第15章

"Sobeit，mybeloved。Itrustyoutothefull，evenasyoutrustme。Andthathasbeenproventhisnight，eventomyowndoubtingheart。Ishallwait；andasIknowyouwishit，IshallwaitaspatientlyasIcan。Buttillyoucometomeforgoodandall，letmeseeyouorhearfromyouwhenyoucan。Thetime，dearwife，mustgoheavilywithmeasIthinkofyousufferingandlonely。Sobegoodtome，andletnottoolongatimeelapsebetweenmyglimpsesofhope。And，sweetheart，whenyouDOcometome，itshallbeforever！"Therewassomethingintheintonationofthelastsentence——I

feltitssinceritymyself——someimpliedyearningforapromise，thatmadeherbeautifuleyesswim。Thegloriousstarsinthemwereblurredassheansweredwithafervourwhichseemedtomeasmorethanearthly：

"Forever！Iswearit！"

Withonelongkiss，andastrainingineachothersarms，whichleftmetinglingforlongafterwehadlostsightofeachother，weparted。Istoodandwatchedherasherwhitefigure，glidingthroughthedeepeninggloom，fadedastheforestthickened。Itsurelywasnoopticaldelusionoraphantomofthemindthathershroudedarmwasraisedasthoughinblessingorfarewellbeforethedarknessswallowedherup。

BOOKVI：THEPURSUITINTHEFOREST

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

July3，1907。

Thereisnoanodynebutworktopainoftheheart；andmypainisalloftheheart。IsometimesfeelthatitisratherhardthatwithsomuchtomakemehappyIcannotknowhappiness。HowcanIbehappywhenmywife，whomIfondlylove，andwhoIknowlovesme，issufferinginhorrorandlonelinessofakindwhichisalmostbeyondhumanbelief？However，whatismylossismycountry’sgain，fortheLandoftheBlueMountainsismycountrynow，despitethefactthatI

amstillaloyalsubjectofgoodKingEdward。UncleRogertookcareofthatwhenhesaidIshouldhavetheconsentofthePrivyCouncilbeforeImightbenaturalizedanywhereelse。

WhenIgothomeyesterdaymorningInaturallycouldnotsleep。Theeventsofthenightandthebitterdisappointmentthatfollowedmyexcitingjoymadesuchathingimpossible。WhenIdrewthecurtainoverthewindow，thereflectionofthesunrisewasjustbeginningtotingethehigh—sailingcloudsinfrontofme。Ilaiddownandtriedtorest，butwithoutavail。However，Ischooledmyselftoliestill，andatlast，ifIdidnotsleep，wasatleastquiescent。

Disturbedbyagentletapatthedoor，Isprangupatonceandthrewonadressinggown。Outside，whenIopenedthedoor，wasAuntJanet。

Shewasholdingalightedcandleinherhand，forthoughitwasgettinglightintheopen，thepassageswerestilldark。Whenshesawmesheseemedtobreathemorefreely，andaskedifshemightcomein。

Whilstshesatontheedgeofmybed，inherold—timeway，shesaidinahushedvoice：

"Oh，laddie，laddie，Itrustyerburdenisnotooheavytobear。"

"Myburden！Whatonearthdoyoumean，AuntJanet？"Isaidinreply。

Ididnotwishtocommitmyselfbyadefiniteanswer，foritwasevidentthatshehadbeendreamingorSecondSightingagain。Sherepliedwiththegrimseriousnessusualtoherwhenshetouchedonoccultmatters：

"Isawyourhairtbleeding，laddie。Ikentitwasyours，thoughhowIkentitIdon’tknow。Itlayonastonefloorinthedark，saveforadimbluelightsuchascorpse—lightsare。Onitwasplacedagreatbook，andclosearoundwerescatteredmanystrangethings，amongstthemtwocrownso’flowers——theoneboundwi’silver，theotherwi’gold。Therewasalsoagoldencup，likeachalice，o’erturned。Theredwinetrickledfromitan’mingledwi’yerhairt’sbluid；foronthegreatbookwassomevastdimweightwrappedupinblack，andonitsteppedinturnmanymenallswathedinblack。

