OurdearTeutaisfulloftheforthcomingcelebrationoftheBalkanFederation，whichistotakeplacethisdaymonth，althoughImustsay，formyself，thattheceremonyisattainingtosuchdimensionsthatIambeginningtohaveasortofvaguefearofsomekind。Italmostseemsuncanny。Rupertisworkingunceasingly——hasbeenforsometime。Forweekspastheseemstohavebeenoutdayandnightonhisaeroplane，goingthroughandroundoverthecountryarrangingmatters，andseeingforhimselfthatwhathasbeenarrangedisbeingdone。UncleColinisalwaysabout，too，andsoisAdmiralRooke。
ButnowTeutaisbeginningtogowithRupert。Thatgirlissimplyfearless——justlikeRupert。AndtheybothseemanxiousthatlittleRupertshallbethesame。Indeed，heisthesame。AfewmorningsagoRupertandTeutawereabouttostartjustafterdawnfromthetopoftheCastle。LittleRupertwasthere——heisalwaysawakeearlyandasbrightasabee。Iwasholdinghiminmyarms，andwhenhismotherleantovertokisshimgood—bye，heheldouthisarmstoherinawaythatsaidasplainlyasifhehadspoken，\"Takemewithyou。\"
ShelookedappealinglyatRupert，whonodded，andsaid：\"Allright。
Takehim，darling。Hewillhavetolearnsomeday，andthesoonerthebetter。\"Thebaby，lookingeagerlyfromonetotheotherwiththesamequestioninginhiseyesasthereissometimesintheeyesofakittenorapuppy——but，ofcourse，withaneagersoulbehindit——
sawthathewasgoing，andalmostleapedintohismother’sarms。I
thinkshehadexpectedhimtocome，forshetookalittleleatherdressfromMargareta，hisnurse，and，flushingwithpride，begantowraphiminit。WhenTeuta，holdinghiminherarms，steppedontheaeroplane，andtookherplaceinthecentrebehindRupert，theyoungmenoftheCrownPrince’sGuardraisedacheer，amidwhichRupertpulledthelevers，andtheyglidedoffintothedawn。
TheCrownPrince’sGuardwasestablishedbythemountaineersthemselvesthedayofhisbirth。Tenofthebiggestandmostpowerfulandcleverestyoungmenofthenationwerechosen，andweresworninwithaveryimpressiveceremonytoguardtheyoungPrince。
Theyweretosoarrangeandorderthemselvesandmattersgenerallythattwoatleastofthemshouldalwayshavehim，ortheplaceinwhichhewas，withintheirsight。Theyallvowedthatthelastoftheirlivesshouldgobeforeharmcametohim。Ofcourse，Teutaunderstood，andsodidRupert。AndtheseyoungmenarethepersonsmostprivilegedinthewholeCastle。Theyaredearboys，everyoneofthem，andweareallfondofthemandrespectthem。Theysimplyidolizethebaby。
EversincethatmorninglittleRuperthas，unlessitisatatimeappointedforhissleeping，goneinhismother’sarms。IthinkinanyotherplacetherewouldbesomeStateremonstranceatthewholeroyalfamilybeingatonceandtogetherinadangerousposition，butintheBlueMountainsdangerandfeararenotthoughtof——indeed，theycanhardlybeintheirterminology。AndIreallythinkthechildenjoysitevenmorethanhisparents。Heisjustlikealittlebirdthathasfoundtheuseofhiswings。Blesshim！
IfindthatevenIhavetostudyCourtritualalittle。Somanynationalitiesaretoberepresentedattheceremonyofthe\"BalkanSettlement，\"andsomanyKingsandPrincesandnotabilitiesofallkindsarecoming，thatwemustalltakecarenottomakeanymistakes。ThePressalonewoulddriveanyonesilly。RupertandTeutacomeandsitwithmesometimesintheeveningwhenwearealltootiredtowork，andtheyrestthemselvesbytalkingmattersover。
Rupertsaysthattherewillbeoverfivehundredreporters，andthattheapplicationsforpermissionarecominginsofastthattheremaybeathousandwhenthedaycomes。Lastnighthestoppedinthemiddleofspeakingofit，andsaid：
\"Ihaveaninspiration！Fancyathousandjournalists，——eachwantingtogetaheadoftherest，andallwillingtoinvokethePowersofEvilforexclusiveinformation！TheonlymantolookafterthisdepartmentisRooke。Heknowshowtodealwithmen，andaswehavealreadyalargestafftolookafterthejournalisticguests，hecanbeatthehead，andappointhisowndeputiestoactforhim。
Somewhereandsometimethekeepingthepeacewillbeamatterofnerveandresolution，andRookeisthemanforthejob。\"
