DRACULA
Bram
Stoker
CHAPTER
XXVI.
DR.
SEWARD'S DIARY.
29 October.- This is written in the train from Varna to Galatz.
Last night we all assembled a little before the time of sunset. Each
of us had done his work as well as he could; so far as thought, and
endeavour, and opportunity go, we are prepared for the whole of our
journey, and for our work when we get to Galatz. When the usual time
came round Mrs. Harker prepared herself for her hypnotic effort; and
after a longer and more serious effort on the part of Van Helsing than
has been usually necessary, she sank into the trance. Usually she
speaks on a hint; but this time the Professor had to ask her
questions, and to ask them pretty resolutely, before we could learn
anything; at last her answer came:-
"I can see nothing; we are still; there are no waves
lapping, but only a steady swirl of water softly running against the
hawser. I can hear men's voices calling, near and far, and the roll
and creak of oars in the rowlocks. A gun is fired somewhere; the echo
of it seems far away. There is tramping of feet overhead, and ropes
and chains are dragged along. What is this? There is a gleam of light;
I can feel the air blowing upon me."
Here she stopped. She had risen, as if impulsively, from where
she lay on the sofa, and raised both her hands, palms upwards, as if
lifting a weight. Van Helsing and I looked at each other with
understanding. Quincey raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at her
intently, whilst Harker's hand instinctively closed round the hilt of
his Kukri. There was a long pause. We all knew that the time when she
could speak was passing; but we felt that it was useless to say
anything. Suddenly she sat up, and, as she opened her eyes, said
sweetly:-
"Would none of you like a cup of tea? You must all be so
tired!" We could only make her happy, and so acquiesced. She
bustled off to get tea; when she had gone Van Helsing said:-
"You see, my friends. He is close to land: he has left his
earth-chest. But he has yet to get on shore. In the night he may lie
hidden somewhere; but if he be not carried on shore, or if the ship do
not touch it, he cannot achieve the land. In such case he can, if it
be in the night, change his form and can jump or fly on shore, as he
did at Whitby. But if the day come before he get on shore, then,
unless he be carried he cannot escape. And if he be carried, then the
customs men may discover what the box contains. Thus, in fine, if he
escape not on shore to-night, or before dawn, there will be the whole
day lost to him. We may then arrive in time; for if he escape not at
night we shall come on him in daytime, boxed up and at our mercy; for
he dare not be his true self, awake and visible, lest he be
discovered."
There was no more to be said, so we waited in patience until
the dawn; at which time we might learn more from Mrs. Harker.
Early this morning we listened, with breathless anxiety, for
her response in her trance. The hypnotic stage was even longer in
coming than before; and when it came the time remaining until full
sunrise was so short that we began to despair. Van Helsing seemed to
throw his whole soul into the effort; at last, in obedience to his
will she made reply:-
"All is dark. I hear lapping water, level with me, and
some creaking as of wood on wood." She paused, and the red sun
shot up. We must wait till to-night.
And so it is that we are travelling towards Galatz in an agony
of expectation. We are due to arrive between two and three in the
morning; but already, at Bucharest, we are three hours late, so we
cannot possibly get in till well after sunup. Thus we shall have two
more hypnotic messages from Mrs. Harker, either or both may possibly
throw more light on what is happening.
Later.- Sunset has come and gone. Fortunately it came at a time
when there was no distraction; for had it occurred whilst we were at a
station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation.
Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily
than this morning. I am in fear that her power of reading the Count's
sensations may die away just when we want it most. It seems to me that
her imagination is beginning to work. Whilst she has been in the
trance hitherto she has confined herself to the simplest of facts. If
this goes on it may ultimately mislead us. If I thought that the
Count's power over her would die away equally with her power of
knowledge it would be a happy thought; but I am afraid that it may not
be so. When she did speak, her words were enigmatical:-
"Something is going out; I can feel it pass me like a cold
wind. I can hear, far off, confused sounds- as of men talking in
strange tongues, fierce- falling water, and the howling of
wolves." She stopped and a shudder ran through her, increasing in
intensity for a few seconds, till, at the end, she shook as though in
a palsy. She said no more, even in answer to the Professor's
imperative questioning. When she woke from the trance, she was cold,
and exhausted, and languid; but her mind was all alert. She could not
remember anything, but asked what she had said; when she was told, she
pondered over it deeply, for a long time and in silence.
