timate ruler of this country?' 'King
Nicholas,' said he, 'and the Government of Montenegro.' So I advised him
to get a visa from King Nicholas and to come back to perform his
mission, when that visa would be honoured. 'Anyhow,' said he, 'the
people of these parts are against Serbia.' Thereupon I sent for the
chief men and told them to say quite candidly in front of this
Englishman what they wanted. There were five Moslems, including Islam
and Abdi Beg Rejepagi['c] (the leading family) and Ismael Omeragi['c],
also two Christians, of whom I remember Stani[vc]a Turkovi['c]. 'Long
live Serbia!' they shouted. 'Death to Nicholas and the Albanians!' On
hearing this Captain Brodie was discontented; he told me that I was a
savage and did not know how to esteem an Englishman. 'I esteem you very
much,' said I, 'and because he is wearing a British uniform I won't
arrest this interpreter of yours.' (By the way, Perola was not acting as
interpreter in our conversation, as the captain and I were talking
French.) 'He used to be an Austrian agent,' said I. 'You are a liar!'
cried Brodie; 'I know this man; he was nothing of the sort.' I remained
calm, but I told him that he must not speak to me again in such a way. I
asked him how long he had known Perola, who had got away from our prison
a month ago. 'I have known him for a month,' said Brodie. 'And now,'
said I, 'will you please show me your documents?' 'I have none,' said
he, 'and I do not require any, as I am a British officer.' 'But I have
read in the papers,' said I, 'that your people arrested and shot several
persons who were wearing the uniform of a British officer. If you have
no documents to prove that you are not a spy and that you are a British
officer I shall have to arrest you.' Then he showed me one with some
Italian words on it, I think a permission to go somewhere on the Piave
front. 'From now,' said I, 'you are arrested; no one can come to you and
you cannot leave this house. Prepare yourself to start to-morrow or the
day after, if you are tired, for Pe['c], and perhaps Skoplje, so that
you may prove your identity.' He protested, and declared that he must
see the people in the neighbouring villages. 'If you are a real
Englishman,' said I, 'I could not allow you to go by yourself, since
there are many Moslems in these parts who have been excited against
England by their hodjas, owing to your war with Turkey. They might kill
you, and I would be held responsible; so that eve