtofalldownthemountain—sidethatmyattentionwascalledtoanopeningshownbyalightbehindit。Itwas，indeed，asecretplace——sosecretthatIthoughtatfirstIshouldkeepittomyself。Insuchaplaceasthiseithertohideinortobeabletopreventanyoneelsehidinginmightonoccasionbeanassetofsafety。

When，however，Isawindicationsratherthantracesthatsomeonehadalreadyusedittocampin，Ichangedmymind，andthoughtthatwheneverIshouldgetanopportunityIwouldtelltheVladikaofit，asheisamanonwhosediscretionIcanrely。Ifweeverhaveawarhereoranysortofinvasion，itisjustsuchplacesthatmaybedangerous。EveninmyowncaseitismuchtooneartheCastletobeneglected。

Theindicationsweremeagre——onlywhereafirehadbeenonalittleshelfofrock；anditwasnotpossible，throughtheresultsofburningvegetationorscorchedgrass，totellhowlongbeforethefirehadbeenalight。Icouldonlyguess。PerhapsthemountaineersmightbeabletotelloreventoguessbetterthanIcould。ButIamnotsosureofthis。Iamamountaineermyself，andwithlargerandmorevariedexperiencethananyofthem。Formyself，thoughIcouldnotbecertain，Icametotheconclusionthatwhoeverhadusedtheplacehaddonesonotmanydaysbefore。Itcouldnothavebeenquiterecently；butitmaynothavebeenverylongago。Whoeverhadusedithadcovereduphistrackswell。Eventheasheshadbeencarefullyremoved，andtheplacewheretheyhadlainwascleanedorsweptinsomeway，sothattherewasnotraceonthespot。IappliedsomeofmyWestAfricanexperience，andlookedontheroughbarkofthetreestoleeward，towheretheagitatedair，howeverdirected，musthavecome，unlessitwaswantedtocallattentiontotheplacebythescatteredwood—ashes，howeverfine。Ifoundtracesofit，buttheywerefaint。Therehadnotbeenrainforseveraldays；sothedustmusthavebeenblowntheresincetherainhadfallen，foritwasstilldry。

Theplacewasatinygorge，withbutoneentrance，whichwashiddenbehindabarrenspurofrock——justasortoflongfissure，jaggedandcurving，intherock，likeafaultinthestratification。Icouldjuststrugglethroughitwithconsiderableeffort，holdingmybreathhereandthere，soastoreducemydepthofchest。Withinitwastree—clad，andfullofpossibilitiesofconcealment。

AsIcameawayImarkedwellitsdirectionandapproaches，notinganyguidingmarkwhichmightaidinfindingitbydayornight。I

exploredeveryfootofgroundaroundit——infront，oneachside，andabove。ButfromnowherecouldIseeanindicationofitsexistence。

ItwasaveritablesecretchamberwroughtbythehandofNatureitself。IdidnotreturnhometillIwasfamiliarwitheverydetailnearandaroundit。Thisnewknowledgeaddeddistinctlytomysenseofsecurity。

LaterinthedayItriedtofindtheVladikaoranymountaineerofimportance，forIthoughtthatsuchahiding—placewhichhadbeenusedsorecentlymightbedangerous，andespeciallyatatimewhen，asIhadlearnedatthemeetingwheretheydidNOTfiretheirgunsthattheremayhavebeenspiesaboutoratraitorintheland。

EvenbeforeIcametomyownroomto—nightIhadfullymadeupmymindtogooutearlyinthemorningandfindsomeproperpersontowhomtoimparttheinformation，sothatawatchmightbekeptontheplace。Itisnowgettingonformidnight，andwhenIhavehadmyusuallastlookatthegardenIshallturnin。AuntJanetwasuneasyallday，andespeciallysothisevening。Ithinkitmusthavebeenmyabsenceattheusualbreakfast—hourwhichgotonhernerves；andthatunsatisfiedmentalorpsychicalirritationincreasedasthedayworeon。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

May20，1907。

Theclockonthemantelpieceinmyroom，whichchimesonthenotesoftheclockatSt。James’sPalace，wasstrikingmidnightwhenIopenedtheglassdoorontheterrace。IhadputoutmylightsbeforeIdrewthecurtain，asIwishedtoseethefulleffectofthemoonlight。

Nowthattherainyseasonisover，themoonisquiteasbeautifulasitwasinthewet，andagreatdealmorecomfortable。Iwasineveningdress，withasmoking—jacketinlieuofacoat，andIfelttheairmildandmellowonthewarmside，asIstoodontheterrace。