An’astheweightofeachcameonitthebluidgushedoutafresh。

Andoh，yerpuirhairt，myladdie，wasquickandleaping，sothatateverybeatitraisedtheblack—cladweight！An’yetthatwasnotall，forhardbystoodatallimperialshapeo’awoman，allarrayedinwhite，wi’agreatveilo’finestlaceworno’erashrood。An’

shewaswhiterthanthesnow，an’fairerthanthemornforbeauty；

thoughadarkwomanshewas，wi’hairliketheraven，an’eyesblackastheseaatnicht，an’therewasstarsinthem。An’ateachbeato’yerpuirbleedinghairtshewrungherwhitehands，an’themanin’

o’hersweetvoicerentmyhairtintwain。Oh，laddie，laddie！whatdoesitmean？"

Imanagedtomurmur："I’msureIdon’tknow，AuntJanet。Isupposeitwasalladream！"

"Adreamitwas，mydear。Adreamoraveesion，whilkamattersnane，fora’sucharewarnin’ssentfraeGod……"Suddenlyshesaidinadifferentvoice：

"Laddie，haeyebeenfausetoanylassie？I’mnoblamin’ye。Foryemenaredifferentfraeuswomen，an’yerregardonrechtandwrangdiffersfromoors。Butoh，laddie，awoman’stearsfa’heavywhenherhairtisforsairwi’theyieldin’tofausewords。’Tisaheavyburdenforonymantocarrywi’himashegoes，an’maywellcausepaintoithersthathefainwouldspare。"Shestopped，andindeadsilencewaitedformetospeak。Ithoughtitwouldbebesttosetherpoorlovingheartatrest，andasIcouldnotdivulgemyspecialsecret，spokeingeneralterms：

"AuntJanet，Iamaman，andhaveledaman’slife，suchasitis。

ButIcantellyou，whohavealwayslovedmeandtaughtmetobetrue，thatinalltheworldthereisnowomanwhomustweepforanyfalsityofmine。Ifclosetherebeanywho，sleepingorwaking，indreamsorvisionsorinreality，weepsbecauseofme，itissurelynotformydoing，butbecauseofsomethingoutsideme。ItmaybethatherheartissorebecauseImustsuffer，asallmenmustinsomedegree；butshedoesnotweepfororthroughanyactofmine。"

Shesighedhappilyatmyassurance，andlookedupthroughhertears，forshewasmuchmoved；andaftertenderlykissingmyforeheadandblessingme，stoleaway。ShewasmoresweetandtenderthanIhavewordstosay，andtheonlyregretthatIhaveinallthatisgoneisthatIhavenotbeenabletobringmywifetoher，andlethershareintheloveshehasforme。Butthat，too，willcome，pleaseGod！

InthemorningIsentamessagetoRookeatOtranto，instructinghimbycodetobringtheyachttoVissarioninthecomingnight。

AlldayIspentingoingaboutamongstthemountaineers，drillingthemandlookingaftertheirarms。ICOULDnotstaystill。Myonlychanceofpeacewastowork，myonlychanceofsleeptotiremyselfout。Unhappily，Iamverystrong，soevenwhenIcamehomeatdarkI

wasquitefresh。However，IfoundacablemessagefromRookethattheyachtwouldarriveatmidnight。

Therewasnoneedtosummonthemountaineers，asthemenintheCastlewouldbesufficienttomakepreparationsfortheyacht’scoming。

LATER。

Theyachthascome。Athalf—pasteleventhelookoutsignalledthatasteamerwithoutlightswascreepingintowardstheCreek。IranouttotheFlagstaff，andsawherstealinlikeaghost。Sheispaintedasteelyblue—grey，anditisalmostimpossibletoseeheratanydistance。Shecertainlygoeswonderfully。Althoughtherewasnotenoughthrobfromtheenginestomartheabsolutestillness，shecameonatafinespeed，andwithinafewminuteswasclosetotheboom。

Ihadonlytimetorundowntogiveorderstodrawbacktheboomwhensheglidedinandstoppeddeadattheharbourwall。Rookesteeredherhimself，andhesaysheneverwasonaboatthatsowellorsoquicklyansweredherhelm。Sheiscertainlyabeauty，andsofarasIcanseeatnightperfectineverydetail。Ipromisemyselfafewpleasanthoursoverherinthedaylight。Themenseemasplendidlot。

ButIdonotfeelsleepy；Idespairofsleepto—night。ButworkdemandsthatIbefitforwhatevermaycome，andsoIshalltrytosleep——torest，atanyrate。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL。——Continued。

