第16章

Thisnoblerace，then，hadcometobeknownasthelasthopeoftheLand。SothatwhentheVoivodewasawayonhiscountry’sservice，hisdaughtershouldbecloselyguarded。SoonaftertheVoivodehadgone，itwasreportedthathemightbelongdelayedinhisdiplomacies，andalsoinstudyingthesystemofConstitutionalMonarchy，forwhichithadbeenhopedtoexchangeourimperfectpoliticalsystem。Imaysayinteraliathathewasmentionedastobethefirstkingwhenthenewconstitutionshouldhavebeenarranged。

Thenagreatmisfortunecameonus；aterriblegriefovershadowedtheland。Afterashortillness，theVoivodinTeutaVissariondiedmysteriouslyofamysteriousailment。ThegriefofthemountaineerswassogreatthatitbecamenecessaryforthegoverningCounciltowarnthemnottoallowtheirsorrowtobeseen。Itwasimperativelynecessarythatthefactofherdeathshouldbekeptsecret。Forthereweredangersanddifficultiesofseveralkinds。Inthefirstplaceitwasadvisablethatevenherfathershouldbekeptinignoranceofhisterribleloss。Itwaswellknownthatheheldherastheverycoreofhisheartandthatifheshouldhearofherdeath，hewouldbetoomuchprostratedtobeabletodotheintricateanddelicateworkwhichhehadundertaken。Nay，more：hewouldneverremainafaroff，underthesadcircumstances，butwouldstraightwayreturn，soastobeinthelandwhereshelay。Thensuspicionswouldcropup，andthetruthmustshortlybeknownafield，withtheinevitableresultthattheLandwouldbecometheverycentreofawarofmanynations。

Inthesecondplace，iftheTurksweretoknowthattheraceofVissarionwasbecomingextinct，thiswouldencouragethemtofurtheraggression，whichwouldbecomeimmediateshouldtheyfindoutthattheVoivodewashimselfaway。Itwaswellknownthattheywerealreadyonlysuspendinghostilitiesuntilafittingopportunityshouldarise。Theirdesireforaggressionhadbecomeacuteaftertherefusalofthenation，andofthegirlherself，thatsheshouldbecomeawifeoftheSultan。

ThedeadgirlhadbeenburiedintheCryptofthechurchofSt。Sava，anddayafterdayandnightafternight，singlyandinparties，thesorrowingmountaineershadcometopaydevotionandreverenceathertomb。SomanyhadwishedtohavealastglimpseofherfacethattheVladikahad，withmyownconsentasArchbishop，arrangedforaglasscovertobeputoverthestonecoffinwhereinherbodylay。

Afteralittletime，however，therecameabelieftoallconcernedintheguardingofthebody——these，ofcourse，beingthepriestsofvariousdegreesofdignityappointedtothetask——thattheVoivodinwasnotreallydead，butonlyinastrangely—prolongedtrance。

Thereuponanewcomplicationarose。Ourmountaineersare，asperhapsyouknow，bynaturedeeplysuspicious——acharacteristicofallbraveandself—sacrificingpeoplewhoarejealousoftheirnobleheritage。

Having，astheybelieved，seenthegirldead，theymightnotbewillingtoacceptthefactofherbeingalive。Theymightevenimaginethattherewasonfootsomedeep，darkplotwhichwas，ormightbe，amenace，noworhereafter，totheirindependence。Inanycase，therewouldbecertaintobetwopartiesonthesubject，adangerousanddeplorablethinginthepresentconditionofaffairs。

Asthetrance，orcatalepsy，whateveritwas，continuedformanydays，therehadbeenampletimefortheleadersoftheCouncil，theVladika，thepriesthoodrepresentedbytheArchimandriteofSpazac，myselfasArchbishopandguardianoftheVoivodininherfather’sabsence，toconsultastoapolicytobeobservedincaseofthegirlawaking。Forinsuchcasethedifficultyofthesituationwouldbemultipliedindefinitely。InthesecretchambersofSt。Sava’swehadmanysecretmeetings，andwerefinallyconvergingonagreementwhentheendofthetrancecame。