Wewereallconcernedaboutonething，naturallyimportantintheeyesofawoman：WhatrobeswasTeutatowear？Intheolddays，whentherewereKingsandQueens，theydoubtlessworesomethinggorgeousorimpressive；butwhateveritwasthattheyworehasgonetodustcenturiesago，andtherewerenoillustratedpapersinthoseprimitivedays。Teutawastalkingtomeeagerly，withherdearbeautifulbrowsallwrinkled，whenRupertwhowasreadingabulkydocumentofsomekind，lookedupandsaid：
\"Ofcourse，darling，youwillwearyourShroud？\"
\"Capital！\"shesaid，clappingherhandslikeajoyouschild。\"Theverything，andourpeoplewilllikeit。\"
IownthatforamomentIwasdismayed。Itwasahorribletestofawoman’sloveanddevotion。AtatimewhenshewasentertainingKingsandnotabilitiesinherownhouse——andbesuretheywouldallbedeckedintheirfinery——tohavetoappearinsuchagarment！Aplainthingwithnothingevenpretty，letalonegorgeous，aboutit！I
expressedmyviewstoRupert，forIfearedthatTeutamightbedisappointed，thoughshemightnotcaretosayso；butbeforehecouldsayawordTeutaanswered：
\"Oh，thankyousomuch，dear！Ishouldlovethataboveeverything，butIdidnotliketosuggestit，lestyoushouldthinkmearrogantorpresuming；for，indeed，Rupert，Iamveryproudofit，andofthewayourpeoplelookonit。\"
\"Whynot？\"saidRupert，inhisdirectway。\"Itisathingforusalltobeproudof；thenationhasalreadyadopteditasanationalemblem——ouremblemofcourageanddevotionandpatriotism，whichwillalways，Ihope，betreasuredbeyondpricebythemenandwomenofourDynasty，theNation，thatis——oftheNationthatistobe。\"
Lateronintheeveningwehadastrangeendorsementofthenationalwill。A\"People’sDeputation\"ofmountaineers，withoutanyofficialnoticeorintroduction，arrivedattheCastlelateintheeveninginthemannerestablishedbyRupert’s\"ProclamationofFreedom，\"whereinallcitizenswereentitledtosendadeputationtotheKing，atwillandinprivate，onanysubjectofStateimportance。Thisdeputationwascomposedofseventeenmen，oneselectedfromeachpoliticalsection，sothatthebodyasawholerepresentedtheentirenation。
Theywereofallsortsofsocialrankandalldegreesoffortune，buttheyweremainly\"ofthepeople。\"Theyspokehesitatingly——possiblybecauseTeuta，orevenbecauseI，waspresent——butwithamanifestearnestness。Theymadebutonerequest——thattheQueenshould，onthegreatoccasionoftheBalkanFederation，wearasrobesofStatetheShroudthattheylovedtoseeherin。Thespokesman，addressingtheQueen，saidintonesofruggedeloquence：
\"Thisisamatter，YourMajesty，thatthewomennaturallyhaveasayin，sowehave，ofcourse，consultedthem。Theyhavediscussedthematterbythemselves，andthenwithus，andtheyareagreedwithoutaflawthatitwillbegoodfortheNationandforWomankindthatyoudothisthing。Youhaveshowntothem，andtotheworldatlarge，whatwomenshoulddo，whattheycando，andtheywanttomake，inmemoryofyourgreatact，theShroudagarmentofprideandhonourforwomenwhohavedeservedwelloftheircountry。Inthefutureitcanbeagarmenttobewornonlybyprivilegedwomenwhohaveearnedtheright。Buttheyhope，andwehopewiththem，thatonthisoccasionofourNationtakingtheleadbeforetheeyesoftheworld，allourwomenmaywearitonthatdayasameansofshowingovertlytheirwillingnesstodotheirduty，eventothedeath。Andso\"——hereheturnedtotheKing——\"Rupert，wetrustthatHerMajestyQueenTeutawillunderstandthatindoingasthewomenoftheBlueMountainswish，shewillbindafreshtotheQueentheloyaldevotionwhichshewonfromthemasVoivodin。HenceforthandforalltimetheShroudshallbeadressofhonourinourLand。\"
Teutalookedallablazewithloveandprideanddevotion。Starsinhereyesshonelikewhitefireassheassuredthemofthegrantingoftheirrequest。Shefinishedherlittlespeech：
\"IfearedthatifIcarriedoutmyownwish，itmightlookarrogant，butRuperthasexpressedthesamewish，andnowIfeelthatIamfreetowearthatdresswhichbroughtmetoyouandtoRupert\"——hereshebeamedonhim，andtookhishand——\"fortifiedasIambyyourwishesandthecommandofmylordtheKing。\"