30 October, 7 a.m.- We are near Galatz now, and I may not have
time to write later. Sunrise this morning was anxiously looked for by
us all. Knowing of the increasing difficulty of procuring the hypnotic
trance, Van Helsing began his passes earlier than usual. They produced
no effect, however, until the regular time, when she yielded with a
still greater difficulty, only a minute before the sun rose. The
Professor lost no time in his questioning; her answer came with equal
quickness:-
"All is dark. I hear water swirling by, level with my
ears, and the creaking of wood on wood. Cattle low far off. There is
another sound, a queer one like-" she stopped and grew white, and
whiter still.
"Go on; go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van
Helsing in an agonised voice. At the same time there was despair in
his eyes, for the risen sun was reddening even Mrs. Harker's pale
face. She opened her eyes, and we all started as she said, sweetly and
seemingly with the utmost unconcern:-
"Oh, Professor, why ask me to do what you know I can't? I
don't remember anything." Then, seeing the look of amazement on
our faces, she said, turning from one to the other with a troubled
look:-
"What have I said? What have I done? I know nothing, only
that I was lying here, half asleep, and heard you say 'go on! speak, I
command you!' it seemed so funny to hear you order me about, as if I
were a bad child!"
"Oh, Madam Mina," he said, sadly, "it is proof,
if proof be needed, of how I love and honour you, when a word for your
good, spoken more earnest than ever, can seem so strange because it is
to order her whom I am proud to obey!"
The whistles are sounding; we are nearing Galatz. We are on
fire with anxiety and eagerness.
Mina Harker's Journal.
30 October.- Mr. Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms
had been ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be
spared, since he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were
distributed much as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming
went to the Vice-Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate
guarantee of some sort to the official, we being in extreme hurry.
Jonathan and the two doctors went to the shipping agent to learn
particulars of the arrival of the Czarina Catherine.
Later.- Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and
the Vice-Consul sick; so the routine work has been attended to by a
clerk. He was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his
power.
Jonathan
Harker's Journal.
30 October.- At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and I
called on Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London
firm of Hapgood. They had received a wire from London, in answer to
Lord Godalming's telegraphed request, asking us to show them any
civility in their power. They were more than kind and courteous, and
took us at once on board the Czarina Catherine, which lay at anchor
out in the river harbour. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name,
who told us of his voyage. He said that in all his life he had never
had so favourable a run.
"Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we
expeckit that we should have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill
luck, so as to keep up the average. It's no canny to run frae London
to the Black Sea wi' a wind ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were
blawin' on yer sail for his ain purpose An' a' the time we could no
speer a thing. Gin we were nigh a ship, or a port, or a headland, a
fog fell on us and travelled wi' us, till when after it had lifted and
we looked out, the deil a thing could we see. We ran by Gibraltar
wi'oot bein' able to signal; an'till we came to the Dardanelles and
had to wait to get our permit to pass, we never were within hail o'
aught. At first I inclined to slack off sail and beat about till the
fog was lifted; but whiles, I thocht that if the Deil was minded to
get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it whether we would
or no. If we had a quick voyage it would be no to our miscredit wi'
the owners, or no hurt to our traffic; an' the Old Mon who had served
his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no hinderin'
him." This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition and
commercial reasoning, aroused Van Helsing, who said:-
"Mine friend, that Devil is more clever than he is thought
by some; and he know when he meet his match!" The skipper was not
displeased with the compliment, and went on:-
"When we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble;
some o' them, the Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a
big box which had been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just
before we had started frae London. I had seen them speer at the
fellow, and put out their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard
against the evil eye. Man! but the supersteetion of foreigners is
pairfectly rideeculous! I sent them aboot their business pretty quick;
but as just after a fog closed in on us, I felt a wee bit as they did
anent something, though I wouldn't say it was agin the bit box. Well,
on we went, and as the fog didn't let up for five days I joost let the
wind carry us; for if the Deil wanted to get somewheres- well, he
would fetch it up a'reet. An' if he didn't, well, we'd keep a sharp
look out anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way and deep water all the
time; and two days ago, when the mornin' sun came through the fog, we
found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz. The Roumanians were
wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the box and fling it in
the river. I had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a handspike; an' when
the last o' them rose off the deck, wi' his head in his hand, I had
convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the property and the
trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the river Danube.
