22

I waited, quite quiet. After a space of a few minutes, Captain Rooke in his uniform walked out of the wheel-house. He entered a  small boat, which had been in the meantime lowered for the purpose, and was rowed to the steps on the mole. Ascending these, he came directly towards the signal-tower. When he had ascended and stood beside me, he saluted.

"Well?" I asked.

"All well, sir," he answered. "We shan't have any more trouble with that lot, I think. You warned that pirate--I wish he had been in truth a clean, honest, straightforward-reto, honesto, franco, sincero pirate, instead of the measly-desprezível, miserável (com sarampo) Turkish swab-indivíduo desajeitado (esfregão) he was--that something might occur before the first stroke of six bells. Well, something has occurred, and for him and

all his crew that six bells will never sound. So the Lord fights for the Cross against the Crescent! Bismillah. Amen!" He said this in

a manifestly formal way, as though declaiming a ritual. The next instant he went on in the thoroughly-perfeitamente, completamente (minuciosamente) practical conventional way which

was usual to him: "May I ask a favour, Mr. Sent Leger?"

"A thousand, my dear Rooke," I said. "You can't ask me anything which I shall not freely grant. And I speak within-intimamente my brief-resumo, sumário from the National Council. You have saved Ilsin this day, and the Council will thank you for it in due time."

"Me, sir?" he said, with a look of surprise on his face which seemed quite genuine. "If you think that, I am well out of it-não ter nada a ver com o assunto, não tomar parte em qualquer coisa. I was afraid, when I woke, that you might court-martial me!" "Court-martial you! What for?" I asked, surprised in my turn. "For going to sleep on duty, sir! And the fact is, I was worn out in the attack on the Silent Tower last night, and when you had your interview with the pirate--all good pirates forgive me for the blasphemy! Amen!--and I knew that everything was going smoothly-com regularidade, a correr bem, I went into the wheel-house and took forty winks-segundos, momento, instante." He said all this without moving so much as an eyelid, from which I gathered that he

wished absolute silence to be observed on my part. Whilst I was revolving this in my mind he went on: "Touching that request-pedido, solicitação, sir. When I have left you and the Voivode--and the Voivodin, of course--at Vissarion, together with such others as you may choose to bring there with you, may I bring the yacht back here for a spell? I rather think that there is a good deal of

cleaning up to be done, and the crew of The Lady with myself are the men to do it. We shall be back by nightfall at the creek."

"Do as you think best, Admiral Rooke," I said.

"Admiral?"

"Yes, Admiral. At present I can only say that tentatively-a título experimental, but by to-morrow I am sure the National Council will have confirmed it. I am afraid, old friend, that your squadron will be only your flagship-navio almirante for the present; but later we may do better."

"So long as I am Admiral, your honour, I shall have no other flagship than The Lady. I am not a young man, but, young or old, my pennon shall float over no other deck. Now, one other favour, Mr. Sent

Leger? It is a corollary-consequência of the first, so I do not hesitate to ask.

May I appoint Lieutenant Desmond, my present First Officer, to the command of the battleship? Of course, he will at first only command the prize-presa, navio apresado (prémio, galardão) crew; but in such case he will fairly expect the confirmation of his rank later. I had better, perhaps, tell you, sir, that he is a very capable seaman, learned in all the sciences that pertain-dizer respeito, referir-se (pertencer) to a battleship, and bred-gerar, criar in the first navy in the world."

"By all means-com certeza, certamente, Admiral. Your nomination shall, I think I may promise

you, be confirmed."

Not another word we spoke. I returned with him in his boat to The Lady, which was brought to the dock wall, where we were received with tumultuous cheering.

I hurried off to my Wife and the Voivode. Rooke, calling Desmond to him, went on the bridge of The Lady, which turned, and went out at terrific speed to the battleship, which was already drifting up northward on the tide.

FROM THE REPORT OF CRISTOFEROS, SCRIBE OF THE

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE

LAND OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS.

July 8, 1907.

