\"Sobeit，mybeloved。Itrustyoutothefull，evenasyoutrustme。Andthathasbeenproventhisnight，eventomyowndoubtingheart。Ishallwait；andasIknowyouwishit，IshallwaitaspatientlyasIcan。Buttillyoucometomeforgoodandall，letmeseeyouorhearfromyouwhenyoucan。Thetime，dearwife，mustgoheavilywithmeasIthinkofyousufferingandlonely。Sobegoodtome，andletnottoolongatimeelapsebetweenmyglimpsesofhope。And，sweetheart，whenyouDOcometome，itshallbeforever！\"Therewassomethingintheintonationofthelastsentence——I
feltitssinceritymyself——someimpliedyearningforapromise，thatmadeherbeautifuleyesswim。Thegloriousstarsinthemwereblurredassheansweredwithafervourwhichseemedtomeasmorethanearthly：
\"Forever！Iswearit！\"
Withonelongkiss，andastrainingineachothersarms，whichleftmetinglingforlongafterwehadlostsightofeachother，weparted。Istoodandwatchedherasherwhitefigure，glidingthroughthedeepeninggloom，fadedastheforestthickened。Itsurelywasnoopticaldelusionoraphantomofthemindthathershroudedarmwasraisedasthoughinblessingorfarewellbeforethedarknessswallowedherup。
BOOKVI：THEPURSUITINTHEFOREST
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
July3，1907。
Thereisnoanodynebutworktopainoftheheart；andmypainisalloftheheart。IsometimesfeelthatitisratherhardthatwithsomuchtomakemehappyIcannotknowhappiness。HowcanIbehappywhenmywife，whomIfondlylove，andwhoIknowlovesme，issufferinginhorrorandlonelinessofakindwhichisalmostbeyondhumanbelief？However，whatismylossismycountry’sgain，fortheLandoftheBlueMountainsismycountrynow，despitethefactthatI
amstillaloyalsubjectofgoodKingEdward。UncleRogertookcareofthatwhenhesaidIshouldhavetheconsentofthePrivyCouncilbeforeImightbenaturalizedanywhereelse。
WhenIgothomeyesterdaymorningInaturallycouldnotsleep。Theeventsofthenightandthebitterdisappointmentthatfollowedmyexcitingjoymadesuchathingimpossible。WhenIdrewthecurtainoverthewindow，thereflectionofthesunrisewasjustbeginningtotingethehigh—sailingcloudsinfrontofme。Ilaiddownandtriedtorest，butwithoutavail。However，Ischooledmyselftoliestill，andatlast，ifIdidnotsleep，wasatleastquiescent。
Disturbedbyagentletapatthedoor，Isprangupatonceandthrewonadressinggown。Outside，whenIopenedthedoor，wasAuntJanet。
Shewasholdingalightedcandleinherhand，forthoughitwasgettinglightintheopen，thepassageswerestilldark。Whenshesawmesheseemedtobreathemorefreely，andaskedifshemightcomein。
Whilstshesatontheedgeofmybed，inherold—timeway，shesaidinahushedvoice：
\"Oh，laddie，laddie，Itrustyerburdenisnotooheavytobear。\"
\"Myburden！Whatonearthdoyoumean，AuntJanet？\"Isaidinreply。
Ididnotwishtocommitmyselfbyadefiniteanswer，foritwasevidentthatshehadbeendreamingorSecondSightingagain。Sherepliedwiththegrimseriousnessusualtoherwhenshetouchedonoccultmatters：
\"Isawyourhairtbleeding，laddie。Ikentitwasyours，thoughhowIkentitIdon’tknow。Itlayonastonefloorinthedark，saveforadimbluelightsuchascorpse—lightsare。Onitwasplacedagreatbook，andclosearoundwerescatteredmanystrangethings，amongstthemtwocrownso’flowers——theoneboundwi’silver，theotherwi’gold。Therewasalsoagoldencup，likeachalice，o’erturned。Theredwinetrickledfromitan’mingledwi’yerhairt’sbluid；foronthegreatbookwassomevastdimweightwrappedupinblack，andonitsteppedinturnmanymenallswathedinblack。
An’astheweightofeachcameonitthebluidgushedoutafresh。
Andoh，yerpuirhairt，myladdie，wasquickandleaping，sothatateverybeatitraisedtheblack—cladweight！An’yetthatwasnotall，forhardbystoodatallimperialshapeo’awoman，allarrayedinwhite，wi’agreatveilo’finestlaceworno’erashrood。An’