They had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to fling in, and as
it was marked Galatz via Varna, I thocht I'd let it lie till we
discharged in the port an' get rid o't athegither. We didn't do much
clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchor, but in the
mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sun-up, a man came aboard wi'
an order, written to him from England, to receive a box marked for one
Count Dracula. Sure eneuch the matter was one ready to his hand. He
had his papers a' reet, an' glad I was to be rid o' the dam thing, for
I was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it.
If the Deil did have any luggage aboord the ship, I'm thinkin'
it was nane ither than that same!"
"What was the name of the man who took it?" asked Dr.
Van Helsing with restrained eagerness.
"I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and,
stepping down to his cabin, produced a receipt signed "Immanuel
Hildesheim." Burgen-strasse 16 was the address. We found out that
this was all the Captain knew; so with thanks we came away.
We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the
Adelphi Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fez. His
arguments were pointed with specie- we doing the punctuation- and with
a little bargaining he told us what he knew. This turned out to be
simple but important. He had received a letter from Mr. de Ville of
London, telling him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to
avoid customs, a box which would arrive at Galatz in the Czarina
Catherine. This he was to give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky,
who dealth with the Slovaks who traded down the river to the port. He
had been paid for his work by an English bank note, which had been
duly cashed for gold at the Danube international Bank. When Skinsky
had come to him, he had taken him to the ship and handed over the box,
so as to save porterage. That was all he knew.
We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find him. One of
his neighbours, who did not seem to bear him any affection, said that
he had gone away two days before, no one knew whither. This was
corroborated by his landlord, who had received by messenger the key of
the house together with the rent due, in English money. This had been
between ten and eleven o'clock last night. We were at a standstill
again.
Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped
out that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the
churchyard of St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if
by some wild animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see
the horror, the women crying out "This is the work of a
Slovak!" We hurried away lest we should have been in some way
drawn into the affair, and so detained.
As we came home we could arrive at no definite conclusion. We
were all convinced that the box was on its way, by water, to
somewhere; but where that might be we would have to discover. With
heavy hearts we came home to the hotel to Mina.
When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to
taking Mina again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate,
and it is at least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary
step, I was released from my promise to her.
Mina Harker's Journal.
30 October, evening.- They were so tired and worn out and
dispirited that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest;
so I asked them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I should enter
everything up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the man who
invented the "Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr. Morris for
getting this one for me. I should have felt quite astray doing the
work if I had to write with a pen...
It is all done; poor dear, dear Jonathan, what he must have
suffered, what must he be suffering now. He lies on the sofa hardly
seeming to breathe, and his whole body appears in collapse. His brows
are knit; his face is drawn with pain. Poor fellow, maybe he is
thinking, and I can see his face all wrinkled up with the
concentration of his thoughts. Oh! if I could only help at all... I
shall do what I can.
I have asked Dr. Van Helsing, and he has got me all the papers
that I have not yet seen... Whilst they are resting, I shall go over
all carefully, and perhaps I may arrive at some conclusion. I shall
try to follow the Professor's example, and think without prejudice on
the facts before me...
I do believe that under God's providence I have made a
discovery. I shall get the maps and look over them...
I am more than ever sure that I am right. My new conclusion is
ready, so I shall get our party together and read it. They can judge
it; it is well to be accurate, and every minute is precious.
Mina Harker's Memorandum.
(Entered in her Journal.)
Ground of inquiry.- Count Dracula's problem is to get back to
his own place.
(a) He must be brought back by some one. This is evident; for
had he power to move himself as he wished he could go either as man,
or wolf, or bat, or in some other way. He evidently fears discovery or
interference, in the state of helplessness in which he must be
confined as he is between dawn and sunset in his wooden box.
(b) How is he to be taken?- Here a process of exclusions may
help us. By road, by rail, by water?
1. By Road.- There are endless difficulties, especially in
leaving the city.
(x) There are people; and people are curious, and investigate.
A hint, a surmise, a doubt as to what might be in the box, would
destroy him.
(y) There are, or there may be, customs and octroi officers to
pass.
(z) His pursuers might follow. This is his highest fear; and in
order to prevent his being betrayed he has repelled, so far as he can,
even his victim- me!
