\"IfyoucryoutormakeanynoisewhateverwhilstyouareinthisTower，youshalldiebeforeyourtime！\"Presentlysomefoodandwaterwerebroughtme，andacoupleofblankets。Iwrappedmyselfupandslepttillearlyinthemorning。Breakfastwasbrought，andthesamemenfiledin。Inthepresenceofthemallthesameofficersaid：
\"IhavegiveninstructionsthatifyoumakeanynoiseorbetrayyourpresencetoanyoneoutsidethisTower，thenearestmanistorestoreyoutoimmediatequietwithhisyataghan。ItyoupromisemethatyouwillremainquietwhilstyouarewithintheTower，Icanenlargeyourlibertiessomewhat。Doyoupromise？\"Ipromisedashewished；therewasnoneedtomakenecessaryanystrictermeasureofconfinement。
Anychanceofescapelayinhavingtheutmostfreedomallowedtome。
AlthoughIhadbeentakenawaywithsuchsecrecy，Iknewthatbeforelongtherewouldbepursuit。SoIwaitedwithwhatpatienceIcould。
Iwasallowedtogoontheupperplatform——aconsiderationdue，Iamconvinced，tomycaptors’wishfortheirowncomfortratherthanformine。
Itwasnotverycheering，forduringthedaytimeIhadsatisfiedmyselfthatitwouldbequiteimpossibleforevenayoungerandmoreactivemanthanIamtoclimbthewalls。Theywerebuiltforprisonpurposes，andacatcouldnotfindentryforitsclawsbetweenthestones。IresignedmyselftomyfateaswellasIcould。Wrappingmyblanketroundme，Ilaydownandlookedupatthesky。IwishedtoseeitwhilstIcould。Iwasjustdroppingtosleep——theunutterablesilenceoftheplacebrokenonlynowandagainbysomeremarkbymycaptorsintheroomsbelowme——whentherewasastrangeappearancejustoverme——anappearancesostrangethatIsatup，andgazedwithdistendedeyes。
Acrossthetopofthetower，someheightabove，drifted，slowlyandsilently，agreatplatform。Althoughthenightwasdark，itwassomuchdarkerwhereIwaswithinthehollowoftheTowerthatIcouldactuallyseewhatwasaboveme。Iknewitwasanaeroplane——oneofwhichIhadseeninWashington。Amanwasseatedinthecentre，steering；andbesidehimwasasilentfigureofawomanallwrappedinwhite。Itmademyheartbeattoseeher，forshewasfiguredsomethinglikemyTeuta，butbroader，lessshapely。Sheleanedover，andawhispered\"Ssh！\"creptdowntome。Iansweredinsimilarway。
Whereuponsherose，andthemanloweredherdownintotheTower。
ThenIsawthatitwasmydeardaughterwhohadcomeinthiswonderfulwaytosaveme。Withinfinitehasteshehelpedmetofastenroundmywaistabeltattachedtoarope，whichwascoiledroundher；andthentheman，whowasagiantinstrengthaswellasstature，raisedusbothtotheplatformoftheaeroplane，whichhesetinmotionwithoutaninstant’sdelay。
Withinafewseconds，andwithoutanydiscoverybeingmadeofmyescape，wewerespeedingtowardsthesea。ThelightsofIlsinwereinfrontofus。Beforereachingthetown，however，wedescendedinthemidstofalittlearmyofmyownpeople，whoweregatheredreadytoadvanceupontheSilentTower，theretoeffect，ifnecessary，myrescuebyforce。Smallchancewouldtherehavebeenofmylifeincaseofsuchastruggle。Happily，however，thedevotionandcourageofmydeardaughterandofhergallantcompanionpreventedsuchanecessity。Itwasstrangetometofindsuchjoyousreceptionamongstmyfriendsexpressedinsuchawhisperedsilence。Therewasnotimeforcommentorunderstandingortheaskingofquestions——I
wasfaintotakethingsastheystood，andwaitforfullerexplanation。
Thiscamelater，whenmydaughterandIwereabletoconversealone。
WhentheexpeditionwentoutagainsttheSilentTower，TeutaandI
