| For if they did not, our little expedition could not start, either so promptly or so well equipped, as it will within another hourIt is not three hours since it was arranged what part each of us was to doAnd now Lord Godalming and Jonathan have a lovely steam launch, with steam up ready to start at a moment's noticeMorris have half a dozen good horses, well appointedWe have all the maps and appliances of various kinds that can be hadProfessor 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 PassWe are bringing a good deal of ready money, as we are to buy a carriage and horsesWe shall drive ourselves, for we have no one whom we can trust in the matterThe Professor knows something of a great many languages, so we shall get on all rightWe have all got arms, even for me a large bore revolverJonathan would not be happy unless I was armed like the restAlas! I cannot carry one arm that the rest do, the scar on my forehead forbids thatVan Helsing comforts me by telling me that I am fully armed as there may be wolvesThe weather is getting colder every hour, and there are snow flurries which come and go as warnings-It took all my courage to say goodbye to my darlingWe may never meet againCourage, Mina! The Professor is looking at you keenlyHis look is a warningThere 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 launchLord Godalming is firing upHe 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 BroadsRegarding 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 oneWe took it, that somewhere about the 47th degree, north latitude, would be the place chosen for crossing the country between the river and the CarpathiansWe have no fear in running at good speed up the river at nightThere is plenty of water, and the banks are wide enough apart to make steaming, even in the dark, easy enoughLord Godalming tells me to sleep for a while, as it is enough for the present for one to be on watchBut 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 GodOnly for that faith it would be easier to die than to live, and so be quit of all the troubleSeward were off on their long ride before we startedThey 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 curvesThey have, for the first stages, two men to ride and lead their spare horses, four in all, so as not to excite curiosityWhen they dismiss the men, which shall be shortly, they shall themselves look after the horsesIt may be necessary for us to join forcesIf so they can mount our whole partyOne of the saddles has a moveable horn, and can be easily adapted for Mina, if required
It is a wild adventure we are onHere, 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 homeWe seem to be drifting into unknown places and unknown shop ways |
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