第12章

Itwasquiteapparenttomethattheywerecompletingsomefresharrangementsforsignallingwithacodeoftheirown。Thiswasnaturalenough，andinnowayinconsistentwiththemeasureoffriendlinessalreadyshowntome。Wherethereareneithertelegraphs，railways，norroads，anyeffectiveformofcommunicationmust——canonlybepurelypersonal。Andso，iftheywishtokeepanysecretamongstthemselves，theymustpreservethesecretoftheircode。Ishouldhavedearlylikedtolearntheirnewcodeandtheirmannerofusingit，butasIwanttobeahelpfulfriendtothem——andasthisimpliesnotonlytrust，buttheappearanceofit——Ihadtoschoolmyselftopatience。

Thisattitudesofarwontheirconfidencethatbeforewepartedatourlastmeeting，aftermostsolemnvowsoffaithandsecrecy，theytookmeintothesecret。Thiswas，however，onlytotheextentofteachingmethecodeandmethod；theystillwithheldfrommerigidlythefactorpoliticalsecret，orwhateveritwasthatwasthemainspringoftheirunitedaction。

WhenIgothomeIwrotedown，whilstitwasfreshinmymemory，alltheytoldme。ThisscriptIstudieduntilIhaditsothoroughlybyheartthatICOULDnotforgetit。ThenIburnedthepaper。However，thereisnowonegainatleast：withmysemaphoreIcansendthroughtheBlueMountainsfromsidetoside，withexpedition，secrecy，andexactness，amessagecomprehensibletoall。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

June6，1907。

LastnightIhadanewexperienceofmyLadyoftheShroud——insofarasformwasconcerned，atanyrate。Iwasinbed，andjustfallingasleep，whenIheardaqueerkindofscratchingattheglassdooroftheterrace。Ilistenedacutely，myheartbeatinghard。Thesoundseemedtocomefromlowdown，closetothefloor。Ijumpedoutofbed，rantothewindow，and，pullingasidetheheavycurtains，lookedout。

Thegardenlooked，asusual，ghostlyinthemoonlight，buttherewasnotthefaintestsignofmovementanywhere，andnoonewasonorneartheterrace。Ilookedeagerlydowntowherethesoundhadseemedtocomefrom。

There，justinsidetheglassdoor，asthoughithadbeenpushedunderthedoor，layapapercloselyfoldedinseverallaps。Ipickeditupandopenedit。Iwasallinatumult，formyhearttoldmewhenceitcame。InsidewaswritteninEnglish，inalarge，sprawlinghand，suchasmightbefromanEnglishchildofsevenoreight：

"MeetmeattheFlagstaffontheRock！"

Iknewtheplace，ofcourse。OnthefarthermostpointoftherockonwhichtheCastlestandsissetahighflagstaff，whereoninoldtimethebanneroftheVissarionfamilyflew。Atsomefar—offtime，whentheCastlehadbeenliabletoattack，thispointhadbeenstronglyfortified。Indeed，inthedayswhenthebowwasamartialweaponitmusthavebeenquiteimpregnable。

Acoveredgallery，withloopholesforarrows，hadbeencutinthesolidrock，runningrightroundthepoint，quitesurroundingtheflagstaffandthegreatbossofrockonwhosecentreitwasreared。

Anarrowdrawbridgeofimmensestrengthhadconnected——inpeacefultimes，andstillremained——theouterpointofrockwithanentranceformedintheouterwall，andguardedwithflankingtowersandaportcullis。Itsusewasmanifestlytoguardagainstsurprise。Fromthispointonlycouldbeseenthelineoftherocksallroundthepoint。Thus，anysecretattackbyboatscouldbemadeimpossible。

Havinghurriedlydressedmyself，andtakingwithmebothhunting—

knifeandrevolver，Iwentoutontheterrace，takingtheprecaution，unusualtome，ofdrawingthegrillebehindmeandlockingit。

MattersaroundtheCastleareinfartoodisturbedaconditiontoallowthetakingofanyfoolishchances，eitherinthewayofbeingunarmedorofleavingtheprivateentrancetotheCastleopen。I

foundmywaythroughtherockypassage，andclimbedbytheJacob’sladderfixedontherock——adeviceofconvenienceintimeofpeace——

tothefootoftheflagstaff。

Iwasallonfirewithexpectation，andthetimeofgoingseemedexceedinglong；soIwasadditionallydisappointedbythecontrastwhenIdidnotseemyLadytherewhenIarrived。However，myheartbeatfreelyagain——perhapsmorefreelythanever——whenIsawhercrouchingintheshadowoftheCastlewall。FromwhereshewasshecouldnotbeseenfromanypointsavethatalonewhichIoccupied；

evenfromthereitwasonlyherwhiteshroudthatwasconspicuousthroughthedeepgloomoftheshadow。Themoonlightwassobrightthattheshadowswerealmostunnaturallyblack。