Thegirlawoke！

Shewas，ofcourse，terriblyfrightenedwhenshefoundherselfinatombintheCrypt。Itwastrulyfortunatethatthegreatcandlesaroundhertombhadbeenkeptlighted，fortheirlightmitigatedthehorroroftheplace。Hadshewakedindarkness，herreasonmighthavebecomeunseated。

Shewas，however，averynoblegirl；brave，withextraordinarywill，andresolution，andself—command，andpowerofendurance。Whenshehadbeentakenintooneofthesecretchambersofthechurch，whereshewaswarmedandcaredfor，ahurriedmeetingwasheldbytheVladika，myself，andthechiefsoftheNationalCouncil。Wordhadbeenatoncesenttomeofthejoyfulnewsofherrecovery；andwiththeutmosthasteIcame，arrivingintimetotakeapartintheCouncil。

AtthemeetingtheVoivodinwasherselfpresent，andfullconfidenceofthesituationwasmadetoher。Sheherselfproposedthatthebeliefinherdeathshouldbeallowedtoprevailuntilthereturnofherfather，whenallcouldbeeffectivelymadeclear。Tothisendsheundertooktosubmittotheterrificstrainwhichsuchaproceedingwouldinvolve。Atfirstwemencouldnotbelievethatanywomancouldgothroughwithsuchatask，andsomeofusdidnothesitatetovoiceourdoubts——ourdisbelief。Butshestoodtoherguns，andactuallydown—facedus。Atthelastwe，rememberingthingsthathadbeendone，thoughlongagesago，byothersofherrace，cametobelievenotmerelyinherself—beliefandintention，buteveninthefeasibilityofherplan。Shetookthemostsolemnoathsnottobetraythesecretunderanypossiblestress。

ThepriesthoodundertookthroughtheVladikaandmyselftofurtheraghostlybeliefamongstthemountaineerswhichwouldtendtopreventatoocloseortoopersistentobservation。TheVampirelegendwasspreadasaprotectionagainstpartialdiscoverybyanymischance，andotherweirdbeliefsweresetafootandfostered。ArrangementsweremadethatonlyoncertaindayswerethemountaineerstobeadmittedtotheCrypt，sheagreeingthatfortheseoccasionsshewastotakeopiatesorcarryoutanyotheraidtothepreservationofthesecret。Shewaswilling，sheimpresseduponus，tomakeanypersonalsacrificewhichmightbedeemednecessaryforthecarryingoutherfather’staskforthegoodofthenation。

Ofcourse，shehadatfirstterriblefrightslyingaloneinthehorroroftheCrypt。Butafteratimetheterrorsofthesituation，iftheydidnotcease，weremitigated。TherearesecretcavernsofftheCrypt，whereinintroubloustimesthepriestsandothersofhighplacehavefoundsaferetreat。OneofthesewaspreparedfortheVoivodin，andtheresheremained，exceptforsuchtimesasshewasonshow——andcertainothertimesofwhichIshalltellyou。Provisionwasmadeforthepossibilityofanyaccidentalvisittothechurch。

Atsuchtimes，warnedbyanautomaticsignalfromtheopeningdoor，shewastotakeherplaceinthetomb。Themechanismwassoarrangedthatthemeanstoreplacetheglasscover，andtotaketheopiate，weretherereadytoherhand。Therewastobealwaysawatchofpriestsatnightinthechurch，toguardherfromghostlyfearsaswellasfrommorephysicaldangers；andifshewasactuallyinhertomb，itwastobevisitedatcertainintervals。Eventhedraperieswhichcoveredherinthesarcophaguswererestedonabridgeplacedfromsidetosidejustaboveher，soastohidetherisingandfallingofherbosomasshesleptunderthenarcotic。

Afterawhiletheprolongedstrainbegantotellsomuchonherthatitwasdecidedthatsheshouldtakenowandagainexerciseoutofdoors。Thiswasnotdifficult，forwhentheVampirestorywhichwehadspreadbegantobewidelyknown，herbeingseenwouldbeacceptedasaproofofitstruth。Still，astherewasacertaindangerinherbeingseenatall，wethoughtitnecessarytoexactfromherasolemnoaththatsolongashersadtasklastedsheshouldundernocircumstanceseverwearanydressbuthershroud——thisbeingtheonlywaytoinsuresecrecyandtoprevailagainstaccident。

