Itwasquiteapparenttomethattheywerecompletingsomefresharrangementsforsignallingwithacodeoftheirown。Thiswasnaturalenough，andinnowayinconsistentwiththemeasureoffriendlinessalreadyshowntome。Wherethereareneithertelegraphs，railways，norroads，anyeffectiveformofcommunicationmust——canonlybepurelypersonal。Andso，iftheywishtokeepanysecretamongstthemselves，theymustpreservethesecretoftheircode。Ishouldhavedearlylikedtolearntheirnewcodeandtheirmannerofusingit，butasIwanttobeahelpfulfriendtothem——andasthisimpliesnotonlytrust，buttheappearanceofit——Ihadtoschoolmyselftopatience。
Thisattitudesofarwontheirconfidencethatbeforewepartedatourlastmeeting，aftermostsolemnvowsoffaithandsecrecy，theytookmeintothesecret。Thiswas，however，onlytotheextentofteachingmethecodeandmethod；theystillwithheldfrommerigidlythefactorpoliticalsecret，orwhateveritwasthatwasthemainspringoftheirunitedaction。
WhenIgothomeIwrotedown，whilstitwasfreshinmymemory，alltheytoldme。ThisscriptIstudieduntilIhaditsothoroughlybyheartthatICOULDnotforgetit。ThenIburnedthepaper。However，thereisnowonegainatleast：withmysemaphoreIcansendthroughtheBlueMountainsfromsidetoside，withexpedition，secrecy，andexactness，amessagecomprehensibletoall。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
June6，1907。
LastnightIhadanewexperienceofmyLadyoftheShroud——insofarasformwasconcerned，atanyrate。Iwasinbed，andjustfallingasleep，whenIheardaqueerkindofscratchingattheglassdooroftheterrace。Ilistenedacutely，myheartbeatinghard。Thesoundseemedtocomefromlowdown，closetothefloor。Ijumpedoutofbed，rantothewindow，and，pullingasidetheheavycurtains，lookedout。
Thegardenlooked，asusual，ghostlyinthemoonlight，buttherewasnotthefaintestsignofmovementanywhere，andnoonewasonorneartheterrace。Ilookedeagerlydowntowherethesoundhadseemedtocomefrom。
There，justinsidetheglassdoor，asthoughithadbeenpushedunderthedoor，layapapercloselyfoldedinseverallaps。Ipickeditupandopenedit。Iwasallinatumult，formyhearttoldmewhenceitcame。InsidewaswritteninEnglish，inalarge，sprawlinghand，suchasmightbefromanEnglishchildofsevenoreight：
\"MeetmeattheFlagstaffontheRock！\"
Iknewtheplace，ofcourse。OnthefarthermostpointoftherockonwhichtheCastlestandsissetahighflagstaff，whereoninoldtimethebanneroftheVissarionfamilyflew。Atsomefar—offtime，whentheCastlehadbeenliabletoattack，thispointhadbeenstronglyfortified。Indeed，inthedayswhenthebowwasamartialweaponitmusthavebeenquiteimpregnable。
Acoveredgallery，withloopholesforarrows，hadbeencutinthesolidrock，runningrightroundthepoint，quitesurroundingtheflagstaffandthegreatbossofrockonwhosecentreitwasreared。
Anarrowdrawbridgeofimmensestrengthhadconnected——inpeacefultimes，andstillremained——theouterpointofrockwithanentranceformedintheouterwall，andguardedwithflankingtowersandaportcullis。Itsusewasmanifestlytoguardagainstsurprise。Fromthispointonlycouldbeseenthelineoftherocksallroundthepoint。Thus，anysecretattackbyboatscouldbemadeimpossible。
Havinghurriedlydressedmyself，andtakingwithmebothhunting—
knifeandrevolver，Iwentoutontheterrace，takingtheprecaution，unusualtome，ofdrawingthegrillebehindmeandlockingit。
MattersaroundtheCastleareinfartoodisturbedaconditiontoallowthetakingofanyfoolishchances，eitherinthewayofbeingunarmedorofleavingtheprivateentrancetotheCastleopen。I
foundmywaythroughtherockypassage，andclimbedbytheJacob’sladderfixedontherock——adeviceofconvenienceintimeofpeace——
tothefootoftheflagstaff。
