第17章

Fromwhereweweregrouped，amidthegreattree—trunksontheverybrowofthecliff，wecould，whenoureyeswereaccustomedtotheshadow，seethemquitewell。Ingreathaste，andhalfdragging，halfcarryingtheVoivodin，theycrossedtheopenspaceandtookrefugeinalittlegrassyalcovesurrounded，saveforitstortuousentrance，byundergrowth。Fromthevalleylevelitwasmanifestlyimpossibletoseethem，thoughwefromouraltitudecouldseeoverthestuntedundergrowth。Whenwithintheglade，theytooktheirhandsfromher。

She，shudderinginstinctively，withdrewtoaremotecornerofthedell。

Andthen，oh，shameontheirmanhood！——Turksandheathensthoughtheywere——wecouldseethattheyhadsubmittedhertotheindignityofgaggingherandbindingherhands！

OurVoivodinTeutabound！Tooneandallofusitwaslikelashingusacrosstheface。IheardtheGospodar’steethgrindagain。Butoncemoreheschooledhimselftocalmnesserehesaid：

"Itis，perhaps，aswell，greatthoughtheindignitybe。Theyareseekingtheirowndoom，whichiscomingquickly……Moreover，theyarethwartingtheirownbaseplans。Nowthatsheisboundtheywilltrusttotheirbinding，sothattheywilldelaytheirmurderousalternativetotheverylastmoment。Suchisourchanceofrescuingheralive！"

Forafewmomentshestoodasstillasastone，asthoughrevolvingsomethinginhismindwhilsthewatched。Icouldseethatsomegrimresolutionwasforminginhismind，forhiseyesrangedtothetopofthetreesabovecliff，anddownagain，veryslowlythistime，asthoughmeasuringandstudyingthedetailofwhatwasinfrontofhim。

Thenhespoke：

"Theyareinhopesthattheotherpursuingpartymaynotcomeacrossthem。Toknowthat，theyarewaiting。Ifthoseothersdonotcomeupthevalley，theywillproceedontheirway。Theywillreturnupthepaththewaytheycame。Therewecanwaitthem，chargeintothemiddleofthemwhensheisopposite，andcutdownthosearoundher。

Thentheotherswillopenfire，andweshallberidofthem！

Whilsthewasspeaking，twoofthemenofourparty，whoIknewtobegoodsharpshooters，andwhohadjustbeforelainontheirfacesandhadsteadiedtheirriflestoshoot，rosetotheirfeet。

"Commandus，Gospodar！"theysaidsimply，astheystoodtoattention。

"Shallwegototheheadoftheravineroadandtheretakehiding？"

Hethoughtforperhapsaminute，whilstweallstoodassilentasimages。Icouldhearourheartsbeating。Thenhesaid：

"No，notyet。Thereistimeforthatyet。Theywillnot——cannotstirormakeplansinanywaytilltheyknowwhethertheotherpartyiscomingtowardsthemornot。Fromourheightherewecanseewhatcoursetheothersaretakinglongbeforethosevillainsdo。Thenwecanmakeourplansandbereadyintime。

Wewaitedmanyminutes，butcouldseenofurthersignstheotherpursuingparty。Thesehadevidentlyadoptedgreatercautionintheirmovementsastheycameclosertowheretheyexpectedtofindtheenemy。Themaraudersbegantogrowanxious。Evenatourdistancewecouldgatherasmuchfromtheirattitudeandmovements。

Presently，whenthesuspenseoftheirignorancegrewtoomuchforthem，theydrewtotheentranceoftheglade，whichwasthefarthestplacetowhich，withoutexposingthemselvestoanyonewhomightcometothevalley，theycouldwithdrawfromtheircaptive。Heretheyconsultedtogether。Wecouldfollowfromtheirgestureswhattheyweresaying，forastheydidnotwishtheirprisonertohear，theirgesticulationwasenlighteningtousastoeachother。Ourpeople，likeallmountaineers，havegoodeyes，andtheGospodarishimselfaneagleinthisasinotherways。Threemenstoodbackfromtherest。

Theystackedtheirriflessothattheycouldseizethemeasily。Thentheydrewtheirscimitars，andstoodready，asthoughonguard。

