diplomacy--whichever it may
be called--statecraft, and war, had reason to be surprised. I certainly
thought that when I locked myself into my room in the hotel at Ilsin that
I would have at last a spell, however short, of quiet. All the time of
my prolonged negotiations with the various nationalities I had to be at
tension; so, too, on my homeward journey, lest something at the last
moment should happen adversely to my mission. But when I was safe on my
own Land of the Blue Mountains, and laid my head on my pillow, where only
friends could be around me, I thought I might forget care.

But to wake with a rude hand over my mouth, and to feel myself grasped
tight by so many hands that I could not move a limb, was a dreadful
shock. All after that was like a dreadful dream. I was rolled in a
great rug so tightly that I could hardly breathe, let alone cry out.
Lifted by many hands through the window, which I could hear was softly
opened and shut for the purpose, and carried to a boat. Again lifted
into some sort of litter, on which I was borne a long distance, but with
considerable rapidity. Again lifted out and dragged through a doorway
opened on purpose--I could hear the clang as it was shut behind me. Then
the rug was removed, and I found myself, still in my night-gear, in the
midst of a ring of men. There were two score of them, all Turks, all
strong-looking, resolute men, armed to the teeth. My clothes, which had
been taken from my room, were thrown down beside me, and I was told to
dress. As the Turks were going from the room--shaped like a vault--where
we then were, the last of them, who seemed to be some sort of officer,
said:

"If you cry out or make any noise whatever whilst you are in this Tower,
you shall die before your time!" Presently some food and water were
brought me, and a couple of blankets. I wrapped myself up and slept till
early in the morning. Breakfast was brought, and the same men filed in.
In the presence of them all the same officer said:

"I have given instructions that if you make any noise or betray your
presence to anyone outside this Tower, the nearest man is to restore you
to immediate quiet with his yataghan. It you promise me that you will
remain quiet whilst you are within the Tower, I can enlarge your
liberties somewhat. Do you promise?" I promised as he wished; there was
no need to make necessary any stricter measure of confinement. Any
chance of escape lay in having