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 endeavor, 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
his 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 acqueisced.
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 jump or fly on shore,
then, unless he be carried he
cannot escape. And if he be carried,
then the customs men may discover
what the box contain. Thus, in
fine, if he escape not on shore
tonight, 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 tonight.
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
agonized 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
honor 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 them to show
us 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 harbor. 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 favorable a run.
"Man!" he said, "but
it made us afeard, for we expect
it 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' til 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 them 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
again the big 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 lookout 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 althegither. 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 sunup,
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'
gla d 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 dealt
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 parterage. That was all
he knew.
We then sought for Skinsky,
but were unable to find him.
One of his neighbors, 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 he must 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 realize
exactly what he has done as yet.
We may, then, get a light on
what his 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 ot 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 favoring 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 to
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 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 this 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
reincarnate."
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 . . . 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 find 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 deathtrap?
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
ever 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
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 that which I am giving, possibly
my life? If it, were that any
one 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 basely used.
I felt so thankful that Lord
Godalming is rich, and 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
tonight 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 goodby 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
30 October, 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
another 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
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 moveable
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 over-hauled
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 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
the mountains into this river,
but as none of them are very
large, at present, at all events,
though they are doubtless terrible
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 Novenber.--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 Novenber.--Today we heard
of the launch having been detained
by an accident when trying to
force a way up the rapids. 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 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 hypnotize 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 color 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 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 honored
him more than I can say, and
that my latest and truest thought
will be always for him. |