wenttohertent，andwithuscamehergiganticcompanion，whoseemednotwearied，butalmostovercomewithsleep。Whenwecameintothetent，overwhichatalittledistanceacordonofourmountaineersstoodonguard，hesaidtome：
\"MayIaskyou，sir，topardonmeforatime，andallowtheVoivodintoexplainmatterstoyou？Shewill，Iknow，sofarassistme，forthereissomuchworkstilltobedonebeforewearefreeofthepresentperil。Formyself，Iamalmostovercomewithsleep。ForthreenightsIhavehadnosleep，butallduringthattimemuchlabourandmoreanxiety。Icouldholdonlonger；butatdaybreakI
mustgoouttotheTurkishwarshipthatliesintheoffing。SheisaTurk，thoughshedoesnotconfesstoit；andsheitiswhohasbroughthitherthemarauderswhocapturedbothyourdaughterandyourself。ItisneedfulthatIgo，forIholdapersonalauthorityfromtheNationalCounciltotakewhateverstepmaybenecessaryforourprotection。AndwhenIgoIshouldbeclear—headed，forwarmayrestonthatmeeting。Ishallbeintheadjoiningtent，andshallcomeatonceifIamsummoned，incaseyouwishformebeforedawn。\"
Heremydaughterstruckin：
\"Father，askhimtoremainhere。Weshallnotdisturbhim，Iamsure，inourtalking。And，moreover，ifyouknewhowmuchIowetohim——tohisownbraveryandhisstrength——youwouldunderstandhowmuchsaferIfeelwhenheisclosetome，thoughwearesurroundedbyanarmyofourbravemountaineers。\"
\"But，mydaughter，\"Isaid，forIwasasyetallinignorance，\"thereareconfidencesbetweenfatheranddaughterwhichnoneothermayshare。SomeofwhathasbeenIknow，butIwanttoknowall，anditmightbebetterthatnostranger——howevervalianthemaybe，ornomatterinwhatmeasureweareboundtohim——shouldbepresent。\"Tomyastonishment，shewhohadalwaysbeenamenabletomylightestwishactuallyarguedwithme：
\"Father，thereareotherconfidenceswhichhavetoberespectedinlikewise。Bearwithme，dear，tillIhavetoldyouall，andIamrightsurethatyouwillagreewithme。Iaskit，father。\"
Thatsettledthematter，andasIcouldseethatthegallantgentlemanwhohadrescuedmewasswayingonhisfeetashewaitedrespectfully，Isaidtohim：
\"Restwithus，sir。Weshallwatchoveryoursleep。\"
ThenIhadtohelphim，foralmostontheinstanthesankdown，andI
hadtoguidehimtotherugsspreadontheground。Inafewsecondshewasinadeepsleep。AsIstoodlookingathim，tillIhadrealizedthathevasreallyasleep，IcouldnothelpmarvellingatthebountyofNaturethatcouldupholdevensuchamanasthistothelastmomentofworktobedone，andthenallowsoswiftacollapsewhenallwasover，andhecouldrestpeacefully。
Hewascertainlyasplendidfellow。IthinkIneversawsofineamanphysicallyinmylife。Andifthelessonofhisphysiognomybetrue，heisassterlinginwardlyashisexternalisfair。\"Now，\"
saidItoTeuta，\"wearetoallintentsquitealone。Tellmeallthathasbeen，sothatImayunderstand。\"
Whereuponmydaughter，makingmesitdown，kneltbesideme，andtoldmefromendtoendthemostmarvellousstoryIhadeverheardorreadof。SomethingofitIhadalreadyknownfromtheArchbishopPaleologue’slaterletters，butofallelseIwasignorant。FarawayinthegreatWestbeyondtheAtlantic，andagainonthefringeoftheEasternseas，Ihadbeenthrilledtomyheart’scorebytheheroicdevotionandfortitudeofmydaughterinyieldingherselfforhercountry’ssaketothatfearfulordealoftheCrypt；ofthegriefofthenationatherreporteddeath，newsofwhichwassomercifullyandwiselywithheldfrommeaslongaspossible；ofthesupernaturalrumoursthattookrootsodeep；butnowordorhinthadcometomeofamanwhohadcomeacrosstheorbitofherlife，muchlessofallthathasresultedfromit。