l my courage to say goodbye to my darling. We may
never meet again. Courage, Mina! The Professor is looking at you
keenly. His look is a warning. There must be no tears now, unless it
may be that God will let them fall in gladness.

JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL

30 October, night.--I am writing this in the light from the furnace
door of the steam launch. Lord Godalming is firing up. He is an
experienced hand at the work, as he has had for years a launch of his
own on the Thames, and another on the Norfolk Broads. Regarding our
plans, we finally decided that Mina's guess was correct, and that if
any waterway was chosen for the Count's escape back to his Castle, the
Sereth and then the Bistritza at its junction, would be the one. We
took it, that somewhere about the 47th degree, north latitude, would
be the place chosen for crossing the country between the river and the
Carpathians. We have no fear in running at good speed up the river at
night. There is plenty of water, and the banks are wide enough apart
to make steaming, even in the dark, easy enough. Lord Godalming tells
me to sleep for a while, as it is enough for the present for one to be
on watch. But I cannot sleep, how can I with the terrible danger
hanging over my darling, and her going out into that awful place . . .

My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God. Only for that
faith it would be easier to die than to live, and so be quit of all
the trouble. Mr. Morris and Dr. Seward were off on their long ride
before we started. They are to keep up the right bank, far enough off
to get on higher lands where they can see a good stretch of river and
avoid the following of its curves. They have, for the first stages,
two men to ride and lead their spare horses, four in all, so as not to
excite curiosity. When they dismiss the men, which shall be shortly,
they shall themselves look after the horses. It may be necessary for
us to join forces. If so they can mount our whole party. One of the
saddles has a moveable horn, and can be easily adapted for Mina, if
required.

It is a wild adventure we are on. Here, as we are rushing along
through the darkness, with the cold from the river seeming to rise up
and strike us, with all the mysterious voices of the night around us,
it all comes home. We seem to be drifting into unknown places and
unknown ways. Into a whole world of dark and dreadful things.
Godalming is shutting the furnace door