Whenshearrived，weheardtoourjoythatallconcernedhaddonetheirworkwell。TheArchbishopwasaboard，andoftheNationalCouncilnotonewasmissing。TheGospodarhurriedthemallintothegreathalloftheCastle，whichhadinthemeantimebeengotready。
I，too，wentwithhim，buttheVoivodinremainedwithout。
Whenallwereseated，heroseandsaid：
\"MyLordArchbishop，Vladika，andLordsoftheCouncilall，Ihavedaredtosummonyouinthiswaybecausetimepresses，andthelifeofoneyoualllove——theVoivodeVissarion——isatstake。ThisaudaciousattemptoftheTurkistheoldaggressionunderanewform。Itisanewandmoredaringstepthanevertotrytocaptureyourchiefandhisdaughter，theVoivodin，whomyoulove。Happily，thelatterpartoftheschemeisfrustrated。TheVoivodinissafeandamongstus。
ButtheVoivodeisheldprisoner——if，indeed，hebestillalive。HemustbesomewherenearIlsin——butwhereexactlyweknownotasyet。
Wehaveanexpeditionreadytostartthemomentwereceiveyoursanction——yourcommands。Weshallobeyyourwisheswithourlives。
Butasthematterisinstant，Iwouldventuretoaskonequestion，andoneonly：’ShallwerescuetheVoivodeatanycostthatmaypresentitself？’Iaskthis，forthematterhasnowbecomeaninternationalone，and，ifourenemiesareasearnestasweare，theissueiswar！
Havingsospoken，andwithadignityandforcewhichisinexpressible，hewithdrew；andtheCouncil，havingappointedascribe——themonkCristoferos，whomIhadsuggested——beganitswork。
TheArchbishopspoke：
\"LordsoftheCounciloftheBlueMountains，IventuretoaskyouthattheanswertotheGospodarRupertbeaninstant’Yes！’togetherwiththanksandhonourtothatgallantEnglisher，whohasmadeourcausehisown，andwhohassovaliantlyrescuedourbelovedVoivodinfromtheruthlesshandsofourenemies。\"ForthwiththeoldestmemberoftheCouncil——NicolosofVolok——rose，and，afterthrowingasearchinglookroundthefacesofall，andseeinggravenodsofassent——fornotawordwasspoken——saidtohimwhoheldthedoor：
\"SummontheGospodarRupertforthwith！\"WhenRupertentered，hespoketohim：
\"GospodarRupert，theCounciloftheBlueMountainshasonlyoneanswertogive：Proceed！RescuetheVoivodeVissarion，whateverthecostmaybe！Youholdhenceforthinyourhandthehandjarofournation，asalready，forwhatyouhavedoneinyourvaliantrescueofourbelovedVoivodin，yourbreastholdstheheartofourpeople。
Proceedatonce！Wegiveyou，Ifear，littletime；butweknowthatsuchisyourownwish。Later，weshallissueformalauthorization，sothatifwarmayensue，ouralliesmayunderstandthatyouhaveactedforthenation，andalsosuchletterscredentialasmayberequiredbyyouinthisexceptionalservice。Theseshallfollowyouwithinanhour。Forourenemieswetakenoaccount。See，wedrawthehandjarthatweofferyou。\"Asonemanallinthehalldrewtheirhandjars，whichflashedasablazeoflightning。
Theredidnotseemtobeaninstant’sdelay。TheCouncilbrokeup，anditsmembers，minglingwiththepeoplewithout，tookactivepartinthepreparations。Notmanyminuteshadelapsedwhentheyacht，mannedandarmedandstoredasarranged，wasrushingoutofthecreek。Onthebridge，besideCaptainRooke，stoodtheGospodarRupertandthestill—shroudedformoftheVoivodinTeuta。Imyselfwasonthelowerdeckwiththesoldiers，explainingtocertainofthemthespecialdutieswhichtheymightbecalledontofulfil。I
