The Lady of the Shroud

About a third of the way out from Vissarion a number of our people met us. They were fresh, and as they carried the litter, we who were relieved were free for speed. So we soon arrived at the Castle.

Here we found all humming like a hive of bees. The yacht, which Captain Rooke had kept fired ever since the pursuing party under the Gospodar had left Vissarion, was already away, and tearing up the coast at a fearful rate. The rifles and ammunition were stacked on the quay. The field-guns, too, were equipped, and the cases of ammunition ready to ship. The men, two hundred of them, were paraded in full kit, ready to start at a moment's notice. The provision for three days was all ready to put aboard, and barrels of fresh water to trundle aboard when the yacht should return. At one end of the quay, ready to lift on board, stood also the Gospodar's aeroplane, fully equipped, and ready, if need were, for immediate flight.

I was glad to see that the Voivodin seemed none the worse for her terrible experience. She still wore her shroud; but no one seemed to notice it as anything strange. The whisper had evidently gone round of what had been. But discretion ruled the day. She and the Gospodar met as two who had served and suffered in common; but I was glad to notice that both kept themselves under such control that none of those not already in the secret even suspected that there was any love between them, let alone marriage.

We all waited with what patience we could till word was signalled from the Castle tower that the yacht had appeared over the northern horizon, and was coming down fast, keeping inshore as she came.

When she arrived, we heard to our joy that all concerned had done their work well. The Archbishop was aboard, and of the National Council not one was missing. The Gospodar hurried them all into the great hall of the Castle, which had in the meantime been got ready. I, too, went with him, but the Voivodin remained without.

When all were seated, he rose and said:

"My Lord Archbishop, Vladika, and Lords of the Council all, I have dared to summon you in this way because time presses, and the life of one you all love--the Voivode Vissarion--is at stake. This audacious attempt of the Turk is the old aggression under a new form. It is a new and more daring step than ever to try to capture your chief and his daughter, the Voivodin, whom you love. Happily, the latter part of the scheme is frustrated. The Voivodin is safe and amongst us. But the Voivode is held prisoner--if, indeed, he be still alive. He must be somewhere near Ilsin--but where exactly we know not as yet. We have an expedition ready

to start the moment we receive your sanction--your commands. We shall obey your wishes with our lives. But as the matter is instant, I would venture to ask one question, and one only: 'Shall we rescue the Voivode at any cost that may present itself?' I ask this, for the matter has now become an international one, and, if our enemies are as earnest as we are, the issue is war!"

Having so spoken, and with a dignity and force which is inexpressible, he withdrew; and the Council, having appointed a scribe--the monk Cristoferos, whom I had suggested--began its work.

The Archbishop spoke:

"Lords of the Council of the Blue Mountains, I venture to ask you that the answer to the Gospodar Rupert be an instant 'Yes!' together with thanks and honour to that gallant Englisher, who has made our cause his own, and who has so valiantly rescued our beloved Voivodin from the ruthless hands of our enemies." Forthwith the oldest member of the Council--Nicolos of Volok--rose, and, after throwing a searching look round the faces of all, and seeing grave nods of assent--for not a word was spoken--said to him who held the door: "Summon the Gospodar Rupert forthwith!" When Rupert entered, he spoke to him:

"Gospodar Rupert, the Council of the Blue Mountains has only one answer to give: Proceed! Rescue the Voivode Vissarion, whatever the cost may be! You hold henceforth in your hand the handjar of our nation, as already, for what you have done in your valiant rescue of our beloved Voivodin, your breast holds the heart of our people. Proceed at once! We give you, I fear, little time; but we know that such is your own wish. Later, we shall issue formal authorization, so that if war may ensue, our allies may understand that you have acted for the nation, and also such letters credential as may be required by you in this exceptional service. These shall follow you within an hour. For our enemies we take no account. See, we draw the handjar that we offer you." As one man all in the hall drew their handjars, which flashed as a blaze of lightning.

