report to the seat of government, continued their inquiries, and even
now all available hands were at work on the investigation. When I
had signalled to Vissarion, before my arrival there, word had been
sent through the priesthood to enlist in the investigation the
services of all good men, so that every foot of ground in that
section of the Blue Mountains was being investigated. The port-
master was assured by his watchmen that no vessel, large or small,
had heft the harbour during the night. The inference, therefore, was
that the Voivode's captors had made inland with him--if, indeed, they
were not already secreted in or near the town.

Whilst we were receiving the various reports, a hurried message came
that it was now believed that the whole party were in the Silent
Tower. This was a well-chosen place for such an enterprise. It was
a massive tower of immense strength, built as a memorial--and also as
a "keep"--after one of the massacres of the invading Turks.

It stood on the summit of a rocky knoll some ten miles inland from
the Port of Ilsin. It was a place shunned as a rule, and the country
all around it was so arid and desolate that there were no residents
near it. As it was kept for state use, and might be serviceable in
time of war, it was closed with massive iron doors, which were kept
locked except upon certain occasions. The keys were at the seat of
government at Plazac. If, therefore, it had been possible to the
Turkish marauders to gain entrance and exit, it might be a difficult
as well as a dangerous task to try to cut the Voivode out. His
presence with them was a dangerous menace to any force attacking
them, for they would hold his life as a threat.

I consulted with the Vladika at once as to what was best to be done.