heldthelistwhichtheGospodarRuperthadpreparedwhilstwewerewaitingfortheyachttoarrivefromGadaar。
PETROFVLASTIMIR。
FROMRUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
July9，1907。
Wewentataterrificpacedownthecoast，keepingwellinshoresoastoavoid，ifpossible，beingseenfromthesouth。JustnorthofIlsinarockyheadlandjutsout，andthatwasourcover。Onthenorthofthepeninsulaisasmallland—lockedbay，withdeepwater。
Itislargeenoughtotaketheyacht，thoughamuchlargervesselcouldnotsafelyenter。Weranin，andanchoredclosetotheshore，whichhasarockyfrontage——anaturalshelfofrock，whichispracticallythesameasaquay。HerewemetthemenwhohadcomefromIlsinandtheneighbourhoodinanswertooursignallingearlierintheday。TheygaveusthelatestinformationregardingthekidnappingoftheVoivode，andinformedusthateverymaninthatsectionofthecountrywassimplyaflameaboutit。Theyassuredusthatwecouldrelyonthem，notmerelytofighttothedeath，buttokeepsilenceabsolutely。Whilsttheseamen，underthedirectionofRooke，tooktheaeroplaneonshoreandfoundasuitableplaceforit，whereitwashiddenfromcasualview，butfromwhichitcouldbeeasilylaunched，theVladikaandI——and，ofcourse，mywife——werehearingsuchdetailsaswereknownofthedisappearanceofherfather。
Itseemsthathetravelledsecretlyinordertoavoidjustsuchapossibilityashashappened。NooneknewofhiscomingtillhecametoFiume，whencehesentaguardedmessagetotheArchbishop，whichthelatteralonewouldunderstand。ButthisTurkishagentswereevidentlyonhistrackallthetime，anddoubtlesstheBureauofSpieswaskeptwelladvised。HelandedatIlsinfromacoastingsteamerfromRagusatotheLevant。
Fortwodaysbeforehiscomingtherehadbeenquiteanunusualnumberofarrivalsatthelittleport，atwhicharrivalsarerare。Anditturnedoutthatthelittlehotel——theonlyfairlygoodoneinIlsin——
wasalmostfilledup。Indeed，onlyoneroomwasleft，whichtheVoivodetookforthenight。TheinnkeeperdidnotknowtheVoivodeinhisdisguise，butsuspectedwhoitwasfromthedescription。Hedinedquietly，andwenttobed。Hisroomwasattheback，ontheground—floor，lookingoutonthebankofthelittleRiverSilva，whichhererunsintotheharbour。Nodisturbancewasheardinthenight。Lateinthemorning，whentheelderlystrangerhadnotmadehisappearance，inquirywasmadeathisdoor。Hedidnotanswer，sopresentlythelandlordforcedthedoor，andfoundtheroomempty。
Hisluggagewasseeminglyintact，onlytheclotheswhichhehadwornweregone。Astrangethingwasthat，thoughthebedhadbeensleptinandhisclothesweregone，hisnight—clotheswerenottobefound，fromwhichitwasarguedbythelocalauthorities，whentheycametomakeinquiry，thathehadgoneorbeentakenfromtheroominhisnight—gear，andthathisclotheshadbeentakenwithhim。Therewasevidentlysomegrimsuspiciononthepartoftheauthorities，fortheyhadcommandedabsolutesilenceonallinthehouse。Whentheycametomakeinquiryastotheotherguests，itwasfoundthatoneandallhadgoneinthecourseofthemorning，afterpayingtheirbills。Noneofthemhadanyheavyluggage，andtherewasnothingremainingbywhichtheymightbetracedorwhichwouldaffordanycluetotheiridentity。Theauthorities，havingsentaconfidentialreporttotheseatofgovernment，continuedtheirinquiries，andevennowallavailablehandswereatworkontheinvestigation。WhenI