NeitherhadIknownofherbeingcarriedoff，orofthethricegallantrescueofherbyRupert。LittlewonderthatIthoughtsohighlyofhimevenatthefirstmomentIhadaclearviewofhimwhenhesankdowntosleepbeforeme。Why，themanmustbeamarvel。Evenourmountaineerscouldnotmatchsuchenduranceashis。Inthecourseofhernarrativemydaughtertoldmeofhow，beingweariedwithherlongwaitinginthetomb，andwakingtofindherselfalonewhenthefloodswereout，andeventheCryptsubmerged，shesoughtsafetyandwarmthelsewhere；andhowshecametotheCastleinthenight，andfoundthestrangemanalone。Isaid：
\"Thatwasdangerous，daughter，ifnotwrong。Theman，braveanddevotedasheis，mustanswerme——yourfather。\"Atthatshewasgreatlyupset，andbeforegoingonwithhernarrative，drewmecloseinherarms，andwhisperedtome：
\"Begentletome，father，forIhavehadmuchtobear。Andbegoodtohim，forheholdsmyheartinhisbreast！\"Ireassuredherwithagentlepressure——therewasnoneedtospeak。Shethenwentontotellmeabouthermarriage，andhowherhusband，whohadfallenintothebeliefthatshewasaVampire，haddeterminedtogiveevenhissoulforher；andhowshehadonthenightofthemarriagelefthimandgonebacktothetombtoplaytotheendthegrimcomedywhichshehadundertakentoperformtillmyreturn；andhow，onthesecondnightafterhermarriage，asshewasinthegardenoftheCastle——
going，assheshylytoldme，toseeifallwaswellwithherhusband—
—shewasseizedsecretly，muffledup，bound，andcarriedoff。Hereshemadeapauseandadigression。Evidentlysomefearlestherhusbandandmyselfshouldquarrelassailedher，forshesaid：
\"Dounderstand，father，thatRupert’smarriagetomewasinallwaysregular，andquiteinaccordwithourcustoms。BeforeweweremarriedItoldtheArchbishopofmywish。He，asyourrepresentativeduringyourabsence，consentedhimself，andbroughtthemattertothenoticeoftheVladikaandtheArchimandrites。Alltheseconcurred，havingexactedfromme——veryproperly，Ithink——asacredpromisetoadheretomyself—appointedtask。Themarriageitselfwasorthodoxinallways——thoughsofarunusualthatitwasheldatnight，andindarkness，saveforthelightsappointedbytheritual。Astothat，theArchbishophimself，ortheArchimandriteofSpazac，whoassistedhim，ortheVladika，whoactedasParanymph，will，alloranyofthem，giveyoufulldetails。YourrepresentativemadeallinquiriesastoRupertSentLeger，wholivedinVissarion，thoughhedidnotknowwhoIwas，orfromhispointofviewwhoIhadbeen。ButImusttellyouofmyrescue。\"
Andsoshewentontotellmeofthatunavailingjourneysouthbyhercaptors；oftheirbafflementbythecordonwhichRuperthadestablishedatthefirstwordofdangerto\"thedaughterofourleader，\"thoughhelittleknewwhothe\"leader\"was，orwhowashis\"daughter\"；ofhowthebrutalmarauderstorturedhertospeedwiththeirdaggers；andhowherwoundsleftblood—marksonthegroundasshepassedalong；thenofthehaltinthevalley，whenthemarauderscametoknowthattheirroadnorthwasmenaced，ifnotalreadyblocked；ofthechoosingofthemurderers，andtheirkeepingwardoverherwhilsttheircompanionswenttosurveythesituation；andofhergallantrescuebythatnoblefellow，herhusband——mysonIshallcallhimhenceforth，andthankGodthatImayhavethathappinessandthathonour！
ThenmydaughterwentontotellmeoftheracebacktoVissarion，whenRupertwentaheadofall——asaleadershoulddo；ofthesummoningoftheArchbishopandtheNationalCouncil；andoftheirplacingthenation’shandjarinRupert’shand；ofthejourneytoIlsin，andtheflightofmydaughter——andmyson——ontheaeroplane。