Thesewereevidentlytheappointedmurderers。Welltheyknewtheirwork；forthoughtheystoodinadesertplacewithnonewithinlongdistanceexceptthepursuingparty，ofwhoseapproachtheywouldhavegoodnotice，theystoodsoclosetotheirprisonerthatnomarksmanintheworld——noworthateverhadbeen；notWilliamTellhimself——

couldhaveharmedanyofthemwithoutatleastendangeringher。TwoofthemturnedtheVoivodinroundsothatherfacewastowardstheprecipice——inwhichpositionshecouldnotseewhatwasgoingon——

whilsthewhowasevidentlyleaderofthegangexplained，ingesture，thattheothersweregoingtospyuponthepursuingparty。Whentheyhadlocatedthemhe，oroneofhismen，wouldcomeoutoftheopeningofthewoodwhereintheyhadhadevidenceofthem，andholduphishand。

Thatwastobethesignalforthecuttingofthevictim’sthroat——

suchbeingthechosenmethod（villainousevenforheathenmurderers）

ofherdeath。Therewasnotoneofourmenwhodidnotgrindhisteethwhenwewitnessedthegrimaction，onlytooexpressive，oftheTurkashedrewhisrighthand，clenchedasthoughheheldayataghaninit，acrosshisthroat。

Attheopeningofthegladeallthespyingpartyhaltedwhilsttheleaderappointedtoeachhisplaceofentryofthewood，thefrontofwhichextendedinanalmoststraightacrossthevalleyfromclifftocliff。

Themen，stoopinglowwhenintheopen，andtakinginstantadvantageofeverylittleobstacleontheground，seemedtofadelikespectreswithincredibleswiftnessacrossthelevelmead，andwereswallowedupinthewood。

WhentheyhaddisappearedtheGospodarRupertrevealedtousthedetailsoftheplanofactionwhichhehadrevolvinginhismind。Hemotionedustofollowhim：wethreadedawaybetweenthetree—

trunks，keepingallthewhileontheveryedgeofthecliff，sothatthespacebelowwasallvisibletous。Whenwehadgotroundthecurvesufficientlytoseethewholeofthewoodonthevalleylevel，withoutlosingsightoftheVoivodinandherappointedassassins，wehaltedunderhisdirection。Therewasanaddedadvantageofthispointovertheother，forwecouldseedirectlytherisingofthehill—road，upwhichfarthersideranthecontinuationofthemountainpathwhichthemaraudershadfollowed。Itwassomewhereonthatpaththattheotherpursuingpartyhadhopedtointerceptthefugitives。

TheGospodarspokequickly，thoughinavoiceofcommandwhichtruesoldierslovetohear：

"Brothers，thetimehascomewhenwecanstrikeablowforTeutaandtheLand。Doyoutwo，marksmen，takepositionherefacingthewood。"

Thetwomenherelaydownandgottheirriflesready。"Dividethefrontageofthewoodbetweenyou；arrangebetweenyourselvesthelimitsofyourpositions。Theveryinstantoneofthemaraudersappears，coverhim；drophimbeforeheemergesfromthewood。Eventhenstillwatchandtreatsimilarlywhoeverelsemaytakehisplace。

Dothisiftheycomesinglytillnotamanisleft。Remember，brothers，thatbraveheartsalonewillnotsufficeatthisgrimcrisis。InthishourthebestsafetyoftheVoivodinisinthecalmspiritandthesteadyeye！"Thenheturnedtotherestofus，andspoketome：

"ArchimandriteofPlazac，youwhoareinterpretertoGodoftheprayersofsomanysouls，myownhourhascome。IfIdonotreturn，conveymylovetomyAuntJanet——MissMacKelpie，atVissarion。ThereisbutonethinglefttousifwewishtosavetheVoivodin。Doyou，whenthetimecomes，takethesemenandjointhewatcheratthetopoftheravineroad。Whentheshotsarefired，doyououthandjar，andrushtheravineandacrossthevalley。Brothers，youmaybeintimetoavengetheVoivodin，ifyoucannotsaveher。Formetheremustbeaquickerway，andtoitIgo。Asthereisnot，andwillnotbe，timetotraversethepath，Imusttakeaquickerway。Naturefindsmeapaththatmanhasmadeitnecessaryformetotravel。Seethatgiantbeech—treethattowersabovethegladewheretheVoivodinisheld？Thereismypath！Whenyoufromherehavemarkedthereturnofthespies，givemeasignalwithyourhat——donotuseahandkerchief，asothersmightseeitswhite，andtakewarning。Thenrushthatravine。Ishalltakethatasthesignalformydescentbytheleafyroad。IfIcandonaughtelse，Icancrushthemurdererswithmyfallingweight，evenifIhavetokillhertoo。Atleastweshalldietogether——andfree。LayustogetherinthetombatSt。