July4，1907。

Iwasupwiththefirstrayofsunrise，sobythetimeIhadmybathandwasdressedtherewasamplelight。Iwentdowntothedockatonce，andspentthemorninglookingoverthevessel，whichfullyjustifiesRooke’senthusiasmabouther。Sheisbuiltonlovelylines，andIcanquiteunderstandthatsheisenormouslyfast。HerarmourIcanonlytakeonthespecifications，butherarmamentisreallywonderful。Andtherearenotonlyalltheverynewestdevicesofaggressivewarfare——indeed，shehasthenewestup—to—datetorpedoesandtorpedo—guns——butalsotheold—fashionedrocket—tubes，whichincertainoccasionsaresouseful。ShehaselectricgunsandthelatestMassillonwater—guns，andReinhardtelectro—pneumatic"deliverers"forpyroxilineshells。Sheisevenequippedwithwar—

balloonseasyofexpansion，andwithcompressibleKitsonaeroplanes。

Idon’tsupposethatthereisanythingquitelikeherintheworld。

Thecrewareworthyofher。Ican’timaginewhereRookepickedupsuchasplendidlotofmen。Theyarenearlyallman—of—warsmen；ofvariousnationalities，butmostlyBritish。Allyoungmen——theoldestofthemhasn’tgotintotheforties——and，sofarasIcanlearn，allexpertsofonekindoranotherinsomespecialsubjectofwarfare。

Itwillgohardwithme，butIshallkeepthemtogether。

HowIgotthroughtherestofthedayIknownot。Itriedhardnottocreateanydomestictroublebymymanner，lestAuntJanetshould，afterherluriddreamorvisionoflastnight，attachsomenewimportancetoit。IthinkIsucceeded，forshedidnot，sofarasI

couldtell，takeanyspecialnoticeofme。Wepartedasusualathalf—pastten，andIcamehereandmadethisentryinmyjournal。I

ammorerestlessthaneverto—night，andnowonder。IwouldgiveanythingtobeabletopayavisittoSt。Sava’s，andseemywifeagain——ifitwereonlysleepinginhertomb。ButIdarenotdoeventhat，lestsheshouldcometoseemehere，andIshouldmissher。SoIhavedonewhatIcan。TheglassdoortotheTerraceisopen，sothatshecanenteratonceifshecomes。Thefireislit，andtheroomiswarm。Thereisfoodreadyincasesheshouldcareforit。I

haveplentyoflightintheroom，sothatthroughtheaperturewhereIhavenotfullydrawnthecurtaintheremaybelighttoguideher。

Oh，howthetimedrags！Theclockhasstruckmidnight。One，two！

Thankgoodness，itwillshortlybedawn，andtheactivityofthedaymaybegin！Workmayagainprove，inaway，tobeananodyne。InthemeantimeImustwriteon，lestdespairoverwhelmme。

OnceduringthenightIthoughtIheardafootstepoutside。Irushedtothewindowandlookedout，buttherewasnothingtosee，nosoundtohear。Thatwasalittleafteroneo’clock。Ifearedtogooutside，lestthatshouldalarmher；soIcamebacktomytable。I

couldnotwrite，butIsatasifwritingforawhile。ButIcouldnotstandit，soroseandwalkedabouttheroom。AsIwalkedIfeltthatmyLady——itgivesmeapangeverytimeIrememberthatIdonotknowevenhername——wasnotquitesofarawayfromme。Itmademyheartbeattothinkthatitmightmeanthatshewascomingtome。

CouldnotIaswellasAuntJanethavealittleSecondSight！Iwenttowardsthewindow，and，standingbehindthecurtain，listened。FarawayIthoughtIheardacry，andranoutontheTerrace；buttherewasnosoundtobeheard，andnosignofanylivingthinganywhere；

soItookitforgrantedthatitwasthecryofsomenightbird，andcamebacktomyroom，andwroteatmyjournaltillIwascalm。I

thinkmynervesmustbegettingoutoforder，wheneverysoundofthenightseemstohaveaspecialmeaningforme。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

July7，1907

Whenthegreyofthemorningcame，Igaveuphopeofmywifeappearing，andmadeupmymindthat，sosoonasIcouldgetawaywithoutexcitingAuntJanet’sattention，IwouldgotoSt。Sava’s。I

alwayseatagoodbreakfast，anddidIforgoitaltogether，itwouldbesuretoexcitehercuriosity——athingIdonotwishatpresent。

Astherewasstilltimetowait，IlaydownonmybedasIwas，and——

suchisthewayofFate——shortlyfellasleep。

Iwasawakenedbyaterrificclatteringatmydoor。WhenIopeneditIfoundalittlegroupofservants，veryapologeticatawakingmewithoutinstructions。ThechiefofthemexplainedthatayoungpriesthadcomefromtheVladikawithamessagesourgentthatheinsistedonseeingmeimmediatelyatallhazards。Icameoutatonce，andfoundhiminthehalloftheCastle，standingbeforethegreatfire，whichwasalwayslitintheearlymorning。Hehadaletterinhishand，butbeforegivingittomehesaid：