2. By Rail.- There is no one in charge of the box. It would
have to take its chance of being delayed; and delay would be fatal,
with enemies on the track. True, he might escape at night, but what
would he be, if left in a strange place with no refuge that he could
fly to. This is not what
he intends; and he does not mean to risk it.
3. By Water.- Here is the safest way, in one respect, but with
most danger in another. On the water he is powerless except at night;
even then he can only summon fog and storm and snow and his wolves.
But were he wrecked, the living water would engulf him, helpless; and
he would indeed be lost. He could have the vessel drive to land; but
if it were unfriendly land, wherein he was not free to move, his
position would still be desperate.
We know from the record that he was on the water, so what we
have to do is to ascertain what water.
The first thing is to realise exactly what he has done as yet;
we may, then, get a light on what his later task is to be.
Firstly.- We must differentiate between what he did in London
as part of his general plan of action, when he was pressed for moments
and had to arrange as best he could.
Secondly.- we must see, as well as we can surmise it from the
facts we know of, what he has done here.
As to the first, he evidently intended to arrive at Galatz, and
sent invoice to Varna to deceive us lest we should ascertain his means
of exit from England; his immediate and sole purpose then was to
escape. The proof of this, is the letter of instructions sent to
immanuel Hildesheim to clear and take away the box before sunrise.
There is also the instruction to Petrof Skinsky. These we must
only guess at; but there must have been some letter or message, since
Skinsky came to Hildesheim.
That, so far, his plans were successful we know. The Czarina
Catherine made a phenomenally quick journey- so much so that Captain
Donelson's suspicions were aroused; but his superstition united with
his canniness played the Count's game for him, and he ran with his
favouring wind through fogs and all till he brought up blindfold at
Galatz. That the Count's arrangements were well made, has been proved.
Hildesheim cleared the box, took it off, and gave it to Skinsky.
Skinsky took it- and here we lose the trail. We only know that
the box is somewhere on the water, moving along. The customs and the
octroi; if there be any, have been avoided.
Now we come to what the Count must have done after his arrival-
on land, at Galatz.
The box was given to Skinsky before sunrise. At sunrise the
Count could appear in his own form. Here, we ask why Skinsky was
chosen at all to aid in the work? In my husband's diary, Skinsky is
mentioned as dealing with the Slovaks who trade down the river to the
port; and the man's remark, that the murder was the work of a Slovak,
showed the general feeling against his class. The Count wanted
isolation.
My surmise is, this: that in London the Count decided to get
back to his castle by water, as the most safe and secret way. He was
brought from the castle by Szgany, and probably they delivered their
cargo to Slovaks who took the boxes to Varna, for there they were
shipped for London. Thus the Count had knowledge of the persons who
could arrange this service. When the box was on land, before sunrise
or after sunset, he came out from his box, met Skinsky and instructed
him what to do as to arranging the carriage of the box up some river.
When this was done, and he knew that all was in train, he blotted out
his traces, as he thought, by murdering his agent.
I have examined the map and find that the river most suitable
for the Slovaks to have ascended is either the Pruth or the Sereth. I
read in the typescript that in my trance I heard cows low and water
swirling level with my ears and the creaking of wood. The Count in his
box, then, was on a river in an open boat- propelled probably either
by oars or poles, for the banks are near and it is working against
stream. There would be no such sound if floating down stream.
Of course it may not be either the Sereth or the Pruth, but we
may possibly investigate further. Now of these two, the Pruth is the
more easily navigated, but the Sereth is, at Fundu, joined by the
Bistritza which runs up round the Borgo pass. The loop it makes is
manifestly as close to Dracula's castle as can be got by water.
Mina Harker's Journal- continued.
When I had done reading, Jonathan took me in his arms and
kissed me. The others kept shaking me by both hands, and Dr. Van
Helsing said:-
"Our dear Madam Mina is once more our teacher. Her eyes
have been where we were blinded. Now we are on the track once again,
and this time we may succeed. Our enemy is at his most helpless; and
if we can come on him by day, on the water, our task will be over. He
has a start, but he is powerless to hasten, as he may not leave his
box lest those who carry him may suspect; for them to suspect would be
to prompt them to throw him in the stream where he perish. This he
knows, and will not. Now men, to our Council of War, for, here and
now, we must plan what each and all shall do."
"I shall get a steam launch and follow him," said
Lord Godalming.