Sava’s。Farewell，ifitbethelast！"

Hethrewdownthescabbardinwhichhecarriedhishandjar，adjustedthenakedweaponinhisbeltbehindhisback，andwasgone！

Wewhowerenotwatchingthewoodkeptoureyesfixedonthegreatbeech—tree，andwithnewinterestnoticedthelongtrailingbrancheswhichhunglow，andswayedeveninthegentlebreeze。Forafewminutes，whichseemedamazinglylong，wesawnosignofhim。Then，highupononeofthegreatbrancheswhichstoodclearofobscuringleaves，wesawsomethingcrawlingflatagainstthebark。Hewaswelloutonthebranch，hangingfarovertheprecipice。Hewaslookingoveratus，andIwavedmyhandsothatheshouldknowwesawhim。

Hewascladingreen——hisusualforestdress——sothattherewasnotanylikelihoodofanyothereyesnoticinghim。Itookoffmyhat，andhelditreadytosignalwithwhenthetimeshouldcome。I

glanceddownatthegladeandsawtheVoivodinstanding，stillsafe，withherguardssoclosetoherastotouch。ThenI，too，fixedmyeyesonthewood。

Suddenlythemanstandingbesidemeseizedmyarmandpointed。I

couldjustseethroughthetrees，whichwerelowerthanelsewhereinthefrontofthewood，aTurkmovingstealthily；soIwavedmyhat。

Atthesametimearifleunderneathmecracked。Asecondortwolaterthespypitchedforwardonhisfaceandlaystill。Atthesameinstantmyeyessoughtthebeech—tree，andIsawtheclose—lyingfigureraiseitselfandslideforwardtoajointofthebranch。ThentheGospodar，asherose，hurledhimselfforwardamidthemassofthetrailingbranches。Hedroppedlikeastone，andmyheartsank。

Butaninstantlaterheseemedinpoise。Hehadclutchedthethin，trailingbranchesashefell；andashesankanumberofleaveswhichhismotionhadtornofffloatedoutroundhim。

Againtheriflebelowmecracked，andthenagain，andagain，andagain。Themaraudershadtakenwarning，andwerecomingoutinmass。

Butmyowneyeswerefixedonthetree。AlmostasathunderboltfallsfellthegiantbodyoftheGospodar，hissizelostintheimmensityofhissurroundings。Hefellinaseriesofjerks，ashekeptclutchingthetrailingbeech—brancheswhilsttheylasted，andthenotherlesserverduregrowingoutfromthefissuresintherockafterthelengtheningbrancheshadwithalltheirelasticityreachedtheirlastpoint。

Atlength——forthoughthisalltookplaceinaveryfewsecondsthegravityofthecrisisprolongedthemimmeasurably——therecamealargespaceofrocksomethreetimeshisownlength。Hedidnotpause，butswunghimselftooneside，sothatheshouldfallclosetotheVoivodinandherguards。Thesemendidnotseemtonotice，fortheirattentionwasfixedonthewoodwhencetheyexpectedtheirmessengertosignal。Buttheyraisedtheiryataghansinreadiness。Theshotshadalarmedthem；andtheymeanttodothemurdernow——messengerornomessengerButthoughthemendidnotseethedangerfromabove，theVoivodindid。Sheraisedhereyesquicklyatthefirstsound，andevenfromwherewewere，beforewebegantoruntowardstheravinepath，I

couldseethetriumphantlookinhergloriouseyeswhensherecognizedtheidentityofthemanwhowasseeminglycomingstraightdownfromHeavenitselftohelpher——as，indeed，she，andwetoo，canverywellimaginethathedid；forifeverheavenhadahandinarescueonearth，itwasnow。

EvenduringthelastdropfromtherockyfoliagetheGospodarkepthishead。Ashefellhepulledhishandjarfree，andalmostashewasfallingitssweeptookofftheheadofoneoftheassassins。Ashetouchedgroundhestumbledforaninstant，butitwastowardshisenemies。Twicewithlightningrapiditythehandjarswepttheair，andateachsweepaheadrolledonthesward。

