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