Iwasallonfirewithexpectation，andthetimeofgoingseemedexceedinglong；soIwasadditionallydisappointedbythecontrastwhenIdidnotseemyLadytherewhenIarrived。However，myheartbeatfreelyagain——perhapsmorefreelythanever——whenIsawhercrouchingintheshadowoftheCastlewall。FromwhereshewasshecouldnotbeseenfromanypointsavethatalonewhichIoccupied；
evenfromthereitwasonlyherwhiteshroudthatwasconspicuousthroughthedeepgloomoftheshadow。Themoonlightwassobrightthattheshadowswerealmostunnaturallyblack。
Irushedovertowardsher，andwhenclosewasabouttosayimpulsively，\"Whydidyouleaveyourtomb？\"whenitsuddenlystruckmethatthequestionwouldbemalaproposandembarrassinginmanyways。So，betterjudgmentprevailing，Isaidinstead：
\"IthasbeensolongsinceIsawyou！Ithasseemedaneternitytome！\"HeranswercameasquicklyasevenIcouldhavewished；shespokeimpulsivelyandwithoutthought：
\"Ithasbeenlongtometoo！Oh，solong！solong！IhaveaskedyoutocomeoutherebecauseIwantedtoseeyousomuchthatIcouldnotwaitanylonger。Ihavebeenheart—hungryforasightofyou！\"
Herwords，hereagerattitude，theineffablesomethingwhichconveysthemessagesoftheheart，thelongingexpressioninhereyesasthefullmoonlightfellonherface，showingthestarsaslivinggold——
forinhereagernessshehadsteppedouttowardsmefromtheshadow——
allsetmeonfire。Withoutathoughtoraword——foritwasNaturespeakinginthelanguageofLove，whichisasilenttongue——Isteppedtowardsherandtookherinmyarms。SheyieldedwiththatsweetunconsciousnesswhichistheperfectionofLove，asifitwasinobediencetosomecommandutteredbeforethebeginningoftheworld。
Probablywithoutanyconsciouseffortoneitherside——Iknowtherewasnoneonmine——ourmouthsmetinthefirstkissoflove。
Atthetimenothinginthemeetingstruckmeasoutofthecommon。
Butlaterinthenight，whenIwasaloneandindarkness，wheneverI
thoughtofitall——itsstrangenessanditsstrangerrapture——Icouldnotbutbesensibleofthebizarreconditionsforalovemeeting。
Theplacelonely，thetimenight，themanyoungandstrong，andfulloflifeandhopeandambition；thewoman，beautifulandardentthoughshewas，awomanseeminglydead，clothedintheshroudinwhichshehadbeenwrappedwhenlyinginhertombinthecryptoftheoldchurch。
Whilstweweretogether，anyhow，therewaslittlethoughtofthekind；noreasoningofanykindonmypart。Lovehasitsownlawsanditsownlogic。Undertheflagstaff，wheretheVissarionbannerwaswonttoflapinthebreeze，shewasinmyarms；hersweetbreathwasonmyface；herheartwasbeatingagainstmyown。Whatneedwasthereforreasonatall？Interarmasilentleges——thevoiceofreasonissilentinthestressofpassion。Deadshemaybe，orUn—
dead——aVampirewithonefootinHellandoneonearth。ButIloveher；andcomewhatmay，hereorhereafter，sheismine。Asmymate，weshallfarealongtogether，whatsoevertheendmaybe，orwheresoeverourpathmaylead。IfsheisindeedtobewonfromthenethermostHell，thenbeminethetask！
Buttogobacktotherecord。WhenIhadoncestartedspeakingtoherinwordsofpassionIcouldnotstop。Ididnotwantto——ifI
could；andshedidnotappeartowishiteither。Cantherebeawoman——aliveordead——whowouldnotwanttoheartheraptureofherloverexpressedtoherwhilstsheisenclosedinhisarms？
Therewasnoattemptatreticenceonmypartnow；ItookitforgrantedthatsheknewallthatIsurmised，and，asshemadeneitherprotestnorcomment，thatsheacceptedmybeliefastoherindeterminateexistence。Sometimeshereyeswouldbeclosed，buteventhentheraptureofherfacewasalmostbeyondbelief。Then，whenthebeautifuleyeswouldopenandgazeonme，thestarsthatwereinthemwouldshineandscintillateasthoughtheywereformedoflivingfire。Shesaidlittle，verylittle；butthoughthewordswerefew，everysyllablewasfraughtwithlove，andwentstraighttotheverycoreofmyheart。