Irushedovertowardsher，andwhenclosewasabouttosayimpulsively，"Whydidyouleaveyourtomb？"whenitsuddenlystruckmethatthequestionwouldbemalaproposandembarrassinginmanyways。So，betterjudgmentprevailing，Isaidinstead：

"IthasbeensolongsinceIsawyou！Ithasseemedaneternitytome！"HeranswercameasquicklyasevenIcouldhavewished；shespokeimpulsivelyandwithoutthought：

"Ithasbeenlongtometoo！Oh，solong！solong！IhaveaskedyoutocomeoutherebecauseIwantedtoseeyousomuchthatIcouldnotwaitanylonger。Ihavebeenheart—hungryforasightofyou！"

Herwords，hereagerattitude，theineffablesomethingwhichconveysthemessagesoftheheart，thelongingexpressioninhereyesasthefullmoonlightfellonherface，showingthestarsaslivinggold——

forinhereagernessshehadsteppedouttowardsmefromtheshadow——

allsetmeonfire。Withoutathoughtoraword——foritwasNaturespeakinginthelanguageofLove，whichisasilenttongue——Isteppedtowardsherandtookherinmyarms。SheyieldedwiththatsweetunconsciousnesswhichistheperfectionofLove，asifitwasinobediencetosomecommandutteredbeforethebeginningoftheworld。

Probablywithoutanyconsciouseffortoneitherside——Iknowtherewasnoneonmine——ourmouthsmetinthefirstkissoflove。

Atthetimenothinginthemeetingstruckmeasoutofthecommon。

Butlaterinthenight，whenIwasaloneandindarkness，wheneverI

thoughtofitall——itsstrangenessanditsstrangerrapture——Icouldnotbutbesensibleofthebizarreconditionsforalovemeeting。

Theplacelonely，thetimenight，themanyoungandstrong，andfulloflifeandhopeandambition；thewoman，beautifulandardentthoughshewas，awomanseeminglydead，clothedintheshroudinwhichshehadbeenwrappedwhenlyinginhertombinthecryptoftheoldchurch。

Whilstweweretogether，anyhow，therewaslittlethoughtofthekind；noreasoningofanykindonmypart。Lovehasitsownlawsanditsownlogic。Undertheflagstaff，wheretheVissarionbannerwaswonttoflapinthebreeze，shewasinmyarms；hersweetbreathwasonmyface；herheartwasbeatingagainstmyown。Whatneedwasthereforreasonatall？Interarmasilentleges——thevoiceofreasonissilentinthestressofpassion。Deadshemaybe，orUn—

dead——aVampirewithonefootinHellandoneonearth。ButIloveher；andcomewhatmay，hereorhereafter，sheismine。Asmymate，weshallfarealongtogether，whatsoevertheendmaybe，orwheresoeverourpathmaylead。IfsheisindeedtobewonfromthenethermostHell，thenbeminethetask！

Buttogobacktotherecord。WhenIhadoncestartedspeakingtoherinwordsofpassionIcouldnotstop。Ididnotwantto——ifI

could；andshedidnotappeartowishiteither。Cantherebeawoman——aliveordead——whowouldnotwanttoheartheraptureofherloverexpressedtoherwhilstsheisenclosedinhisarms？

Therewasnoattemptatreticenceonmypartnow；ItookitforgrantedthatsheknewallthatIsurmised，and，asshemadeneitherprotestnorcomment，thatsheacceptedmybeliefastoherindeterminateexistence。Sometimeshereyeswouldbeclosed，buteventhentheraptureofherfacewasalmostbeyondbelief。Then，whenthebeautifuleyeswouldopenandgazeonme，thestarsthatwereinthemwouldshineandscintillateasthoughtheywereformedoflivingfire。Shesaidlittle，verylittle；butthoughthewordswerefew，everysyllablewasfraughtwithlove，andwentstraighttotheverycoreofmyheart。