ThereisasecretwayfromtheCrypttoaseacavern，whoseentranceisathigh—tideunderthewater—lineatthebaseofthecliffonwhichthechurchisbuilt。Aboat，shapedlikeacoffin，wasprovidedforher；andinthisshewasaccustomedtopassacrossthecreekwhenevershewishedtomakeexcursion。Itwasanexcellentdevice，andmostefficaciousindisseminatingtheVampirebelief。

ThisstateofthingshadnowlastedfrombeforethetimewhentheGospodarRupertcametoVissarionuptothedayofthearrivalofthearmouredyacht。

Thatnightthepriestonduty，ongoinghisroundoftheCryptjustbeforedawn，foundthetombempty。Hecalledtheothers，andtheymadefullsearch。Theboatwasgonefromthecavern，butonmakingsearchtheyfounditonthefarthersideofthecreek，closetothegardenstairs。Beyondthistheycoulddiscovernothing。Sheseemedtohavedisappearedwithoutleavingatrace。

StraightwaytheywenttotheVladika，andsignalledtomebythefire—signalatthemonasteryatAstrag，whereIthenwas。Itookabandofmountaineerswithme，andsetouttoscourthecountry。ButbeforegoingIsentanurgentmessagetotheGospodarRupert，askinghim，whoshowedsomuchinterestandlovetoourLand，tohelpusinourtrouble。He，ofcourse，knewnothingthenofallhavenowtoldyou。Nevertheless，hedevotedhimselfwhole—heartedlytoourneeds——

asdoubtlessyouknow。

ButthetimehadnowcomeclosewhentheVoivodeVissarionwasabouttoreturnfromhismission；andweofthecouncilofhisdaughter’sguardianshipwerebeginningtoarrangematterssothatathisreturnthegoodnewsofherbeingstillalivecouldbemadepublic。Withherfatherpresenttovouchforher，noquestionastotruthcouldarise。

ButbysomemeanstheTurkish"BureauofSpies"musthavegotknowledgeofthefactalready。Tostealadeadbodyforthepurposeoflaterestablishingafictitiousclaimwouldhavebeenanenterpriseevenmoredesperatethanthatalreadyundertaken。Weinferredfrommanysigns，madeknowntousinaninvestigation，thatadaringpartyoftheSultan’semissarieshadmadeasecretincursionwiththeobjectofkidnappingtheVoivodin。TheymusthavebeenboldofheartandstrongofresourcetoentertheLandoftheBlueMountainsonanyerrand，letalonesuchadesperateoneasthis。ForcenturieswehavebeenteachingtheTurkthroughbitterlessonsthatitisneitherasafetasknoraneasyonetomakeincursionhere。

Howtheydiditweknownot——atpresent；butentertheydid，and，afterwaitinginsomesecrethiding—placeforafavourableopportunity，securedtheirprey。WeknownotevennowwhethertheyhadfoundentrancetotheCryptandstole，astheythought，thedeadbody，orwhether，bysomediremischance，theyfoundherabroad——

underherdisguiseasaghost。Atanyrate，theyhadcapturedher，andthroughdeviouswaysamongstthemountainswerebearingherbacktoTurkey。ItwasmanifestthatwhenshewasonTurkishsoiltheSultanwouldforceamarriageonhersoaseventuallytosecureforhimselforhissuccessorsasagainstallothernationsaclaimforthesuzeraintyorguardianshipoftheBlueMountains。

SuchwasthestateofaffairswhentheGospodarRupertthrewhimselfintothepursuitwithfieryzealandtheBerserkpassionwhichheinheritedfromVikingancestors，whenceofoldcame"TheSwordofFreedom"himself。

ButatthatverytimewasanotherpossibilitywhichtheGospodarwashimselfthefirsttorealize。FailingthegettingtheVoivodinsafetoTurkishsoil，theravishersmightkillher！ThiswouldbeentirelyinaccordwiththebasetraditionsandhistoryoftheMoslems。So，too，itwouldaccordwithTurkishcustomsandtheSultan’spresentdesires。Itwould，initsway，benefittheultimatestrategeticendsofTurkey。ForwereoncetheVissarionraceatanend，thesubjectionoftheLandoftheBlueMountainsmight，intheirview，beaneasiertaskthanithadyetbeenfoundtobe。