hadsignalledtoVissarion，beforemyarrivalthere，wordhadbeensentthroughthepriesthoodtoenlistintheinvestigationtheservicesofallgoodmen，sothateveryfootofgroundinthatsectionoftheBlueMountainswasbeinginvestigated。Theport—
masterwasassuredbyhiswatchmenthatnovessel，largeorsmall，hadhefttheharbourduringthenight。Theinference，therefore，wasthattheVoivode’scaptorshadmadeinlandwithhim——if，indeed，theywerenotalreadysecretedinornearthetown。
Whilstwewerereceivingthevariousreports，ahurriedmessagecamethatitwasnowbelievedthatthewholepartywereintheSilentTower。Thiswasawell—chosenplaceforsuchanenterprise。Itwasamassivetowerofimmensestrength，builtasamemorial——andalsoasa\"keep\"——afteroneofthemassacresoftheinvadingTurks。
ItstoodonthesummitofarockyknollsometenmilesinlandfromthePortofIlsin。Itwasaplaceshunnedasarule，andthecountryallarounditwassoaridanddesolatethattherewerenoresidentsnearit。Asitwaskeptforstateuse，andmightbeserviceableintimeofwar，itwasclosedwithmassiveirondoors，whichwerekeptlockedexceptuponcertainoccasions。ThekeyswereattheseatofgovernmentatPlazac。If，therefore，ithadbeenpossibletotheTurkishmarauderstogainentranceandexit，itmightbeadifficultaswellasadangeroustasktotrytocuttheVoivodeout。Hispresencewiththemwasadangerousmenacetoanyforceattackingthem，fortheywouldholdhislifeasathreat。
IconsultedwiththeVladikaatonceastowhatwasbesttobedone。
Andwedecidedthat，thoughweshouldputacordonofguardsarounditatasafedistancetopreventthemreceivingwarning，weshouldatpresentmakenoattack。
Wemadefurtherinquiryastowhethertherehadbeenanyvesselseenintheneighbourhoodduringthepastfewdays，andwereinformedthatonceortwiceawarshiphadbeenseenonthenearsideofthesouthernhorizon。ThiswasevidentlytheshipwhichRookehadseenonhisrushdownthecoastaftertheabductionoftheVoivodin，andwhichhehadidentifiedasaTurkishvessel。Theglimpsesofherwhichhadbeenhadwereallinfulldaylight——therewasnoproofthatshehadnotstolenupduringthenight—timewithoutlights。ButtheVladikaandIweresatisfiedthattheTurkishvesselwaswatching——
wasinleaguewithbothpartiesofmarauders——andwasintendedtotakeoffanyofthestrangers，ortheirprey，whomightreachIlsinundetected。ItwasevidentlywiththisviewthatthekidnappersofTeutahad，inthefirstinstance，madewithallspeedforthesouth。
Itwasonlywhendisappointedtherethattheyheadedupnorth，seekingindesperationforsomechanceofcrossingtheborder。Thatringofsteelhadsofarwellserveditspurpose。
IsentforRooke，andputthematterbeforehim。Hehadthoughtitoutforhimselftothesameendaswehad。Hisdeductionwas：
\"Letuskeepthecordon，andwatchforanysignalfromtheSilentTower。TheTurkswilltirebeforeweshall。IundertaketowatchtheTurkishwarship。DuringthenightIshallrundownsouth，withoutlights，andhavealookather，evenifIhavetowaittillthegreyofthedawntodoso。Shemayseeus；butifshedoesI
shallcrawlawayatsuchpacethatsheshallnotgetanyideaofourspeed。Shewillcertainlycomenearerbeforeadayisover，forbesurethebureauofspiesiskeptadvised，andtheyknowthatwhenthecountryisawakeeachdayincreasesthehazardofthemandtheirplansbeingdiscovered。FromtheircautionIgatherthattheydonotcourtdiscovery；andfromthatthattheydonotwishforanopendeclarationofwar。Ifthisbeso，whyshouldwenotcomeouttothemandforceanissueifneedbe？\"