By—and—by，whenourtransporthadcalmedtojoy，IaskedwhenImightnextseeher，andhowandwhereImightfindherwhenIshouldwantto。Shedidnotreplydirectly，but，holdingmecloseinherarms，whisperedinmyearwiththatbreathlesssoftnesswhichisalover’sraptureofspeech：
\"Ihavecomehereunderterribledifficulties，notonlybecauseI
loveyou——andthatwouldbeenough——butbecause，aswellasthejoyofseeingyou，Iwantedtowarnyou。\"
\"Towarnme！Why？\"Iqueried。Herreplycamewithabashfulhesitation，withsomethingofastruggleinit，asofonewhoforsomeulteriorreasonhadtopickherwords：
\"Therearedifficultiesanddangersaheadofyou。Youarebesetwiththem；andtheyareallthegreaterbecausetheyare，ofgrimnecessity，hiddenfromyou。Youcannotgoanywhere，lookinanydirection，doanything，sayanything，butitmaybeasignalfordanger。Mydear，itlurkseverywhere——inthelightaswellasinthedarkness；intheopenaswellasinthesecretplaces；fromfriendsaswellasfoes；whenyouareleastprepared；whenyoumayleastexpectit。Oh，Iknowit，andwhatitistoendure；forIshareitforyou——foryourdearsake！\"
\"Mydarling！\"wasallIcouldsay，asIdrewheragainclosertomeandkissedher。Afterabitshewascalmer；seeingthis，Icamebacktothesubjectthatshehad——inpart，atallevents——cometometospeakabout：
\"Butifdifficultyanddangerhedgemeinsoeverlastingly，andifI
amtohavenoindicationwhateverofitskindorpurpose，whatcanI
do？GodknowsIwouldwillinglyguardmyself——notonmyownaccount，butforyourdearsake。Ihavenowacausetoliveandbestrong，andtokeepallmyfaculties，sinceitmaymeanmuchtoyou。Ifyoumaynottellmedetails，mayyounotindicatetomesomelineofconduct，ofaction，thatwouldbemostinaccordwithyourwishes——
or，rather，withyourideaofwhatwouldbebest？
Shelookedatmefixedlybeforespeaking——along，purposeful，lovinglookwhichnomanbornofwomancouldmisunderstand。Thenshespokeslowly，deliberately，emphatically：
\"Bebold，andfearnot。Betruetoyourself，tome——itisthesamething。Thesearethebestguardsyoucanuse。Yoursafetydoesnotrestwithme。Ah，Iwishitdid！IwishtoGoditdid！\"Inmyinnerheartitthrilledmenotmerelytoheartheexpressionofherwish，buttohearherusethenameofGodasshedid。Iunderstandnow，inthecalmofthisplaceandwiththesunlightbeforeme，thatmybeliefastoherbeingallwoman——livingwoman——wasnotquitedead：butthoughatthemomentmyheartdidnotrecognizethedoubt，mybraindid。AndImadeupmymindthatweshouldnotpartthistimeuntilsheknewthatIhadseenher，andwhere；but，despitemyownthoughts，myouterearslistenedgreedilyasshewenton。
\"Asforme，youmaynotfindME，but_I_shallfindYOU，besure！
Andnowwemustsay’Good—night，’mydear，mydear！Tellmeonceagainthatyouloveme，foritisasweetnessthatonedoesnotwishtoforego——evenonewhowearssuchagarmentasthis——andrestswhereImustrest。\"Asshespokeshehelduppartofhercerementsformetosee。WhatcouldIdobuttakeheronceagaininmyarmsandholdherclose，close。Godknowsitwasallinlove；butitwaspassionatelovewhichsurgedthroughmyeveryveinasIstrainedherdearbodytomine。Butyetthisembracewasnotselfish；itwasnotallanexpressionofmyownpassion。Itwasbasedonpity——thepitywhichistwin—bornwithtruelove。Breathlessfromourkisses，whenpresentlywereleasedeachother，shestoodinagloriousrapture，likeawhitespiritinthemoonlight，andasherlovely，starliteyesseemedtodevourme，shespokeinalanguorousecstasy：
\"Oh，howyouloveme！howyouloveme！ItisworthallIhavegonethroughforthis，eventowearingthisterribledrapery。\"Andagainshepointedtohershroud。
HerewasmychancetospeakofwhatIknew，andItookit。\"Iknow，Iknow。Moreover，Iknowthatawfulresting—place。\"