Such，illustriouslady，weretheconditionsofaffairswhentheGospodarRupertfirstdrewhishandjarfortheBlueMountainsandwhatitheldmostdear。

PALEALOGUE，ArchbishopoftheEasternChurch，intheLandoftheBlueMountains。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

July8，1907。

Iwonderifeverinthelong，strangehistoryoftheworldhadtherecometoanyothersuchgladtidingsascametome——andeventhenratherinferentiallythandirectly——fromtheArchimandrite’sanswerstomyquestioning。HappilyIwasabletorestrainmyself，orI

shouldhavecreatedsomestrangeconfusionwhichmighthaveevokeddistrust，andwouldcertainlyhavehamperedusinourpursuit。ForalittleIcouldhardlyacceptthetruthwhichwoveitselfthroughmybrainasthetrueinwardnessofeachfactcamehometomeandtookitsplaceinthewholefabric。Buteventhemostwelcometruthhastobeacceptedsometimebyevenadoubtingheart。Myheart，whateveritmayhavebeen，wasnotthenadoubtingheart，butavery，verygratefulone。Itwasonlythesplendidmagnitudeofthetruthwhichforbadeitsimmediateacceptance。Icouldhaveshoutedforjoy，andonlystilledmyselfbykeepingmythoughtsfixedonthedangerwhichmywifewasin。Mywife！Mywife！NotaVampire；notapoorharassedcreaturedoomedtoterriblewoe，butasplendidwoman，bravebeyondbelief，patrioticinawaywhichhasbutfewpeerseveninthewidehistoryofbravery！Ibegantounderstandthetruemeaningofthestrangeoccurrencesthathavecomeintomylife。

Eventheoriginandpurposeofthatfirststrangevisittomyroombecameclear。NowonderthatthegirlcouldmoveabouttheCastleinsomysteriousamanner。Shehadlivedthereallherlife，andwasfamiliarwiththesecretwaysofentranceandexit。Ihadalwaysbelievedthattheplacemusthavebeenhoneycombedwithsecretpassages。Nowonderthatshecouldfindawaytothebattlements，mysterioustoeverybodyelse。NowonderthatshecouldmeetmeattheFlagstaffwhenshesodesired。

TosaythatIwasinatumultwouldbetobutfaintlyexpressmycondition。Iwasraptintoaheavenofdelightwhichhadnomeasureinallmyadventurouslife——theliftingoftheveilwhichshowedthatmywife——mine——woninallsincerityintheveryteethofappallingdifficultiesanddangers——wasnoVampire，nocorpse，noghostorphantom，butarealwomanoffleshandblood，ofaffection，andlove，andpassion。Nowatlastwouldmylovebecrownedindeedwhen，havingrescuedherfromthemarauders，Ishouldbearhertomyownhome，whereshewouldliveandreigninpeaceandcomfortandhonour，andinloveandwifelyhappinessifIcouldachievesuchablessingforher——andformyself。

Buthereadreadfulthoughtflashedacrossme，whichinaninstantturnedmyjoytodespair，mythrobbinghearttoice：

"Assheisarealwoman，sheisingreaterdangerthaneverinthehandsofTurkishruffians。Tothemawomanisinanycasenomorethanasheep；andiftheycannotbringhertotheharemoftheSultan，theymaydeemitthenextwiseststeptokillher。Inthatway，too，theymightfindabetterchanceofescape。Onceridofherthepartycouldseparate，andtheremightbeachanceofsomeofthemfindingescapeasindividualsthatwouldnotexistforaparty。Buteveniftheydidnotkillher，toescapewithherwouldbetocondemnhertotheworstfateofalltheharemoftheTurk！Lifelongmiseryanddespair——howeverlongthatlifemightbe——mustbethelotofaChristianwomandoomedtosuchalot。Andtoher，justhappilywedded，andaftershehadservedhercountryinsuchanoblewayasshehaddone，thatdreadfullifeofshamefulslaverywouldbeamiserybeyondbelief。