shewaswhiterthanthesnow，an’fairerthanthemornforbeauty；
thoughadarkwomanshewas，wi’hairliketheraven，an’eyesblackastheseaatnicht，an’therewasstarsinthem。An’ateachbeato’yerpuirbleedinghairtshewrungherwhitehands，an’themanin’
o’hersweetvoicerentmyhairtintwain。Oh，laddie，laddie！whatdoesitmean？\"
Imanagedtomurmur：\"I’msureIdon’tknow，AuntJanet。Isupposeitwasalladream！\"
\"Adreamitwas，mydear。Adreamoraveesion，whilkamattersnane，fora’sucharewarnin’ssentfraeGod……\"Suddenlyshesaidinadifferentvoice：
\"Laddie，haeyebeenfausetoanylassie？I’mnoblamin’ye。Foryemenaredifferentfraeuswomen，an’yerregardonrechtandwrangdiffersfromoors。Butoh，laddie，awoman’stearsfa’heavywhenherhairtisforsairwi’theyieldin’tofausewords。’Tisaheavyburdenforonymantocarrywi’himashegoes，an’maywellcausepaintoithersthathefainwouldspare。\"Shestopped，andindeadsilencewaitedformetospeak。Ithoughtitwouldbebesttosetherpoorlovingheartatrest，andasIcouldnotdivulgemyspecialsecret，spokeingeneralterms：
\"AuntJanet，Iamaman，andhaveledaman’slife，suchasitis。
ButIcantellyou，whohavealwayslovedmeandtaughtmetobetrue，thatinalltheworldthereisnowomanwhomustweepforanyfalsityofmine。Ifclosetherebeanywho，sleepingorwaking，indreamsorvisionsorinreality，weepsbecauseofme，itissurelynotformydoing，butbecauseofsomethingoutsideme。ItmaybethatherheartissorebecauseImustsuffer，asallmenmustinsomedegree；butshedoesnotweepfororthroughanyactofmine。\"
Shesighedhappilyatmyassurance，andlookedupthroughhertears，forshewasmuchmoved；andaftertenderlykissingmyforeheadandblessingme，stoleaway。ShewasmoresweetandtenderthanIhavewordstosay，andtheonlyregretthatIhaveinallthatisgoneisthatIhavenotbeenabletobringmywifetoher，andlethershareintheloveshehasforme。Butthat，too，willcome，pleaseGod！
InthemorningIsentamessagetoRookeatOtranto，instructinghimbycodetobringtheyachttoVissarioninthecomingnight。
AlldayIspentingoingaboutamongstthemountaineers，drillingthemandlookingaftertheirarms。ICOULDnotstaystill。Myonlychanceofpeacewastowork，myonlychanceofsleeptotiremyselfout。Unhappily，Iamverystrong，soevenwhenIcamehomeatdarkI
wasquitefresh。However，IfoundacablemessagefromRookethattheyachtwouldarriveatmidnight。
Therewasnoneedtosummonthemountaineers，asthemenintheCastlewouldbesufficienttomakepreparationsfortheyacht’scoming。
LATER。
Theyachthascome。Athalf—pasteleventhelookoutsignalledthatasteamerwithoutlightswascreepingintowardstheCreek。IranouttotheFlagstaff，andsawherstealinlikeaghost。Sheispaintedasteelyblue—grey，anditisalmostimpossibletoseeheratanydistance。Shecertainlygoeswonderfully。Althoughtherewasnotenoughthrobfromtheenginestomartheabsolutestillness，shecameonatafinespeed，andwithinafewminuteswasclosetotheboom。
Ihadonlytimetorundowntogiveorderstodrawbacktheboomwhensheglidedinandstoppeddeadattheharbourwall。Rookesteeredherhimself，andhesaysheneverwasonaboatthatsowellorsoquicklyansweredherhelm。Sheiscertainlyabeauty，andsofarasIcanseeatnightperfectineverydetail。Ipromisemyselfafewpleasanthoursoverherinthedaylight。Themenseemasplendidlot。
ButIdonotfeelsleepy；Idespairofsleepto—night。ButworkdemandsthatIbefitforwhatevermaycome，andsoIshalltrytosleep——torest，atanyrate。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL。——Continued。
July4，1907。