Iwasinterrupted，cutshortinthemidstofmysentence，notbyanyword，butbythefrightenedlookinhereyesandthefear—masteredwayinwhichsheshrankawayfromme。Isupposeinrealityshecouldnotbepalerthanshelookedwhenthecolour—absorbingmoonlightfellonher；butontheinstantallsemblanceoflivingseemedtoshrinkandfallaway，andshelookedwitheyesofdreadasifinIsomeawfulwayheldinthrall。Butforthemovementofthepitifulglance，shewouldhaveseemedofsoullessmarble，sodeadlycolddidshelook。
ThemomentsthatdraggedthemselvesoutwhilstIwaitedforhertospeakseemedendless。Atlengthherwordscameinanawedwhisper，sofaintthateveninthatstillynightIcouldhardlyhearit：
\"Youknow——youknowmyresting—place！How——whenwasthat？\"Therewasnothingtodonowbuttospeakoutthetruth：
\"IwasinthecryptofSt。Sava。Itwasallbyaccident。IwasexploringallaroundtheCastle，andIwentthereinmycourse。I
foundthewindingstairintherockbehindthescreen，andwentdown。
Dear，Ilovedyouwellbeforethatawfulmoment，butthen，evenasthelanternfelltinglingontheglass，mylovemultiplieditself，withpityasafactor。\"Shewassilentforafewseconds。Whenshespoke，therewasanewtoneinhervoice：
\"Butwereyounotshocked？\"
\"OfcourseIwas，\"Iansweredonthespurofthemoment，andInowthinkwisely。\"Shockedishardlytheword。Iwashorrifiedbeyondanythingthatwordscanconveythatyou——YOUshouldhavetosoendure！Ididnotliketoreturn，forIfearedlestmydoingsomightsetsomebarrierbetweenus。ButinduetimeIdidreturnonanotherday。\"
\"Well？\"Hervoicewaslikesweetmusic。
\"Ihadanothershockthattime，worsethanbefore，foryouwerenotthere。ThenindeeditwasthatIknewtomyselfhowdearyouwere——
howdearyouaretome。WhilstIlive，you——livingordead——shallalwaysbeinmyheart。\"Shebreathedhard。Theelationinhereyesmadethemoutshinethemoonlight，butshesaidnoword。Iwenton：
\"Mydear，Ihadcomeintothecryptfullofcourageandhope，thoughIknewwhatdreadfulsightshouldsearmyeyesonceagain。Butwelittleknowwhatmaybeinstoreforus，nomatterwhatweexpect。I
wentoutwithaheartlikewaterfromthatdreadfuldesolation。\"
\"Oh，howyouloveme，dear！\"Cheeredbyherwords，andevenmorebyhertone，Iwentonwithrenewedcourage。Therewasnohalting，nofalteringinmyintentionnow：
\"YouandI，mydear，wereordainedforeachother。IcannothelpitthatyouhadalreadysufferedbeforeIknewyou。ItmaybethattheremaybeforyoustillsufferingthatImaynotprevent，endurancethatImaynotshorten；butwhatamancandoisyours。
NotHellitselfwillstopme，ifitbepossiblethatImaywinthroughitstormentswithyouinmyarms！\"
\"Willnothingstopyou，then？\"HerquestionwasbreathedassoftlyasthestrainofanAEolianharp。
\"Nothing！\"Isaid，andIheardmyownteethsnaptogether。TherewassomethingspeakingwithinmestrongerthanIhadeverknownmyselftobe。Againcameaquery，trembling，quavering，quivering，asthoughtheissuewasofmorethanlifeordeath：
\"Notthis？\"Sheheldupacorneroftheshroud，andasshesawmyfaceandrealizedtheanswerbeforeIspoke，wenton：\"Withallitimplies？\"
\"Notifitwerewroughtofthecereclothsofthedamned！\"Therewasalongpause。Hervoicewasmoreresolutewhenshespokeagain。Itrang。Moreover，therewasinitajoyousnote，asofonewhofeelsnewhope：
\"Butdoyouknowwhatmensay？Someofthem，thatIamdeadandburied；others，thatIamnotonlydeadandburied，butthatIamoneofthoseunhappybeingsthatmaynotdiethecommondeathofman。
Wholiveonafearfullife—in—death，wherebytheyareharmfultoall。
ThoseunhappyUn—deadwhommencallVampires——wholiveonthebloodoftheliving，andbringeternaldamnationaswellasdeathwiththepoisonoftheirdreadfulkisses！