The meeting of the National Council, July 6, was but a continuation of that held before the rescue of the Voivodin Vissarion, the members of the Council having been during the intervening night housed in the Castle of Vissarion. When, in the early morning, they met, all were

jubilant; for late at night the fire-signal had flamed up from Ilsin with the glad news that the Voivode Peter Vissarion was safe, having been rescued with great daring-temeridade, audácia, coragem on an aeroplane by his daughter and the Gospodar Rupert, as the people call him--Mister Rupert Sent Leger, as he is in his British name and degree.

Whilst the Council was sitting, word came that a great peril to the town of Ilsin had been averted-evitar, desviar, afastar. A war-vessel acknowledging to no nationality, and therefore to be deemed a pirate, had threatened to bombard the town; but just before the time fixed for the fulfilment of her threat, she was shaken to such an extent by some sub-aqueous means that, though she herself was seemingly uninjured, nothing was left alive on board. Thus the Lord preserves His own! The

consideration of this, as well as the other incident, was postponed-adiar, tardar, demorar until the coming Voivode and the Gospodar Rupert, together with who were already on their way hither.

THE SAME (LATER IN THE SAME DAY).

The Council resumed its sitting at four o'clock. The Voivode Peter Vissarion and the Voivodin Teuta had arrived with the "Gospodar Rupert," as the mountaineers call him (Mr. Rupert Sent Leger) on the

armoured yacht he calls The Lady. The National Council showed great pleasure when the Voivode entered the hall in which the Council met.

He seemed much gratified by the reception given to him. Mr. Rupert Sent Leger, by the express desire of the Council, was asked to be present at the meeting. He took a seat at the bottom of the hall, and seemed to prefer to remain there, though asked by the President of the Council to sit at the top of the table with himself and the

Voivode. When the formalities of such Councils had been completed, the Voivode

handed to the President a memorandum of his report on his secret mission to foreign Courts on behalf of-por conta de, em nome de the National Council. He then explained at length-finalmente, detalhadamente, for the benefit-vantagem, benefício, proveito of the various members of the

Council, the broad-principal, amplo, extenso results of his mission. The result was, he said,

absolutely satisfactory. Everywhere he had been received with distinguished courtesy, and given a sympathetic hearing. Several of the Powers consulted had made delay in giving final answers, but this, he explained, was necessarily due to new considerations arising from the international complications which were universally dealt with-tratar, falar throughout the world as "the Balkan Crisis." In time, however (the Voivode went on), these matters became so far declared as to

allow the waiting Powers to form definite judgment--which, of course, they did not declare to him--as to their own ultimate action. The final result--if at this initial stage such tentative setting forth-expor, apresentar

of their own attitude in each case can be so named--was that he returned full of hope (founded, he might say, upon a justifiable personal belief) that the Great Powers throughout the world--North,

South, East, and West--were in thorough sympathy with the Land of the Blue Mountains in its aspirations for the continuance of its freedom. "I also am honoured," he continued, "to bring to you, the Great Council of the nation, the assurance of protection against unworthy

aggression on the part of neighbouring nations of present greater strength."

Whilst he was speaking, the Gospodar Rupert was writing a few words on a strip of paper, which he sent up to the President. When the Voivode had finished speaking, there was a prolonged silence. The President rose, and in a hush said that the Council would like to hear Mr. Rupert Sent Leger, who had a communication to make regarding certain recent events.

Mr. Rupert Sent Leger rose, and reported how, since he had been entrusted by the Council with the rescue of the Voivode Peter of Vissarion, he had, by aid of the Voivodin, effected the escape of the

Voivode from the Silent Tower; also that, following this happy event, the mountaineers, who had made a great cordon round the Tower so soon as it was known that the Voivode had been imprisoned within it, had stormed-tomar de assalto, atacar it in the night. As a determined resistance was offered by the marauders, who had used it as a place of refuge, none of these escaped. He then went on to tell how he sought interview with the Captain of the strange warship, which, without flying any flag, invaded our waters. He asked the President to call on me to read the report of that meeting. This, in obedience to his direction, I did.