WhenTeutaandIgotachancetobealone，wediscussedthesituationineveryphase。Thepoorgirlwasinadreadfulstateofanxietyregardingherfather’ssafety。Atfirstshewashardlyabletospeak，oreventothink，coherently。Herutterancewaschoked，andherreasoningpalsiedwithindignation。Butpresentlythefightingbloodofherracerestoredherfaculties，andthenherwoman’squickwitwasworththereasoningofacampfullofmen。Seeingthatshewasallonfirewiththesubject，Isatstillandwaited，takingcarenottointerrupther。Forquitealongtimeshesatstill，whilstthecomingnightthickened。Whenshespoke，thewholeplanofaction，basedonsubtlethinking，hadmappeditselfoutinhermind：
\"Wemustactquickly。Everyhourincreasestherisktomyfather。\"
Herehervoicebrokeforaninstant；butsherecoveredherselfandwenton：
\"Ifyougototheship，Imustnotgowithyou。Itwouldnotdoformetobeseen。TheCaptaindoubtlessknowsofbothattempts：thattocarrymeoffaswellasthatagainstmyfather。Asyetheisinignoranceofwhathashappened。Youandyourpartyofbrave，loyalmendidtheirworksowellthatnonewscouldgoforth。Solong，therefore，asthenavalCaptainisignorant，hemustdelaytillthelast。ButifhesawmehewouldknowthatTHATbranchoftheventurehadmiscarried。Hewouldgatherfromourbeingherethatwehadnewsofmyfather’scapture，andashewouldknowthatthemarauderswouldfailunlesstheywererelievedbyforce，hewouldorderthecaptivetobeslain。\"
\"Yes，dear，to—morrowyouhad，perhaps，betterseetheCaptain，butto—nightwemusttrytorescuemyfather。HereIthinkIseeaway。
Youhaveyouraeroplane。PleasetakemewithyouintotheSilentTower。\"
\"Notforaworldofchrysolite！\"saidI，horrified。Shetookmyhandandheldittightwhilstshewenton：
\"Dear，Iknow，Iknow！Besatisfied。Butitistheonlyway。Youcan，Iknow，getthere，andinthedark。Butifyouweretogoinit，itwouldgivewarningtotheenemies，andbesides，myfatherwouldnotunderstand。Remember，hedoesnotknowyou；hehasneverseenyou，anddoesnot，Isuppose，evenknowasyetofyourexistence。Buthewouldknowmeatonce，andinanydress。YoucanmanagetolowermeintotheTowerbyaropefromtheaeroplane。TheTurksasyetdonotknowofourpursuit，anddoubtlessrely，atalleventsinpart，onthestrengthandsecurityoftheTower。Thereforetheirguardwillbelessactivethanitwouldatfirstorlateron。
Ishallpostfatherinalldetails，andweshallbereadyquickly。
Now，dear，letusthinkouttheschemetogether。Letyourman’switandexperiencehelpmyignorance，andweshallsavemyfather！\"
HowcouldIhaveresistedsuchpleading——evenhaditnotseemedwise？
Butwiseitwas；andI，whoknewwhattheaeroplanecoulddoundermyownguidance，sawatoncethepracticalitiesofthescheme。Ofcoursetherewasadreadfulriskincaseanythingshouldgowrong。
Butweareatpresentlivinginaworldofrisks——andherfather’slifewasatstake。SoItookmydearwifeinmyarms，andtoldherthatmymindwashersforthis，asmysoulandbodyalreadywere。
AndIcheeredherbysayingthatIthoughtitmightbedone。
IsentforRooke，andtoldhimofthenewadventure，andhequiteagreedwithmeinthewisdomofit。IthentoldhimthathewouldhavetogoandinterviewtheCaptainoftheTurkishwarshipinthemorning，ifIdidnotturnup。\"IamgoingtoseetheVladika，\"I