"IamsentbytheVladika，whopressedonmethatIwasnottoloseasingleinstantinseeingyou；thattimeisofgoldenprice——nay，beyondprice。Thisletter，amongstotherthings，vouchesforme。A

terriblemisfortunehasoccurred。Thedaughterofourleaderhasdisappearedduringlastnight——thesame，hecommandedmetoremindyou，thathespokeofatthemeetingwhenhewouldnotletthemountaineersfiretheirguns。Nosignofhercanbefound，anditisbelievedthatshehasbeencarriedoffbytheemissariesoftheSultanofTurkey，whooncebeforebroughtournationstothevergeofwarbydemandingherasawife。IwasalsotosaythattheVladikaPlamenacwouldhavecomehimself，butthatitwasnecessarythatheshouldatonceconsultwiththeArchbishop，StevanPalealogue，astowhatstepisbesttotakeinthisdirecalamity。Hehassentoutasearch—partyundertheArchimandriteofSpazac，PetrofVlastimir，whoistocomeonherewithanynewshecanget，asyouhavecommandofthesignalling，andcanbestspreadthenews。Heknowsthatyou，Gospodar，areinyourgreatheartoneofourcompatriots，andthatyouhavealreadyprovedyourfriendshipbymanyeffortstostrengthenourhandsforwar。Andasagreatcompatriot，hecallsonyoutoaidusinourneed。"Hethenhandedmetheletter，andstoodbyrespectfullywhilstIbrokethesealandreadit。Itwaswritteningreathaste，andsignedbytheVladika。

"Comewithusnowinournation’speril。Helpustorescuewhatwemostadore，andhenceforthweshallholdyouinourhearts。YoushalllearnhowthemenoftheBlueMountainscanlovefaithandvalour。Come！"

Thiswasataskindeed——adutyworthyofanyman。ItthrilledmetothecoretoknowthatthemenoftheBlueMountainshadcalledonmeintheirdireneed。ItwokeallthefightinginstinctofmyVikingforbears，andIvowedinmyheartthattheyshouldbesatisfiedwithmywork。Icalledtomethecorpsofsignallerswhowereinthehouse，andledthemtotheCastleroof，takingwithmetheyoungmessenger—priest。

"Comewithme，"Isaidtohim，"andseehowIanswertheVladika’scommand。"

TheNationalflagwasrunup——theestablishedsignalthatthenationwasinneed。Instantlyoneverysummitnearandfarwasseentheflutterofanansweringflag。Quicklyfollowedthesignalthatcommandedthecalltoarms。

OnebyoneIgavethesignallersordersinquicksuccession，fortheplanofsearchunfoldeditselftomeasIwenton。Thearmsofthesemaphorewhirledinawaythatmadetheyoungprieststare。Onebyone，astheytooktheirorders，thesignallersseemedtocatchfire。

Instinctivelytheyunderstoodtheplan，andworkedlikedemigods。

Theyknewthatsowidespreadamovementhaditsbestchanceinrapidityandinunityofaction。

FromtheforestwhichlayinsightoftheCastlecameawildcheering，whichseemedtointerprettheformerstillnessofthehills。Itwasgoodtofeelthatthosewhosawthesignals——typesofmany——wereready。Isawthelookofexpectationonthefaceofthemessenger—priest，andrejoicedattheglowthatcameasIturnedtohimtospeak。Ofcourse，hewantedtoknowsomethingofwhatwasgoingon。IsawtheflashingofmyowneyesreflectedinhisasI

spoke：

"TelltheVladikathatwithinaminuteofhismessagebeingreadtheLandoftheBlueMountainswasawake。Themountaineersarealreadymarching，andbeforethesunishightherewillbealineofguardswithinhailofeachotherroundthewholefrontier——fromAngusatoIlsin；fromIlsintoBajana；fromBajanatoIspazar；fromIspazartoVolok；fromVoloktoTatra；fromTatratoDomitan；fromDomitantoGravaja；andfromGravajabacktoAngusa。Thelineisdouble。Theoldmenkeepguardontheline，andtheyoungmenadvance。Thesewillcloseinattheadvancingline，sothatnothingcanescapethem。