The acquiescent murmuring of the Council showed how thoroughly they endorsed-endossar, apoiar publicamente, aprovar Mr. Sent Leger's words and acts. When I resumed my seat, Mr. Sent Leger described how, just before the

time fixed by the "pirate Captain"--so he designated him, as did every speaker thereafter-depois disso--the warship met with some under-sea accident, which had a destructive effect on all on board her. Then

he added certain words, which I give verbatim-textualmente, literalmente, as I am sure that

others will some time wish to remember them in their exactness: "By the way, President and Lords of the Council, I trust I may ask you to confirm Captain Rooke, of the armoured yacht The Lady, to be Admiral of the Squadron of the Land of the Blue Mountains, and also Captain (tentatively) Desmond, late First-Lieutenant of The Lady, to the command of the second warship of our fleet--the as yet unnamed vessel, whose former Captain threatened to bombard Ilsin. My Lords,

Admiral Rooke has done great service to the Land of the Blue Mountains, and deserves well at your hands. You will have in him, I am sure, a great official. One who will till his last breath give you good and loyal service."

He had sat down, the President put to the Council resolutions, which were passed by acclamation. Admiral Rooke was given command of the navy, and Captain Desmond confirmed in his appointment to the captaincy of the new ship, which was, by a further resolution, named The Gospodar Rupert.

In thanking the Council for acceding to his request, and for the great honour done him in the naming of the ship, Mr. Sent Leger said: "May I ask that the armoured yacht The Lady be accepted by you, the National Council, on behalf of the nation, as a gift on behalf of the cause of freedom from the Voivodin Teuta?"

In response to the mighty cheer of the Council with which the splendid gift was accepted the Gospodar Rupert--Mr. Sent Leger--bowed, and went quietly out of the room. As no agenda of the meeting had been prepared, there was for a time,

not silence, but much individual conversation. In the midst of it the Voivode rose up, whereupon-após o que there was a strict silence. All listened with an intensity of eagerness-ansiedade, avidez, impaciência whilst he spoke.

"President and Lords of the Council, Archbishop, and Vladika, I should but ill show my respect did I hesitate to tell you at this the first opportunity I have had of certain matters personal primarily to myself, but which, in the progress of recent events, have come to impinge-chocar, colidir on the affairs of the nation. Until I have done so, I shall not feel that I have done a duty, long due to you or your predecessors in office, and which I hope you will allow me to say that I have only kept back-não revelar, esconder for purposes of statecraft. May I ask that you will come back with me in memory to the year 1890, when our struggle against Ottoman aggression, later on-mais tarde so successfully brought to a close, was begun. We were then in a desperate condition. Our finances had run so low that we could not purchase even the bread

which we required. Nay, more, we could not procure through the National Exchequer-tesouro público what we wanted more than bread--arms of modern effectiveness; for men may endure hunger and yet fight well, as the glorious past of our country has proved again and again and again.

But when our foes are better armed than we are, the penalty is dreadful to a nation small as our own is in number, no matter how brave their hearts. In this strait I myself had to secretly raise a sufficient sum of money to procure the weapons we needed. To this end I sought the assistance of a great merchant-prince, to whom our nation as well as myself was known. He met me in the same generous

spirit which he had shown to other struggling nationalities throughout a long and honourable career. When I pledged-dar como garantia to him as security my own estates, he wished to tear up the bond-contrato, and only under pressure would he meet my wishes in this respect. Lords of the

Council, it was his money, thus generously advanced, which procured-obter, conseguir, proporcionar, garantir for us the arms with which we hewed-talhar, desbastar out our freedom. "Not long ago that noble merchant--and here I trust you will pardon me that I am so moved as to perhaps appear to suffer in want of respect to this great Council--this noble merchant passed to his account-morrer--leaving to a near kinsman-parente of his own the royal fortune which he had amassed. Only a few hours ago that worthy kinsman of the

benefactor of our nation made it known to me that in his last will he had bequeathed-deixar em testamento to me, by secret trust, the whole of those estates which long ago I had forfeited-perder o direito a (ceder, abdicar) by effluxion of time-expiração de prazo, inasmuch as-uma vez que I had been unable to fulfil-realizar, executar the terms of my voluntary bond. It grieves-afligir, entristecer me to think that I have had to keep you so long in ignorance of the good thought and wishes and acts of this great man.