said。\"HewillleadourowntroopsintheattackontheSilentTower。Butitwillrestwithyoutodealwiththewarship。AsktheCaptaintowhomorwhatnationtheshipbelongs。Heissuretorefusetotell。Insuchcasementiontohimthatifhefliesnonation’sflag，hisvesselisapirateship，andthatyou，whoareincommandofthenavyoftheBlueMountains，willdealwithhimasapirateisdealtwith——noquarter，nomercy。Hewilltemporize，andperhapstryabluff；butwhenthingsgetseriouswithhimhewilllandaforce，ortryto，andmayevenpreparetoshellthetown。Hewillthreatento，atanyrate。Insuchcasedealwithhimasyouthinkbest，orasneartoitasyoucan。\"Heanswered：
\"Ishallcarryoutyourwisheswithmylife。Itisarighteoustask。
Notthatanythingofthatsortwouldeverstandinmyway。Ifheattacksournation，eitherasaTurkorapirate，Ishallwipehimout。Weshallseewhatourownlittlepacketcando。Moreover，anyofthemarauderswhohaveenteredtheBlueMountains，fromseaorotherwise，shallnevergetoutbysea！Itakeitthatweofmycontingentshallcovertheattackingparty。ItwillbeasorrytimeforusallifthathappenswithoutourseeingyouandtheVoivodin；
forinsuchcaseweshallunderstandtheworst！\"Ironashewas，themantrembled。
\"Thatisso，Rooke，\"Isaid。\"Wearetakingadesperatechance，weknow。Butthecaseisdesperate！Butweallhaveourdutytodo，whateverhappens。Oursandyoursisstern；butwhenwehavedoneit，theresultwillbethatlifewillbeeasierforothers——forthosethatareleft。\"
Beforeheleft，IaskedhimtosenduptomethreesuitsoftheMastermanbullet—proofclothesofwhichwehadasupplyontheyacht。
\"TwoarefortheVoivodinandmyself，\"Isaid；\"thethirdisfortheVoivodetoputon。TheVoivodinwilltakeitwithherwhenshedescendsfromtheaeroplaneintotheTower。\"
WhilstanydaylightwasleftIwentouttosurveytheground。Mywifewantedtocomewithme，butIwouldnotlether。\"No，\"saidI；
\"youwillhaveatthebestafearfultaxonyourstrengthandyournerves。Youwillwanttobeasfreshasispossiblewhenyougetontheaeroplane。\"Likeagoodwife，sheobeyed，andlaydowntorestinthelittletentprovidedforher。
Itookwithmealocalmanwhoknewtheground，andwhowastrustedtobesilent。WemadealongdetourwhenwehadgotasneartheSilentToweraswecouldwithoutbeingnoticed。Imadenotesfrommycompassastodirections，andtookgoodnoticeofanythingthatcouldpossiblyserveasalandmark。BythetimewegothomeIwasprettywellsatisfiedthatifallshouldgowellIcouldeasilysailovertheTowerinthedark。ThenIhadatalkwithmywife，andgaveherfullinstructions：
\"WhenwearriveovertheTower，\"Isaid，\"Ishallloweryouwithalongrope。Youwillhaveaparceloffoodandspiritforyourfatherincaseheisfatiguedorfaint；and，ofcourse，thebullet—proofsuit，whichhemustputonatonce。Youwillalsohaveashortropewithabeltateitherend——oneforyourfather，theotherforyou。
WhenIturntheaeroplaneandcomebackagain，youwillhavereadytheringwhichliesmidwaybetweenthebelts。Thisyouwillcatchintothehookattheendoftheloweredrope。Whenallissecure，andIhavepulledyoubothupbythewindlasssoastoclearthetop，Ishallthrowoutballastwhichweshallcarryonpurpose，andawaywego！Iamsorryitmustbesouncomfortableforyouboth，butthereisnootherway。WhenwegetwellclearoftheTower，Ishalltakeyoubothupontheplatform。Ifnecessary，Ishalldescendtodoit——andthenweshallsteerforIlsin。\"