\"Iknowwhatmensaysometimes，\"Ianswered。\"ButIknowalsowhatmyownheartsays；andIratherchoosetoobeyitscallingthanallthevoicesofthelivingorthedead。Comewhatmay，Iampledgedtoyou。IfitbethatyouroldlifehastoberewonforyououtoftheveryjawsofDeathandHell，IshallkeepthefaithIhavepledged，andthathereIpledgeagain！\"AsIfinishedspeakingIsankonmykneesatherfeet，and，puttingmyarmsroundher，drewherclosetome。Hertearsraineddownonmyfaceasshestrokedmyhairwithhersoft，stronghandandwhisperedtome：
\"Thisisindeedtobeone。WhatmoreholymarriagecanGodgivetoanyofHiscreatures？\"Wewerebothsilentforatime。
IthinkIwasthefirsttorecovermysenses。ThatIdidsowasmanifestbymyaskingher：\"Whenmaywemeetagain？\"——athingIhadneverremembereddoingatanyofourformerpartings。Sheansweredwitharisingandfallingofthevoicethatwasjustaboveawhisper，assoftandcooingasthevoiceofapigeon：
\"Thatwillbesoon——assoonasIcanmanageit，besure。Mydear，mydear！\"Thelastfourwordsofendearmentshespokeinalowbutprolongedandpiercingtonewhichmademethrillwithdelight。
\"Givemesometoken，\"Isaid，\"thatImayhavealwaysclosetometoeasemyachinghearttillwemeetagain，andeverafter，forlove’ssake！\"Hermindseemedtoleaptounderstanding，andwithapurposeallherown。Stoopingforaninstant，shetoreoffwithswift，strongfingersafragmentofhershroud。This，havingkissedit，shehandedtome，whispering：
\"Itistimethatwepart。Youmustleavemenow。Takethis，andkeepitforever。IshallbelessunhappyinmyterriblelonelinesswhilstitlastsifIknowthatthismygift，whichforgoodorillisapartofmeasyouknowme，isclosetoyou。Itmaybe，myverydear，thatsomedayyoumaybegladandevenproudofthishour，asI
am。\"ShekissedmeasItookit。
\"Forlifeordeath，Icarenotwhich，solongasIamwithyou！\"I
said，asImovedoff。DescendingtheJacob’sladder，Imademywaydowntherock—hewnpassage。
ThelastthingIsawwasthebeautifulfaceofmyLadyoftheShroudassheleanedovertheedgeoftheopening。Hereyeswerelikeglowingstarsasherlooksfollowedme。Thatlookshallneverfadefrommymemory。
AfterafewagitatingmomentsofthoughtIhalfmechanicallytookmywaydowntothegarden。Openingthegrille，Ienteredmylonelyroom，whichlookedallthemorelonelyforthememoryoftherapturousmomentsundertheFlagstaff。Iwenttobedasoneinadream。ThereIlaytillsunrise——awakeandthinking。
BOOKV：ARITUALATMIDNIGHT
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
June20，1907。
ThetimehasgoneasquicklyasworkcaneffectsinceIsawmyLady。
AsItoldthemountaineers，Rooke，whomIhadsentontheservice，hadmadeacontractforfiftythousandIngis—Malbronrifles，andasmanytonsofammunitionastheFrenchexpertscalculatedtobeafullsupplyforayearofwarfare。Iheardfromhimbyoursecrettelegraphcodethattheorderhadbeencompleted，andthatthegoodswerealreadyontheway。ThemorningafterthemeetingattheFlagstaffIhadwordthatatnightthevessel——onecharteredbyRookeforthepurpose——wouldarriveatVissarionduringthenight。Wewereallexpectation。IhadalwaysnowintheCastleasignallingparty，thesignalsbeingrenewedasfastasthemenweresufficientlyexperttoproceedwiththeirpracticealoneoringroups。Wehopedthateveryfighting—maninthecountrywouldintimebecomeanexpertsignaller。Beyondthese，again，wehavealwaysafewpriests。TheChurchofthecountryisamilitantChurch；itspriestsaresoldiers，itsBishopscommanders。Buttheyallservewhereverthebattlemostneedsthem。Naturallythey，asmenofbrains，arequickeratlearningthantheaveragemountaineers；withtheresultthattheylearntthecodeandthesignallingalmostbyinstinct。Wehavenowatleastonesuchexpertineachcommunityofthem，andshortlythepriestsalonewillbeabletosignal，ifneedbe，forthenation；
