hall carry on purpose, and away we go! I am sorry it must be so
uncomfortable for you both, but there is no other way. When we get well
clear of the Tower, I shall take you both up on the platform. If
necessary, I shall descend to do it--and then we shall steer for Ilsin."

"When all is safe, our men will attack the Tower. We must let them do
it, for they expect it. A few men in the clothes and arms which we took
from your captors will be pursued by some of ours. It is all arranged.
They will ask the Turks to admit them, and if the latter have not learned
of your father's escape, perhaps they will do so. Once in, our men will
try to open the gate. The chances are against them, poor fellows! but
they are all volunteers, and will die fighting. If they win out, great
glory will be theirs."

"The moon does not rise to-night till just before midnight, so we have
plenty of time. We shall start from here at ten. If all be well, I
shall place you in the Tower with your father in less than a quarter-hour
from that. A few minutes will suffice to clothe him in bullet-proof and
get on his belt. I shall not be away from the Tower more than a very few
minutes, and, please God, long before eleven we shall be safe. Then the
Tower can be won in an attack by our mountaineers. Perhaps, when the
guns are heard on the ship of war--for there is sure to be firing--the
Captain may try to land a shore party. But Rooke will stand in the way,
and if I know the man and _The Lady_, we shall not be troubled with many
Turks to-night. By midnight you and your father can be on the way to
Vissarion. I can interview the naval Captain in the morning."

My wife's marvellous courage and self-possession stood to her. At half
an hour before the time fixed she was ready for our adventure. She had
improved the scheme in one detail. She had put on her own belt and
coiled the rope round her waist, so the only delay would be in bringing
her father's belt. She would keep the bullet-proof dress intended to be
his strapped in a packet on her back, so that if occasion should be
favourable he would not want to put it on till he and she should have
reached the platform of the aeroplane. In such case, I should not steer
away from the Tower at all, but would pass slowly across it and take up
the captive and his brave daughter before leaving. I had learned from
local sources that the Tower was in several stories. Entrance was by the
foot, where th