There did not seem to be an instant's delay. The Council broke up, and its members, mingling with the people without, took active part in the preparations. Not many minutes had elapsed when the yacht, manned and armed and stored as arranged, was rushing out of the creek. On the bridge, beside Captain Rooke, stood the Gospodar Rupert and the still-shrouded form of the Voivodin Teuta. I myself was on the lower deck with the soldiers, explaining to certain of them the special duties which they might be called on to fulfil. I held the list which the Gospodar Rupert had prepared whilst we were waiting for the yacht to arrive from Gadaar.

PETROF VLASTIMIR.

FROM RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_.

_July_ 9, 1907.

We went at a terrific pace down the coast, keeping well inshore so as toavoid, if possible, being seen from the south. Just north of Ilsin arocky headland juts out, and that was our cover. On the north of thepeninsula is a small land-locked bay, with deep water. It is largeenough to take the yacht, though a much larger vessel could not safelyenter. We ran in, and anchored close to the shore, which has a rockyfrontage--a natural shelf of rock, which is practically the same as aquay. Here we met the men who had come from Ilsin and the neighbourhoodin answer to our signalling earlier in the day. They gave us the latestinformation regarding the kidnapping of the Voivode, and informed us thatevery man in that section of the country was simply aflame about it.They assured us that we could rely on them, not merely to fight to thedeath, but to keep silence absolutely. Whilst the seamen, under thedirection of Rooke, took the aeroplane on shore and found a suitableplace for it, where it was hidden from casual view, but from which itcould be easily launched, the Vladika and I--and, of course, mywife--were hearing such details as were known of the disappearance of herfather.

It seems that he travelled secretly in order to avoid just such apossibility as has happened. No one knew of his coming till he came toFiume, whence he sent a guarded message to the Archbishop, which thelatter alone would understand. But this Turkish agents were evidently onhis track all the time, and doubtless the Bureau of Spies was kept welladvised. He landed at Ilsin from a coasting steamer from Ragusa to theLevant.

For two days before his coming there had been quite an unusual number ofarrivals at the little port, at which arrivals are rare. And it turnedout that the little hotel--the only fairly good one in Ilsin--was almostfilled up. Indeed, only one room was left, which the Voivode took forthe night. The innkeeper did not know the Voivode in his disguise, butsuspected who it was from the description. He dined quietly, and went tobed. His room was at the back, on the ground-floor, looking out on thebank of the little River Silva, which here runs into the harbour. Nodisturbance was heard in the night. Late in the morning, when theelderly stranger had not made his appearance, inquiry was made at hisdoor. He did not answer, so presently the landlord forced the door, andfound the room empty. His luggage was seemingly intact, only the clotheswhich he had worn were gone. A strange thing was that, though the bedhad been slept in and his clothes were gone, his night-clothes were notto be found, from which it was argued by the local authorities, when theycame to make inquiry, that he had gone or been taken from the room in hisnight-gear, and that his clothes had been taken with him. There wasevidently some grim suspicion on the part of the authorities, for theyhad commanded absolute silence on all in the house. When they came tomake inquiry as to the other guests, it was found that one and all hadgone in the course of the morning, after paying their bills. None ofthem had any heavy luggage, and there was nothing remaining by which theymight be traced or which would afford any clue to their identity. Theauthorities, having sent a confidential report to the seat of government,continued their inquiries, and even now all available hands were at workon the investigation. When I had signalled to Vissarion, before myarrival there, word had been sent through the priesthood to enlist in theinvestigation the services of all good men, so that every foot of groundin that section of the Blue Mountains was being investigated. Theport-master was assured by his watchmen that no vessel, large or small,had heft the harbour during the night. The inference, therefore, wasthat the Voivode's captors had made inland with him--if, indeed, theywere not already secreted in or near the town.

Whilst we were receiving the various reports, a hurried message came thatit was now believed that the whole party were in the Silent Tower. Thiswas a well-chosen place for such an enterprise. It was a massive towerof immense strength, built as a memorial--and also as a "keep"--after oneof the massacres of the invading Turks.