Theywillcovermountain—topandforestdepth，andwillcloseinfinallyontheCastlehere，whichtheycanbeholdfromafar。Myownyachtishere，andwillsweepthecoastfromendtoend。Itisthefastestboatafloat，andarmedagainstasquadron。Herewillallsignalscome。Inanhourwherewestandwillbeasignalbureau，wheretrainedeyeswillwatchnightanddaytillthelostonehasbeenfoundandtheoutragehasbeenavenged。Therobbersareevennowwithinaringofsteel，andcannotescape。"

Theyoungpriest，allonfire，sprangonthebattlementsandshoutedtothecrowd，whichwasmassingroundtheCastleinthegardensfarbelow。Theforestwasgivingupitsunitstilltheyseemedlikethenucleusofanarmy。Themencheeredlustily，tillthesoundswunghighuptousliketheroaringofawintersea。Withbaredheadstheywerecrying：

"GodandtheBlueMountains！GodandtheBlueMountains！"

IrandowntothemasquicklyasIcould，andbegantoissuetheirinstructions。Withinatimetobecomputedbyminutesthewholenumber，organizedbysections，hadstartedtoscourtheneighbouringmountains。Atfirsttheyhadonlyunderstoodthecalltoarmsforgeneralsafety。Butwhentheylearnedthatthedaughterofachiefhadbeencaptured，theysimplywentmad。Fromsomethingwhichthemessengerfirstsaid，butwhichIcouldnotcatchordidnotunderstand，theblowseemedtohaveforthemsomesortofpersonalsignificancewhichwroughtthemtoafrenzy。

Whenthebulkofthemenhaddisappeared，ItookwithmeafewofmyownmenandseveralofthemountaineerswhomIhadaskedtoremain，andtogetherwewenttothehiddenravinewhichIknew。Wefoundtheplaceempty；buttherewereunmistakablesignsthatapartyofmenhadbeenencampedthereforseveraldays。Someofourmen，whowereskilledinwoodcraftandinsignsgenerally，agreedthattheremusthavebeensometwentyofthem。Astheycouldnotfindanytraileithercomingtoorgoingfromtheplace，theycametotheconclusionthattheymusthavecomeseparatelyfromdifferentdirectionsandgatheredthere，andthattheymusthavedepartedinsomethingofthesamemysteriousway。

However，thiswas，atanyrate，somesortofabeginning，andthemenseparated，havingagreedamongstthemselvestomakeawidecastroundtheplaceinthesearchfortracks。Whoevershouldfindatrailwastofollowwithatleastonecomrade，andwhentherewasanydefinitenews，itwastobesignalledtotheCastle。

Imyselfreturnedatonce，andsetthesignallerstoworktospreadamongstourownpeoplesuchnewsaswehad。

WhenpresentlysuchdiscoveriesashadbeenmadeweresignalledwithflagstotheCastle，itwasfoundthatthemaraudershad，intheirflight，followedastrangelyzigzagcourse。Itwasevidentthat，intryingtobafflepursuit，theyhadtriedtoavoidplaceswhichtheythoughtmightbedangeroustothem。Thismayhavebeensimplyamethodtodisconcertpursuit。Ifso，itwas，inameasure，excellent，fornoneofthoseimmediatelyfollowingcouldpossiblytellinwhatdirectiontheywereheading。Itwasonlywhenweworkedthecourseonthegreatmapinthesignaller’sroom（whichwastheoldguardroomoftheCastle）thatwecouldgetaninklingofthegeneraldirectionoftheirflight。Thisgaveaddedtroubletothepursuit；forthemenwhofollowed，beingignorantoftheirgeneralintent，couldnotevertakechancetoheadthemoff，buthadtobereadytofollowinanyoreverydirection。Inthismannerthepursuitwasaltogetherasternchase，andthereforeboundtobealongone。

Asatpresentwecouldnotdoanythingtilltheintendedroutewasmoremarked，Ileftthesignallingcorpstothetaskofreceivingandgivinginformationtothemovingbands，sothat，ifoccasionserved，theymightheadoffthemarauders。ImyselftookRooke，ascaptainoftheyacht，andsweptoutofthecreek。WeranupnorthtoDalairi，thendownsouthtoOlesso，andcamebacktoVissarion。Wesawnothingsuspiciousexcept，farofftotheextremesouthward，onewarshipwhichflewnoflag。Rooke，however，whoseemedtoknowshipsbyinstinct，saidshewasaTurk；soonourreturnwesignalledalongthewholeshoretowatchher。RookeheldTheLady——whichwasthenameIhadgiventhearmouredyacht——inreadinesstodartoutincaseanythingsuspiciouswasreported。Hewasnottostandonanyceremony，butifnecessarytoattack。Wedidnotintendtoloseapointinthisdesperatestrugglewhichwehadundertaken。Wehadplacedindifferentlikelyspotsacoupleofourownmentolookafterthesignalling。

