A second enlarged the angle, and without further ado we slid away
into the darkness. Then, ascending as we went, when the engine began
to work at its strength, we turned, and presently made straight for
Ilsin.

The journey was short--not many minutes. It almost seemed as if no
time whatever had elapsed till we saw below us the gleam of lights,
and by them saw a great body of men gathered in military array. We
slackened and descended. The crowd kept deathly silence, but when we
were amongst them we needed no telling that it was not due to lack of
heart or absence of joy. The pressure of their hands as they
surrounded us, and the devotion with which they kissed the hands and
feet of both the Voivode and his daughter, were evidence enough for
me, even had I not had my own share of their grateful rejoicing.

In the midst of it all the low, stern voice of Rooke, who had burst a
way to the front beside the Vladika, said:

"Now is the time to attack the Tower. Forward, brothers, but in
silence. Let there not be a sound till you are near the gate; then
play your little comedy of the escaping marauders. And 'twill be no
comedy for them in the Tower. The yacht is all ready for the
morning, Mr. Sent Leger, in case I do not come out of the scrimmage
if the bluejackets arrive. In such case you will have to handle her
yourself. God keep you, my Lady; and you, too, Voivode! Forward!"

In a ghostly silence the grim little army moved forwards. Rooke and
the men with him disappeared into the darkness in the direction of
the harbour of Ilsin.