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But I do not feel sleepy; I despair of sleep to-nightBut work demandsthat I be fit for whatever may come, and so I shall try to sleep--torest, at any rate
RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_
_July_ 4, 1907
I was up with the first ray of sunrise, so by the tihtI went down to the dock at once, andspent theover the vessel, which fully justifies Rooke'senthusiasm about herShe is built on lovely lines, and I can quiteunderstand that she is enormously fastHer armour I can only take onthe specifications, but her armament is really wonderfulAnd there arenot only all the very newest devices of aggressive warfare--indeed, shehas the newest up-to-date torpedoes and torpedo-guns--but also theold-fashioned rocket-tubes, which in certain occasions are so usefulShe has electric guns and the latest Massillon water-guns, and Reinhardtelectro-pneumatic "deliverers" for pyroxiline shellsShe is evenequipped ar-balloons easy of expansion, and with compressibleKitson aeroplanesI don't suppose that there is anything quite like herin the world
The crew are worthy of herI can't iine where Rooke picked up such asplendid lot of menThey are nearly all man-of-wars ot into the forties--and, so far as I can learn, all experts ofone kind or another in soo hardwith ether
How I got through the rest of the day I know notI tried hard not tocreate any domestic trouble by my manner, lest Aunt Janet should, afterher lurid dreaht, attach some new importance toitI think I succeeded, for she did not, so far as I could tell, takeany special notice of meWe parted as usual at half-past ten, and Icame here and made this entry in ht, and no wonderI would give anything to be able to pay avisit to St Sava's, and seeinher tombBut I dare not do even that, lest she should come to see mehere, and I should lass doorto the Terrace is open, so that she can enter at once if she comesThefire is lit, and the room is warmThere is food ready in case sheshould care for itI have plenty of light in the roohthe aperture where I have not fully drawn the curtain there uide her
Oh, how the tioodness, it will shortly be dawn, and the activity of the day ain prove, in a way, to be an anodyneIn the meantime I mustwrite on, lest despair overwhelm me
Once during the night I thought I heard a footstep outsideI rushed totheand looked out, but there was nothing to see, no sound tohearThat was a little after one o'clockI feared to go outside, lestthat should alarm her; so I came back tofor a whileBut I could not stand it, so roseand walked about the roo every time I remember that I do not know even her name--was notquite so far away froht to ht!I went towards the , and, standing behind thecurtain, listenedFar away I thought I heard a cry, and ran out on theTerrace; but there was no sound to be heard, and no sign of any livingthing anywhere; so I took it for granted that it was the cry of soht bird, and came back to my room, and wrote atout of order, when every soundof the night see for me
RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_
_July_ 7, 1907
When the grey of the ,and et aithout excitingAunt Janet's attention, I would go to St Sava'sI always eat a goodbreakfast, and did I forgo it altogether, it would be sure to excite hercuriosity--a thing I do not wish at presentAs there was still time towait, I lay down on my bed as I was, and--such is the way ofFate--shortly fell asleep
I akened by a terrific clattering at roup of servants, very apologetic at awaking me withoutinstructionsThe chief of the priest had coent that he insisted on seeing meimmediately at all hazardsI came out at once, and found hireat fire, which was always litin the earlyitto me he said:
"I am sent by the Vladika, who pressed onyou; that tist other things, vouches for hter of our leader has disappearedduring last night--the same, he co when he would not let the n of her can be found, and it is believed that she has been carriedoff by the ehtour nations to the verge of war by de her as a wifeI was alsoto say that the Vladika Plamenac would have come himself, but that it wasnecessary that he should at once consult with the Archbishop, StevanPalealogue, as to what step is best to take in this dire calamityHehas sent out a search-party under the Archimandrite of Spazac, PetrofVlastiet, as you haveco, and can best spread the newsHe knows thatyou, Gospodar, are in your great heart one of our compatriots, and thatyou have already proved your friendship by reat compatriot, he calls on you to aid us inour need"He then handed me the letter, and stood by respectfullywhilst I broke the seal and read itIt ritten in great haste, andsigned by the Vladika
"Come with us now in our nation's perilHelp us to rescue e mostadore, and henceforth we shall hold you in our heartsYou shall learnhow the men of the Blue Mountains can love faith and valourCome!"
This was a task indeed--a duty worthy of any manIt thrilled me to thecore to know that the men of the Blue Mountains had called oninstinct offorbears, andI vowed in my heart that they should be satisfied with nallers ere in the house, and led theer-priest