\"Whenallissafe，ourmenwillattacktheTower。Wemustletthemdoit，fortheyexpectit。Afewmenintheclothesandarmswhichwetookfromyourcaptorswillbepursuedbysomeofours。Itisallarranged。TheywillasktheTurkstoadmitthem，andifthelatterhavenotlearnedofyourfather’sescape，perhapstheywilldoso。
Oncein，ourmenwilltrytoopenthegate。Thechancesareagainstthem，poorfellows！buttheyareallvolunteers，andwilldiefighting。Iftheywinout，greatglorywillbetheirs。\"
\"Themoondoesnotriseto—nighttilljustbeforemidnight，sowehaveplentyoftime。Weshallstartfromhereatten。Ifallbewell，IshallplaceyouintheTowerwithyourfatherinlessthanaquarter—hourfromthat。Afewminuteswillsufficetoclothehiminbullet—proofandgetonhisbelt。IshallnotbeawayfromtheTowermorethanaveryfewminutes，and，pleaseGod，longbeforeelevenweshallbesafe。ThentheTowercanbewoninanattackbyourmountaineers。Perhaps，whenthegunsareheardontheshipofwar——
forthereissuretobefiring——theCaptainmaytrytolandashoreparty。ButRookewillstandintheway，andifIknowthemanandTheLady，weshallnotbetroubledwithmanyTurksto—night。BymidnightyouandyourfathercanbeonthewaytoVissarion。IcaninterviewthenavalCaptaininthemorning。\"
Mywife’smarvellouscourageandself—possessionstoodtoher。Athalfanhourbeforethetimefixedshewasreadyforouradventure。
Shehadimprovedtheschemeinonedetail。Shehadputonherownbeltandcoiledtheroperoundherwaist，sotheonlydelaywouldbeinbringingherfather’sbelt。Shewouldkeepthebullet—proofdressintendedtobehisstrappedinapacketonherback，sothatifoccasionshouldbefavourablehewouldnotwanttoputitontillheandsheshouldhavereachedtheplatformoftheaeroplane。Insuchcase，IshouldnotsteerawayfromtheToweratall，butwouldpassslowlyacrossitandtakeupthecaptiveandhisbravedaughterbeforeleaving。IhadlearnedfromlocalsourcesthattheTowerwasinseveralstories。Entrancewasbythefoot，wherethegreatiron—
claddoorwas；thencameliving—roomsandstorage，andanopenspaceatthetop。Thiswouldprobablybethoughtthebestplacefortheprisoner，foritwasdeep—sunkwithinthemassivewalls，whereinwasnoloopholeofanykind。This，ifitshouldsohappen，wouldbethedispositionofthingsbestforourplan。TheguardswouldatthistimebeallinsidetheTower——probablyresting，mostofthem——sothatitwaspossiblethatnoonemightnoticethecomingoftheairship。
Iwasafraidtothinkthatallmightturnoutsowell，forinsuchcaseourtaskwouldbeasimpleenoughone，andwouldinallhumanprobabilitybecrownedwithsuccess。
Atteno’clockwestarted。Teutadidnotshowthesmallestsignoffearorevenuneasiness，thoughthiswasthefirsttimeshehadevenseenanaeroplaneatwork。Sheprovedtobeanadmirablepassengerforanairship。Shestayedquitestill，holdingherselfrigidlyinthepositionarranged，bythecordswhichIhadfixedforher。
WhenIhadtruedmycoursebythelandmarksandwiththecompasslitbytheTinymyelectriclightinthedarkbox，Ihadtimetolookaboutme。AllseemedquitedarkwhereverIlooked——toland，orsea，orsky。Butdarknessisrelative，andthougheachquarterandspotlookeddarkinturn，therewasnotsuchabsolutedarknessasawhole。
Icouldtellthedifference，forinstance，betweenlandandsea，nomatterhowfaroffwemightbefromeither。Lookingupward，theskywasdark；yettherewaslightenoughtosee，andevendistinguishbroadeffects。IhadnodifficultyindistinguishingtheTowertowardswhichweweremoving，andthat，afterall，wasthemainthing。Wedriftedslowly，veryslowly，astheairwasstill，andI