TheVoivodinhelduphertiedhands。Againthehandjarflashed，thistimedownwards，andtheladywasfree。Withoutaninstant’spausetheGospodartoreoffthegag，andwithhisleftarmroundherandhandjarinrighthand，stoodfacetowardhislivingfoes。TheVoivodinstoopedsuddenly，andthen，raisingtheyataghanwhichhadfallenfromthehandofoneofthedeadmarauders，stoodarmedbesidehim。

Therifleswerenowcrackingfast，asthemarauders——thosethatwereleftofthem——camerushingoutintotheopen。Butwellthemarksmenknewtheirwork。WelltheyboreinmindtheGospodar’scommandregardingcalmness。Theykeptpickingofftheforemostmenonly，sothattheonwardrushneverseemedtogetmoreforward。

Aswerusheddowntheravinewecouldseeclearlyallbeforeus。Butnow，justaswewerebeginningtofearlestsomemischancemightallowsomeofthemtoreachtheglade，therewasanothercauseofsurprise——ofrejoicing。

Fromthefaceofthewoodseemedtoburstallatonceabodyofmen，allwearingthenationalcap，soweknewthemasourown。Theywereallarmedwiththehandjaronly，andtheycameliketigers。TheysweptontherushingTurksasthough，foralltheirswiftness，theywerestandingstill——literallywipingthemoutasachildwipesalessonfromitsslate。

Afewsecondslaterthesewerefollowedbyatallfigurewithlonghairandbeardofblackmingledwithgrey。Instinctivelyweall，asdidthoseinthevalley，shoutedwithjoy。ForthiswastheVladikaMiloshPlamenachimself。

Iconfessthat，knowingwhatIknew，Iwasforashortspaceoftimeanxiouslest，intheterrificexcitementinwhichwewerealllapped，someonemightsayordosomethingwhichmightmakefortroublelateron。TheGospodar’ssplendidachievement，whichwasworthyofanyheroofoldromance，hadsetusallonfire。Hehimselfmusthavebeenwroughttoahighpitchofexcitementtodaresuchanact；anditisnotatsuchatimethatdiscretionmustbeexpectedfromanyman。MostofalldidIfeardangerfromthewomanhoodoftheVoivodin。HadInotassistedathermarriage，Imightnothaveunderstoodthenwhatitmusthavebeentohertobesavedfromsuchadoomatsuchatimebysuchaman，whowassomuchtoher，andinsuchaway。ItwouldhavebeenonlynaturalifatsuchamomentofgratitudeandtriumphshehadproclaimedthesecretwhichweoftheCounciloftheNationandherfather’sCommissionershadsoreligiouslykept。ButnoneofusknewtheneithertheVoivodinortheGospodarRupertaswedonow。Itwaswellthattheywereastheyare，forthejealousyandsuspicionofourmountaineersmight，evenatsuchamoment，andevenwhilsttheythrobbedatsuchadeed，havesomanifestedthemselvesastohaveleftalegacyofdistrust。TheVladikaandI，whoofall（savethetwoimmediatelyconcerned）aloneknew，lookedateachotherapprehensively。ButatthatinstanttheVoivodin，withaswiftglanceatherhusband，laidafingeronherlip；andhe，withquickunderstanding，gaveassurancebyasimilarsign。Thenshesankbeforehimononeknee，and，raisinghishandtoherlips，kissedit，andspoke：

"GospodarRupert，Ioweyouallthatawomanmayowe，excepttoGod。

Youhavegivenmelifeandhonour！Icannotthankyouadequatelyforwhatyouhavedone；myfatherwilltrytodosowhenhereturns。ButIamrightsurethatthemenoftheBlueMountains，whosovaluehonour，andfreedom，andliberty，andbravery，willholdyouintheirheartsforever！"

Thiswassosweetlyspoken，withlipsthattrembledandeyesthatswamintears，sotrulywomanlyandsoinaccordwiththecustomofournationregardingthereverencethatwomenowetomen，thattheheartsofourmountaineersweretouchedtothequick。Theirnoblesimplicityfoundexpressionintears。ButifthegallantGospodarcouldhaveforamomentthoughtthatsotoweepwasunmanly，hiserrorwouldhavehadinstantcorrection。WhentheVoivodinhadrisentoherfeet，whichshedidwithqueenlydignity，themenaroundclosedinontheGospodarlikeawaveofthesea，andinasecondheldhimabovetheirheads，tossingontheirliftedhandsasifonstormybreakers。ItwasasthoughtheoldVikingsofwhomwehaveheard，andwhosebloodflowsinRupert’sveins，werechoosingachiefinoldfashion。IwasmyselfgladthatthemenweresotakenupwiththeGospodarthattheydidnotseethegloryofthemomentintheVoivodin’sstarryeyes；forelsetheymighthaveguessedthesecret。