It stood on the summit of a rocky knoll some ten miles inland from thePort of Ilsin. It was a place shunned as a rule, and the country allaround it was so arid and desolate that there were no residents near it.As it was kept for state use, and might be serviceable in time of war, itwas closed with massive iron doors, which were kept locked except uponcertain occasions. The keys were at the seat of government at Plazac.If, therefore, it had been possible to the Turkish marauders to gainentrance and exit, it might be a difficult as well as a dangerous task totry to cut the Voivode out. His presence with them was a dangerousmenace to any force attacking them, for they would hold his life as athreat.

I consulted with the Vladika at once as to what was best to be done. Andwe decided that, though we should put a cordon of guards around it at asafe distance to prevent them receiving warning, we should at presentmake no attack.

We made further inquiry as to whether there had been any vessel seen inthe neighbourhood during the past few days, and were informed that onceor twice a warship had been seen on the near side of the southernhorizon. This was evidently the ship which Rooke had seen on his rushdown the coast after the abduction of the Voivodin, and which he hadidentified as a Turkish vessel. The glimpses of her which had been hadwere all in full daylight--there was no proof that she had not stolen upduring the night-time without lights. But the Vladika and I weresatisfied that the Turkish vessel was watching--was in league with bothparties of marauders--and was intended to take off any of the strangers,or their prey, who might reach Ilsin undetected. It was evidently withthis view that the kidnappers of Teuta had, in the first instance, madewith all speed for the south. It was only when disappointed there thatthey headed up north, seeking in desperation for some chance of crossingthe border. That ring of steel had so far well served its purpose.

I sent for Rooke, and put the matter before him. He had thought it outfor himself to the same end as we had. His deduction was:

"Let us keep the cordon, and watch for any signal from the Silent Tower.The Turks will tire before we shall. I undertake to watch the Turkishwarship. During the night I shall run down south, without lights, andhave a look at her, even if I have to wait till the grey of the dawn todo so. She may see us; but if she does I shall crawl away at such pacethat she shall not get any idea of our speed. She will certainly comenearer before a day is over, for be sure the bureau of spies is keptadvised, and they know that when the country is awake each day increasesthe hazard of them and their plans being discovered. From their cautionI gather that they do not court discovery; and from that that they do notwish for an open declaration of war. If this be so, why should we notcome out to them and force an issue if need be?"

When Teuta and I got a chance to be alone, we discussed the situation inevery phase. The poor girl was in a dreadful state of anxiety regardingher father's safety. At first she was hardly able to speak, or even tothink, coherently. Her utterance was choked, and her reasoning palsiedwith indignation. But presently the fighting blood of her race restoredher faculties, and then her woman's quick wit was worth the reasoning ofa camp full of men. Seeing that she was all on fire with the subject, Isat still and waited, taking care not to interrupt her. For quite a longtime she sat still, whilst the coming night thickened. When she spoke,the whole plan of action, based on subtle thinking, had mapped itself outin her mind:

"We must act quickly. Every hour increases the risk to my father." Hereher voice broke for an instant; but she recovered herself and went on:

"If you go to the ship, I must not go with you. It would not do for meto be seen. The Captain doubtless knows of both attempts: that to carryme off as well as that against my father. As yet he is in ignorance ofwhat has happened. You and your party of brave, loyal men did their workso well that no news could go forth. So long, therefore, as the navalCaptain is ignorant, he must delay till the last. But if he saw me hewould know that _that_ branch of the venture had miscarried. He wouldgather from our being here that we had news of my fath

er's capture, andas he would know that the marauders would fail unless they were relievedby force, he would order the captive to be slain."

"Yes, dear, to-morrow you had, perhaps, better see the Captain, butto-night we must try to rescue my father. Here I think I see a way. Youhave your aeroplane. Please take me with you into the Silent Tower."