Ruperttookherinhisarmsandkissedherfondlybeforethemall，saying：
\"Tellyourwives，mybrothers，andtherestoftheBlueMountainwomen，thatthatistheanswerofthehusbandwholovesandhonourshiswife。AlltheworldshallseeattheceremonyoftheFederationofBalkathatwemenloveandhonourthewomenwhoareloyalandcandieforduty。And，menoftheBlueMountains，somedaybeforelongweshallorganizethatgreatidea，andmakeitapermanentthing——
thattheOrderoftheShroudisthehighestguerdonthatanoble—
heartedwomancanwear。\"
Teutadisappearedforafewmoments，andcamebackwiththeCrownPrinceinherarms。Everyonepresentaskedtobeallowedtokisshim，whichtheydidkneeling。
THEFEDERATIONBALKA。
BytheCorrespondentsof\"FreeAmerica。\"
TheEditorsofFreeAmericahavethoughtitwelltoputinconsecutiveorderthereportsanddescriptionsoftheirSpecialCorrespondents，ofwhomtherewerepresentnolessthaneight。Notawordtheywroteisomitted，butthevariouspartsoftheirreportsareplacedindifferentorder，sothat，whilstnothingwhichanyofthemrecordedisleftout，thereadermaybeabletofollowtheproceedingsfromthevariouspointsofviewofthewriterswhohadthemostfavourableopportunityofmoment。Insolargeanassemblageofjournalists——therewerepresentoverathousand——theycouldnotallbepresentinoneplace；soourmen，inconsultationamongstthemselves，arrangedtoscatter，soastocoverthewholeproceedingfromthevarious\"coignsofvantage，\"usingtheirskillandexperienceinselectingthesepoints。Onewassituatedonthesummitofthesteel—cladtowerintheentrancetotheBlueMouth；anotheronthe\"Press—boat，\"whichwasmooredalongsideKingRupert’sarmouredyacht，TheLady，whereonweregatheredthevariousKingsandrulersoftheBalkanStates，allofwhomwereintheFederation；anotherwasinaswifttorpedo—boat，witharovingcommissiontocruiseroundtheharbourasdesired；anothertookhisplaceonthetopofthegreatmountainwhichoverlooksPlazac，andsohadabird’s—eyeviewofthewholesceneofoperations；twootherswereonthefortstorightandleftoftheBlueMouth；anotherwaspostedattheentrancetotheGreatTunnelwhichrunsfromthewaterlevelrightupthroughthemountainstotheplateau，wheretheminesandfactoriesaresituate；
anotherhadtheprivilegeofaplaceonanaeroplane，whichwenteverywhereandsaweverything。ThisaeroplanewasdrivenbyanoldSpecialCorrespondentofFreeAmerica，whohadbeenachumofourSpecialintheJapaneseandRussianWar，andwhohastakenserviceontheBlueMountainOfficialGazette。
PLAZAC，June30，1909。
TwodaysbeforethetimeappointedfortheceremonytheguestsoftheLandoftheBlueMountainsbegantoarrive。Theearliercomersweremostlythejournalistswhohadcomefromalmostoverthewholeinhabitedworld。KingRupert，whodoesthingswell，hadmadeacampfortheirexclusiveuse。Therewasaseparatetentforeach——ofcourse，asmallone，astherewereoverathousandjournalists——buttherewerebigtentsforgeneralusescatteredabout——refectories，readingandwritingrooms，alibrary，idleroomsforrest，etc。Intheroomsforreadingandwriting，whichwerethework—roomsforgeneraluse，werenewspapers，thelatestattainablefromallovertheworld，Blue—Books，guides，directories，andallsuchaidstoworkasforethoughtcouldarrange。Therewasforthisspecialserviceabodyofsomehundredsofcapableservantsinspecialdressandbearingidentificationnumbers——infact，KingRupert\"didusfine，\"touseaslangphraseofpregnantmeaning。
Therewereothercampsforspecialservice，allofthemwellarranged，andwithplentyoffacilityfortransport。EachoftheFederatingMonarchshadacampofhisown，inwhichhehaderectedamagnificentpavilion。FortheWesternKing，whohadactedasArbitratorinthematteroftheFederation，averitablepalacehadbeenbuiltbyKingRupert——asortofAladdin’spalaceitmusthavebeen，foronlyafewweeksagotheplaceitoccupiedwas，Iwastold，onlyprimevalwilderness。KingRupertandhisQueen，Teuta，hadapavilionliketherestoftheFederatorsofBalka，butinfinitelymoremodest，bothinsizeandadornments。