"Shemustberescued——andquickly！Themaraudersmustbecaughtsoon，andsuddenly，sothattheymayhaveneithertimenoropportunitytoharmher，astheywouldbecertaintodoiftheyhavewarningofimmediatedanger。

"On！on！"

And"on"itwasallthroughthatterriblenightaswellaswecouldthroughtheforest。

Itwasaracebetweenthemountaineersandmyselfastowhoshouldbefirst。Iunderstoodnowthefeelingthatanimatedthem，andwhichsingledthemoutevenfromamongsttheirfierycomrades，whenthedangeroftheVoivodinbecameknown。Thesemenwerenomeancontestantseveninsucharace，and，strongasIam，ittookmyutmostefforttokeepaheadofthem。Theywerekeenasleopards，andasswift。Theirliveshadbeenspentamongthemountains，andtheirheartsandsoulsonwereinthechase。Idoubtnotthatifthedeathofanyoneofuscouldhavethroughanymeanseffectedmywife’srelease，weshould，ifnecessary，havefoughtamongstourselvesforthehonour。

Fromthenatureoftheworkbeforeusourpartyhadtokeeptothetopofthehills。Wehadnotonlytokeepobservationontheflyingpartywhomwefollowed，andtopreventthemmakingdiscoveryofus，butwehadtobealwaysinapositiontoreceiveandanswersignalsmadetousfromtheCastle，orsenttousfromothereminences。

LetterfromPetrofVlastimir，ArchimandriteofSpazac，totheLadyJanetMacKelpie，ofVissarion。

WrittenJuly8，1907。

GREATLADY，IamaskedtowritebytheVladika，andhavepermissionoftheArchbishop。IhavethehonouroftransmittingtoyoutherecordofthepursuitoftheTurkishspieswhocarriedofftheVoivodinTeuta，ofthenobleHouseofVissarion。ThepursuitwasundertakenbytheGospodarRupert，whoaskedthatIwouldcomewithhisparty，sincewhathewassogoodastocallmy"greatknowledgeofthecountryanditspeople"mightservemuch。ItistruethatIhavehadmuchknowledgeoftheLandoftheBlueMountainsanditspeople，amongstwhichandwhommywholelifehasbeenpassed。Butinsuchacausenoreasonwasrequired。TherewasnotamanintheBlueMountainswhowouldnothavegivenhislifefortheVoivodinTeuta，andwhentheyheardthatshehadnotbeendead，astheythought，butonlyinatrance，andthatitwasshewhomthemaraudershadcarriedoff，theywereinafrenzy。SowhyshouldI——towhomhasbeengiventhegreattrustoftheMonasteryofSpazac——hesitateatsuchatime？Formyself，Iwantedtohurryon，andtocomeatoncetothefightwithmycountry’sfoes；andwellIknewthattheGospodarRupert，withalion’sheartmeetforhisgiantbody，wouldpressonwithamatchlessspeed。WeoftheBlueMountainsdonotlagwhenourfoesareinfrontofus；mostofalldoweoftheEasternChurchpressonwhentheCrescentwarsagainsttheCross！

Wetookwithusnogearorhamperofanykind；nocoveringsexceptwhatwestoodin；nofood——nothingbutourhandjarsandourrifles，withasufficiencyofammunition。Beforestarting，theGospodargavehurriedordersbysignalfromtheCastletohavefoodandammunitionsenttous（aswemightsignal）bythenearesthamlet。

Itwashighnoonwhenwestarted，onlytenstrong——forourleaderwouldtakenonebutapprovedrunnerswhocouldshootstraightandusethehandjarasitshouldbeused。Soaswewentlight，weexpectedtogofast。BythistimeweknewfromthereportssignalledtoVissarionthattheenemieswerechosenmenofnodespicableprowess。

TheKeeperoftheGreenFlagofIslamiswellserved，andasthoughtheTurkisaninfidelandadog，heissometimesbraveandstrong。