TherestIknew。
Asshefinished，thesleepingmanstirredandwoke——broadawakeinasecond——suresignofamanaccustomedtocampaignandadventure。Ataglanceherecalledeverythingthathadbeen，andsprangtohisfeet。Hestoodrespectfullybeforemeforafewsecondsbeforespeaking。Thenhesaid，withanopen，engagingsmile：
\"Isee，sir，youknowall。AmIforgiven——forTeuta’ssakeaswellasmyown？\"BythistimeIwasalsoonmyfeet。Amanlikethatwalksstraightintomyheart。Mydaughter，too，hadrisen，andstoodbymyside。Iputoutmyhandandgraspedhis，whichseemedtoleaptomeetme——asonlythehandofaswordsmancando。
\"Iamgladyouaremyson！\"Isaid。ItwasallIcouldsay，andI
meantitandallitimplied。Weshookhandswarmly。Teutawaspleased；shekissedme，andthenstoodholdingmyarmwithonehand，whilstshelinkedherotherhandinthearmofherhusband。
Hesummonedoneofthesentrieswithout，andtoldhimtoaskCaptainRooketocometohim。Thelatterhadbeenreadyforacall，andcameatonce。Whenthroughtheopenflapofthetentwesawhimcoming，Rupert——asImustcallhimnow，becauseTeutawishesit；andIliketodoitmyself——said：
\"ImustbeofftoboardtheTurkishvesselbeforeitcomesinshore。
Good—bye，sir，incasewedonotmeetagain。\"HesaidthelastfewwordsinsolowavoicethatIonlycouldhearthem。Thenhekissedhiswife，andtoldherheexpectedtobebackintimeforbreakfast，andwasgone。HemetRooke——IamhardlyaccustomedtocallhimCaptainasyet，though，indeed，hewelldeservesit——attheedgeofthecordonofsentries，andtheywentquicklytogethertowardstheport，wheretheyachtwaslyingwithsteamup。
BOOKVII：THEEMPIREOFTHEAIR
FROMTHEREPORTOFCRISTOFEROS，WAR—SCRIBETOTHENATIONALCOUNCIL。
July7，1907。
WhentheGospodarRupertandCaptainRookecamewithinhailingdistanceofthestrangeship，theformerhailedher，usingoneafteranotherthelanguagesofEngland，Germany，France，Russia，Turkey，Greece，Spain，Portugal，andanotherwhichIdidnotknow；IthinkitmusthavebeenAmerican。BythistimethewholelineofthebulwarkwascoveredbyarowofTurkishfaces。When，inTurkish，theGospodaraskedfortheCaptain，thelattercametothegangway，whichhadbeenopened，andstoodthere。HisuniformwasthatoftheTurkishnavy——ofthatIampreparedtoswear——buthemadesignsofnotunderstandingwhathadbeensaid；whereupontheGospodarspokeagain，butinFrenchthistime。Iappendtheexactconversationwhichtookplace，noneotherjoininginit。Itookdowninshorthandthewordsofbothastheywerespoken：
THEGOSPODAR。\"AreyoutheCaptainofthisship？\"
THECAPTAIN。\"Iam。\"
GOSPODAR。\"Towhatnationalitydoyoubelong？\"
CAPTAIN。\"Itmattersnot。IamCaptainofthisship。\"
GOSPODAR。\"Ialludedtoyourship。Whatnationalflagissheunder？\"
CAPTAIN（throwinghiseyeoverthetop—hamper）。\"Idonotseethatanyflagisflying。\"
GOSPODAR。\"Itakeitthat，ascommander，youcanallowmeonboardwithmytwocompanions？\"
CAPTAIN。\"Ican，uponproperrequestbeingmade！\"
GOSPODAR（takingoffhiscap）。\"Iaskyourcourtesy，Captain。IamtherepresentativeandaccreditedofficeroftheNationalCounciloftheLandoftheBlueMountains，inwhosewatersyounoware；andontheiraccountIaskforaformalinterviewonurgentmatters。\"
TheTurk，whowas，Iamboundtosay，inmannermostcourteousasyet，gavesomecommandtohisofficers，whereuponthecompanion—