IknewfromtheVladika’slookthathesharedmyownsatisfaction，evenashehadsharedmyanxiety。

AstheGospodarRupertwastossedhighontheliftedhandsofthemountaineers，theirshoutsrosetosuchasuddenvolumethataroundus，asfarasIcouldsee，thefrightenedbirdsrosefromtheforest，andtheirnoisyalarmswelledthetumult。

TheGospodar，everthoughtfulforothers，wasthefirsttocalmhimself。

"Come，brothers，"hesaid，"letusgainthehilltop，wherewecansignaltotheCastle。ItisrightthatthewholenationshouldshareinthegladtidingsthattheVoivodinTeutaofVissarionisfree。

Butbeforewego，letusremovethearmsandclothingofthesecarrionmarauders。Wemayhaveuseforthemlateron。"

Themountaineerssethimdown，gentlyenough。Andhe，takingtheVoivodinbythehand，andcallingtheVladikaandmyselfclosetothem，ledthewayuptheravinepathwhichthemaraudershaddescended，andthencethroughtheforesttothetopofthehillthatdominatedthevalley。Herewecould，fromanopeningamongstthetrees，catchaglimpsefaroffofthebattlementsofVissarion。

ForthwiththeGospodarsignalled；andonthemomentareplyoftheirawaitingwasgiven。ThentheGospodarsignalledthegladnews。Itwasreceivedwithmanifestrejoicing。Wecouldnothearanysoundsofaraway，butwecouldseethemovementofliftedfacesandwavinghands，andknewthatitwaswell。Butaninstantaftercameacalmsodreadthatweknewbeforethesemaphorehadbeguntoworkthattherewasbadnewsinstoreforus。Whenthenewsdidcome，abitterwailingaroseamongstus；forthenewsthatwassignalledran：

"TheVoivodehasbeencapturedbytheTurksonhisreturn，andisheldbythematIlsin。"

Inaninstantthetemperofthemountaineerschanged。Itwasasthoughbyaflashsummerhadchangedtowinter，asthoughtheyellowgloryofthestandingcornhadbeenobliteratedbythedrearywasteofsnow。Nay，more：itwasaswhenonebeholdsthetrackofthewhirlwindwhenthegiantsoftheforestarelevelledwiththesward。

Forafewsecondstherewassilence；andthen，withanangryroar，aswhenGodspeaksinthethunder，camethefiercedeterminationofthemenoftheBlueMountains：

"ToIlsin！ToIlsin！"andastampedeinthedirectionofthesouthbegan。For，IllustriousLady，you，perhaps，whohavebeenforsoshortatimeatVissarion，maynotknowthatattheextremesouthernpointoftheLandoftheBlueMountainsliesthelittleportofIlsin，whichlongagowewrestedfromtheTurk。

Thestampedewascheckedbythecommand，"Halt！"spokeninathunderousvoicebytheGospodar。Instinctivelyallstopped。TheGospodarRupertspokeagain：

"Hadwenotbetterknowalittlemorebeforewestartonourjourney？

Ishallgetbysemaphorewhatdetailsareknown。Doyouallproceedinsilenceandasswiftlyaspossible。TheVladikaandIwillwaitheretillwehavereceivedthenewsandhavesentsomeinstructions，whenweshallfollow，and，ifwecan，overtakeyou。Onething：beabsolutelysilentonwhathasbeen。Besecretofeverydetail——evenastotherescueoftheVoivodin——exceptwhatIsend。"

Withoutaword——thusshowingimmeasurabletrust——thewholebody——notaverylargeone，itistrue——movedon，andtheGospodarbegansignalling。AsIwasmyselfexpertinthecode，Ididnotrequireanyexplanation，butfollowedquestionandansweroneitherside。

ThefirstwordstheGospodarRupertsignalledwere：

"Silence，absoluteandprofound，astoeverythingwhichhasbeen。"