Indeed，exceptwhenhepassestheconfinesoftheBlueMountains，hehasbeenknowntodostirringdeeds。Butasnonewhohavedaredtowanderinamongstourhillseverreturntotheirownland，wemaynotknowofhowtheyspeakathomeoftheirbattleshere。Still，thesemenwereevidentlynottobedespised；andourGospodar，whoisawisemanaswellasavaliant，warnedustobeprudent，andnottodespiseourfoesovermuch。Wedidashecounselled，andinproofweonlytooktenmen，aswehadonlytwentyagainstus。Butthentherewasatstakemuchbeyondlife，andwetooknorisks。So，asthegreatclockatVissarionclangedofnoon，theeightfastestrunnersoftheBlueMountains，togetherwiththeGospodarRupertandmyself，sweptoutonourjourney。Ithadbeensignalledtousthatthecoursewhichthemaraudershadasyettakenintheirflightwasazigzagone，runningeccentricallyatallsortsofanglesinallsortsofdirections。Butourleaderhadmarkedoutacoursewherewemightinterceptourfoesacrossthemainlineoftheirflight；andtillwehadreachedthatregionwepausednotasecond，butwentasfastaswecouldallnightlong。Indeed，itwasamongstusaraceaswastheOlympicraceofoldGreece，eachonevyingwithhisfellows，thoughnotinjealousemulation，butinhighspirit，tobestservehiscountryandtheVoivodinTeuta。ForemostamongstuswenttheGospodar，bearinghimselfasaPaladinofold，hismightyformpausingfornoobstacle。Perpetuallydidheurgeuson。Hewouldnotstoporpauseforamoment，butoftenasheandIrantogether——

for，lady，inmyyouthIwasthefleetestofallintherace，andeventhatnowcanheadabattalionwhendutycalls——hewouldaskmecertainquestionsastotheLadyTeutaandofthestrangemannerofherreputeddeath，asitwasgraduallyunfoldedinmyanswerstohisquestioning。Andaseachnewphaseofknowledgecametohim，hewouldrushonasonepossessedoffiends：whereatourmountaineers，whoseemtorespectevenfiendsfortheirthoroughness，wouldstrivetokeeppacewithhimtilltheytooseemedworkedintodiabolicpossession。AndImyself，leftaloneinthecalmnessofsacerdotaloffice，forgoteventhat。Withsurgingearsandeyesthatsawblood，Irushedalongwithbestofthem。

ThentrulythespiritofagreatcaptainshoweditselfintheGospodar，forwhenotherswerechargedwithfuryhebegantoforcehimselfintocalm，sothatoutofhispresentself—commandandthememoryofhisexaltedpositioncameaworthystrategyandthoughtforeverycontingencythatmightarise。Sothatwhensomenewdirectionwasrequiredforourguidance，therewasnohesitationinitscoming。

We，ninemenofvaryingkinds，allfeltthatwehadamaster；andso，beingwillingtolimitourselvestostrictobedience，wewerefreetousesuchthoughtsaswellassuchpowersaswehadtothebestadvantageofthedoing。

Wecameacrossthetrailoftheflyingmaraudersonthesecondmorningaftertheabduction，alittlebeforenoon。Itwaseasyenoughtosee，forbythistimethemiscreantswerealltogether，andourpeople，whowerewoodlanders，wereabletotellmuchofthepartythatpassed。Thesewereevidentlyinaterrifiedhurry，fortheyhadtakennoprecautionssuchasarenecessarybafflepursuit，andallofwhichtaketime。Ourforesterssaidthattwowentaheadandtwobehind。Inthecentrewentthemass，movingclosetogether，asthoughsurroundingtheirprisoner。Wecaughtnotevenasingleglimpseher——couldnothave，theyencompassedhersoclosely。Butourforesterssawotherthanthemass；thegroundthathadbeenpassedwasbeforethem。Theyknewthattheprisonerhadgoneunwillingly——nay，more：oneofthemsaidasherosefromhisknees，wherehehadbeenexaminingoftheground：

"Themisbegottendogshavebeenurgingheronwiththeiryataghans！

Therearedropsofblood，thoughtherearenoblood—marksonherfeet。"

WhereupontheGospodarflamedwithpassion。Histeethgroundtogether，andwithadeep—breathed"On，on！"hesprangoffagain，handjarinhand，onthetrack。

