ll knew that the time when
she could speak was passing, but we felt that it was useless to say
anything.

Suddenly she sat up, and as she opened her eyes said sweetly, "Would
none of you like a cup of tea? You must all be so tired!"

We could only make her happy, and so acqueisced. She bustled off to
get tea. When she had gone Van Helsing said, "You see, my friends. He
is close to land. He has left his earth chest. But he has yet to get
on shore. In the night he may lie hidden somewhere, but if he be not
carried on shore, or if the ship do not touch it, he cannot achieve
the land. In such case he can, if it be in the night, change his form
and jump or fly on shore, then, unless he be carried he cannot escape.
And if he be carried, then the customs men may discover what the box
contain. Thus, in fine, if he escape not on shore tonight, or before
dawn, there will be the whole day lost to him. We may then arrive in
time. For if he escape not at night we shall come on him in daytime,
boxed up and at our mercy. For he dare not be his true self, awake
and visible, lest he be discovered."

There was no more to be said, so we waited in patience until the dawn,
at which time we might learn more from Mrs. Harker.

Early this morning we listened, with breathless anxiety, for her
response in her trance. The hypnotic stage was even longer in coming
than before, and when it came the time remaining until full sunrise
was so short that we began to despair. Van Helsing seemed to throw
his whole soul into the effort. At last, in obedience to his will she
made reply.

"All is dark. I hear lapping water, level with me, and some creaking
as of wood on wood." She paused, and the red sun shot up. We must
wait till tonight.

And so it is that we are travelling towards Galatz in an agony of
expectation. We are due to arrive between two and three in the
morning. But already, at Bucharest, we are three hours late, so we
cannot possibly get in till well after sunup. Thus we shall have two
more hypnotic messages from Mrs. Harker! Either or both may possibly
throw more light on what is happening.

Later.--Sunset has come and gone. Fortunately it came at a time when
there was no distraction. For had it occurred whilst we were at a
station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation.
Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than
this morning. I am in fear that her power of read