Iwasupwiththefirstrayofsunrise，sobythetimeIhadmybathandwasdressedtherewasamplelight。Iwentdowntothedockatonce，andspentthemorninglookingoverthevessel，whichfullyjustifiesRooke’senthusiasmabouther。Sheisbuiltonlovelylines，andIcanquiteunderstandthatsheisenormouslyfast。HerarmourIcanonlytakeonthespecifications，butherarmamentisreallywonderful。Andtherearenotonlyalltheverynewestdevicesofaggressivewarfare——indeed，shehasthenewestup—to—datetorpedoesandtorpedo—guns——butalsotheold—fashionedrocket—tubes，whichincertainoccasionsaresouseful。ShehaselectricgunsandthelatestMassillonwater—guns，andReinhardtelectro—pneumatic\"deliverers\"forpyroxilineshells。Sheisevenequippedwithwar—
balloonseasyofexpansion，andwithcompressibleKitsonaeroplanes。
Idon’tsupposethatthereisanythingquitelikeherintheworld。
Thecrewareworthyofher。Ican’timaginewhereRookepickedupsuchasplendidlotofmen。Theyarenearlyallman—of—warsmen；ofvariousnationalities，butmostlyBritish。Allyoungmen——theoldestofthemhasn’tgotintotheforties——and，sofarasIcanlearn，allexpertsofonekindoranotherinsomespecialsubjectofwarfare。
Itwillgohardwithme，butIshallkeepthemtogether。
HowIgotthroughtherestofthedayIknownot。Itriedhardnottocreateanydomestictroublebymymanner，lestAuntJanetshould，afterherluriddreamorvisionoflastnight，attachsomenewimportancetoit。IthinkIsucceeded，forshedidnot，sofarasI
couldtell，takeanyspecialnoticeofme。Wepartedasusualathalf—pastten，andIcamehereandmadethisentryinmyjournal。I
ammorerestlessthaneverto—night，andnowonder。IwouldgiveanythingtobeabletopayavisittoSt。Sava’s，andseemywifeagain——ifitwereonlysleepinginhertomb。ButIdarenotdoeventhat，lestsheshouldcometoseemehere，andIshouldmissher。SoIhavedonewhatIcan。TheglassdoortotheTerraceisopen，sothatshecanenteratonceifshecomes。Thefireislit，andtheroomiswarm。Thereisfoodreadyincasesheshouldcareforit。I
haveplentyoflightintheroom，sothatthroughtheaperturewhereIhavenotfullydrawnthecurtaintheremaybelighttoguideher。
Oh，howthetimedrags！Theclockhasstruckmidnight。One，two！
Thankgoodness，itwillshortlybedawn，andtheactivityofthedaymaybegin！Workmayagainprove，inaway，tobeananodyne。InthemeantimeImustwriteon，lestdespairoverwhelmme。
OnceduringthenightIthoughtIheardafootstepoutside。Irushedtothewindowandlookedout，buttherewasnothingtosee，nosoundtohear。Thatwasalittleafteroneo’clock。Ifearedtogooutside，lestthatshouldalarmher；soIcamebacktomytable。I
couldnotwrite，butIsatasifwritingforawhile。ButIcouldnotstandit，soroseandwalkedabouttheroom。AsIwalkedIfeltthatmyLady——itgivesmeapangeverytimeIrememberthatIdonotknowevenhername——wasnotquitesofarawayfromme。Itmademyheartbeattothinkthatitmightmeanthatshewascomingtome。
CouldnotIaswellasAuntJanethavealittleSecondSight！Iwenttowardsthewindow，and，standingbehindthecurtain，listened。FarawayIthoughtIheardacry，andranoutontheTerrace；buttherewasnosoundtobeheard，andnosignofanylivingthinganywhere；
soItookitforgrantedthatitwasthecryofsomenightbird，andcamebacktomyroom，andwroteatmyjournaltillIwascalm。I
thinkmynervesmustbegettingoutoforder，wheneverysoundofthenightseemstohaveaspecialmeaningforme。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
July7，1907
Whenthegreyofthemorningcame，Igaveuphopeofmywifeappearing，andmadeupmymindthat，sosoonasIcouldgetawaywithoutexcitingAuntJanet’sattention，IwouldgotoSt。Sava’s。I
alwayseatagoodbreakfast，anddidIforgoitaltogether，itwouldbesuretoexcitehercuriosity——athingIdonotwishatpresent。
Astherewasstilltimetowait，IlaydownonmybedasIwas，and——
suchisthewayofFate——shortlyfellasleep。
Iwasawakenedbyaterrificclatteringatmydoor。WhenIopeneditIfoundalittlegroupofservants，veryapologeticatawakingmewithoutinstructions。ThechiefofthemexplainedthatayoungpriesthadcomefromtheVladikawithamessagesourgentthatheinsistedonseeingmeimmediatelyatallhazards。Icameoutatonce，andfoundhiminthehalloftheCastle，standingbeforethegreatfire，whichwasalwayslitintheearlymorning。Hehadaletterinhishand，butbeforegivingittomehesaid：