By—and—by，whenourtransporthadcalmedtojoy，IaskedwhenImightnextseeher，andhowandwhereImightfindherwhenIshouldwantto。Shedidnotreplydirectly，but，holdingmecloseinherarms，whisperedinmyearwiththatbreathlesssoftnesswhichisalover’sraptureofspeech：

"Ihavecomehereunderterribledifficulties，notonlybecauseI

loveyou——andthatwouldbeenough——butbecause，aswellasthejoyofseeingyou，Iwantedtowarnyou。"

"Towarnme！Why？"Iqueried。Herreplycamewithabashfulhesitation，withsomethingofastruggleinit，asofonewhoforsomeulteriorreasonhadtopickherwords：

"Therearedifficultiesanddangersaheadofyou。Youarebesetwiththem；andtheyareallthegreaterbecausetheyare，ofgrimnecessity，hiddenfromyou。Youcannotgoanywhere，lookinanydirection，doanything，sayanything，butitmaybeasignalfordanger。Mydear，itlurkseverywhere——inthelightaswellasinthedarkness；intheopenaswellasinthesecretplaces；fromfriendsaswellasfoes；whenyouareleastprepared；whenyoumayleastexpectit。Oh，Iknowit，andwhatitistoendure；forIshareitforyou——foryourdearsake！"

"Mydarling！"wasallIcouldsay，asIdrewheragainclosertomeandkissedher。Afterabitshewascalmer；seeingthis，Icamebacktothesubjectthatshehad——inpart，atallevents——cometometospeakabout：

"Butifdifficultyanddangerhedgemeinsoeverlastingly，andifI

amtohavenoindicationwhateverofitskindorpurpose，whatcanI

do？GodknowsIwouldwillinglyguardmyself——notonmyownaccount，butforyourdearsake。Ihavenowacausetoliveandbestrong，andtokeepallmyfaculties，sinceitmaymeanmuchtoyou。Ifyoumaynottellmedetails，mayyounotindicatetomesomelineofconduct，ofaction，thatwouldbemostinaccordwithyourwishes——

or，rather，withyourideaofwhatwouldbebest？

Shelookedatmefixedlybeforespeaking——along，purposeful，lovinglookwhichnomanbornofwomancouldmisunderstand。Thenshespokeslowly，deliberately，emphatically：

"Bebold，andfearnot。Betruetoyourself，tome——itisthesamething。Thesearethebestguardsyoucanuse。Yoursafetydoesnotrestwithme。Ah，Iwishitdid！IwishtoGoditdid！"Inmyinnerheartitthrilledmenotmerelytoheartheexpressionofherwish，buttohearherusethenameofGodasshedid。Iunderstandnow，inthecalmofthisplaceandwiththesunlightbeforeme，thatmybeliefastoherbeingallwoman——livingwoman——wasnotquitedead：butthoughatthemomentmyheartdidnotrecognizethedoubt，mybraindid。AndImadeupmymindthatweshouldnotpartthistimeuntilsheknewthatIhadseenher，andwhere；but，despitemyownthoughts，myouterearslistenedgreedilyasshewenton。

"Asforme，youmaynotfindME，but_I_shallfindYOU，besure！

Andnowwemustsay’Good—night，’mydear，mydear！Tellmeonceagainthatyouloveme，foritisasweetnessthatonedoesnotwishtoforego——evenonewhowearssuchagarmentasthis——andrestswhereImustrest。"Asshespokeshehelduppartofhercerementsformetosee。WhatcouldIdobuttakeheronceagaininmyarmsandholdherclose，close。Godknowsitwasallinlove；butitwaspassionatelovewhichsurgedthroughmyeveryveinasIstrainedherdearbodytomine。Butyetthisembracewasnotselfish；itwasnotallanexpressionofmyownpassion。Itwasbasedonpity——thepitywhichistwin—bornwithtruelove。Breathlessfromourkisses，whenpresentlywereleasedeachother，shestoodinagloriousrapture，likeawhitespiritinthemoonlight，andasherlovely，starliteyesseemedtodevourme，shespokeinalanguorousecstasy：

"Oh，howyouloveme！howyouloveme！ItisworthallIhavegonethroughforthis，eventowearingthisterribledrapery。"Andagainshepointedtohershroud。

HerewasmychancetospeakofwhatIknew，andItookit。"Iknow，Iknow。Moreover，Iknowthatawfulresting—place。"