WhenIgotbackIfoundthattherouteofthefugitives，whohadnowjoinedintooneparty，hadbeendefinitelyascertained。Theyhadgonesouth，butmanifestlytakingalarmfromtheadvancinglineofguards，hadheadedupagaintothenorth—east，wherethecountrywasbroaderandthemountainswilderandlessinhabited。

Forthwith，leavingthesignallingaltogetherinthehandsofthefightingpriests，Itookasmallchosenbandofthemountaineersofourowndistrict，andmade，withallthespeedwecould，tocutacrossthetrackofthefugitivesalittleaheadofthem。TheArchimandrite（Abbot）ofSpazac，whohadjustarrived，camewithus。

Heisasplendidman——arealfighteraswellasaholycleric，asgoodwithhishandjaraswithhisBible，andarunnertobeattheband。Themaraudersweregoingatafearfulpace，consideringthattheywereallafoot；sowehadtogofastalso！Amongstthesemountainsthereisnoothermeansofprogressing。OurownmenweresoaflamewithardourthatIcouldnotbutnoticethatthey，morethananyoftheotherswhomIhadseen，hadsomespecialcauseforconcern。

WhenImentionedittotheArchimandrite，whomovedbymyside，heanswered：

"Allnaturalenough；theyarenotonlyfightingfortheircountry，butfortheirown！"Ididnotquiteunderstandhisanswer，andsobegantoaskhimsomequestions，totheeffectthatIsoonbegantounderstandagooddealmorethanhedid。

LetterfromArchbishopStevanPalealogue，HeadoftheEasternChurchoftheBlueMountains，totheLadyJanetMacKelpie，Vissarion。

WrittenJuly9，1907。

HONOUREDLADY，AsyouwishforanunderstandingregardingthelatelamentableoccurrenceinwhichsomuchdangerwasincurredtothisourLandoftheBlueMountains，andonedeartous，IsendthesewordsbyrequestoftheGospodarRupert，belovedofourmountaineers。

WhentheVoivodePeterVissarionmadehisjourneytothegreatnationtowhomwelookedinourhourofneed，itwasnecessarythatheshouldgoinsecret。TheTurkwasatourgates，andfullofthemaliceofbaffledgreed。AlreadyhehadtriedtoarrangeamarriagewiththeVoivodin，sothatintimetocomehe，asherhusband，mighthaveestablishedaclaimtotheinheritanceoftheland。Wellheknew，asdoallmen，thattheBlueMountaineersoweallegiancetononethattheythemselvesdonotappointtorulership。Thishasbeenthehistoryinthepast。Butnowandagainanindividualhasarisenorcometothefrontadaptedpersonallyforsuchgovernmentasthislandrequires。AndsotheLadyTeuta，VoivodinoftheBlueMountains，wasputforherproperguardinginthechargeofmyselfasHeadoftheEasternChurchintheLandoftheBlueMountains，stepsbeingtakeninsuchwisethatnocaptureofhercouldbeeffectedbyunscrupulousenemiesofthisourLand。Thistaskandguardianshipwasgladlyheldasanhonourbyallconcerned。FortheVoivodinTeutaofVissarionmustbetakenasrepresentinginherownpersonthegloryoftheoldSerbrace，inasmuchasbeingtheonlychildoftheVoivodeVissarion，lastmaleofhisprincelyrace——theracewhichever，duringthetencenturiesofourhistory，unflinchinglygavelifeandalltheyheldfortheprotection，safety，andwell—beingoftheLandoftheBlueMountains。Neverduringthosecenturieshadanyoneoftheracebeenknowntofailinpatriotism，ortodrawbackfromanylossorhardshipenjoinedbyhighdutyorstressofneed。

Moreover，thiswastheraceofthatfirstVoivodeVissarion，ofwhom，inlegend，itwasprophesiedthathe——onceknownas"TheSwordofFreedom，"agiantamongstmen——wouldsomeday，whenthenationhadneedofhim，comeforthfromhiswater—tombinthelostLakeofReo，andleadoncemorethemenoftheBlueMountainstolastingvictory。