laddersandstagewereloweredandthegangwaymanned，asisusualforthereceptiononashipofwarofanhonouredguest。
CAPTAIN。\"Youarewelcome，sir——youandyourtwocompanions——asyourequest。\"
TheGospodarbowed。Ourcompanion—ladderwasriggedontheinstant，andalaunchlowered。TheGospodarandCaptainRooke——takingmewiththem——entered，androwedtothewarship，wherewewereallhonourablyreceived。Therewereanimmensenumberofmenonboard，soldiersaswellasseamen。Itlookedmorelikeawarlikeexpeditionthanafighting—shipintimeofpeace。Aswesteppedonthedeck，theseamenandmarines，whowereallarmedasatdrill，presentedarms。
TheGospodarwentfirsttowardstheCaptain，andCaptainRookeandI
followedclosebehindhim。TheGospodarspoke：
\"IamRupertSentLeger，asubjectofhisBritannicMajesty，presentlyresidingatVissarion，intheLandoftheBlueMountains。
IamatpresentempoweredtoactfortheNationalCouncilinallmatters。Hereismycredential！\"AshespokehehandedtotheCaptainaletter。Itwaswritteninfivedifferentlanguages——
Balkan，Turkish，Greek，English，andFrench。TheCaptainreaditcarefullyallthrough，forgetfulforthemomentthathehadseeminglybeenunabletounderstandtheGospodar’squestionspokenintheTurkishtongue。Thenheanswered：
\"Iseethedocumentiscomplete。MayIaskonwhatsubjectyouwishtoseeme？\"
GOSPODAR。\"YouarehereinashipofwarinBlueMountainwaters，yetyouflynoflagofanynation。Youhavesentarmedmenashoreinyourboats，thuscommittinganactofwar。TheNationalCounciloftheLandoftheBlueMountainsrequirestoknowwhatnationyouserve，andwhytheobligationsofinternationallawarethusbroken。\"
TheCaptainseemedtowaitforfurtherspeech，buttheGospodarremainedsilent；whereupontheformerspoke。
CAPTAIN。\"Iamresponsibletomyown——chiefs。Irefusetoansweryourquestion。\"
TheGospodarspokeatonceinreply。
GOSPODAR。\"Then，sir，you，ascommanderofaship——andespeciallyashipofwar——mustknowthatinthusviolatingnationalandmaritimelawsyou，andallonboardthisship，areguiltyofanactofpiracy。
Thisisnotevenpiracyonthehighseas。Youarenotmerelywithinterritorialwaters，butyouhaveinvadedanationalport。Asyourefusetodisclosethenationalityofyourship，Iaccept，asyouseemtodo，yourstatusasthatofapirate，andshallindueseasonactaccordingly。\"
CAPTAIN（withmanifesthostility）。\"Iaccepttheresponsibilityofmyownacts。Withoutadmittingyourcontention，ItellyounowthatwhateveractionyoutakeshallbeatyourownperilandthatofyourNationalCouncil。Moreover，Ihavereasontobelievethatmymenwhoweresentashoreonspecialservicehavebeenbeleagueredinatowerwhichcanbeseenfromtheship。Beforedawnthismorningfiringwasheardfromthatdirection，fromwhichIgatherthatattackwasmadeonthem。They，beingonlyasmallparty，mayhavebeenmurdered。Ifsuchbeso，Itellyouthatyouandyourmiserablelittlenation，asyoucallit，shallpaysuchblood—moneyasyouneverthoughtof。I
amresponsibleforthis，and，byAllah！thereshallbeagreatrevenge。Youhavenotinallyournavy——ifnavyyouhaveatall——
powertocopewithevenoneshiplikethis，whichisbutoneofmany。
MygunsshallbetrainedonIlsin，towhichendIhavecomeinshore。
Youandyourcompanionshavefreeconductbacktoport；suchisduetothewhiteflagwhichyoufly。Fifteenminuteswillbringyoubackwhenceyoucame。Go！Andrememberthatwhateveryoumaydoamongstyourmountaindefiles，atseayoucannotevendefendyourselves。\"
GOSPODAR（slowlyandinaringingvoice）。\"TheLandoftheBlueMountainshasitsowndefencesonseaandland。Itspeopleknowhowtodefendthemselves。\"
