Even during the last drop from the rocky foliage the Gospodar kept
    his head. As he fell he pulled his handjar free, and almost as he
    was falling its sweep took off the head of one of the assassins. As
    he touched ground he stumbled for an instant, but it was towards his
    enemies. Twice with lightning rapidity the handjar swept the air,
    and at each sweep a head rolled on the sward. The Voivodin held up her tied hands. Again the handjar flashed, this
    time downwards, and the lady was free. Without an instant's pause
    the Gospodar tore off the gag, and with his left arm round her and
    handjar in right hand, stood face toward his living foes. The
    Voivodin stooped suddenly, and then, raising the yataghan which had
    fallen from the hand of one of the dead marauders, stood armed beside
    him. The rifles were now cracking fast, as the marauders--those that were
    left of them--came rushing out into the open. But well the marksmen
    knew their work. Well they bore in mind the Gospodar's command
    regarding calmness. They kept picking off the foremost men only, so
    that the onward rush never seemed to get more forward. As we rushed down the ravine we could see clearly all before us. But
    now, just as we were beginning to fear lest some mischance might
    allow some of them to reach the glade, there was another cause of
    surprise--of rejoicing. From the face of the wood seemed to burst all at once a body of men,
    all wearing the national cap, so we knew them as our own. They were
    all armed with the handjar only, and they came like tigers. They
    swept on the rushing Turks as though, for all their swiftness, they
    were standing still--literally wiping them out as a child wipes a
    lesson from its slate. A few seconds later these were followed by a tall figure with long
    hair and beard of black mingled with grey. Instinctively we all, as
    did those in the valley, shouted with joy. For this was the Vladika
    Milosh Plamenac himself. I confess that, knowing what I knew, I was for a short space of time
    anxious lest, in the terrific excitement in which we were all lapped,
    someone might say or do something which might make for trouble later
    on. The Gospodar's splendid achievement, which was worthy of any
    hero of old romance, had set us all on fire. He himself must have
    been wrought to a high pitch of excitement to dare such an act; and
    it is not at such a time that discretion must be expected from any
    man. Most of all did I fear danger from the womanhood of the
    Voivodin. Had I not assisted at her marriage, I might not have
    understood then what it must have been to her to be saved from such a
    doom at such a time by such a man, who was so much to her, and in
    such a way. It would have been only natural if at such a moment of
    gratitude and triumph she had proclaimed the secret which we of the
    Council of the Nation and her father's Commissioners had so
    religiously kept. But none of us knew then either the Voivodin or
    the Gospodar Rupert as we do now. It was well that they were as they
    are, for the jealousy and suspicion of our mountaineers might, even
    at such a moment, and even whilst they throbbed at such a deed, have
    so manifested themselves as to have left a legacy of distrust. The
    Vladika and I, who of all (save the two immediately concerned) alone
    knew, looked at each other apprehensively. But at that instant the
    Voivodin, with a swift glance at her husband, laid a finger on her
    lip; and he, with quick understanding, gave assurance by a similar
    sign. Then she sank before him on one knee, and, raising his hand to
    her lips, kissed it, and spoke:

    "Gospodar Rupert, I owe you all that a woman may owe, except to God. You have given me life and honour! I cannot thank you adequately for
    what you have done; my father will try to do so when he returns. But
    I am right sure that the men of the Blue Mountains, who so value
    honour, and freedom, and liberty, and bravery, will hold you in their
    hearts for ever!" This was so sweetly spoken, with lips that trembled and eyes that
    swam in tears, so truly womanly and so in accord with the custom of
    our nation regarding the reverence that women owe to men, that the
    hearts of our mountaineers were touched to the quick. Their noble
    simplicity found expression in tears. But if the gallant Gospodar
    could have for a moment thought that so to weep was unmanly, his
    error would have had instant correction. When the Voivodin had risen
    to her feet, which she did with queenly dignity, the men around
    closed in on the Gospodar like a wave of the sea, and in a second
    held him above their heads, tossing on their lifted hands as if on
    stormy breakers. It was as though the old Vikings of whom we have
    heard, and whose blood flows in Rupert's veins, were choosing a chief
    in old fashion. I was myself glad that the men were so taken up with
    the Gospodar that they did not see the glory of the moment in the
    Voivodin's starry eyes; for else they might have guessed the secret. I knew from the Vladika's look that he shared my own satisfaction,
    even as he had shared my anxiety. As the Gospodar Rupert was tossed high on the lifted hands of the
    mountaineers, their shouts rose to such a sudden volume that around
    us, as far as I could see, the frightened birds rose from the forest,
    and their noisy alarm swelled the tumult. The Gospodar, ever thoughtful for others, was the first to calm
    himself. "Come, brothers," he said, "let us gain the hilltop, where we can
    signal to the Castle. It is right that the whole nation should share
    in the glad tidings that the Voivodin Teuta of Vissarion is free. But before we go, let us remove the arms and clothing of these
    carrion marauders. We may have use for them later on." The mountaineers set him down, gently enough. And he, taking the
    Voivodin by the hand, and calling the Vladika and myself close to
    them, led the way up the ravine path which the marauders had
    descended, and thence through the forest to the top of the hill that
    dominated the valley. Here we could, from an opening amongst the
    trees, catch a glimpse far off of the battlements of Vissarion. Forthwith the Gospodar signalled; and on the moment a reply of their
    awaiting was given. Then the Gospodar signalled the glad news. It
    was received with manifest rejoicing. We could not hear any sound so
    far away, but we could see the movement of lifted faces and waving
    hands, and knew that it was well. But an instant after came a calm
    so dread that we knew before the semaphore had begun to work that
    there was bad news in store for us.