Iwasinterrupted，cutshortinthemidstofmysentence，notbyanyword，butbythefrightenedlookinhereyesandthefear—masteredwayinwhichsheshrankawayfromme。Isupposeinrealityshecouldnotbepalerthanshelookedwhenthecolour—absorbingmoonlightfellonher；butontheinstantallsemblanceoflivingseemedtoshrinkandfallaway，andshelookedwitheyesofdreadasifinIsomeawfulwayheldinthrall。Butforthemovementofthepitifulglance，shewouldhaveseemedofsoullessmarble，sodeadlycolddidshelook。

ThemomentsthatdraggedthemselvesoutwhilstIwaitedforhertospeakseemedendless。Atlengthherwordscameinanawedwhisper，sofaintthateveninthatstillynightIcouldhardlyhearit：

"Youknow——youknowmyresting—place！How——whenwasthat？"Therewasnothingtodonowbuttospeakoutthetruth：

"IwasinthecryptofSt。Sava。Itwasallbyaccident。IwasexploringallaroundtheCastle，andIwentthereinmycourse。I

foundthewindingstairintherockbehindthescreen，andwentdown。

Dear，Ilovedyouwellbeforethatawfulmoment，butthen，evenasthelanternfelltinglingontheglass，mylovemultiplieditself，withpityasafactor。"Shewassilentforafewseconds。Whenshespoke，therewasanewtoneinhervoice：

"Butwereyounotshocked？"

"OfcourseIwas，"Iansweredonthespurofthemoment，andInowthinkwisely。"Shockedishardlytheword。Iwashorrifiedbeyondanythingthatwordscanconveythatyou——YOUshouldhavetosoendure！Ididnotliketoreturn，forIfearedlestmydoingsomightsetsomebarrierbetweenus。ButinduetimeIdidreturnonanotherday。"

"Well？"Hervoicewaslikesweetmusic。

"Ihadanothershockthattime，worsethanbefore，foryouwerenotthere。ThenindeeditwasthatIknewtomyselfhowdearyouwere——

howdearyouaretome。WhilstIlive，you——livingordead——shallalwaysbeinmyheart。"Shebreathedhard。Theelationinhereyesmadethemoutshinethemoonlight，butshesaidnoword。Iwenton：

"Mydear，Ihadcomeintothecryptfullofcourageandhope，thoughIknewwhatdreadfulsightshouldsearmyeyesonceagain。Butwelittleknowwhatmaybeinstoreforus，nomatterwhatweexpect。I

wentoutwithaheartlikewaterfromthatdreadfuldesolation。"

"Oh，howyouloveme，dear！"Cheeredbyherwords，andevenmorebyhertone，Iwentonwithrenewedcourage。Therewasnohalting，nofalteringinmyintentionnow：

"YouandI，mydear，wereordainedforeachother。IcannothelpitthatyouhadalreadysufferedbeforeIknewyou。ItmaybethattheremaybeforyoustillsufferingthatImaynotprevent，endurancethatImaynotshorten；butwhatamancandoisyours。

NotHellitselfwillstopme，ifitbepossiblethatImaywinthroughitstormentswithyouinmyarms！"

"Willnothingstopyou，then？"HerquestionwasbreathedassoftlyasthestrainofanAEolianharp。

"Nothing！"Isaid，andIheardmyownteethsnaptogether。TherewassomethingspeakingwithinmestrongerthanIhadeverknownmyselftobe。Againcameaquery，trembling，quavering，quivering，asthoughtheissuewasofmorethanlifeordeath：

"Notthis？"Sheheldupacorneroftheshroud，andasshesawmyfaceandrealizedtheanswerbeforeIspoke，wenton："Withallitimplies？"

"Notifitwerewroughtofthecereclothsofthedamned！"Therewasalongpause。Hervoicewasmoreresolutewhenshespokeagain。Itrang。Moreover，therewasinitajoyousnote，asofonewhofeelsnewhope：

"Butdoyouknowwhatmensay？Someofthem，thatIamdeadandburied；others，thatIamnotonlydeadandburied，butthatIamoneofthoseunhappybeingsthatmaynotdiethecommondeathofman。

Wholiveonafearfullife—in—death，wherebytheyareharmfultoall。

ThoseunhappyUn—deadwhommencallVampires——wholiveonthebloodoftheliving，andbringeternaldamnationaswellasdeathwiththepoisonoftheirdreadfulkisses！