"And I, horses to follow on the bank lest by chance he
land," said Mr. Morris.
"Good!" said the Professor, "both good. But
neither must go alone. There must be force to overcome force if need
be; the Slovak is strong and rough, and he carries rude arms."
All the men smiled, for amongst them they carried a small arsenal.
Said Mr. Morris:-
"I have brought some Winchesters; they are pretty handy in
a crowd, and there may be wolves. The Count, if you remember, took
some other precautions; he made some requisitions on others that Mrs.
Harker could not quite hear or understand. We must be ready at all
points." Dr. Seward said:-
"I think I had better go with Quincey. We have been
accustomed to hunt together, and we two, well armed, will be a match
for whatever may come along. You must not be alone Art. It may be
necessary to fight the Slovaks, and a chance thrust- for I don't
suppose these fellows carry guns- would undo all our plans. There must
be no chances, this time; we shall not rest until the Count's head and
body have been separated, and we are sure that he cannot
re-incarnate." He looked at Jonathan as he spoke, and Jonathan
looked at me. I could see that the poor dear was torn about in his
mind. Of course he wanted to be with me; but then the boat service
would, most likely, be the one which would destroy the... the...
the... Vampire. (Why did I hesitate to write the word?) He was silent
awhile, and during his silence Dr. Van Helsing spoke:-
"Friend Jonathan, this is to you for twice reasons. First,
because you are young and brave and can fight, and all energies may be
needed at the last; and again that it is your right to destroy him-
that- which has wrought such woe to you and yours. Be not afraid for
Madam Mina; she will be my care, if I may. I am old. My legs are not
so quick to run as once; and I am not used to ride so long or to
pursue as need be, or to fight with lethal weapons. But I can be of
other service; I can fight in other way. And I can die, if need be, as
well as younger men. Now let me say that what I would is this: while
you, my Lord Godalming, and friend Jonathan go in your so swift little
steamboat up the river, and whilst John and Quincey guard the bank
where perchance he might be landed, I will take Madam Mina right into
the heart of the enemy's country. Whilst the old fox is tied in his
box, floating on the running stream whence he cannot escape to
land-where he dares not raise the lid of his coffin-box lest his
Slovak carriers should in fear leave him to perish- we shall go in the
track where Jonathan went,- from Bistritz over the Borgo, and find our
way to the Castle of Dracula. Here, Madam Mina's hypnotic power will
surely help, and we shall And our way- all dark and unknown otherwise-
after the first sunrise when we are near that fateful place. There is
much to be done, and other places to be made sanctify, so that that
nest of vipers be obliterated." Here Jonathan interrupted him
hotly:-
"Do you mean to say, Professor Van Helsing, that you would
bring Mina, in her sad case and tainted as she is with that devil's
illness, right into the jaws of his death-trap? Not for the world! Not
for Heaven or Hell!" He became almost speechless for a minute,
and then went on:-
"Do you know what the place is? Have you seen that awful
den of hellish infamy- with the very moonlight alive with grisly
shapes, and every speck of dust that whirls in the wind a devouring
monster in embryo? Have you felt the Vampire's lips upon your
throat?" Here he turned to me, and as his eyes lit on my
forehead, he threw up his arms with a cry: "Oh, my God, what have
we done to have this terror upon us!" and he sank down on the
sofa in a collapse of misery. The Professor's voice, as he spoke in
clear, sweet tones, which seemed to vibrate in the air, calmed us
all:-
"Oh my friend, it is because I would save Madam Mina from
that awful place that I would go. God forbid that I should take her
into that place. There is work- wild work- to be done there, that her
eyes may not see. We men here, all save Jonathan, have seen with their
own eyes what is to be done before that place can be purify. Remember
that we are in terrible straits. If the Count escape us this time- and
he is strong and subtle and cunning- he may choose to sleep him for a
century, and then in time our dear one"- he took my hand-
"would come to him to keep him company, and would be as those
others that you, Jonathan, saw. You have told us of their gloating
lips; you heard their ribald laugh as they clutched the moving bag
that the Count threw to them, You shudder, and well may it be. Forgive
me that I make you so much pain, but it is necessary. My friend, is it
not a dire need for the which I am giving, possibly my life? If it
were that anyone went into that place to stay, it is I who would have
to go, to keep them company."