onlyusedtheminimumpressurenecessaryfortheengine。IthinkI
nowunderstoodforthefirsttimetheextraordinaryvalueoftheenginewithwhichmyKitsonwasequipped。Itwasnoiseless，itwaspracticallyofnoweight，anditallowedthemachinetoprogressaseasilyastheold—fashionedballoonusedtodriftbeforeabreeze。
Teuta，whohadnaturallyveryfinesight，seemedtoseeevenbetterthanIdid，foraswedrewnearertotheTower，anditsround，opentopbegantoarticulateitself，shecommencedtoprepareforherpartofthetask。Sheitwaswhouncoiledthelongdrag—ropereadyforherlowering。WewereproceedingsogentlythatsheaswellasIhadhopesthatImightbeabletoactuallybalancethemachineonthetopofthecurvingwall——athingmanifestlyimpossibleonastraightsurface，thoughitmighthavebeenpossibleonanangle。
Onwecrept——on，andon！TherewasnosignoflightabouttheTower，andnotthefaintestsoundtobeheardtillwewerealmostclosetothelineoftherisingwall；thenweheardasoundofsomethinglikemirth，butmuffledbydistanceandthickwalls。Fromitwetookfreshheart，forittoldusthatourenemiesweregatheredinthelowerchambers。IfonlytheVoivodeshouldbeontheupperstage，allwouldbewell。
Slowly，almostinchbyinch，andwithasuspensethatwasagonizing，wecrossedsometwentyorthirtyfeetabovethetopofthewall。I
couldseeaswecamenearthejaggedlineofwhitepatcheswheretheheadsofthemassacredTurksplacedthereonspikesinolddaysseemedtogivestilltheirgrimwarning。Seeingthattheymadeinthemselvesadifficultyoflandingonthewall，Ideflectedtheplanesothat，aswecreptoverthewall，wemight，iftheybecamedisplaced，brushthemtotheoutsideofthewall。Afewsecondsmore，andIwasabletobringthemachinetorestwiththefrontoftheplatformjuttingoutbeyondtheTowerwall。HereIanchoredherforeandaftwithclampswhichhadbeenalreadyprepared。
WhilstIwasdoingsoTeutahadleanedovertheinneredgeoftheplatform，andwhisperedassoftlyasthesighofagentlebreeze\"Hist！hist！\"Theanswercameinasimilarsoundfromsometwentyfeetbelowus，andweknewthattheprisonerwasalone。Forthwith，havingfixedthehookoftheropeintheringtowhichwasattachedherbelt，Iloweredmywife。Herfatherevidentlyknewherwhisper，andwasready。ThehollowTower——asmoothcylinderwithin——sentupthevoicesfromitfaintaswerethewhispers：
\"Father，itisI——Teuta！\"
\"Mychild，mybravedaughter！\"
\"Quick，father；strapthebeltroundyou。Seethatitissecure。Wehavetobeliftedintotheairifnecessary。Holdtogether。ItwillbeeasierforRuperttoliftustotheairship。\"
\"Rupert？\"
\"Yes；Ishallexplainlater。Quick，quick！Thereisnotamomenttolose。Heisenormouslystrong，andcanliftustogether；butwemusthelphimbybeingstill，sohewon’thavetousethewindlass，whichmightcreak。\"Asshespokeshejerkedslightlyattherope，whichwasourpreconcertedsignalthatIwastolift。Iwasafraidthewindlassmightcreak，andherthoughtfulhintdecidedme。Ibentmybacktothetask，andinafewsecondstheywereontheplatformonwhichthey，atTeuta’ssuggestion，layflat，oneateachsideofmyseat，soastokeepthebestbalancepossible。