"But it was by his wise counsel, fortified by my own judgment, that I was silent; for, indeed, I feared, as he did, lest in our troublous times some doubting spirit without our boundaries, or even within it,

might mistrust the honesty of my purposes for public good, because I was no longer one whose whole fortune was invested within our confines. This prince-merchant, the great English Roger Melton--let his name be for ever graven on the hearts of our people!--kept silent during his own life, and enjoined-impor, ordenar, recomendar on others to come after him to keep secret from the men of the Blue Mountains that secret loan-empréstimo made to me on their behalf, lest in their eyes I, who had striven-esforçar-se ao máximo, empenhar-se to be their friend and helper-auxiliar, ajudante, should suffer wrong repute. But, happily, he has left me free to clear myself in your eyes. Moreover-além disso, by arranging to have--under certain contingencies-contingência, which have come to pass--the

estates which were originally my own retransferred to me, I have no longer the honour of having given what I could to the national cause.

All such now belongs to him; for it was his money--and his only--which purchased our national armament.

"His worthy kinsman you already know, for he has not only been amongst you for many months, but has already done you good service in his own person. He it was who, as a mighty warrior, answered the

summons of the Vladika when misfortune came upon my house in thecapture by enemies of my dear daughter, the Voivodin Teuta, whom you hold in your hearts; who, with a chosen band of our brothers, pursued the marauders, and himself, by a deed of daring and prowess, of which

poets shall hereafter-de hoje em diante sing, saved her, when hope itself seemed to be dead, from their ruthless-cruel, impiedoso hands, and brought her back to us; who administered condign punishment to the miscreants who had dared to so wrong her. He it was who later took me, your servant, out of the

prison wherein another band of Turkish miscreants held me captive; rescued me, with the help of my dear daughter, whom he had already freed, whilst I had on my person the documents of international

secrecy of which I have already advised you--rescued me whilst I had been as yet unsubjected to the indignity of search.

"Beyond this you know now that of which I was in partial ignorance: how he had, through the skill and devotion of your new Admiral, wrought destruction on a hecatomb of our malignant foes. You who

have received for the nation the splendid gift of the little warship, which already represents a new era in naval armament, can understand the great-souled-espiritual generosity of the man who has restored the vast possessions of my House. On our way hither from Ilsin, Rupert Sent Leger made known to me the terms of the trust-fideicomisso, disposição testamentária especial of his noble uncle,

Roger Melton, and--believe me that he did so generously, with a joy that transcended my own--restored to the last male of the Vissarion race the whole inheritance of a noble line.

"And now, my Lords of the Council, I come to another matter, in which I find myself in something of a difficulty, for I am aware-ao corrente, informado (consciente) that in certain ways you actually know more of it than even I myself do. It is regarding the marriage of my daughter to Rupert Sent Leger. It is known to me that the matter has been brought before you by the Archbishop, who, as guardian of my daughter during my absence on the service of the nation, wished to obtain your sanction, as till my

return he held her safety in trust. This was so, not from any merit of mine, but because she, in her own person, had undertaken for the service of our nation a task of almost incredible difficulty. My

Lords, were she child of another father, I should extol-exaltar, enaltecer to the skies her bravery, her self-devotion, her loyalty to the land she loves.