Buteveninthatbrightmoonlightthefurthercornersofthegreatgardenwerefullofmysteriousshadows。IpeeredintothemaswellasIcould——andmyeyesareprettygoodnaturally，andarewelltrained。Therewasnottheleastmovement。Theairwasasstillasdeath，thefoliageasstillasthoughwroughtinstone。

IlookedforquitealongtimeinthehopeofseeingsomethingofmyLady。Thequarterschimedseveraltimes，butIstoodonunheeding。

AtlastIthoughtIsawfaroffintheverycorneroftheolddefendingwallaflickerofwhite。Itwasbutmomentary，andcouldhardlyhaveaccountedinitselfforthewaymyheartbeat。I

controlledmyself，andstoodasthoughI，too，wereagravenimage。

Iwasrewardedbyseeingpresentlyanothergleamofwhite。AndthenanunspeakablerapturestoleovermeasIrealizedthatmyLadywascomingasshehadcomebefore。Iwouldhavehurriedouttomeether，butthatIknewwellthatthiswouldnotbeinaccordwithherwishes。So，thinkingtopleaseher，Idrewbackintotheroom。I

wasgladIhaddonesowhen，fromthedarkcornerwhereIstood，I

sawherstealupthemarblestepsandstandtimidlylookinginatthedoor。Then，afteralongpause，cameawhisperasfaintandsweetasthemusicofadistantAEolianharp：

"Areyouthere？MayIcomein？Answerme！Iamlonelyandinfear！"ForanswerIemergedfrommydimcornersoswiftlythatshewasstartled。Icouldhearfromthequiveringintakeofherbreaththatshewasstriving——happilywithsuccess——tosuppressashriek。

"Comein，"Isaidquietly。"Iwaswaitingforyou，forIfeltthatyouwouldcome。IonlycameinfromtheterracewhenIsawyoucoming，lestyoumightfearthatanyonemightseeus。Thatisnotpossible，butIthoughtyouwishedthatIshouldbecareful。"

"Idid——Ido，"sheansweredinalow，sweetvoice，butveryfirmly。

"Butneveravoidprecaution。Thereisnothingthatmaynothappenhere。Theremaybeeyeswhereweleastexpect——orsuspectthem。"Asshespokethelastwordssolemnlyandinalowwhisper，shewasenteringtheroom。Iclosedtheglassdoorandboltedit，rolledbackthesteelgrille，andpulledtheheavycurtain。Then，whenI

hadlitacandle，Iwentoverandputalighttothefire。Inafewsecondsthedrywoodhadcaught，andtheflameswerebeginningtoriseandcrackle。Shehadnotobjectedtomyclosingthewindowanddrawingthecurtain；neitherdidshemakeanycommentonmylightingthefire。Shesimplyacquiescedinit，asthoughitwasnowamatterofcourse。WhenImadethepileofcushionsbeforeitasontheoccasionofherlastvisit，shesankdownonthem，andheldoutherwhite，tremblinghandstothewarmth。

Shewasdifferentto—nightfromwhatshehadbeenoneitherofthetwoformervisits。FromherpresentbearingIarrivedatsomegaugeofherself—concern，herself—respect。Nowthatshewasdry，andnotovermasteredbywetandcold，asweetandgraciousdignityseemedtoshinefromher，enwrappingher，asitwere，withaluminousveil。Itwasnotthatshewasbythismadeorshownascoldordistant，orinanywayharshorforbidding。Onthecontrary，protectedbythisdignity，sheseemedmuchmoresweetandgenialthanbefore。Itwasasthoughshefeltthatshecouldaffordtostoopnowthatherloftinesswasrealized——thatherpositionwasrecognizedandsecure。

Ifherinherentdignitymadeanimpenetrablenimbusroundher，thiswasagainstothers；sheherselfwasnotboundbyit，ortobebound。

