take shall be at your own peril and that of your
National Council. Moreover, I have reason to believe that my men who
were sent ashore on special service have been beleaguered in a tower
which can be seen from the ship. Before dawn this morning firing was
heard from that direction, from which I gather that attack was made on
them. They, being only a small party, may have been murdered. If such
be so, I tell you that you and your miserable little nation, as you call
it, shall pay such blood-money as you never thought of. I am responsible
for this, and, by Allah! there shall be a great revenge. You have not in
all your navy--if navy you have at all--power to cope with even one ship
like this, which is but one of many. My guns shall be trained on Ilsin,
to which end I have come inshore. You and your companions have free
conduct back to port; such is due to the white flag which you fly.
Fifteen minutes will bring you back whence you came. Go! And remember
that whatever you may do amongst your mountain defiles, at sea you cannot
even defend yourselves."

GOSPODAR (_slowly and in a ringing voice_). "The Land of the Blue
Mountains has its own defences on sea and land. Its people know how to
defend themselves."

CAPTAIN (_taking out his watch_). "It is now close on five bells. At
the first stroke of six bells our guns shall open fire."

GOSPODAR (_calmly_). "It is my last duty to warn you, sir--and to warn
all on this ship--that much may happen before even the first stroke of
six bells. Be warned in time, and give over this piratical attack, the
very threat of which may be the cause of much bloodshed."

CAPTAIN (_violently_). "Do you dare to threaten me, and, moreover, my
ship's company? We are one, I tell you, in this ship; and the last man
shall perish like the first ere this enterprise fail. Go!"

With a bow, the Gospodar turned and went down the ladder, we following
him. In a couple of minutes the yacht was on her way to the port.

FROM RUPERT'S JOURNAL.

_July_ 10, 1907.

When we turned shoreward after my stormy interview with the pirate
Captain--I can call him nothing else at present, Rooke gave orders to a
quartermaster on the bridge, and _The Lady_ began to make to a little
northward of Ilsin port. Rooke himself went aft to the wheel-house,
taking several men with him.

When we were quite near the rocks--the water is so deep he