Why, then, should I hesitate to speak of her deeds in fitting-adequado, apropriado terms, since it is my duty, my glory, to hold them in higher honour than can any in this land? I shall not shame her--or even myself--by being silent when such a duty urges me to speak, as Voivode, as trusted-de confiança envoy of our nation, as father. Ages hence-daqui por diante, por isso, por este motivo loyal men and women of

our Land of the Blue Mountains will sing her deeds in song and tell them in story. Her name, Teuta, already sacred in these regions, where it was held by a great Queen, and honoured by all men, will

hereafter-de hoje em diante be held as a symbol and type of woman's devotion. Oh, my Lords, we pass along the path of life, the best of us but a little time marching in the sunlight between gloom-escuridão, tristeza and gloom, and it is during that march that we must be judged for the future. This brave woman has won knightly spurs as well as any Paladin of old. So is it meet that ere-antes que she might mate with one worthy of her you, who hold in your hands the safety and honour of the State, should give your approval. To you was it given to sit in judgment on the worth of this gallant Englisher, now my son. You judged him then, before you had seen his valour, his strength, and skill exercised on behalf of a

national cause. You judged wisely, oh, my brothers, and out of a grateful heart I thank you one and all for it. Well has he justified

your trust by his later acts. When, in obedience to the summons of the Vladika, he put the nation in a blaze-«labareda, chama» and ranged-bater o terreno our boundaries with a ring of steel, he did so unknowing that what was dearest to him in the world was at stake. He saved my daughter's honour and

happiness, and won her safety by an act of valour that outvies-exceder, ultrapassar any told in history. He took my daughter with him to bring me out from the Silent Tower on the wings of the air, when earth had for me no

possibility of freedom--I, that had even then in my possession the documents involving other nations which the Soldan-? would fain-de bom grado have purchased with the half of his empire. "Henceforth to me, Lords of the Council, this brave man must ever be as a son of my heart, and I trust that in his name grandsons of my own may keep in bright honour the name which in glorious days of old my fathers made illustrious. Did I know how adequately to thank you for your interest in my child, I would yield up to you my very soul in thanks."

The speech of the Voivode was received with the honour of the Blue Mountains--the drawing and raising of handjars

FROM RUPERT'S JOURNAL.

July 14, 1907.

For nearly a week we waited for some message from Constantinople, fully expecting either a declaration of war, or else some inquiry so couched as to make war an inevitable result. The National Council remained on at Vissarion as the guests of the Voivode, to whom, in accordance with my uncle's will, I had prepared to re-transfer all his estates. He was, by the way, unwilling at first to accept, and it was only when I showed him Uncle Roger's letter, and made him read the Deed of Transfer prepared in anticipation by Mr. Trent, that he allowed me to persuade him. Finally he said: "As you, my good friends, have so arranged, I must accept, be it only in honour to the wishes of the dead. But remember, I only do so but for the present, reserving to myself the freedom to withdraw later if I so desire."

But Constantinople was silent. The whole nefarious scheme was one of the "put-up jobs" which are part of the dirty work of a certain order of statecraft--to be accepted if successful; to be denied in case of failure.

The matter stood thus: Turkey had thrown the dice--and lost. Her men were dead; her ship was forfeit. It was only some ten days after the warship was left derelict with every living thing--that is, everything that had been living--with its neck broken, as Rooke informed me, when he brought the ship down the creek, and housed it in the dock behind the armoured gates--that we saw an item in The Roma copied from The Constantinople Journal of July 9:

"LOSS OF AN OTTOMAN IRONCLAD WITH ALL HANDS.

"News has been received at Constantinople of the total loss, with all hands, of one of the newest and finest warships in the Turkish fleet--The Mahmoud, Captain Ali Ali--which foundered in a storm on the night of July 5, some distance off Cabrera, in the Balearic Isles.

There were no survivors, and no wreckage was discovered by the ships which went in relief--the Pera and the Mustapha--or reported from anywhere along the shores of the islands, of which exhaustive search

was made. The Mahmoud was double-manned, as she carried a full extra crew sent on an educational cruise on the most perfectly scientifically equipped warship on service in the Mediterranean waters."

When the Voivode and I talked over the matter, he said: "After all, Turkey is a shrewd Power. She certainly seems to know when she is beaten, and does not intend to make a bad thing seem worse in the eyes of the world."