"Iknowwhatmensaysometimes，"Ianswered。"ButIknowalsowhatmyownheartsays；andIratherchoosetoobeyitscallingthanallthevoicesofthelivingorthedead。Comewhatmay，Iampledgedtoyou。IfitbethatyouroldlifehastoberewonforyououtoftheveryjawsofDeathandHell，IshallkeepthefaithIhavepledged，andthathereIpledgeagain！"AsIfinishedspeakingIsankonmykneesatherfeet，and，puttingmyarmsroundher，drewherclosetome。Hertearsraineddownonmyfaceasshestrokedmyhairwithhersoft，stronghandandwhisperedtome：

"Thisisindeedtobeone。WhatmoreholymarriagecanGodgivetoanyofHiscreatures？"Wewerebothsilentforatime。

IthinkIwasthefirsttorecovermysenses。ThatIdidsowasmanifestbymyaskingher："Whenmaywemeetagain？"——athingIhadneverremembereddoingatanyofourformerpartings。Sheansweredwitharisingandfallingofthevoicethatwasjustaboveawhisper，assoftandcooingasthevoiceofapigeon：

"Thatwillbesoon——assoonasIcanmanageit，besure。Mydear，mydear！"Thelastfourwordsofendearmentshespokeinalowbutprolongedandpiercingtonewhichmademethrillwithdelight。

"Givemesometoken，"Isaid，"thatImayhavealwaysclosetometoeasemyachinghearttillwemeetagain，andeverafter，forlove’ssake！"Hermindseemedtoleaptounderstanding，andwithapurposeallherown。Stoopingforaninstant，shetoreoffwithswift，strongfingersafragmentofhershroud。This，havingkissedit，shehandedtome，whispering：

"Itistimethatwepart。Youmustleavemenow。Takethis，andkeepitforever。IshallbelessunhappyinmyterriblelonelinesswhilstitlastsifIknowthatthismygift，whichforgoodorillisapartofmeasyouknowme，isclosetoyou。Itmaybe，myverydear，thatsomedayyoumaybegladandevenproudofthishour，asI

am。"ShekissedmeasItookit。

"Forlifeordeath，Icarenotwhich，solongasIamwithyou！"I

said，asImovedoff。DescendingtheJacob’sladder，Imademywaydowntherock—hewnpassage。

ThelastthingIsawwasthebeautifulfaceofmyLadyoftheShroudassheleanedovertheedgeoftheopening。Hereyeswerelikeglowingstarsasherlooksfollowedme。Thatlookshallneverfadefrommymemory。

AfterafewagitatingmomentsofthoughtIhalfmechanicallytookmywaydowntothegarden。Openingthegrille，Ienteredmylonelyroom，whichlookedallthemorelonelyforthememoryoftherapturousmomentsundertheFlagstaff。Iwenttobedasoneinadream。ThereIlaytillsunrise——awakeandthinking。

BOOKV：ARITUALATMIDNIGHT

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

June20，1907。

ThetimehasgoneasquicklyasworkcaneffectsinceIsawmyLady。

AsItoldthemountaineers，Rooke，whomIhadsentontheservice，hadmadeacontractforfiftythousandIngis—Malbronrifles，andasmanytonsofammunitionastheFrenchexpertscalculatedtobeafullsupplyforayearofwarfare。Iheardfromhimbyoursecrettelegraphcodethattheorderhadbeencompleted，andthatthegoodswerealreadyontheway。ThemorningafterthemeetingattheFlagstaffIhadwordthatatnightthevessel——onecharteredbyRookeforthepurpose——wouldarriveatVissarionduringthenight。Wewereallexpectation。IhadalwaysnowintheCastleasignallingparty，thesignalsbeingrenewedasfastasthemenweresufficientlyexperttoproceedwiththeirpracticealoneoringroups。Wehopedthateveryfighting—maninthecountrywouldintimebecomeanexpertsignaller。Beyondthese，again，wehavealwaysafewpriests。TheChurchofthecountryisamilitantChurch；itspriestsaresoldiers，itsBishopscommanders。Buttheyallservewhereverthebattlemostneedsthem。Naturallythey，asmenofbrains，arequickeratlearningthantheaveragemountaineers；withtheresultthattheylearntthecodeandthesignallingalmostbyinstinct。Wehavenowatleastonesuchexpertineachcommunityofthem，andshortlythepriestsalonewillbeabletosignal，ifneedbe，forthenation；