CAPTAIN（takingouthiswatch）。\"Itisnowcloseonfivebells。Atthefirststrokeofsixbellsourgunsshallopenfire。\"
GOSPODAR（calmly）。\"Itismylastdutytowarnyou，sir——andtowarnallonthisship——thatmuchmayhappenbeforeeventhefirststrokeofsixbells。Bewarnedintime，andgiveoverthispiraticalattack，theverythreatofwhichmaybethecauseofmuchbloodshed。\"
CAPTAIN（violently）。\"Doyoudaretothreatenme，and，moreover，myship’scompany？Weareone，Itellyou，inthisship；andthelastmanshallperishlikethefirsterethisenterprisefail。Go！\"
Withabow，theGospodarturnedandwentdowntheladder，wefollowinghim。Inacoupleofminutestheyachtwasonherwaytotheport。
FROMRUPERT’SJOURNAL。
July10，1907。
WhenweturnedshorewardaftermystormyinterviewwiththepirateCaptain——Icancallhimnothingelseatpresent，Rookegaveorderstoaquartermasteronthebridge，andTheLadybegantomaketoalittlenorthwardofIlsinport。Rookehimselfwentafttothewheel—house，takingseveralmenwithhim。
Whenwewerequiteneartherocks——thewaterissodeepherethatthereisnodanger——wesloweddown，merelydriftingalongsouthwardstowardstheport。Iwasmyselfonthebridge，andcouldseealloverthedecks。Icouldalsoseepreparationsgoingonuponthewarship。
Portswereopened，andthegreatgunsontheturretswereloweredforaction。Whenwewerestarboardbroadsideontothewarship，Isawtheportsideofthesteering—houseopen，andRooke’smenslidingoutwhatlookedlikeahugegreycrab，whichbytacklefromwithinthewheel—housewasloweredsoftlyintothesea。Thepositionoftheyachthidtheoperationfromsightofthewarship。Thedoorswereshutagain，andtheyacht’spacebegantoquicken。Weranintotheport。IhadavagueideathatRookehadsomedesperateprojectonhand。Notfornothinghadhekeptthewheel—houselockedonthatmysteriouscrab。
Allalongthefrontagewasagreatcrowdofeagermen。Buttheyhadconsideratelyleftthelittlemoleatthesouthernentrance，whereonwasalittletower，onwhoseroundtopasignal—gunwasplaced，freeformyownuse。WhenIwaslandedonthispierIwentalongtotheend，and，climbingthenarrowstairwithin，wentoutontheslopingroof。Istoodup，forIwasdeterminedtoshowtheTurksthatIwasnotafraidformyself，astheywouldunderstandwhenthebombardmentshouldbegin。Itwasnowbutaveryfewminutesbeforethefatalhour——sixbells。ButallthesameIwasalmostinastateofdespair。Itwasterribletothinkofallthosepoorsoulsinthetownwhohaddonenothingwrong，andwhoweretobewipedoutinthecomingblood—thirsty，wantonattack。Iraisedmyglassestoseehowpreparationsweregoingonuponthewarship。
AsIlookedIhadamomentaryfearthatmyeyesightwasgivingway。
AtonemomentIhadthedeckofthewarshipfocussedwithmyglasses，andcouldseeeverydetailasthegunnerswaitedforthewordtobeginthebombardmentwiththegreatgunsofthebarbettes。ThenextIsawnothingbuttheemptysea。Theninanotherinstanttherewastheshipasbefore，butthedetailswereblurred。Isteadiedmyselfagainstthesignal—gun，andlookedagain。Notmorethantwo，oratthemostthree，secondshadelapsed。Theshipwas，forthemoment，fullinview。AsIlooked，shegaveaqueerkindofquickshiver，prowandstern，andthensideways。Itwasforalltheworldlikearatshakeninthemouthofaskilledterrier。Thensheremainedstill，theoneplacidthingtobeseen，forallaroundhertheseaseemedtoshiverinlittleindependenteddies，aswhenwaterisbrokenwithoutacurrenttoguideit。