EverywherewereguardsoftheBlueMountains，armedonlywiththe\"handjar，\"whichisthenationalweapon。Theyworethenationaldress，butsoarrangedincolourandaccoutrementthatthegeneralairofuniformitytooktheplaceofarigiduniform。Theremusthavebeenatleastseventyoreightythousandofthem。
Thefirstdaywasoneofinvestigationofdetailsbythevisitors。
DuringtheseconddaytheretinuesofthegreatFederatorscame。
Someoftheseretinueswerevast。Forinstance，theSoldan（thoughonlyjustbecomeaFederator）sentofonekindoranothermorethanathousandmen。Abraveshowtheymade，fortheyarefinemen，anddrilledtoperfection。Astheyswaggeredalong，singlyorinmass，withtheirgayjacketsandbaggytrousers，theirhelmetssurmountedbythegoldencrescent，theylookedafoenottobedespised。
LandreckMartin，theNestorofjournalists，saidtome，aswestoodtogetherlookingatthem：
\"To—daywewitnessanewdepartureinBlueMountainhistory。ThisisthefirstoccasionforathousandyearsthatsolargeaTurkishbodyhasenteredtheBlueMountainswithareasonableprospectofevergettingoutagain。\"
July1，1909。
To—day，thedayappointedfortheceremony，wasauspiciouslyfine，evenfortheBlueMountains，whereatthistimeofyeartheweatherisnearlyalwaysfine。TheyareearlyfolkintheBlueMountains，butto—daythingsbegantohumbeforedaybreak。Therewerebugle—
callsallovertheplace——everythinghereisarrangedbycallsofmusicalinstruments——trumpets，orbugles，ordrums（if，indeed，thedrumcanbecalledamusicalinstrument）——orbylights，ifitbeafterdark。Wejournalistswereallready；coffeeandbread—and—
butterhadbeenthoughtfullyservedearlyinoursleeping—tents，andanelaboratebreakfastwasgoingonallthetimeintherefectorypavilions。Wehadapreliminarylookround，andthentherewasasortofgeneralpauseforbreakfast。Wetookadvantageofit，andattackedthesumptuous——indeed，memorable——mealwhichwasservedforus。
Theceremonywastocommenceatnoon，butatteno’clockthewholeplacewasastir——notmerelybeginningtomove，butactuallymoving；
everybodytakingtheirplacesforthegreatceremony。Asnoondrewnear，theexcitementwasintenseandprolonged。OnebyonethevarioussignatoriestotheFederationbegantoassemble。Theyallcamebysea；suchofthemashadsea—boardsoftheirownhavingtheirfleetsaroundthem。SuchashadnofleetsoftheirownwereattendedbyatleastoneoftheBlueMountainironclads。AndIamboundtosaythatIneverinmylifesawmoredangerouscraftthantheselittlewarshipsofKingRupertoftheBlueMountains。AstheyenteredtheBlueMoutheachshiptookherappointedstation，thosewhichcarriedthesignatoriesbeingclosetogetherinanisolatedgroupinalittlebayalmostsurroundedbyhighcliffsinthefarthestrecessesofthemightyharbour。KingRupert’sarmouredyachtallthetimelaycloseinshore，hardbythemouthoftheGreatTunnelwhichrunsstraightintothemountainfromawideplateau，partlynaturalrock，partlybuiltupwithmightyblocksofstone。
Hereitis，Iamtold，thattheinlandproductsarebroughtdowntothemoderntownofPlazac。Justastheclockswerechimingthehalf—
hourbeforenoonthisyachtglidedoutintotheexpanseofthe\"
Mouth。\"Behindhercametwelvegreatbarges，royallydecked，anddrapedeachinthecolourofthesignatorynation。Oneachofthesetherulerenteredwithhisguard，andwascarriedtoRupert’syacht，hegoingonthebridge，whilsthissuiteremainedonthelowerdeck。
Inthemeantimewholefleetshadbeenappearingonthesouthernhorizon；thenationsweresendingtheirmaritimequotatothechristeningof\"Balka\"！Insuchwonderfulorderascanonlybeseenwithsquadronsoffightingships，themightythrongsweptintotheBlueMouth，andtookuptheirstationsingroups。TheonlyarmamentofaGreatPowernowmissingwasthatoftheWesternKing。Buttherewastime。Indeed，asthecrowdeverywherebegantolookattheirwatchesalonglineofshipsbegantospreadupnorthwardfromtheItaliancoast。Theycameatgreatspeed——nearlytwentyknots。Itwasareallywonderfulsight——fiftyofthefinestshipsintheworld；
