Phroso

g emotion, and I was much surprised at the reluctance with which she bade me good-bye. So far, however, was she from reproaching me th

she at once pooh-poohed the notion, declaring that I should be better out of the way for a few months. Beatrice did not resist her mother's conclusion; but when we were alone again, she became very agitated, begging me always to think well of her, and asking if I were really attached to her. I did not understand this mood, which was very unlike her ordinary manner; but I responded with a hearty and warm avowal of confidence in her; and I met her questions as to my own feelings by pledging my word very solemnly that absence should, so far as I was concerned, make no difference, and that she might rely implicitly on my faithful affection. This assurance seemed to give her very little comfort, although I repeated it more than once; and when I left her,

a. I was rather surprised to find no letter for me from the old lord, but I had no thought of waiting for a formal invitation, and pressed on the hour of departure as much as I could. Here, also, I saw the first of my new subjects, Hogvardt having engaged a couple of men who had come to him saying that they were from Neopalia and were anxious to work their passage back. I was delighted to have them, and fell at once to studying them with immense attention. They were fine, tall, capable-looking fellows, and the two, with ourselves, made a crew more than large enough for our little boat; for both Denny and I could make ourselves useful on board, and Hogvardt could do something of everything on land or water, while Watkins acted as cook and steward. The Neopalians were, as they stated in answer to my questions, brothers; their names were Spiro and Demetri, and they informed us that their family had serve

expected ther

metri, and it seemed to me that he threw an inq

or men know of the Lor

where he is n

nswered together, and

eculiar in their manner, but when I mention

again,' he said scornfully. '

he brothers were embarrassed at my questions. Moreover I caught Spiro, the more truculent-l

was Neopalia. Day came bright and glorious, and as we drew nearer to our enchanted isle we distinguished its features and conformation. The coast was rocky save where a small harbour opened to the sea, and the rocks ran up from the coast, rising higher and higher till they culminated in

xultation, pointing with my finger. It w

nny, throwing up h

ear and met this ebull

l find the house co

rtable,' said Hogvardt; 'I d

fellow with a surly frown. The inference we were me

ll cries, and a hundred fingers were pointed at us. We landed; nobody came forward to greet us. I looked round, but saw no one who could be the old lord; but I perceived a stout man who wore an air of importance, and walking up to him I asked him very politely if he would be so good as to direct me to the inn; for I had discovered from D

lifted his tasselled cap a few i

the way to the i

to visit Neop

ered round us now, and all

purchaser of the island, you kno

ect silence reigne

well together,' I said,

stared. But presently the stout man, altogeth

. Come. I will

ple making a lane for us and still regarding us with stony st

described as an ov

es!' mutter

Watkins, more in sorrow than in anger. Watkins had v

d ahead; I quickened my

eem very pleased to

in, and he led us upstairs to a large room. It overlooked the street, but, somewhat to my surprise,

our houses, my friend,'

what we have, in

s some time in coming, and we stood at the window, peering through our prison bars. Our high spirits

have got two hundred years ago,' I said with a

all, discussing whether I ought to visit the lord, or whether, seeing that he had not come to receive me, my

said Denny, jumping up. 'I wonder

w, while Watkins was busy overhauling our luggage. We had brought light bags, the rods, guns, and other smalle

r sleep on bo

he island now we've g

lord,' said Wat

om Hogvardt, and I jo

rangue. Sometimes he pointed towards us, oftener along the ascending road that led to the interior. I could not hear a word he said, but presently all his auditors raised their hands towards heaven. I saw that some of the hands held guns, some clubs, some knives; and all the men cried with furious energy, 'Nai, Nai. Yes, yes!' Then th

again save for groups of white-clothed women, who talked eagerly to one another,

ny; 'or perhaps they've repented of their rude

ironical, did not assist the matter

ike to investigate the thing.

ut on our hats, took sticks, and prepar

my money on revolvers-?' said I, w

ink, rather ashamed of our timidity, but the Neopalians certainly looked rough customers. Leading the way

enny, and he be

, which he always had handy, an

e struck it with his fist. Then he crossed to the window and looked at the b

must have bolted us in. The bars made the window no use. A skilled burglar might have beaten those

said Denny, 'nicely caug

uth, I was wondering whether Neopalia was going to turn out as conservative a cou

always called the Neopalians 'natives') 'have gone to spe

'I hope it'll be a

sumed an anxious look. He knew something a

is it?' I

gain, except Denny, who wasted some energy and made a useless di

uresque fellows, with their white kilts gleaming through the darkness, came again into sight, seeming wilder and more imposing in the alternating glare and gloom of the torches and the deepening night. The man in tweeds was no longer visible. Our innkeeper was alone in front. And all, as they marched, sang loudly a rude barbarous sort of chant, repeating it again and again; wh

is the

to t

lches t

s that

is th

er we

he that

is th

s the

ds, until at last they stopped opposite the inn w

enny, drawing a long breath.

ld the idea seemed absurd, preposterous, horrible. But there was no law nearer than Rhodes, and there only Turk's law. The sole law here was the law of the Stefanopouloi, and if

laying a hand on my shoulder, 'any h

lso filled our pockets with cartridges. I was determined-I think we were all dete

hen there came a knock at the

,' said I, spri

and the face of

again at his best speed. Following him we came to the door of the inn. It was ringed round with men, and directly opposite to us

you depart in peace. Go, then, to your bo

said I; 'where is the

ied a week ago?' asked Vlac

exclaimed o

uphrosyne, Lady of Ne

id he d

of the men round him nodded their heads and mur

died, I don't see what the lady, with all respect to her, has got to do with

wn away. Vlacho seemed not to hear what I said.

found in Neopalia one minute after, you will never go. Think and be wise.' And he and all the rest, as though one spring moved the whole body, wheeled round and marched off

ker now that the gleaming torches were gone. Not a soul was to be seen. The islanders, having put matters on a sa

ve in, Charl

I, 'I wish you were at

eated, 'Going to

leaping up. 'They've had my money

selled Hogvardt, 'and come back

s nonsense. We four could not conqu

ht have a look round before we go. I want to see the place, you k

gain, left the inn, and struck straight up the road. We met nobody. For nearly a mile we mou

aid Hogvardt, who had studied th

he house. Show us a light, H

nto the rocks that edged the road. We saw coming towards us, in the darkness, two figures. They rode small horses. Th

they w

. At the sound of it I started. For it was the voice of m

in the town,' said the girl's voice

nstantine answer, in tones that witnessed no great horror

ment. For I was angry now, angry at the utt

re decorated with medi?val armour and weapons. The windows were but narrow slits, the walls massive and deep. The door was a ponderous iron-bound affair; it shamed even the stout doors of our inn. I called loudly, 'Is anyone here?' Nobody answered. The servants must have been drawn off to the town by the excit

y hands against the massive door, and closed and bolted it,

g down from his table, on fir

by with his usual imperturbability. He wanted to know what his lor

ship will sleep

kins,' said I. 'I'm not going to be d

someone in pain. Watkins shuddered, Hogvardt looked rather uncomfortable; Denny and I listened eagerly. Again the groan came. I seized the lantern from Hogvardt's hand, and rushed in the direction of the sound. There, in the corner of

of that fever