The
authorities, having sent a confidential report to the seat of government,
continued their inquiries, and even now all available hands were at work
on the investigation. When I had signalled to Vissarion, before my
arrival there, word had been sent through the priesthood to enlist in the
investigation the services of all good men, so that every foot of ground
in that section of the Blue Mountains was being investigated. The
port-master was assured by his watchmen that no vessel, large or small,
had heft the harbour during the night. The inference, therefore, was
that the Voivode's captors had made inland with him--if, indeed, they
were not already secreted in or near the town. Whilst we were receiving the various reports, a hurried message came that
it was now believed that the whole party were in the Silent Tower. This
was a well-chosen place for such an enterprise. It was a massive tower
of immense strength, built as a memorial--and also as a "keep"--after one
of the massacres of the invading Turks. It stood on the summit of a rocky knoll some ten miles inland from the
Port of Ilsin. It was a place shunned as a rule, and the country all
around it was so arid and desolate that there were no residents near it. As it was kept for state use, and might be serviceable in time of war, it
was closed with massive iron doors, which were kept locked except upon
certain occasions. The keys were at the seat of government at Plazac. If, therefore, it had been possible to the Turkish marauders to gain
entrance and exit, it might be a difficult as well as a dangerous task to
try to cut the Voivode out. His presence with them was a dangerous
menace to any force attacking them, for they would hold his life as a
threat. I consulted with the Vladika at once as to what was best to be done. And
we decided that, though we should put a cordon of guards around it at a
safe distance to prevent them receiving warning, we should at present
make no attack. We made further inquiry as to whether there had been any vessel seen in
the neighbourhood during the past few days, and were informed that once
or twice a warship had been seen on the near side of the southern
horizon. This was evidently the ship which Rooke had seen on his rush
down the coast after the abduction of the Voivodin, and which he had
identified as a Turkish vessel. The glimpses of her which had been had
were all in full daylight--there was no proof that she had not stolen up
during the night-time without lights. But the Vladika and I were
satisfied that the Turkish vessel was watching--was in league with both
parties of marauders--and was intended to take off any of the strangers,
or their prey, who might reach Ilsin undetected. It was evidently with
this view that the kidnappers of Teuta had, in the first instance, made
with all speed for the south. It was only when disappointed there that
they headed up north, seeking in desperation for some chance of crossing
the border. That ring of steel had so far well served its purpose. I sent for Rooke, and put the matter before him. He had thought it out
for himself to the same end as we had. His deduction was:

"Let us keep the cordon, and watch for any signal from the Silent Tower. The Turks will tire before we shall. I undertake to watch the Turkish
warship. During the night I shall run down south, without lights, and
have a look at her, even if I have to wait till the grey of the dawn to
do so. She may see us; but if she does I shall crawl away at such pace
that she shall not get any idea of our speed. She will certainly come
nearer before a day is over, for be sure the bureau of spies is kept
advised, and they know that when the country is awake each day increases
the hazard of them and their plans being discovered. From their caution
I gather that they do not court discovery; and from that that they do not
wish for an open declaration of war. If this be so, why should we not
come out to them and force an issue if need be?" When Teuta and I got a chance to be alone, we discussed the situation in
every phase. The poor girl was in a dreadful state of anxiety regarding
her father's safety. At first she was hardly able to speak, or even to
think, coherently. Her utterance was choked, and her reasoning palsied
with indignation. But presently the fighting blood of her race restored
her faculties, and then her woman's quick wit was worth the reasoning of
a camp full of men. Seeing that she was all on fire with the subject, I
sat still and waited, taking care not to interrupt her. For quite a long
time she sat still, whilst the coming night thickened. When she spoke,
the whole plan of action, based on subtle thinking, had mapped itself out
in her mind:

"We must act quickly. Every hour increases the risk to my father." Here
her voice broke for an instant; but she recovered herself and went on:

"If you go to the ship, I must not go with you. It would not do for me
to be seen. The Captain doubtless knows of both attempts: that to carry
me off as well as that against my father. As yet he is in ignorance of
what has happened. You and your party of brave, loyal men did their work
so well that no news could go forth. So long, therefore, as the naval
Captain is ignorant, he must delay till the last. But if he saw me he
would know that _that_ branch of the venture had miscarried. He would
gather from our being here that we had news of my father's capture, and
as he would know that the marauders would fail unless they were relieved
by force, he would order the captive to be slain." "Yes, dear, to-morrow you had, perhaps, better see the Captain, but
to-night we must try to rescue my father. Here I think I see a way. You
have your aeroplane. Please take me with you into the Silent Tower." "Not for a world of chrysolite!" said I, horrified. She took my hand and
held it tight whilst she went on:

"Dear, I know, I know! Be satisfied. But it is the only way. You can,
I know, get there, and in the dark. But if you were to go in it, it
would give warning to the enemies, and besides, my father would not
understand. Remember, he does not know you; he has never seen you, and
does not, I suppose, even know as yet of your existence. But he would
know me at once, and in any dress. You can manage to lower me into the
Tower by a rope from the aeroplane. The Turks as yet do not know of our
pursuit, and doubtless rely, at all events in part, on the strength and
security of the Tower. Therefore their guard will be less active than it
would at first or later on. I shall post father in all details, and we
shall be ready quickly. Now, dear, let us think out the scheme together. Let your man's wit and experience help my ignorance, and we shall save my
father!" How could I have resisted such pleading--even had it not seemed wise? But wise it was; and I, who knew what the aeroplane could do under my own
guidance, saw at once the practicalities of the scheme.