theverylatestexpressionofnavalgiants，eachseeminglytypicalofitsclass——Dreadnoughts，cruisers，destroyers。Theycameinawedge，withtheKing’syachtflyingtheRoyalStandardtheapex。Everyshipofthesquadronborearedensignlongenoughtofloatfromthemastheadtothewater。Fromthearmouredtowerinthewaterwayonecouldseethemyriadoffaces——whitestarsonbothlandandsea——forthegreatharbourwasnowalivewithshipsandeachandallofthemalivewithmen。
Suddenly，withoutanydirectcause，thewhitemassesbecameeclipsed—
—everyonehadturnedround，andwaslookingtheotherway。Ilookedacrossthebayandupthemountainbehind——amightymountain，whoseslopesrunuptotheverysky，ridgeafterridgeseeminglikeitselfamountain。FarawayontheverytopthestandardoftheBlueMountainswasrunuponamightyFlagstaffwhichseemedlikeashaftoflight。Itwastwohundredfeethigh，andpaintedwhite，andasatthedistancethesteelstayswereinvisible，ittoweredupinlonelygrandeur。Atitsfootwasadarkmassgroupedbehindawhitespace，whichIcouldnotmakeouttillIusedmyfield—glasses。
ThenIknewitwasKingRupertandtheQueeninthemidstofagroupofmountaineers。Theywereontheaerostationbehindtheplatformoftheaero，whichseemedtoshine——shine，notglitter——asthoughitwereoverlaidwithplatesofgold。
Againthefaceslookedwest。TheWesternSquadronwasdrawingneartotheentranceoftheBlueMouth。OnthebridgeoftheyachtstoodtheWesternKinginuniformofanAdmiral，andbyhimhisQueeninadressofroyalpurple，splendidwithgold。Anotherglanceatthemountain—topshowedthatithadseemedtobecomealive。Awholeparkofartilleryseemedtohavesuddenlysprungtolife，roundeachitscrewreadyforaction。AmongstthegroupatthefootoftheFlagstaffwecoulddistinguishKingRupert；hisvastheightandbulkstoodoutfromandaboveallroundhim。Closetohimwasapatchofwhite，whichweunderstoodtobeQueenTeuta，whomtheBlueMountaineerssimplyadore。
Bythistimethearmouredyacht，bearingallthesignatoriesto\"Balka\"（exceptingKingRupert），hadmovedouttowardstheentrance，andlaystillandsilent，waitingthecomingoftheRoyalArbitrator，whosewholesquadronsimultaneouslysloweddown，andhardlydriftedintheseethingwateroftheirbackingengines。
Whentheflagwhichwasintheyacht’sprowwasalmostoppositethearmouredfort，theWesternKinghelduparollofvellumhandedtohimbyoneofhisofficers。Weonlookersheldourbreath，forinaninstantwassuchasceneaswecanneverhopetoseeagain。
AttheraisingoftheWesternKing’shand，agunwasfiredawayonthetopofthemountainwhererosethemightyFlagstaffwiththestandardoftheBlueMountains。Thencamethethunderofsalutefromtheguns，brightflashesandreports，whichechoeddownthehillsidesinnever—endingsequence。Atthefirstgun，bysometrickofsignalling，theflagoftheFederated\"Balka\"floatedoutfromthetopoftheFlagstaff，whichhadbeenmysteriouslyraised，andflewabovethatoftheBlueMountains。
AtthesamemomentthefiguresofRupertandTeutasank；theyweretakingtheirplacesontheaeroplane。Aninstantafter，likeagreatgoldenbird，itseemedtoshootoutintotheair，andthen，dippingitshead，droppeddownwardatanobtuseangle。WecouldseetheKingandQueenfromtimewaistupwards——theKinginBlueMountaindressofgreen；theQueen，wrappedinherwhiteShroud，holdingherbabyonherbreast。Whenfaroutfromthemountain—topandovertheBlueMouth，thewingsandtailofthegreatbird—likemachinewentup，andtheaerodroppedlikeastone，tillitwasonlysomefewhundredfeetoverthewater。Thenthewingsandtailwentdown，butwithdiminishingspeed。BelowtheexpanseoftheplanetheKingandQueenwerenowseenseatedtogetheronthetinysteeringplatform，whichseemedtohavebeenlowered；shesatbehindherhusband，afterthemannerofmatronsoftheBlueMountains。Thatcomingofthataeroplanewasthemoststrikingepisodeofallthiswonderfulday。