Somarkedwasthis，soentirelyandsweetlywomanlydidsheappear，thatIcaughtmyselfwonderinginflashesofthought，whichcameassharpperiodsofdoubtingjudgmentbetweenspellsofunconsciousfascination，howIhadevercometothinkshewasaughtbutperfectwoman。Assherested，halfsittingandhalflyingonthepileofcushions，shewasallgrace，andbeauty，andcharm，andsweetness——

theveritableperfectwomanofthedreamsofaman，beheyoungorold。Tohavesuchawomansitbyhishearthandholdherholyofholiesinhisheartmightwellbearapturetoanyman。Evenanhourofsuchentrancingjoymightbewellwonbyalifetimeofpain，bythebalanceofalonglifesacrificed，bytheextinctionoflifeitself。Quickbehindtherecordofsuchthoughtscametheanswertothedoubttheychallenged：ifitshouldturnoutthatshewasnotlivingatall，butoneofthedoomedandpitifulUn—Dead，thensomuchmoreonaccountofherverysweetnessandbeautywouldbethewinningofherbacktoLifeandHeaven——evenwereitthatshemightfindhappinessintheheartandinthearmsofanotherman。

Once，whenIleanedoverthehearthtoputfreshlogsonthefire，myfacewassoclosetohersthatIfeltherbreathonmycheek。Itthrilledmetofeeleventhesuggestionofthatineffablecontact。

Herbreathwassweet——sweetasthebreathofacalf，sweetasthewhiffofasummerbreezeacrossbedsofmignonette。Howcouldanyonebelieveforamomentthatsuchsweetbreathcouldcomefromthelipsofthedead——thedeadinesseorinposse——thatcorruptioncouldsendforthfragrancesosweetandpure？Itwaswithsatisfiedhappinessthat，asIlookedatherfrommystool，Isawthedancingoftheflamesfromthebeech—logsreflectedinhergloriousblackeyes，andthestarsthatwerehiddeninthemshineoutwithnewcoloursandnewlustreastheygleamed，risingandfallinglikehopesandfears。Asthelightleaped，sodidsmilesofquiethappinessflitoverherbeautifulface，themerrimentofthejoyousflamesbeingreflectedinever—changingdimples。

AtfirstIwasalittledisconcertedwhenevermyeyestooknoteofhershroud，andtherecameamomentaryregretthattheweatherhadnotbeenagainbad，sothattheremighthavebeencompulsionforherputtingonanothergarment——anythinglackingtheloathsomenessofthatpitifulwrapping。Littlebylittle，however，thisfeelingdisappeared，andIfoundnomatterforevendissatisfactioninherwrapping。Indeed，mythoughtsfoundinwardvoicebeforethesubjectwasdismissedfrommymind：

"Onebecomesaccustomedtoanything——evenashroud！"Butthethoughtwasfollowedbyasubmergingwaveofpitythatsheshouldhavehadsuchadreadfulexperience。

By—and—byweseemedbothtoforgeteverything——IknowIdid——exceptthatweweremanandwoman，andclosetogether。Thestrangenessofthesituationandthecircumstancesdidnotseemofmoment——notworthevenapassingthought。Westillsatapartandsaidlittle，ifanything。Icannotrecallasinglewordthateitherofusspokewhilstwesatbeforethefire，butotherlanguagethanspeechcameintoplay；theeyestoldtheirownstory，aseyescando，andmoreeloquentlythanlipswhilstexercisingtheirfunctionofspeech。

Questionandanswerfollowedeachotherinthissatisfyinglanguage，andwithanunspeakableraptureIbegantorealizethatmyaffectionwasreturned。Underthesecircumstancesitwasunrealizablethatthereshouldbeanyincongruityinthewholeaffair。Iwasnotmyselfinthemoodofquestioning。Iwasdiffidentwiththatdiffidencewhichcomesalonefromtruelove，asthoughitwereanecessaryemanationfromthatdelightfulandoverwhelmingandcommandingpassion。Inherpresencethereseemedtosurgeupwithinmethatwhichforbadespeech。Speechunderpresentconditionswouldhaveseemedtomeunnecessary，imperfect，andevenvulgarlyovert。

She，too，wassilent。ButnowthatIamalone，andmemoryisalonewithme，Iamconvincedthatshealsohadbeenhappy。No，notthatexactly。"Happiness"isnotthewordtodescribeeitherherfeelingormyown。Happinessismoreactive，amoreconsciousenjoyment。Wehadbeencontent。Thatexpressesourconditionperfectly；andnowthatIcananalyzemyownfeeling，andunderstandwhatthewordimplies，Iamsatisfiedofitsaccuracy。"Content"hasbothapositiveandnegativemeaningorantecedentcondition。Itimpliesanabsenceofdisturbingconditionsaswellasofwants；alsoitimpliessomethingpositivewhichhasbeenwonorachieved，orwhichhasaccrued。Inourstateofmind——forthoughitmaybepresumptiononmypart，Iamsatisfiedthatourideasweremutual——itmeantthatwehadreachedanunderstandingwhenceallthatmightcomemustbeforgood。Godgrantthatitmaybeso！