Beforelongwesawthepartyinthedistance。Theythiswerefarbelowusinadeepvalley，althoughthetrackoftheirgoingpassedawaytotherighthand。Theyweremakingforthebaseofthegreatcliff，whichrosebeforeusall。Theirreasonwastwofold，aswesoonknew。Faroffdownthevalleywhichtheywerecrossingwesawsignsofpersonscominginhaste，whomustbeofthesearchpartycomingfromthenorth。Thoughthetreeshidthem，wecouldnotmistakethesigns。Iwasmyselfforesterenoughtohavenodoubt。

Again，itwasevidentthattheyoungVoivodincouldtravelnolongeratthedreadfulpaceatwhichtheyhadbeengoing。Thoseblood—markstoldtheirowntale！Theymeanttomakealaststandhereincasetheyshouldbediscovered。

Thenitwasthathe，whoamongstusallhadbeenmostfierceandmostbentonrapidpursuit，becamethemostthecalm。Raisinghishandforsilence——though，Godknows，wewereandhadbeensilentenoughduringthatlongrushthroughtheforest——hesaid，inalow，keenwhisperwhichcutthesilencelikeaknife：

"Myfriends，thetimeiscomeforaction。Godbethanked，whohasnowbroughtusfacetofacewithourfoes！Butwemustbecarefulhere——notonourownaccount，forwewishnothingmorethantorushonandconquerordie——butforthesakeofherwhomyoulove，andwhomI，too，love。Sheisindangerfromanythingwhichmaygivewarningtothosefiends。Iftheyknoworevensuspectforaninstantthatwearenear，theywillmurderher……"

Herehisvoicebrokeforaninstantwiththeextremityofhispassionorthedepthofhisfeeling——Ihardlyknowwhich；Ithinkbothactedonhim。

"Weknowfromthoseblood—markswhattheycando——eventoher。"Histeethgroundtogetheragain，buthewentonwithoutstoppingfurther：

"Letusarrangethebattle。Thoughwearebutlittledistancefromthemasthecrowflies，thewayisfartotravel。Thereis，Icansee，butonepathdowntothevalleyfromthisside。Thattheyhavegoneby，andthattheywillsuretoguard——towatch，atanyrate。

Letusdivide，astosurroundthem。Theclifftowardswhichtheymakerunsfartotheleftwithoutabreak。Thattotherightwecannotseefromthisspot；butfromthenatureofthegrounditisnotunlikelythatitturnsroundinthisdirection，makingthehitherendofthevalleylikeavastpocketoramphitheatre。Astheyhavestudiedthegroundinotherplaces，theymayhavedonesointhis，andhavecomehitherastoaknownrefuge。Letoneman，amarksman，stayhere。"

Ashespokeamansteppedtothefront。Hewas，Iknew，anexcellentshot。

"Lettwoothersgototheleftandtrytofindawaydownthecliffbeforeus。Whentheyhavedescendedtothelevelofthevalley——pathornopath——letthemadvancecautiouslyandsecretly，keepingtheirgunsinreadiness。Buttheymustnotfiretillneed。Remember，mybrothers，"said，turningtothosewhosteppedoutapaceortwototheleft，"thatthefirstshotgivesthewarningwhichwillbethesignalfortheVoivodin’sdeath。Thesemenwillnothesitate。Youmustjudgeyourselvesofthetimetoshoot。Theothersofuswillmovetotherightandtrytofindapathonthatside。Ifthevalleybeindeedapocketbetweenthecliffs，wemustfindawaydownthatisnotapath！"

Ashespokethustherewasablazeinhiseyesthatbetokenednogoodtoaughtthatmightstandinhisway。Iranbyhissideaswemovedtotheright。

Itwasashesurmisedaboutthecliff。Whenwegotalittleonourwaywesawhowtherockyformationtrendedtoourright，till，finally，withawidecurve，itcameroundtotheotherside。

Itwasafearfulvalleythat，withitsnarrowgirthanditstoweringwallsthatseemedtotoppleover。Onthefarthersidefromusthegreattreesthatclothedtheslopeofthemountainoveritgrewdowntotheveryedgeoftherock，sothattheirspreadingbrancheshungfaroverthechasm。And，sofaraswecouldunderstand，thesameconditionexistedonourownside。Belowusthevalleywasdarkeveninthedaylight。Wecouldbesttellthemovementoftheflyingmaraudersbytheflashesofthewhiteshroudoftheircaptiveinthemidstofthem。