"Do as you will;" said Jonathan with a sob that shook
him all over, "we are in the hands of God!"
Later.- "Oh, it did me good to see the way that these
brave men worked. How can women help loving men when they are so
earnest, and so true, and so brave! And, too, it made me think of the
wonderful power of money What can it not do when it is properly
applied; and what might it do when basely used. I felt so thankful
that Lord Godalming is rich, and that both he and Mr. Morris, who also
has plenty of money, are willing to spend it so freely. For if they
did not, our little expedition could not start, either so promptly or
so well equipped, as it will within another hour. It is not three
hours since it was arranged what part each of us was to do; and now
Lord Godalming and Jonathan have a lovely steam launch, with steam up
ready to start at a moment's notice. Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris have
half a dozen good horses, well appointed. We have all the maps and
appliances of various kinds that can be had. Professor Van Helsing and
I are to leave by the 11:40 train to-night for Veresti, where we are
to get a carriage to drive to the Borgo Pass. We are bringing a good
deal of ready money, as we are to buy a carriage and horses. We shall
drive ourselves, for we have no one whom we can trust in the matter.
The Professor knows something of a great many languages, so we shall
get on all right. We have all got arms, even for me a large-bore
revolver, Jonathan would not be happy unless I was armed like the
rest. Alas! I cannot
carry one arm that the rest do; the scar on my forehead forbids that.
Dear Dr. Van Helsing comforts me by telling me that I am fully armed
as there may be wolves; the weather is getting colder every hour, and
there are snow-flurries which come and go as warnings.
Later.- It took all my courage to say good-bye to my darling.
We may never meet again. Courage, Mina! the Professor is looking at
you keenly; his look is a warning. There must be no tears now- unless
it may be that God will let them fall in gladness.
Jonathan Harker's Journal.
October 30. Night.- I am writing this in the light from the
furnace door of the steam launch; Lord Godalming is firing up. He is
an experienced hand at the work, as he has had for years a launch of
his own on the Thames, and an other on the Norfolk Broads. Regarding
our plans, we finally decided that Mina's guess was correct, and that
if any waterway was chosen for the Count's escape back to his Castle,
the Sereth and then the Bistritza at its junction, would be the one.
We took it, that somewhere about the 47th degree, north latitude,
would be the place chosen for the crossing the country between the
river and the Carpathians. We have no fear in running at good speed up
the river at night; there is plenty of water, and the banks are wide
enough apart to make steaming, even in the dark, easy enough. Lord
Godalming tells me to sleep for a while, as it is enough for the
present for one to be on watch. But I cannot sleep- how can I with the
terrible danger hanging over my darling, and her going out into that
awful place... My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God.
Only for that faith it would be easier to die than to live, and so be
quit of all the trouble. Mr. Morris and Dr.
Seward were off on their long ride before we started; they are
to keep up the right bank, far enough off to get on higher lands where
they can see a good stretch of river and avoid the following of its
curves. They have, for
the first stages, two men to ride and lead their spare horses- four in
all, so as not to excite curiosity. When they dismiss the men, which
shall be shortly, they shall themselves look after the horses. It may
be necessary for us to join forces; if so they can mount our whole
party. One of the saddles has a movable horn, and can be easily
adapted for Mina, if required.
It is a wild adventure we are on. Here, as we are rushing along
through the darkness, with the cold from the river seeming to rise up
and strike us; with all the mysterious voices of the night around us,
it all comes home. We seem to be drifting into unknown places and
unknown ways; into a whole world of dark and dreadful things.
Godalming is shutting the furnace door...
31 October.- Still hurrying along. The day has come, and
Godalming is sleeping. I am on watch. The morning is bitterly cold;
the furnace heat is grateful, though we have heavy fur coats. As yet
we have passed only a few open boats, but none of them had on board
any box or package of anything like the size of the one we seek. The
men were scared every time we turned our electric lamp on them, and
fell on their knees and prayed.