Aswesatsilent，lookingintoeachother’seyes，andwhilstthestarsinherswerenowfulloflatentfire，perhapsfromthereflectionoftheflames，shesuddenlysprangtoherfeet，instinctivelydrawingthehorribleshroudroundherassherosetoherfullheightinavoicefulloflingeringemotion，asofonewhoisactingunderspiritualcompulsionratherthanpersonalwill，shesaidinawhisper：

"Imustgoatonce。Ifeelthemorningdrawingnigh。Imustbeinmyplacewhenthelightofdaycomes。"

ShewassoearnestthatIfeltImustnotopposeherwish；soI，too，sprangtomyfeetandrantowardsthewindow。Ipulledthecurtainasidesufficientlyfarformetopressbackthegrilleandreachtheglassdoor，thelatchofwhichIopened。Ipassedbehindthecurtainagain，andheldtheedgeofitbacksothatshecouldgothrough。

Foraninstantshestoppedasshebrokethelongsilence：

"Youareatruegentleman，andmyfriend。YouunderstandallIwish。

OutofthedepthofmyheartIthankyou。"Sheheldoutherbeautifulhigh—bredhand。ItookitinbothmineasIfellonmyknees，andraisedittomylips。Itstouchmademequiver。She，too，trembledasshelookeddownatmewithaglancewhichseemedtosearchmyverysoul。Thestarsinhereyes，nowthatthefirelightwasnolongeronthem，hadgonebacktotheirownmysterioussilver。

Thenshedrewherhandfromminevery，verygently，asthoughitwouldfainlinger；andshepassedoutbehindthecurtainwithagentle，sweet，dignifiedlittlebowwhichleftmeonmyknees。

WhenIheardtheglassdoorpulled—togentlybehindher，Irosefrommykneesandhurriedwithoutthecurtain，justintimetowatchherpassdownthesteps。IwantedtoseeheraslongasIcould。Thegreyofmorningwasjustbeginningtowarwiththenightgloom，andbythefaintuncertainlightIcouldseedimlythewhitefigureflitbetweenshrubandstatuetillfinallyitmergedinthefardarkness。

Istoodforalongtimeontheterrace，sometimeslookingintothedarknessinfrontofme，incaseImightbeblessedwithanotherglimpseofher；sometimeswithmyeyesclosed，sothatImightrecallandholdinmymindherpassagedownthesteps。ForthefirsttimesinceIhadmethershehadthrownbackatmeaglanceasshesteppedonthewhitepathbelowtheterrace。Withtheglamourovermeofthatlook，whichwasallloveandenticement，Icouldhavedaredallthepowersthatbe。

WhenthegreydawnwasbecomingapparentthroughthelighteningoftheskyIreturnedtomyroom。Inadazedcondition——halfhypnotizedbylove——Iwenttobed，andindreamscontinuedtothink，allhappily，ofmyLadyoftheShroud。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

May27，1907。

AwholeweekhasgonesinceIsawmyLove！Thereitis；nodoubtwhateverisleftinmymindaboutitnow！SinceIsawhermypassionhasgrownandgrownbyleapsandbounds，asnovelistsputit。Ithasnowbecomesovastastooverwhelmme，towipeoutallthoughtofdoubtordifficulty。Isupposeitmustbewhatmensuffered——

sufferingneednotmeanpain——underenchantmentsinoldtimes。Iambutasastrawwhirledintheresistlesseddiesofawhirlpool。I

feelthatIMUSTseeheragain，evenifitbebutinhertombinthecrypt。Imust，Isuppose，preparemyselffortheventure，formanythingshavetobethoughtof。Thevisitmustnotbeatnight，forinsuchcaseImightmissher，didshecometomeagainhere……

Themorningcameandwent，butmywishandintentionstillremained；

andsointhefulltideofnoon，withthesuninallitsfieryforce，IsetoutfortheoldchurchofSt。Sava。Icarriedwithmealanternwithpowerfullens。Ihadwrappeditupsecretly，forIhadafeelingthatIshouldnotlikeanyonetoknowthatIhadsuchathingwithme。