Afterfloatingforafewseconds，theenginesbegantowork，whilsttheplanesmovedbacktotheirnormalwithbeautifulsimultaneity。
Therewasagoldenaerofindingitssafetyinglidingmovement。Atthesametimethesteeringplatformwasrising，sothatoncemoretheoccupantswerenotfarbelow，butabovetheplane。Theywerenowonlyaboutahundredfeetabovethewater，movingfromthefarendoftheBlueMouthtowardstheentranceintheopenspacebetweenthetwolinesofthefightingshipsofthevariousnationalities，allofwhichhadbynowtheiryardsmanned——amanoeuvrewhichhadbegunatthefiringofthefirstgunonthemountain—top。Astheaeropassedalong，alltheseamenbegantocheer——acheeringwhichtheykeptuptilltheKingandQueenhadcomesoclosetotheWesternKing’svesselthatthetwoKingsandQueenscouldgreeteachother。Thewindwasnowbeginningtoblowwestwardfromthemountain—top，andittookthesoundstowardsthearmouredfort，sothatatmomentswecoulddistinguishthecheersofthevariousnationalities，amongstwhich，morekeenthantheothers，camethesoft\"BanZai！\"oftheJapanese。
KingRupert，holdinghissteeringlevers，satlikeamanofmarble。
Behindhimhisbeautifulwife，cladinherShroud，andholdinginherarmstheyoungCrownPrince，seemedlikeaveritablestatue。
Theaero，guidedbyRupert’sunerringhand，litsoftlyontheafter—
deckoftheWesternKing’syacht；andKingRupert，steppingondeck，liftedfromherseatQueenTeutawithherbabyinherarms。ItwasonlywhentheBlueMountainKingstoodamongstothermenthatonecouldrealizehisenormousstature。Hestoodliterallyheadandshouldersovereveryothermanpresent。
Whilsttheaeroplanewasgivingupitsburden，theWesternKingandhisQueenweredescendingfromthebridge。Thehostandhostess，handinhand——aftertheirusualfashion，asitseems——hurriedforwardtogreettheirguests。Themeetingwastouchinginitssimplicity。
Thetwomonarchsshookhands，andtheirconsorts，representativesoftheforemosttypesofnationalbeautyoftheNorthandSouth，instinctivelydrewcloseandkissedeachother。ThenthehostessQueen，movingtowardstheWesternKing，kneeledbeforehimwiththegraciousobeisanceofaBlueMountainhostess，andkissedhishand。
Herwordsofgreetingwere：
\"Youarewelcome，sire，totheBlueMountains。WearegratefultoyouforallyouhavedoneforBalka，andtoyouandHerMajestyforgivingusthehonourofyourpresence。\"
TheKingseemedmoved。Accustomedashewastotheritualofgreatoccasions，thewarmthandsincerity，togetherwiththegracioushumilityofthisoldEasterncustom，touchedhim，monarchthoughhewasofagreatlandandmanyracesintheFarEast。ImpulsivelyhebrokethroughCourtritual，anddidathingwhich，Ihavesincebeentold，wonforhimforeveraholyplaceinthewarmheartsoftheBlueMountaineers。Sinkingonhiskneebeforethebeautifulshroud—
cladQueen，heraisedherhandandkissedit。TheactwasseenbyallinandaroundtheBlueMouth，andamightycheeringrose，whichseemedtoriseandswellasitranfarandwideupthehillsides，tillitfadedawayonthefar—offmountain—top，whererosemajesticallythemightyFlagstaffbearingthestandardoftheBalkanFederation。
Formyself，Icanneverforgetthatwonderfulsceneofanation’senthusiasm，andthecoreofitisengravenonmymemory。Thatspotlessdeck，typicalofallthatisperfectinnavaluse；theKingandQueenofthegreatestnationoftheearth{3}receivedbythenewestKingandQueen——aKingandQueenwhowonempireforthemselves，sothattheformersubjectofanotherKingreceivedhimasabrother—monarchonahistory—makingoccasion，whenanewworld—
powerwas，underhistutelage，springingintoexistence。ThefairNorthernQueeninthearmsofthedarkSouthernQueenwiththestarryeyes。ThesimplesplendourofNortherndressarrayedagainstthatofalmostpeasantplainnessofthegiantKingoftheSouth。Butallwereeclipsed——eventhethousandyearsofroyallineageoftheWesternKing，Rupert’snaturaldowerofstature，andtheotherQueen’sbearingofroyaldignityandsweetness——bytheelementalsimplicityofTeuta’sShroud。Notoneofallthatmightythrongbutknewsomethingofherwonderfulstory；andnotonebutfeltgladandproudthatsuchanoblewomanhadwonanempirethroughherownbravery，eveninthejawsofthegrave。