thusreleasingforactiveservicethemerelyfighting—man。ThemenatpresentwithmeItookintoconfidenceastothevessel’sarrival，andwewereallreadyforworkwhenthemanonthelookoutattheFlagstaffsentwordthatavesselwithoutlightswascreepingintowardsshore。Weallassembledontherockyedgeofthecreek，andsawherstealupthecreekandgaintheshelteroftheharbour。Whenthishadbeeneffected，weranouttheboomwhichprotectstheopening，andafterthatthegreatarmouredsliding—gateswhichUncleRogerhadhimselfhadmadesoastoprotecttheharbourincaseofneed。

Wethencamewithinandassistedinwarpingthesteamertothesideofthedock。

Rookelookedfit，andwasfulloffireandvigour。Hisresponsibilityandthemerethoughtofwarlikeactionseemedtohaverenewedhisyouth。

Whenwehadarrangedfortheunloadingofthecasesofarmsandammunition，ItookRookeintotheroomwhichwecallmy"office，"

wherehegavemeanaccountofhisdoings。Hehadnotonlysecuredtheriflesandtheammunitionforthem，buthehadpurchasedfromoneofthesmallAmericanRepublicsanarmouredyachtwhichhadbeenespeciallybuiltforwarservice。Hegrewquiteenthusiastic，evenexcited，ashetoldmeofher：

"Sheisthelastwordinnavalconstruction——atorpedoyacht。A

smallcruiser，withturbinesuptodate，oil—fuelled，andfullyarmedwiththelatestandmostperfectweaponsandexplosivesofallkinds。

Thefastestboatafloatto—day。BuiltbyThorneycroft，enginedbyParsons，armouredbyArmstrong，armedbyCrupp。Ifsheevercomesintoaction，itwillbebadforheropponent，forsheneednotfeartotackleanythinglessthanaDreadnought。"

HealsotoldmethatfromthesameGovernment，whosenationhadjustestablishedanunlooked—forpeace，hehadalsopurchasedawholeparkofartilleryoftheverylatestpatterns，andthatforrangeandaccuracythegunswereheldtobesupreme。Thesewouldfollowbeforelong，andwiththemtheirproperammunition，withashiploadofthesametofollowshortlyafter。

Whenhehadtoldmealltherestofhisnews，andhandedmetheaccounts，wewentouttothedocktoseethedebarkationofthewarmaterial。Knowingthatitwasarriving，Ihadsentwordintheafternoontothemountaineerstotellthemtocomeandremoveit。

Theyhadansweredthecall，anditreallyseemedtomethatthewholeofthelandmustthatnighthavebeeninmotion。

Theycameasindividuals，groupingthemselvesastheycamewithinthedefencesoftheCastle；somehadgatheredatfixedpointsontheway。

Theywentsecretlyandinsilence，stealingthroughtheforestslikeghosts，eachpartywhenitgroupedtakingtheplaceofthatwhichhadgoneononeoftheroutesradiatingroundVissarion。Theircomingandgoingwasmorethanghostly。Itwas，indeed，theoutwardmanifestationofaninwardspirit——awholenationdominatedbyonecommonpurpose。

Themeninthesteamerwerenearlyallengineers，mostlyBritish，wellconducted，andtobedependedupon。Rookehadpickedthemseparately，andinthedoinghadusedwellhisgreatexperienceofbothmenandadventurouslife。Thesemenweretoformpartofthearmouredyacht’screwwhensheshouldcomeintotheMediterraneanwaters。Theyandthepriestsandfighting—menintheCastleworkedwelltogether，andwithazealthatwasbeyondpraise。Theheavycasesseemedalmostoftheirownaccordtoleavetheholds，sofastcametheprocessionofthemalongthegangwaysfromdecktodock—

wall。Itwasapartofmydesignthatthearmsshouldbeplacedincentresreadyforlocaldistribution。Insuchacountryasthis，withoutrailwaysorevenroads，thedistributionofwarmaterialinanyquantityisagreatlabour，forithastobedoneindividually，oratleastfromcentres。

Butofthisworkthegreatnumberofmountaineerswhowerearrivingmadelittleaccount。Asfastastheship’scompany，withtheassistanceofthepriestsandfighting—men，placedthecasesonthequay，theengineersopenedthemandlaidthecontentsreadyforportage。Themountaineersseemedtocomeinacontinuousstream；