\"IamsentbytheVladika，whopressedonmethatIwasnottoloseasingleinstantinseeingyou；thattimeisofgoldenprice——nay，beyondprice。Thisletter，amongstotherthings，vouchesforme。A
terriblemisfortunehasoccurred。Thedaughterofourleaderhasdisappearedduringlastnight——thesame，hecommandedmetoremindyou，thathespokeofatthemeetingwhenhewouldnotletthemountaineersfiretheirguns。Nosignofhercanbefound，anditisbelievedthatshehasbeencarriedoffbytheemissariesoftheSultanofTurkey，whooncebeforebroughtournationstothevergeofwarbydemandingherasawife。IwasalsotosaythattheVladikaPlamenacwouldhavecomehimself，butthatitwasnecessarythatheshouldatonceconsultwiththeArchbishop，StevanPalealogue，astowhatstepisbesttotakeinthisdirecalamity。Hehassentoutasearch—partyundertheArchimandriteofSpazac，PetrofVlastimir，whoistocomeonherewithanynewshecanget，asyouhavecommandofthesignalling，andcanbestspreadthenews。Heknowsthatyou，Gospodar，areinyourgreatheartoneofourcompatriots，andthatyouhavealreadyprovedyourfriendshipbymanyeffortstostrengthenourhandsforwar。Andasagreatcompatriot，hecallsonyoutoaidusinourneed。\"Hethenhandedmetheletter，andstoodbyrespectfullywhilstIbrokethesealandreadit。Itwaswritteningreathaste，andsignedbytheVladika。
\"Comewithusnowinournation’speril。Helpustorescuewhatwemostadore，andhenceforthweshallholdyouinourhearts。YoushalllearnhowthemenoftheBlueMountainscanlovefaithandvalour。Come！\"
Thiswasataskindeed——adutyworthyofanyman。ItthrilledmetothecoretoknowthatthemenoftheBlueMountainshadcalledonmeintheirdireneed。ItwokeallthefightinginstinctofmyVikingforbears，andIvowedinmyheartthattheyshouldbesatisfiedwithmywork。Icalledtomethecorpsofsignallerswhowereinthehouse，andledthemtotheCastleroof，takingwithmetheyoungmessenger—priest。
\"Comewithme，\"Isaidtohim，\"andseehowIanswertheVladika’scommand。\"
TheNationalflagwasrunup——theestablishedsignalthatthenationwasinneed。Instantlyoneverysummitnearandfarwasseentheflutterofanansweringflag。Quicklyfollowedthesignalthatcommandedthecalltoarms。
OnebyoneIgavethesignallersordersinquicksuccession，fortheplanofsearchunfoldeditselftomeasIwenton。Thearmsofthesemaphorewhirledinawaythatmadetheyoungprieststare。Onebyone，astheytooktheirorders，thesignallersseemedtocatchfire。
Instinctivelytheyunderstoodtheplan，andworkedlikedemigods。
Theyknewthatsowidespreadamovementhaditsbestchanceinrapidityandinunityofaction。
FromtheforestwhichlayinsightoftheCastlecameawildcheering，whichseemedtointerprettheformerstillnessofthehills。Itwasgoodtofeelthatthosewhosawthesignals——typesofmany——wereready。Isawthelookofexpectationonthefaceofthemessenger—priest，andrejoicedattheglowthatcameasIturnedtohimtospeak。Ofcourse，hewantedtoknowsomethingofwhatwasgoingon。IsawtheflashingofmyowneyesreflectedinhisasI
spoke：
\"TelltheVladikathatwithinaminuteofhismessagebeingreadtheLandoftheBlueMountainswasawake。Themountaineersarealreadymarching，andbeforethesunishightherewillbealineofguardswithinhailofeachotherroundthewholefrontier——fromAngusatoIlsin；fromIlsintoBajana；fromBajanatoIspazar；fromIspazartoVolok；fromVoloktoTatra；fromTatratoDomitan；fromDomitantoGravaja；andfromGravajabacktoAngusa。Thelineisdouble。Theoldmenkeepguardontheline，andtheyoungmenadvance。Thesewillcloseinattheadvancingline，sothatnothingcanescapethem。