Thearmouredyacht，withtheremainderofthesignatoriestotheBalkanFederation，drewclose，andtherulerssteppedonboardtogreettheWesternKing，theArbitrator，Rupertleavinghistaskaspersonalhostandjoiningthem。Hetookhispartmodestlyintherearofthegroup，andmadeafreshobeisanceinhisnewcapacity。
Presentlyanotherwarship，TheBalka，drewclose。ItcontainedtheambassadorsofForeignPowers，andtheChancellorsandhighofficialsoftheBalkannations。Itwasfollowedbyafleetofwarships，eachonerepresentingaBalkanPower。ThegreatWesternfleetlayattheirmoorings，butwiththeexceptionofmanningtheiryards，tooknoimmediatepartintheproceedings。
Onthedeckofthenew—comertheBalkanmonarchstooktheirplaces，theofficialsofeachStategradingthemselvesbehindtheirmonarch。
TheAmbassadorsformedaforemostgroupbythemselves。
LastcametheWesternKing，quitealone（saveforthetwoQueens），bearinginhishandthevellumscroll，therecordofhisarbitration。
Thisheproceededtoread，apolyglotcopyofithavingbeenalreadysuppliedtoeveryMonarch，Ambassador，andofficialpresent。Itwasalongstatement，buttheoccasionwassostupendous——sointense——
thatthetimeflewbyquickly。ThecheeringhadceasedthemomenttheArbitratoropenedthescroll，andaveritablesilenceofthegraveabounded。
WhenthereadingwasconcludedRupertraisedhishand，andontheinstantcameaterrificsalvoofcannon—shotsfromnotonlytheshipsintheport，butseeminglyallupandoverthehillsidesawaytotheverysummit。
Whenthecheeringwhichfollowedthesalutehadsomewhattoneddown，thoseonboardtalkedtogether，andpresentationsweremade。Thenthebargestookthewholecompanytothearmour—cladfortintheentrance—waytotheBlueMouth。Here，infront，hadbeenarrangedfortheoccasion，platformsforthestartingofaeroplanes。BehindthemwerethevariousthronesofstatefortheWesternKingandQueen，andthevariousrulersof\"Balka\"——asthenewandcompletedBalkanFederationhadbecome——dejureaswellasdefacto。Behindwereseatsfortherestofthecompany。Allwasablazeofcrimsonandgold。WeofthePresswereallexpectant，forsomeceremonyhadmanifestlybeenarranged，butofalldetailsofitwehadbeenkeptinignorance。SofarasIcouldtellfromthefaces，thosepresentwereatbestbutpartiallyinformed。Theywerecertainlyignorantofalldetails，andevenoftheentireprogrammeoftheday。Thereisacertainkindofexpectationwhichisnotconcernedinthemereexecutionoffore—orderedthings。
TheaeroonwhichtheKingandQueenhadcomedownfromthemountainnowarrivedontheplatforminthechargeofatallyoungmountaineer，whosteppedfromthesteering—platformatonce。KingRupert，havinghandedhisQueen（whostillcarriedherbaby）intoherseat，tookhisplace，andpulledalever。Theaerowentforward，andseemedtofallheadforemostoffthefort。Itwasbutadip，however，suchasaskilfuldivertakesfromaheightintoshallowwater，fortheplanemadeanupwardcurve，andinafewsecondswasskimmingupwardstowardstheFlagstaff。Despitethewind，itarrivedthereinanincrediblyshorttime。Immediatelyafterhisflightanotheraero，abigonethistime，glidedtotheplatform。Tothisimmediatelysteppedabodyoftentall，fine—lookingyoungmen。Thedriverpulledhislevers，andtheplaneglidedoutonthetrackoftheKing。TheWesternKing，whowasnoticing，saidtotheLordHighAdmiral，whohadbeenhimselfincommandoftheshipofwar，andnowstoodclosebehindhim：
\"Whoarethosemen，Admiral？\"
\"TheGuardoftheCrownPrince，YourMajesty。TheyareappointedbytheNation。\"
\"Tellme，Admiral，havetheyanyspecialduties？\"
\"Yes，YourMajesty，\"cametheanswer：\"todie，ifneedbe，fortheyoungPrince！\"
\"Quiteright！Thatisfineservice。Buthowifanyofthemshoulddie？\"
\"YourMajesty，ifoneofthemshoulddie，therearetenthousandeagertotakehisplace。\"
\"Fine，fine！Itisgoodtohaveevenonemaneagertogivehislifeforduty。Buttenthousand！Thatiswhatmakesanation！\"
