_July_ 7, 1907

When the grey of the morning came, I gave up hope of my wife appearing,
and made up my mind that, so soon as I could get away without exciting
Aunt Janet's attention, I would go to St. Sava's. I always eat a good
breakfast, and did I forgo it altogether, it would be sure to excite her
curiosity--a thing I do not wish at present. As there was still time to
wait, I lay down on my bed as I was, and--such is the way of
Fate--shortly fell asleep. I was awakened by a terrific clattering at my door. When I opened it I
found a little group of servants, very apologetic at awaking me without
instructions. The chief of them explained that a young priest had come
from the Vladika with a message so urgent that he insisted on seeing me
immediately at all hazards. I came out at once, and found him in the
hall of the Castle, standing before the great fire, which was always lit
in the early morning. He had a letter in his hand, but before giving it
to me he said:

"I am sent by the Vladika, who pressed on me that I was not to lose a
single instant in seeing you; that time is of golden price--nay, beyond
price. This letter, amongst other things, vouches for me. A terrible
misfortune has occurred. The daughter of our leader has disappeared
during last night--the same, he commanded me to remind you, that he spoke
of at the meeting when he would not let the mountaineers fire their guns. No sign of her can be found, and it is believed that she has been carried
off by the emissaries of the Sultan of Turkey, who once before brought
our nations to the verge of war by demanding her as a wife. I was also
to say that the Vladika Plamenac would have come himself, but that it was
necessary that he should at once consult with the Archbishop, Stevan
Palealogue, as to what step is best to take in this dire calamity. He
has sent out a search-party under the Archimandrite of Spazac, Petrof
Vlastimir, who is to come on here with any news he can get, as you have
command of the signalling, and can best spread the news. He knows that
you, Gospodar, are in your great heart one of our compatriots, and that
you have already proved your friendship by many efforts to strengthen our
hands for war. And as a great compatriot, he calls on you to aid us in
our need." He then handed me the letter, and stood by respectfully
whilst I broke the seal and read it. It was written in great haste, and
signed by the Vladika. "Come with us now in our nation's peril. Help us to rescue what we most
adore, and henceforth we shall hold you in our hearts. You shall learn
how the men of the Blue Mountains can love faith and valour. Come!" This was a task indeed--a duty worthy of any man. It thrilled me to the
core to know that the men of the Blue Mountains had called on me in their
dire need. It woke all the fighting instinct of my Viking forbears, and
I vowed in my heart that they should be satisfied with my work. I called
to me the corps of signallers who were in the house, and led them to the
Castle roof, taking with me the young messenger-priest. "Come with me," I said to him, "and see how I answer the Vladika's
command." The National flag was run up--the established signal that the nation was
in need. Instantly on every summit near and far was seen the flutter of
an answering flag. Quickly followed the signal that commanded the call
to arms. One by one I gave the signallers orders in quick succession, for the plan
of search unfolded itself to me as I went on. The arms of the semaphore
whirled in a way that made the young priest stare. One by one, as they
took their orders, the signallers seemed to catch fire. Instinctively
they understood the plan, and worked like demigods. They knew that so
widespread a movement had its best chance in rapidity and in unity of
action. From the forest which lay in sight of the Castle came a wild cheering,
which seemed to interpret the former stillness of the hills. It was good
to feel that those who saw the signals--types of many--were ready. I saw
the look of expectation on the face of the messenger-priest, and rejoiced
at the glow that came as I turned to him to speak. Of course, he wanted
to know something of what was going on. I saw the flashing of my own
eyes reflected in his as I spoke:

"Tell the Vladika that within a minute of his message being read the Land
of the Blue Mountains was awake. The mountaineers are already marching,
and before the sun is high there will be a line of guards within hail of
each other round the whole frontier--from Angusa to Ilsin; from Ilsin to
Bajana; from Bajana to Ispazar; from Ispazar to Volok; from Volok to
Tatra; from Tatra to Domitan; from Domitan to Gravaja; and from Gravaja
back to Angusa. The line is double. The old men keep guard on the line,
and the young men advance. These will close in at the advancing line, so
that nothing can escape them. They will cover mountain-top and forest
depth, and will close in finally on the Castle here, which they can
behold from afar. My own yacht is here, and will sweep the coast from
end to end. It is the fastest boat afloat, and armed against a squadron. Here will all signals come. In an hour where we stand will be a signal
bureau, where trained eyes will watch night and day till the lost one has
been found and the outrage has been avenged. The robbers are even now
within a ring of steel, and cannot escape." The young priest, all on fire, sprang on the battlements and shouted to
the crowd, which was massing round the Castle in the gardens far below. The forest was giving up its units till they seemed like the nucleus of
an army. The men cheered lustily, till the sound swung high up to us
like the roaring of a winter sea. With bared heads they were crying:

"God and the Blue Mountains! God and the Blue Mountains!" I ran down to them as quickly as I could, and began to issue their
instructions. Within a time to be computed by minutes the whole number,
organized by sections, had started to scour the neighbouring mountains. At first they had only understood the call to arms for general safety. But when they learned that the daughter of a chief had been captured,
they simply went mad. From something which the messenger first said, but
which I could not catch or did not understand, the blow seemed to have
for them some sort of personal significance which wrought them to a
frenzy. When the bulk of the men had disappeared, I took with me a few of my own
men and several of the mountaineers whom I had asked to remain, and
together we went to the hidden ravine which I knew. We found the place
empty; but there were unmistakable signs that a party of men had been
encamped there for several days. Some of our men, who were skilled in
woodcraft and in signs generally, agreed that there must have been some
twenty of them.