Theywillcovermountain—topandforestdepth，andwillcloseinfinallyontheCastlehere，whichtheycanbeholdfromafar。Myownyachtishere，andwillsweepthecoastfromendtoend。Itisthefastestboatafloat，andarmedagainstasquadron。Herewillallsignalscome。Inanhourwherewestandwillbeasignalbureau，wheretrainedeyeswillwatchnightanddaytillthelostonehasbeenfoundandtheoutragehasbeenavenged。Therobbersareevennowwithinaringofsteel，andcannotescape。\"
Theyoungpriest，allonfire，sprangonthebattlementsandshoutedtothecrowd，whichwasmassingroundtheCastleinthegardensfarbelow。Theforestwasgivingupitsunitstilltheyseemedlikethenucleusofanarmy。Themencheeredlustily，tillthesoundswunghighuptousliketheroaringofawintersea。Withbaredheadstheywerecrying：
\"GodandtheBlueMountains！GodandtheBlueMountains！\"
IrandowntothemasquicklyasIcould，andbegantoissuetheirinstructions。Withinatimetobecomputedbyminutesthewholenumber，organizedbysections，hadstartedtoscourtheneighbouringmountains。Atfirsttheyhadonlyunderstoodthecalltoarmsforgeneralsafety。Butwhentheylearnedthatthedaughterofachiefhadbeencaptured，theysimplywentmad。Fromsomethingwhichthemessengerfirstsaid，butwhichIcouldnotcatchordidnotunderstand，theblowseemedtohaveforthemsomesortofpersonalsignificancewhichwroughtthemtoafrenzy。
Whenthebulkofthemenhaddisappeared，ItookwithmeafewofmyownmenandseveralofthemountaineerswhomIhadaskedtoremain，andtogetherwewenttothehiddenravinewhichIknew。Wefoundtheplaceempty；buttherewereunmistakablesignsthatapartyofmenhadbeenencampedthereforseveraldays。Someofourmen，whowereskilledinwoodcraftandinsignsgenerally，agreedthattheremusthavebeensometwentyofthem。Astheycouldnotfindanytraileithercomingtoorgoingfromtheplace，theycametotheconclusionthattheymusthavecomeseparatelyfromdifferentdirectionsandgatheredthere，andthattheymusthavedepartedinsomethingofthesamemysteriousway。
However，thiswas，atanyrate，somesortofabeginning，andthemenseparated，havingagreedamongstthemselvestomakeawidecastroundtheplaceinthesearchfortracks。Whoevershouldfindatrailwastofollowwithatleastonecomrade，andwhentherewasanydefinitenews，itwastobesignalledtotheCastle。
Imyselfreturnedatonce，andsetthesignallerstoworktospreadamongstourownpeoplesuchnewsaswehad。
WhenpresentlysuchdiscoveriesashadbeenmadeweresignalledwithflagstotheCastle，itwasfoundthatthemaraudershad，intheirflight，followedastrangelyzigzagcourse。Itwasevidentthat，intryingtobafflepursuit，theyhadtriedtoavoidplaceswhichtheythoughtmightbedangeroustothem。Thismayhavebeensimplyamethodtodisconcertpursuit。Ifso，itwas，inameasure，excellent，fornoneofthoseimmediatelyfollowingcouldpossiblytellinwhatdirectiontheywereheading。Itwasonlywhenweworkedthecourseonthegreatmapinthesignaller’sroom（whichwastheoldguardroomoftheCastle）thatwecouldgetaninklingofthegeneraldirectionoftheirflight。Thisgaveaddedtroubletothepursuit；forthemenwhofollowed，beingignorantoftheirgeneralintent，couldnotevertakechancetoheadthemoff，buthadtobereadytofollowinanyoreverydirection。Inthismannerthepursuitwasaltogetherasternchase，andthereforeboundtobealongone。
Asatpresentwecouldnotdoanythingtilltheintendedroutewasmoremarked，Ileftthesignallingcorpstothetaskofreceivingandgivinginformationtothemovingbands，sothat，ifoccasionserved，theymightheadoffthemarauders。ImyselftookRooke，ascaptainoftheyacht，andsweptoutofthecreek。WeranupnorthtoDalairi，thendownsouthtoOlesso，andcamebacktoVissarion。Wesawnothingsuspiciousexcept，farofftotheextremesouthward，onewarshipwhichflewnoflag。Rooke，however，whoseemedtoknowshipsbyinstinct，saidshewasaTurk；soonourreturnwesignalledalongthewholeshoretowatchher。RookeheldTheLady——whichwasthenameIhadgiventhearmouredyacht——inreadinesstodartoutincaseanythingsuspiciouswasreported。Hewasnottostandonanyceremony，butifnecessarytoattack。Wedidnotintendtoloseapointinthisdesperatestrugglewhichwehadundertaken。Wehadplacedindifferentlikelyspotsacoupleofourownmentolookafterthesignalling。
