"I can see nothing; it is all dark."
"What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's patientvoice.
"The lapping of water. It is gurgling by, and little waves leap. I canhear them on the outside."
"Then you are on a ship?" We all looked at each other, trying
to gleansomething each from the other. We were afraid to think. The answer camequick:--
"Oh, yes!"
"What else do you hear?"
"The sound of men stamping overhead as they run about. There is thecreaking of a chain, and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstanfalls into the ratchet."
"What are you doing?"
"I am still--oh, so still. It is like death!" The voice faded away intoa deep breath as of one sleeping, and the open eyes closed again.
By this time the sun had risen, and we were all in the full light ofday. Dr. Van Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders, and laid herhead down softly on her pillow. She lay like a sleeping child for afew moments, and then, with a long sigh, awoke and stared in wonder tosee us all around her. "Have I been talking in my sleep?" was all shesaid. She seemed, however, to know the situation without telling; thoughshe was eager to know what she had told. The Professor repeated theconversation, and she said:--
"Then there is not a moment to lose: it may not be yet too late!" Mr.Morris and Lord Godalming started for the door, but the Professor's calmvoice called them back:
"Stay, my friends. That ship, wherever it was, was weighing anchorwhilst she spoke. There are many ships weighing anchor at the moment inyour so great Port of London. Which of them is it that you seek? Godbe thanked that we have once again a clue, though whither it may leadus we know not. We have been blind somewhat; blind after the manner ofmen, since when we can look back we see what we might have seen lookingforward if we had been able to see what we might have seen! Alas! butthat sentence is a puddle; is it not? We can know now what was in theCount's mind when he seize that money, though Jonathan's so fierceknife put him in the danger that even he dread. He meant escape. Hearme, ESCAPE! He saw that with but one earth-box left, and a pack of menfollowing like dogs after a fox, this London was no place for him. Hehave take his last earth-box on board a ship, and he leave the land. Hethink to escape, but no! we follow him. Tally Ho! as friend Arthur wouldsay when he put on his red frock! Our old fox is wily; oh! so wily,and we must follow with wile. I too am wily and I think his mind in alittle while. In meantime we may rest and in peace, for there are watersbetween us which he do not want to pass, and which he could not if hewould--unless the ship were to touch the land, and then only at full orslack tide. See, and the sun is just rose, and all day to sunset is tous. Let us take bath, and dress, and have breakfast which we all need,and which we can eat comfortable since he be not in the same land withus." Mina looked at him appealingly as she asked:--
"But why need we seek him further, when he is gone away from us?" Hetook her hand and patted it as he replied:--
"Ask me nothing as yet. When we have breakfast, then I answer allquestions." He would say no more, and we separated to dress.
After breakfast Mina repeated her question. He looked at her gravely fora minute and then said sorrowfully:--
"Because, my dear, dear Madam Mina, now more than ever must we find himeven if we have to follow him to the jaws of Hell?" She grew paler asshe asked faintly:--
"Why?"
"Because," he answered solemnly, "he can live for centuries, and you arebut mortal woman. Time is now to be dreaded--since once he put that markupon your throat."
I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint.
CHAPTER XXIV.
/Dr. Seward's Phonograph Diary, Spoken by Van Helsing./
This to Jonathan Harker.
You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make oursearch--if I can call it so, for it is not search but knowing, and weseek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her to-day.This is your best and most holiest office. This day nothing can find himhere. Let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already,for I have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away; he have gone backto his Castle in Transylvania. I know it so well, as if a great hand offire wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this in some way, andthat last earth-box was ready to ship somewheres. For this he took themoney; for this he hurry at the last, lest we catch him before the sungo down. It was his last hope, save that he might hide in the tomb thathe think poor Miss Lucy, being as he thought like him, keep open to him.But there was not of time. When that fail he make straight for his lastresource--his last earthwork I might say did I wish _double entente_. Heis clever, oh, so clever! he know that his game here was finish; and sohe decide he go back home. He find ship going by the route he came, andhe go in it. We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound; when wehave discover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfortyou and poor dear Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope when youthink it over: that all is not lost. This very creature that we pursue,he take hundreds of years to get so far as London; and yet in one day,when we know of the disposal of him we drive him out. He is finite,though he is powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do. But weare strong, each in our purpose; and we are all more strong together.Take heart afresh dear husband of Madam Mina. This battle is but begun,and in the end we shall win--so sure as that God sits on high to watchover His children. Therefore be of much comfort till we return.
/Van Helsing./
_Jonathan Harker's Journal._
_4 October._--When I read to Mina, Van Helsing's message in thephonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already thecertainty that the Count is out of the country has given her comfort;and comfort is strength to her. For my own part, now that this horribledanger is not face to face with us, it seems almost impossible tobelieve in it. Even my own terrible experiences in Castle Dracula seemlike a long-forgotten dream. Here in the crisp autumn air, in the brightsunlight--
Alas! how can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye fell onthe red scar on my poor darling's white forehead. Whilst that lasts,there can be no disbelief. And afterwards the very memory of it willkeep faith crystal clear. Mina and I fear to be idle, so we have beenover all the diaries again and again. Somehow, although the realityseems greater each time, the pain and the fear seem less. There issomething of a guiding purpose manifest throughout, which is comforting.Mina says that perhaps we are the instruments of ultimate good. It maybe! I shall try to think as she does. We have never spoken to each otheryet of the future. It is better to wait till we see the Professor andthe others after their investigations.
The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day could runfor me again. It is now three o'clock.
_Mina Harker's Journal_