nced in childhood, as was then
customary. Their reign began stormily. The Turks thirsting to avenge
Grahovo attacked Montenegro on three sides. Voyvoda Mirko led his
son's forces and the Montenegrins defended themselves desperately,
but were so severely outnumbered that only the intervention of the
Powers saved them. So much was Mirko dreaded that the Turks made it
one of their peace terms that he must leave the country. This term
was, however,' not fulfilled and the sturdy old savage remained in
Montenegro till the day of his death, steadily opposing all western
and modern ideas, especially the making of a carriage road into the
country; and ever composing and singing to the gusle songs of battle
and border fray, which, though devoid of literary merit, give an
invaluable picture of the savagery of the land in the middle of the
nineteenth century.

Old Mirko died of the great cholera epidemic which swept Montenegro,
and Prince Nikola was then free to introduce new visages into the
land.

Balanced perilously between Austria and Russia he managed to keep on
good terms with both, but his sympathies were Russian. To Russia he
turned for help to organize an army. Till then each tribe had fought
according to its own ideas. Montenegro had no artillery and no
equipment save flintlocks and the hand jar, the heavy knife used for
decapitation. In Petersburg he was warmly received by Tsar Alexander
II, who gave him funds both for schools and the army. A small-arms
factory was started at Rijeka and a gun foundry near Cetinje. Weapons
were bought from France and preparations made for the next campaign.
You cannot talk to King Nikola long without learning that war,
successful war, filled all his mind. Conquest and Great Serbia were
the stars of his heaven and of that of his people. Border frays
enough took place and when, in 1875, the Herzegovinians broke into
open revolt the Montenegrins rushed to their aid. Nikola, commanded
by the Powers to keep the peace, declared he could not restrain the
tribesmen. Local tradition which is possibly correct states that his
efforts to do so were not strenuous. In June 1876 Prince Milan of
Serbia declared war on Turkey. Prince Nikola, who had already
refused to acknowledge Milan as leader of the Serb peoples and
regarded him with jealous eyes, thereupon declared war next day.

The Great Serbian Idea was already causing rivalry.

Nikola fought and won his first battle at Vuchidol. Montenegrin a