Itookofftheclamps，liftedthebagsofballasttothetopofthewall，sothatthereshouldbenosoundoffalling，andstartedtheengine。Themachinemovedforwardafewinches，sothatittiltedtowardstheoutsideofthewall。Ithrewmyweightonthefrontpartoftheplatform，andwecommencedourdownwardfallatasharpangle。
Asecondenlargedtheangle，andwithoutfurtheradoweslidawayintothedarkness。Then，ascendingaswewent，whentheenginebegantoworkatitsstrength，weturned，andpresentlymadestraightforIlsin。
Thejourneywasshort——notmanyminutes。Italmostseemedasifnotimewhateverhadelapsedtillwesawbelowusthegleamoflights，andbythemsawagreatbodyofmengatheredinmilitaryarray。Weslackenedanddescended。Thecrowdkeptdeathlysilence，butwhenwewereamongstthemweneedednotellingthatitwasnotduetolackofheartorabsenceofjoy。Thepressureoftheirhandsastheysurroundedus，andthedevotionwithwhichtheykissedthehandsandfeetofboththeVoivodeandhisdaughter，wereevidenceenoughforme，evenhadInothadmyownshareoftheirgratefulrejoicing。
Inthemidstofitallthelow，sternvoiceofRooke，whohadburstawaytothefrontbesidetheVladika，said：
\"NowisthetimetoattacktheTower。Forward，brothers，butinsilence。Lettherenotbeasoundtillyouarenearthegate；thenplayyourlittlecomedyoftheescapingmarauders。And’twillbenocomedyforthemintheTower。Theyachtisallreadyforthemorning，Mr。SentLeger，incaseIdonotcomeoutofthescrimmageifthebluejacketsarrive。Insuchcaseyouwillhavetohandleheryourself。Godkeepyou，myLady；andyou，too，Voivode！Forward！\"
Inaghostlysilencethegrimlittlearmymovedforwards。RookeandthemenwithhimdisappearedintothedarknessinthedirectionoftheharbourofIlsin。
FROMTHESCRIPTOFTHEVOIVODE，PETERVISSARION，July7，1907。
Ihadlittleidea，whenIstartedonmyhomewardjourney，thatitwouldhavesuchastrangetermination。EvenI，whoeversincemyboyhoodhavelivedinawhirlofadventure，intrigue，ordiplomacy——
whicheveritmaybecalled——statecraft，andwar，hadreasontobesurprised。IcertainlythoughtthatwhenIlockedmyselfintomyroominthehotelatIlsinthatIwouldhaveatlastaspell，howevershort，ofquiet。AllthetimeofmyprolongednegotiationswiththevariousnationalitiesIhadtobeattension；so，too，onmyhomewardjourney，lestsomethingatthelastmomentshouldhappenadverselytomymission。ButwhenIwassafeonmyownLandoftheBlueMountains，andlaidmyheadonmypillow，whereonlyfriendscouldbearoundme，IthoughtImightforgetcare。
Buttowakewitharudehandovermymouth，andtofeelmyselfgraspedtightbysomanyhandsthatIcouldnotmovealimb，wasadreadfulshock。Allafterthatwaslikeadreadfuldream。IwasrolledinagreatrugsotightlythatIcouldhardlybreathe，letalonecryout。Liftedbymanyhandsthroughthewindow，whichI
couldhearwassoftlyopenedandshutforthepurpose，andcarriedtoaboat。Againliftedintosomesortoflitter，onwhichIwasbornealongdistance，butwithconsiderablerapidity。Againliftedoutanddraggedthroughadoorwayopenedonpurpose——Icouldheartheclangasitwasshutbehindme。Thentherugwasremoved，andI
foundmyself，stillinmynight—gear，inthemidstofaringofmen。
Thereweretwoscoreofthem，allTurks，allstrong—looking，resolutemen，armedtotheteeth。Myclothes，whichhadbeentakenfrommyroom，werethrowndownbesideme，andIwastoldtodress。AstheTurksweregoingfromtheroom——shapedlikeavault——wherewethenwere，thelastofthem，whoseemedtobesomesortofofficer，said：