Icontinuedtolook，andwhenthedeckwas，orseemed，quitestill——
fortheshiveringwaterroundtheshipkeptcatchingmyeyesthroughtheouterraysofthelenses——Inoticedthatnothingwasstirring。
Themenwhohadbeenatthegunswerealllyingdown；themeninthefighting—topshadleanedforwardorbackward，andtheirarmshungdownhelplessly。Everywherewasdesolation——insofaraslifewasconcerned。Evenalittlebrownbear，whichhadbeenseatedonthecannonwhichwasbeingputintorangeposition，hadjumpedorfallenondeck，andlaytherestretchedout——andstill。Itwasevidentthatsometerribleshockhadbeengiventothemightywar—vessel。WithoutadoubtorathoughtwhyIdidso，IturnedmyeyestowardswhereTheLadylay，portbroadsidenowtotheinside，intheharbourmouth。I
hadthekeynowtothemysteryofRooke’sproceedingswiththegreatgreycrab。
AsIlookedIsawjustoutsidetheharbourathinlineofcleavingwater。Thisbecamemoremarkedeachinstant，tillasteeldiscwithglasseyesthatshoneinthelightofthesunroseabovethewater。
Itwasaboutthesizeofabeehive，andwasshapedlikeone。Itmadeastraightlinefortheaftoftheyacht。Atthesamemoment，inobediencetosomecommand，givensoquietlythatIdidnothearit，themenwentbelow——allsavesomefew，whobegantoopenoutdoorsintheportsideofthewheel—house。Thetacklewasrunoutthroughanopenedgangwayonthatside，andamanstoodonthegreathookatthelowerend，balancinghimselfbyhangingonthechain。Inafewsecondshecameupagain。Thechaintightenedandthegreatgreycrabroseovertheedgeofthedeck，andwasdrawnintothewheel—
house，thedoorsofwhichwereclosed，shuttinginafewonlyofthemen。
Iwaited，quitequiet。Afteraspaceofafewminutes，CaptainRookeinhisuniformwalkedoutofthewheel—house。Heenteredasmallboat，whichhadbeeninthemeantimeloweredforthepurpose，andwasrowedtothestepsonthemole。Ascendingthese，hecamedirectlytowardsthesignal—tower。Whenhehadascendedandstoodbesideme，hesaluted。
\"Well？\"Iasked。
\"Allwell，sir，\"heanswered。\"Weshan’thaveanymoretroublewiththatlot，Ithink。Youwarnedthatpirate——Iwishhehadbeenintruthaclean，honest，straightforwardpirate，insteadofthemeaslyTurkishswabhewas——thatsomethingmightoccurbeforethefirststrokeofsixbells。Well，somethinghasoccurred，andforhimandallhiscrewthatsixbellswillneversound。SotheLordfightsfortheCrossagainsttheCrescent！Bismillah。Amen！\"Hesaidthisinamanifestlyformalway，asthoughdeclaimingaritual。Thenextinstanthewentoninthethoroughlypracticalconventionalwaywhichwasusualtohim：
\"MayIaskafavour，Mr。SentLeger？\"
\"Athousand，mydearRooke，\"Isaid。\"Youcan’taskmeanythingwhichIshallnotfreelygrant。AndIspeakwithinmybrieffromtheNationalCouncil。YouhavesavedIlsinthisday，andtheCouncilwillthankyouforitinduetime。\"
\"Me，sir？\"hesaid，withalookofsurpriseonhisfacewhichseemedquitegenuine。\"Ifyouthinkthat，Iamwelloutofit。Iwasafraid，whenIwoke，thatyoumightcourt—martialme！\"
\"Court—martialyou！Whatfor？\"Iasked，surprisedinmyturn。
\"Forgoingtosleeponduty，sir！Andthefactis，IwaswornoutintheattackontheSilentTowerlastnight，andwhenyouhadyourinterviewwiththepirate——allgoodpiratesforgivemefortheblasphemy！Amen！——andIknewthateverythingwasgoingsmoothly，I
wentintothewheel—houseandtookfortywinks。\"Hesaidallthiswithoutmovingsomuchasaneyelid，fromwhichIgatheredthathewishedabsolutesilencetobeobservedonmypart。WhilstIwasrevolvingthisinmymindhewenton：