ThenheaskedfordetailsofthecaptureoftheVoivode。Theanswerran：

"HewasfollowedfromFlushing，andhisenemiesadvisedbythespiesallalongtheroute。AtRagusaquiteanumberofstrangers——

travellersseemingly——wentonboardthepacket。Whenhegotout，thestrangersdebarkedtoo，andevidentlyfollowedhim，though，asyet，wehavenodetails。HedisappearedatIlsinfromtheHotelReo，whitherhehadgone。Allpossiblestepsarebeingtakentotracehismovements，andstrictestsilenceandsecrecyareobserved。"

Hisanswerwas：

"Good！Keepsilentandsecret。Amhurryingback。SignalrequesttoArchbishopandallmembersofNationalCounciltocometoGadaarwithallspeed。Theretheyachtwillmeethim。TellRooketakeyachtallspeedtoGadaar；theremeetArchbishopandCouncil——givehimlistofnames——andreturnfullspeed。Havereadyplentyarms，sixflyingartillery。Twohundredmen，provisionsthreedays。Silence，silence。Alldependsonthat。AlltogoonasusualatCastle，excepttothoseinsecret。"

Whenthereceiptofhismessagehadbeensignalled，wethree——for，ofcourse，theVoivodinwaswithus；shehadrefusedtoleavetheGospodar——setouthot—footafterourcomrades。ButbythetimewehaddescendedthehillitwasevidentthattheVoivodincouldnotkeepuptheterrificpaceatwhichweweregoing。Shestruggledheroically，butthelongjourneyshehadalreadytaken，andthehardshipandanxietyshehadsuffered，hadtoldonher。TheGospodarstopped，andsaidthatitwouldbebetterthatheshouldpresson——itwas，perhaps，herfather’slife——andsaidhewouldcarryher。

"No，no！"sheanswered。"Goon！IshallfollowwiththeVladika。

AndthenyoucanhavethingsreadytogetonsoonaftertheArchbishopandCouncilarrive。"Theykissedeachotherafter，onherpart，ashyglanceatme；andhewentonthetrackofourcomradesatagreatpace。Icouldseehimshortlyaftercatchthemup，——thoughthey，too，weregoingfast。Forafewminutestheyrantogether，hespeaking——Icouldnoteitfromthewaytheykeptturningtheirheadstowardshim。Thenhebrokeawayfromthemhurriedly。Hewentlikeastagbreakingcovert，andwassoonoutofsight。Theyhaltedamomentortwo。Thensomefewranon，andalltherestcamebacktowardsus。Quicklytheyimprovisedalitterwithcordsandbranches，andinsistedthattheVoivodinshoulduseit。Inanincrediblyshorttimewewereunderwayagain，andproceedingwithgreatrapiditytowardsVissarion。Thementookitinturnstohelpwiththelitter；Ihadthehonouroftakingahandintheworkmyself。

AboutathirdofthewayoutfromVissarionanumberofourpeoplemetus。Theywerefresh，andastheycarriedthelitter，wewhowererelievedwerefreeforspeed。SowesoonarrivedattheCastle。

Herewefoundallhumminglikeahiveofbees。Theyacht，whichCaptainRookehadkeptfiredeversincethepursuingpartyundertheGospodarhadleftVissarion，wasalreadyaway，andtearingupthecoastatafearfulrate。Theriflesandammunitionwerestackedonthequay。Thefield—guns，too，wereequipped，andthecasesofammunitionreadytoship。Themen，twohundredofthem，wereparadedinfullkit，readytostartatamoment’snotice。Theprovisionforthreedayswasallreadytoputaboard，andbarrelsoffreshwatertotrundleaboardwhentheyachtshouldreturn。Atoneendofthequay，readytoliftonboard，stoodalsotheGospodar’saeroplane，fullyequipped，andready，ifneedwere，forimmediateflight。

IwasgladtoseethattheVoivodinseemednonetheworseforherterribleexperience。Shestillworehershroud；butnooneseemedtonoticeitasanythingstrange。Thewhisperhadevidentlygoneroundofwhathadbeen。Butdiscretionruledtheday。SheandtheGospodarmetastwowhohadservedandsufferedincommon；butIwasgladtonoticethatbothkeptthemselvesundersuchcontrolthatnoneofthosenotalreadyinthesecretevensuspectedthattherewasanylovebetweenthem，letalonemarriage。

WeallwaitedwithwhatpatiencewecouldtillwordwassignalledfromtheCastletowerthattheyachthadappearedoverthenorthernhorizon，andwascomingdownfast，keepinginshoreasshecame。