WhenIgotbackIfoundthattherouteofthefugitives，whohadnowjoinedintooneparty，hadbeendefinitelyascertained。Theyhadgonesouth，butmanifestlytakingalarmfromtheadvancinglineofguards，hadheadedupagaintothenorth—east，wherethecountrywasbroaderandthemountainswilderandlessinhabited。
Forthwith，leavingthesignallingaltogetherinthehandsofthefightingpriests，Itookasmallchosenbandofthemountaineersofourowndistrict，andmade，withallthespeedwecould，tocutacrossthetrackofthefugitivesalittleaheadofthem。TheArchimandrite（Abbot）ofSpazac，whohadjustarrived，camewithus。
Heisasplendidman——arealfighteraswellasaholycleric，asgoodwithhishandjaraswithhisBible，andarunnertobeattheband。Themaraudersweregoingatafearfulpace，consideringthattheywereallafoot；sowehadtogofastalso！Amongstthesemountainsthereisnoothermeansofprogressing。OurownmenweresoaflamewithardourthatIcouldnotbutnoticethatthey，morethananyoftheotherswhomIhadseen，hadsomespecialcauseforconcern。
WhenImentionedittotheArchimandrite，whomovedbymyside，heanswered：
\"Allnaturalenough；theyarenotonlyfightingfortheircountry，butfortheirown！\"Ididnotquiteunderstandhisanswer，andsobegantoaskhimsomequestions，totheeffectthatIsoonbegantounderstandagooddealmorethanhedid。
LetterfromArchbishopStevanPalealogue，HeadoftheEasternChurchoftheBlueMountains，totheLadyJanetMacKelpie，Vissarion。
WrittenJuly9，1907。
HONOUREDLADY，AsyouwishforanunderstandingregardingthelatelamentableoccurrenceinwhichsomuchdangerwasincurredtothisourLandoftheBlueMountains，andonedeartous，IsendthesewordsbyrequestoftheGospodarRupert，belovedofourmountaineers。
WhentheVoivodePeterVissarionmadehisjourneytothegreatnationtowhomwelookedinourhourofneed，itwasnecessarythatheshouldgoinsecret。TheTurkwasatourgates，andfullofthemaliceofbaffledgreed。AlreadyhehadtriedtoarrangeamarriagewiththeVoivodin，sothatintimetocomehe，asherhusband，mighthaveestablishedaclaimtotheinheritanceoftheland。Wellheknew，asdoallmen，thattheBlueMountaineersoweallegiancetononethattheythemselvesdonotappointtorulership。Thishasbeenthehistoryinthepast。Butnowandagainanindividualhasarisenorcometothefrontadaptedpersonallyforsuchgovernmentasthislandrequires。AndsotheLadyTeuta，VoivodinoftheBlueMountains，wasputforherproperguardinginthechargeofmyselfasHeadoftheEasternChurchintheLandoftheBlueMountains，stepsbeingtakeninsuchwisethatnocaptureofhercouldbeeffectedbyunscrupulousenemiesofthisourLand。Thistaskandguardianshipwasgladlyheldasanhonourbyallconcerned。FortheVoivodinTeutaofVissarionmustbetakenasrepresentinginherownpersonthegloryoftheoldSerbrace，inasmuchasbeingtheonlychildoftheVoivodeVissarion，lastmaleofhisprincelyrace——theracewhichever，duringthetencenturiesofourhistory，unflinchinglygavelifeandalltheyheldfortheprotection，safety，andwell—beingoftheLandoftheBlueMountains。Neverduringthosecenturieshadanyoneoftheracebeenknowntofailinpatriotism，ortodrawbackfromanylossorhardshipenjoinedbyhighdutyorstressofneed。
Moreover，thiswastheraceofthatfirstVoivodeVissarion，ofwhom，inlegend，itwasprophesiedthathe——onceknownas\"TheSwordofFreedom，\"agiantamongstmen——wouldsomeday，whenthenationhadneedofhim，comeforthfromhiswater—tombinthelostLakeofReo，andleadoncemorethemenoftheBlueMountainstolastingvictory。