WhenKingRupertreachedtheplatformbytheFlagstaff，theRoyalStandardoftheBlueMountainswashauledupunderit。Rupertstoodupandraisedhishand。Inasecondacannonbesidehimwasfired；
then，quickasthought，otherswerefiredinsequence，asthoughbyoneprolongedlightning—flash。Theroarwasincessant，butgettinglessindetonatingsoundasthedistanceandthehillssubduedit。
Butinthegeneralsilencewhichprevailedrounduswecouldhearthesoundasthoughpassinginadistantcircle，tillfinallythelinewhichhadgonenorthwardcamebackbythesouth，stoppingatthelastguntosouth’ardoftheFlagstaff。
\"Whatwasthatwonderfulcircle？\"askedtheKingoftheLordHighAdmiral。
\"That，YourMajesty，isthelineofthefrontieroftheBlueMountains。Ruperthastenthousandcannoninline。\"
\"Andwhofiresthem？Ithoughtallthearmymustbehere。\"
\"Thewomen，YourMajesty。Theyareonfrontierdutyto—day，sothatthemencancomehere。\"
JustatthatmomentoneoftheCrownPrince’sGuardsbroughttothesideoftheKing’saerosomethinglikearubberballontheendofastring。TheQueenhelditouttothebabyinherarms，whograbbedatit。Theguarddrewback。Pressingthatballmusthavegivensomesignal，forontheinstantacannon，elevatedtoperpendicular，wasfired。Ashellwentstraightupanenormousdistance。Theshellburst，andsentoutbothalightsobrightthatitcouldbeseeninthedaylight，andaredsmoke，whichmighthavebeenseenfromtheheightsoftheCalabrianMountainsoverinItaly。
Astheshellburst，theKing’saeroseemedoncemoretospringfromtheplatformoutintomid—air，dippedasbefore，andglidedoutovertheBlueMouthwitharapiditywhich，tolookat，tookone’sbreathaway。
Asitcame，followedbytheaerooftheCrownPrince’sGuardandagroupofotheraeros，thewholemountain—sidesseemedtobecomealive。Fromeverywhere，rightawayuptothefarthestvisiblemountain—tops，dartedaeroplanes，tillahostofthemwererushingwithdreadfulspeedinthewakeoftheKing。TheKingturnedtoQueenTeuta，andevidentlysaidsomething，forshebeckonedtotheCaptainoftheCrownPrince’sGuard，whowassteeringtheplane。Heswervedawaytotheright，andinsteadoffollowingabovetheopentrackbetweenthelinesofwarships，wenthighovertheouterline。
Oneofthoseonboardbegantodropsomething，which，flutteringdown，landedoneveryoccasiononthebridgeoftheshiphighoverwhichtheythenwere。
TheWesternKingsaidagaintotheGospodarRooke（theLordHighAdmiral）：
\"Itmustneedsomeskilltodropaletterwithsuchaccuracy。\"
WithimperturbablefacetheAdmiralreplied：
\"Itiseasiertodropbombs，YourMajesty。\"
Theflightofaeroplaneswasamemorablesight。Ithelpedtomakehistory。Henceforthnonationwithaneyeforeitherdefenceorattackcanhopeforsuccesswithoutthemasteryoftheair。
Inthemeantime——andafterthattime，too——Godhelpthenationthatattacks\"Balka\"oranypartofit，solongasRupertandTeutaliveintheheartsofthatpeople，andbindthemintoanirresistibleunity。
Footnotes：
{1}Vladika，ahighfunctionaryintheLandoftheBlueMountains。
HeisasortofofficialdescendantoftheoldPrince—BishopswhousedatonetimetogoverntheState。Inprocessoftimethesystemhaschanged，butthefunction——shornofitspersonaldominance——
remains。ThenationisatpresentgovernedbytheCouncil。TheChurch（whichis，ofcourse，theEasternChurch）isrepresentedbytheArchbishop，whocontrolsthewholespiritualfunctionsandorganization。Theconnecting—linkbetweenthem——theybeingquiteindependentorganizations——istheVladika，whoisexofficioamemberoftheNationalCouncil。Bycustomhedoesnotvote，butislookedonasanindependentadviserwhoisintheconfidenceofbothsidesofnationalcontrol。
{2}EDITORIALNOTE——Weshall，inourissueofSaturdayweek，giveafullrecordoftheromanticstoryofQueenTeutaandherShroud，writtenbyMr。MordredBooth，andillustratedbyourspecialartist，Mr。NeillisonBrowne，whoisMr。Booth’sartisticcollaborateurintheaccountofKingRupert’sCoronation。
{3}GreatestKingdom——EditorFreeAmerica。
End