Well, 'tis a bad wind that blows good to nobody. As The Mahmoud was lost off the Balearics, it cannot have been her that put the marauders on shore and trained her big guns on Ilsin. We take it, therefore, that the latter must have been a pirate, and as we have taken her derelict in our waters, she is now ours in all ways.

Anyhow, she is ours, and is the first ship of her class in the navy of the Blue Mountains. I am inclined to think that even if she was--or is still--a Turkish ship, Admiral Rooke would not be inclined to let her go. As for Captain Desmond, I think he would go straight out of his mind if such a thing was to be even suggested to him.

It will be a pity if we have any more trouble, for life here is very happy with us all now. The Voivode is, I think, like a man in a

dream. Teuta is ideally happy, and the real affection which sprang up between them when she and Aunt Janet met is a joy to think of. I had posted Teuta about her, so that when they should meet my wife might not, by any inadvertence, receive or cause any pain. But the moment Teuta saw her she ran straight over to her and lifted her in

her strong young arms, and, raising her up as one would lift a child, kissed her. Then, when she had put her sitting in the chair from which she had arisen when we entered the room, she knelt down before

her, and put her face down in her lap. Aunt Janet's face was a study; I myself could hardly say whether at the first moment surprise or joy predominated. But there could be no doubt about it the instant after. She seemed to beam with happiness. When Teuta knelt to her, she could only say: "My dear, my dear, I am glad! Rupert's wife, you and I must love each other very much." Seeing that they were laughing and crying in each other's arms, I thought it best to come away and leave them alone. And I didn't feel a bit lonely either when I was out of sight of them. I knew that where those two dear women were there was a

place for my own heart.

When I came back, Teuta was sitting on Aunt Janet's knee. It seemed rather stupendous for the old lady, for Teuta is such a splendid creature that even when she sits on my own knee and I catch a glimpse of us in some mirror, I cannot but notice what a nobly-built girl she is.

My wife was jumping up as soon as I was seen, but Aunt Janet held her tight to her, and said: "Don't stir, dear. It is such happiness to me to have you there.

Rupert has always been my 'little boy,' and, in spite of all his being such a giant, he is so still. And so you, that he loves, must be my little girl--in spite of all your beauty and your strength--and sit on my knee, till you can place there a little one that shall be dear to us all, and that shall let me feel my youth again. When first I saw you I was surprised, for, somehow, though I had never seen you nor even heard of you, I seemed to know your face. Sit where you are, dear. It is only Rupert--and we both love him."

Teuta looked at me, flushing rosily; but she sat quiet, and drew the old lady's white head on her young breast.

JANET MACKELPIE'S NOTES.

July 8, 1907.

I used to think that whenever Rupert should get married or start on the way to it by getting engaged--I would meet his future wife with something of the same affection that I have always had for himself.

But I know now that what was really in my mind was jealousy, and that I was really fighting against my own instincts, and pretending to myself that I was not jealous. Had I ever had the faintest idea that she would be anything the least like Teuta, that sort of feeling should never have had even a foothold. No wonder my dear boy is in

love with her, for, truth to tell, I am in love with her myself. I don't think I ever met a creature--a woman creature, of course, I

mean--with so many splendid qualities. I almost fear to say it, lest it should seem to myself wrong; but I think she is as good as a woman as Rupert is as a man. And what more than that can I say? I thought I loved her and trusted her, and knew her all I could, until this morning.

Henceforth - de futuro, daqui em diante
yield up - entregar, ceder
couched - formular, exprimir
nefarious - perverso, malvado
put up jobs - intencionalmente, com intenção
dice - dados
forfeit -confiscar
derelict - abandonado
IRONCLAD - couraçado
shrewd - astuto, sagaz, manhoso
posted - por em dia, atualizar
lap - regaço, colo
study - coisa digna de ser observada ou que atrai a atenção
beam - brilhar, irradiar
anything the least - nada a não ser...