Once more the beacons flared in a long, lurid line from the mountain-tops, rockets screamed into the night, and away from south of Solika came the heavy roll of guns plainly to be heard in the anxious city. Rumours were plentiful. The Turks were already streaming through the passes! A great battle was on hand! Solika had fallen! The streets and squares of Theos were filled with an excited and restless mob, mostly composed of old men, children, and women, with a sprinkling of foreigners. The outdoor cafÉs were filled, people stood about in little knots together, talking eagerly. Up at the railway station a constant stream of refugees waited patiently for trains to take them northwards.

There were no trams running, or carriages. The Government had subsidized the horses, and most of the men had gone to the front. All night long gangs of navvies in squads were working at the fortifications by searchlight. From all the country places stores were pouring in.

Towards morning the roar of distant artillery increased, and those who listened keenly fancied that they could hear the sharper rattle of Maxims and machine-guns. Trains began to crawl in from the front full of wounded. From them something of the truth was gathered. The King had made a forced march, himself had crossed the frontier, and fiercely attacked the Turkish army. So far all had gone well. The Turks were falling back, and had already lost two guns.

In the grey dawn Sara hastened to the hospital, which was already almost full. The regular nurses were out at the front, and their places were mostly taken by volunteers—the suggestion having come from Sara herself. Everywhere the news was being eagerly discussed. Solika was being turned into a military base. At Althea the position had been so strengthened as to be now impregnable. The King was the idol of his army, and the military fever burned fiercely.

At midday, news! A telegram from Solika announced that the King was returning across the frontier, having completely scattered the Turkish army, inflicted great loss upon them, and captured four guns. The Town Master caused a copy of the telegram to be posted in the market-place, and the bells of the Cathedral were rung. Later on it was whispered about that the victory had come very near being turned into total and irredeemable disaster. For the Thetians, chasing the flying Turks through a difficult country, were suddenly met by an unexpected rally, and stretching on both sides of them like a gigantic crescent was a great army of reinforcements. With great skill Ughtred had extricated his army, and regained the shelter of Solika. But the joy of their victory was damped. The enemy were in strength which seemed absolutely overwhelming.

Towards afternoon there came shouts from the railway station. Through the crowd, which gave him clear passage, cheering vigorously, Ughtred was driven towards the palace. He looked pale and dishevelled, and his uniform showed that he had not been an idle spectator of the fighting. He waved his hand affectionately to the crowd, but was clearly preoccupied. At the palace he sent for his State Secretary and Mr. Thexis, the leader of the Government party in the House of Laws. An informal Council meeting was summoned, and hastily attended by the leading members of the House.

An hour afterwards Sara was summoned from the midst of her work at the hospital by an urgent note. At the Villa she found Ughtred waiting for her.

“You,” she cried, softly. “How dare you fetch me away from my work?”

Then, as a clearer impression of his appearance came to her, standing in the white noonday sunshine, she became anxious.

“You are not hurt?” she cried. “Nothing has gone amiss?”

He tightened his clasp upon her hands.

“Hurt, no! I took too great care of myself. We have won our first battle, too, Sara. My men fought splendidly.”

She nodded.

“At the hospital,” she said, “even the badly wounded are full of enthusiasm. Tell me! You have more news, have you not?”

He nodded.

“We crossed the border in pursuit,” he said, “and we saw with our own eyes what the scouts who are coming in continually report. The whole of the Turkish army has been mobilized, and is being massed upon our borders. That is to say, two hundred thousand of the finest soldiers in the world are almost at our gates. All told, we number sixteen thousand.”

The tears stood in her eyes. She pressed his hands silently.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand these things,” she said, “but an unprovoked attack like this seems like a return to ancient history. It is barbarous. Can you not appeal to the Powers?”

“That I have done,” he answered, sadly, “but you must remember that this is the fruit of Russia’s intrigue. Turkey is only a catspaw. She holds France, of course, and the eternal policy of Germany is to keep friends with Russia. There is only England.”

“England,” she cried, hopefully. “Why you are half English yourself. England will surely interfere.”

“It is a great deal to ask,” he answered, seriously. “My friendship can be of little account to her, and it is asking her to risk a war for the sake of an abstract principle. Diplomatically, England would be very unwise to interfere. As a great and generous country I have appealed to her. But, Sara, I have little hope.”

“And if she does not?”

“If she does not I shall put the issue plainly before my people. If they prefer a glorious death to serfdom, I too, being of their mind, shall fight till this war becomes a massacre.”

She smiled at him bravely.

“Europe will never permit it, dear,” she said. “It would be too terrible. See, I have faith in your destiny—and my luck. I am not even afraid.”

The courtyard rang with the sound of hoofs. A messenger from the telegraph corps entered at the King’s summons.