1 November, evening.- No news all day; we have found nothing of
the kind we seek. We have now passed into the Bistritza; and if we are
wrong in our surmise our chance is gone. We have overhauled every
boat, big and little. Early this morning, one crew took us for a
Government boat, and treated us accordingly. We saw in this a way of
smoothing matters, so at Fundu, where the Bistritza runs into the
Sereth, we got a Roumanian flag which we now fly conspicuously. With
every boat which we have overhauled since then this trick has
succeeded; we have had every deference shown to us, and not once any
objection to whatever we chose to ask or do. Some of the Slovaks tell
us that a big boat passed them, going at more than usual speed as she
had a double crew on board. This was before they came to Fundu, so
they could not tell us whether the boat turned into the Bistritza or
continued on up the Sereth. At Fundu we could not hear of any such
boat, so she must have passed there in the night. I am feeling very
sleepy; the cold is perhaps beginning to tell upon me, and nature must
have rest some time. Godalming insists that he shall keep the first
watch. God bless him for all his goodness to poor dear Mina and me.
2 November, morning.- It is broad daylight. That good fellow
would not wake me. He says it would have been a sin to, for I slept so
peacefully and was forgetting my trouble. It seems brutally selfish to
me to have slept so long, and let him watch all night; but he was
quite right. I am a new man this morning; and, as I sit here and watch
him sleeping, I can do all that is necessary both as to minding the
engine, steering, and keeping watch. I can feel that my strength and
energy are coming back to me. I wonder where Mina is now, and Van
Helsing. They should have got to Veresti about noon on Wednesday. It
would take them some time to get the carriage and horses; so if they
had started and travelled hard, they would be about now at the Borgo
Pass. God guide and help them! I am afraid to think what may happen.
If we could only go faster! but we cannot; the engines are
throbbing and doing their utmost. I wonder how Dr. Seward and Mr.
Morris are getting on. There seem to be endless streams running down
from the mountains into this river, but as none of them are very
large- at present, at all events, though they are terrible doubtless
in winter and when the snow melts- the horsemen may not have met much
obstruction. I hope that before we get to Strasba we may see them; for
if by that time we have not overtaken the Count, it may be necessary
to take counsel together what to do next.
Dr. Seward's Diary.
2 November.- Three days on the road. No news, and no time to
write it if there had been, for every moment is precious. We have had
only the rest needful for the horses; but we are both bearing it
wonderfully. Those adventurous days of ours are turning up useful.
We must push on; we shall never feel happy till we get the
launch in sight again.
3 November.- We heard at Fundu that the launch had gone up the
Bistritza. I wish it wasn't so cold. There are signs of snow coming;
and if it falls heavy it will stop us. In such case we must get a
sledge and go on, Russian fashion.
4 November.- To-day we heard of the launch having been detained
by an accident when trying to force a way up the rapid. The Slovak
boats get up all right, by aid of a rope, and steering with knowledge.
Some went up only a few hours before. Godalming is an amateur
fitter himself, and evidently it was he who put the launch in trim
again. Finally, they got
up the Rapids all right, with local help, and are off on the chase
afresh. I fear that the boat is not any better for the accident; the
peasantry tell us that after she got upon the smooth water again, she
kept stopping every now and again so long as she was in sight. We must
push on harder than ever; our help may be wanted soon.
Mina Harker's Journal.
31 October.- Arrived at Veresti at noon. The Professor tells me
that this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotise me at all, and
that all I could say was: "dark and quiet." He is off now
buying a carriage and horses. He says that he will later on try to buy
additional horses, so that we may be able to change them on the way.
We have something more than 70 miles before us. The country is lovely,
and most interesting; if only we were under different conditions, how
delightful it would be to see it all. If Jonathan and I were driving
through it alone what a pleasure it would be. To stop and see people,
and learn something of their life, and to fill our minds and memories
with all the colour and picturesqueness of the whole wild, beautiful
country and the quaint people! But, alas!
Later.- Dr. Van Helsing has returned. He has got the carriage
and horses; we are to have some dinner, and to start in an hour. The
landlady is putting us up a huge basket of provisions; it seems enough
for a company of soldiers. The Professor encourages her, and whispers
to me that it may be a week before we can get any good food again. He
has been shopping too, and has sent home such a wonderful lot of fur
coats and wraps, and all sorts of warm things. There will not be any
chance of our being cold.
We shall soon be off. I am afraid to think what may happen to
us. We are truly in the hands of God. He alone knows what may be, and
I pray Him, with all the strength of my sad and humble soul, that He
will watch over my beloved husband; that whatever may happen, Jonathan
may know that I loved him and honoured him more than I can say, and
that my latest and truest thought will be always for him.