thusreleasingforactiveservicethemerelyfighting—man。ThemenatpresentwithmeItookintoconfidenceastothevessel’sarrival，andwewereallreadyforworkwhenthemanonthelookoutattheFlagstaffsentwordthatavesselwithoutlightswascreepingintowardsshore。Weallassembledontherockyedgeofthecreek，andsawherstealupthecreekandgaintheshelteroftheharbour。Whenthishadbeeneffected，weranouttheboomwhichprotectstheopening，andafterthatthegreatarmouredsliding—gateswhichUncleRogerhadhimselfhadmadesoastoprotecttheharbourincaseofneed。
Wethencamewithinandassistedinwarpingthesteamertothesideofthedock。
Rookelookedfit，andwasfulloffireandvigour。Hisresponsibilityandthemerethoughtofwarlikeactionseemedtohaverenewedhisyouth。
Whenwehadarrangedfortheunloadingofthecasesofarmsandammunition，ItookRookeintotheroomwhichwecallmy\"office，\"
wherehegavemeanaccountofhisdoings。Hehadnotonlysecuredtheriflesandtheammunitionforthem，buthehadpurchasedfromoneofthesmallAmericanRepublicsanarmouredyachtwhichhadbeenespeciallybuiltforwarservice。Hegrewquiteenthusiastic，evenexcited，ashetoldmeofher：
\"Sheisthelastwordinnavalconstruction——atorpedoyacht。A
smallcruiser，withturbinesuptodate，oil—fuelled，andfullyarmedwiththelatestandmostperfectweaponsandexplosivesofallkinds。
Thefastestboatafloatto—day。BuiltbyThorneycroft，enginedbyParsons，armouredbyArmstrong，armedbyCrupp。Ifsheevercomesintoaction，itwillbebadforheropponent，forsheneednotfeartotackleanythinglessthanaDreadnought。\"
HealsotoldmethatfromthesameGovernment，whosenationhadjustestablishedanunlooked—forpeace，hehadalsopurchasedawholeparkofartilleryoftheverylatestpatterns，andthatforrangeandaccuracythegunswereheldtobesupreme。Thesewouldfollowbeforelong，andwiththemtheirproperammunition，withashiploadofthesametofollowshortlyafter。
Whenhehadtoldmealltherestofhisnews，andhandedmetheaccounts，wewentouttothedocktoseethedebarkationofthewarmaterial。Knowingthatitwasarriving，Ihadsentwordintheafternoontothemountaineerstotellthemtocomeandremoveit。
Theyhadansweredthecall，anditreallyseemedtomethatthewholeofthelandmustthatnighthavebeeninmotion。
Theycameasindividuals，groupingthemselvesastheycamewithinthedefencesoftheCastle；somehadgatheredatfixedpointsontheway。
Theywentsecretlyandinsilence，stealingthroughtheforestslikeghosts，eachpartywhenitgroupedtakingtheplaceofthatwhichhadgoneononeoftheroutesradiatingroundVissarion。Theircomingandgoingwasmorethanghostly。Itwas，indeed，theoutwardmanifestationofaninwardspirit——awholenationdominatedbyonecommonpurpose。
Themeninthesteamerwerenearlyallengineers，mostlyBritish，wellconducted，andtobedependedupon。Rookehadpickedthemseparately，andinthedoinghadusedwellhisgreatexperienceofbothmenandadventurouslife。Thesemenweretoformpartofthearmouredyacht’screwwhensheshouldcomeintotheMediterraneanwaters。Theyandthepriestsandfighting—menintheCastleworkedwelltogether，andwithazealthatwasbeyondpraise。Theheavycasesseemedalmostoftheirownaccordtoleavetheholds，sofastcametheprocessionofthemalongthegangwaysfromdecktodock—
wall。Itwasapartofmydesignthatthearmsshouldbeplacedincentresreadyforlocaldistribution。Insuchacountryasthis，withoutrailwaysorevenroads，thedistributionofwarmaterialinanyquantityisagreatlabour，forithastobedoneindividually，oratleastfromcentres。
Butofthisworkthegreatnumberofmountaineerswhowerearrivingmadelittleaccount。Asfastastheship’scompany，withtheassistanceofthepriestsandfighting—men，placedthecasesonthequay，theengineersopenedthemandlaidthecontentsreadyforportage。Themountaineersseemedtocomeinacontinuousstream；