who have entered the Blue Mountains, from sea or otherwise, shall never
get out by sea! I take it that we of my contingent shall cover the
attacking party. It will be a sorry time for us all if that happens
without our seeing you and the Voivodin; for in such case we shall
understand the worst!" Iron as he was, the man trembled.

"That is so, Rooke," I said. "We are taking a desperate chance, we know.
But the case is desperate! But we all have our duty to do, whatever
happens. Ours and yours is stern; but when we have done it, the result
will be that life will be easier for others--for those that are left."

Before he left, I asked him to send up to me three suits of the Masterman
bullet-proof clothes of which we had a supply on the yacht.

"Two are for the Voivodin and myself," I said; "the third is for the
Voivode to put on. The Voivodin will take it with her when she descends
from the aeroplane into the Tower."

Whilst any daylight was left I went out to survey the ground. My wife
wanted to come with me, but I would not let her. "No," said I; "you will
have at the best a fearful tax on your strength and your nerves. You
will want to be as fresh as is possible when you get on the aeroplane."
Like a good wife, she obeyed, and lay down to rest in the little tent
provided for her.

I took with me a local man who knew the ground, and who was trusted to be
silent. We made a long detour when we had got as near the Silent Tower
as we could without being noticed. I made notes from my compass as to
directions, and took good notice of anything that could possibly serve as
a landmark. By the time we got home I was pretty well satisfied that if
all should go well I could easily sail over the Tower in the dark. Then
I had a talk with my wife, and gave her full instructions:

"When we arrive over the Tower," I said, "I shall lower you with a long
rope. You will have a parcel of food and spirit for your father in case
he is fatigued or faint; and, of course, the bullet-proof suit, which he
must put on at once. You will also have a short rope with a belt at
either end--one for your father, the other for you. When I turn the
aeroplane and come back again, you will have ready the ring which lies
midway between the belts. This you will catch into the hook at the end
of the lowered rope. When all is secure, and I have pulled you both up
by the windlass so as to clear the top, I shall throw out ballast which
we s