OnthisoccasionIhadnomisgivings。OntheformervisitIhadforamomentbeenoverwhelmedattheunexpectedsightofthebodyofthewomanIthoughtIloved——Iknewitnow——lyinginhertomb。ButnowI

knewall，anditwastoseethiswoman，thoughinhertomb，thatI

came。

WhenIhadlitmylantern，whichIdidassoonasIhadpushedopenthegreatdoor，whichwasonceagainunlocked，Iturnedmystepstothestepsofthecrypt，whichlaybehindtherichlycarvenwoodscreen。ThisIcouldsee，withthebetterlight，wasanoblepieceofworkofpricelessbeautyandworth。ItriedtokeepmyheartinfullcouragewiththoughtsofmyLady，andofthesweetnessanddignityofourlastmeeting；but，despiteall，itsankdown，down，andturnedtowaterasIpassedwithuncertainfeetdownthenarrow，tortuoussteps。Myconcern，Iamnowconvinced，wasnotformyself，butthatshewhomIadoredshouldhavetoenduresuchafearfulplace。AsanodynetomyownpainIthoughtwhatitwouldbe，andhowIshouldfeel，whenIshouldhavewonforherawayoutofthathorror，atanyrate。Thisthoughtreassuredmesomewhat，andrestoredmycourage。ItwasinsomethingofthesamefashionwhichhashithertocarriedmeoutoftightplacesaswellasintothemthatatlastIpushedopenthelow，narrowdooratthefootoftherock—

hewnstaircaseandenteredthecrypt。

WithoutdelayImademywaytotheglass—coveredtombsetbeneaththehangingchain。Icouldseebytheflashingofthelightaroundmethatmyhandwhichheldthelanterntrembled。WithagreateffortI

steadiedmyself，andraisingthelantern，turneditslightdownintothesarcophagus。

Onceagainthefallenlanternrangonthetinglingglass，andIstoodaloneinthedarkness，foraninstantalmostparalyzedwithsurpriseddisappointment。

Thetombwasempty！Eventhetrappingsofthedeadhadbeenremoved。

IknewnotwhathappenedtillIfoundmyselfgropingmywayupthewindingstair。Here，incomparisonwiththesoliddarknessofthecrypt，itseemedalmostlight。Thedimexpanseofthechurchsentafewstragglingraysdownthevaultedsteps，andasIcouldsee，beitneversodimly，IfeltIwasnotinabsolutedarkness。Withthelightcameasenseofpowerandfreshcourage，andIgropedmywaybackintothecryptagain。There，bynowandagainlightingmatches，Ifoundmywaytothetombandrecoveredmylantern。ThenItookmywayslowly——forIwishedtoprove，ifnotmyowncourage，atleastsuchvestigesofself—respectastheventurehadleftme——throughthechurch，whereIextinguishedmylantern，andoutthroughthegreatdoorintotheopensunlight。Iseemedtohaveheard，bothinthedarknessofthecryptandthroughthedimnessofthechurch，mysterioussoundsasofwhispersandsuppressedbreathing；butthememoryofthesedidnotcountformuchwhenonceIwasfree。IwasonlysatisfiedofmyownconsciousnessandidentitywhenIfoundmyselfonthebroadrockterraceinfrontofthechurch，withthefiercesunlightbeatingonmyupturnedface，and，lookingdownward，sawfarbelowmetherippledblueoftheopensea。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

June3，1907。

Anotherweekhaselapsed——aweekfullofmovementofmanykindsandinmanyways——butasyetIhavehadnotaleortidingsofmyLadyoftheShroud。IhavenothadanopportunityofgoingagainindaylighttoSt。Sava’sasIshouldhavelikedtohavedone。IfeltthatI

mustnotgoatnight。Thenightishertimeoffreedom，anditmustbekeptforher——orelseImaymissher，orperhapsneverseeheragain。

Thedayshavebeenfullofnationalmovement。Themountaineershaveevidentlybeenorganizingthemselves，forsomereasonwhichIcannotquiteunderstand，andwhichtheyhavehesitatedtomakeknowntome。

Ihavetakencarenottomanifestanycuriosity，whateverImayhavefelt。Thiswouldcertainlyarousesuspicion，andmightultimatelycausedisastertomyhopesofaidingthenationintheirstruggletopreservetheirfreedom。

Thesefiercemountaineersarestrangely——almostunduly——suspicious，andtheonlywaytowintheirconfidenceistobeginthetrusting。A

youngAmericanattacheoftheEmbassyatVienna，whohadmadeajourneythroughtheLandoftheBlueMountains，onceputittomeinthisform：

"Keepyourheadshut，andthey’llopentheirs。Ifyoudon’t，they’llopenitforyou——downtothechine！"