“Your Majesty,” he announced, “I have to announce that an hour ago a trainload of Cossacks, numbering about five hundred, arrived at the frontier and demanded permission to continue their journey to Theos. Captain Operman, in accordance with your instructions, demanded their passport. They had none to give, but their colonel produced papers which contained their route to Theos for the protection of the Russian Embassy there. In further accordance with your Majesty’s instructions, Captain Operman then replied that Theos was in a perfectly peaceful state, and the Russian Embassy was amply protected by its flag from both belligerents. The colonel in command of the Cossacks replied that his orders were absolute to proceed to Theos, and he had no alternative but to obey them. Captain Operman replied that his orders too were absolute, and he could not permit an armed body of men to cross the frontier. In reply to this the Russians were ordered to at once entrain. Captain Operman once more protested, and announced, according to your Majesty’s instructions, that any further advance on the part of the Cossacks would constitute an invasion and be recognized as an act of war. There being no reply to this, your Majesty’s instructions were successfully carried out to the letter.”

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Ughtred asked.

“The whole of the rolling-stock available was blown up and the railway line destroyed beyond the possibility of immediate repair at a dozen places. I regret to add that several of the Cossacks were slightly injured by the explosion.”

“And is there any message from Captain Operman with reference to horses?” Ughtred asked.

“In this direction also,” the messenger replied, “your Majesty’s instructions have been carefully carried out. The country has been absolutely denuded of horses. It will be impossible for the Russians to obtain more than a dozen at the outside.”

“Captain Operman has carried out my instructions faithfully and well,” Ughtred replied.

The messenger bowed.

“I was further desired to report, your Majesty,” he added, “that word has just arrived that a series of explosions have occurred at different points along the line on the other side of the frontier. Captain Operman makes no report to your Majesty concerning these, but he desires me to say that their effect will be to retard all communication with Russia for several days at least.”

The King smiled.

“I am well served indeed,” he said. “What has become of the Cossacks?”

“They are quartered at the station buildings, your Majesty. There is no stock of provisions whatever in the vicinity, and in case they should attempt to march to Theos all the farms en route have been warned to remove their cattle and stores.”

“You will present my compliments and thanks to Captain Operman,” the King said, “and you will congratulate him on the success and spirit with which he has carried out my orders. Further, you will request him to report himself to me at headquarters at the earliest possible opportunity.”

The messenger bowed and withdrew. Ughtred rose and paced the room thoughtfully.

“I expected this move of Domiloff’s,” he said, looking towards Sara. “You see Theos itself is in a queer state. Every honest man who can bear arms is at the front. There remain in the city only a horde of Russian Jews, who I suspect have been drafted in a few at a time, and are only waiting a signal from Domiloff to begin rioting.”

He touched a bell.

“Let me speak to Mr. Ruttens,” he ordered. “He was in the ante-room a few minutes ago.”

“What are you going to do?” Sara asked.

“I am going to try and arrest Domiloff,” he answered. “I fear that it is quite useless, but an attempt must be made. There will be some mischief before long if he is left alone.”

Sara rose up and came to his side.

“There are other traitors in the city besides Domiloff,” she said, “if what they are saying is true.”

A deeper shadow fell upon the King’s face.

“You mean the Reists?”

“It is common report.”

“Nicholas of Reist has withdrawn his allegiance to me,” Ughtred said. “Yet I do not believe that he would be concerned in anything absolutely traitorous. As for the Countess—I fear that I have incurred her ill-will. She is friendly too, they say, with Domiloff. I cannot see though what mischief she can do. Ruttens,” he added, turning towards the door, “are there sufficient police left in Theos to effect the arrest of one man?”

Ruttens, grey-bearded, long since a pensioner, saluted the King respectfully.

“Your Majesty,” he answered, “it depends upon the man.”

“The man is Baron Domiloff!”

Ruttens shook his head.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “we can make the attempt. Yesterday it would have been possible enough. But last night half the veterans and weaklings who have been enrolled as special police deserted.”

“Deserted!” the King exclaimed, frowning.

Ruttens smiled.

“Deserted in order to make their way to the front, your Majesty. Old Kennestoff, who is eighty years old, got out his rifle and went, and a dozen more well nigh his age. I myself——”

He hesitated. The King’s face had cleared.

“You had my orders, Ruttens, and my special commission. A few good men we must have in Theos.”

“There are rascals enough, your Majesty,” Ruttens said, with grave face. “There are a good many aliens, too, whose presence here I cannot understand. They pay their way, and hang round the squares in little groups, always whispering to themselves. They call themselves farmers and shopkeepers from the frontier, but there is little of the Thetian in their faces to my mind. The city were healthier cleared of them, your Majesty.”

The King smiled bitterly.

“But how, my good Ruttens?” he exclaimed. “You and your few veterans would be powerless against them.”

Ruttens sighed.

“It is true, your Majesty,” he answered. “To be frank, I have put them down in my mind as creatures of Domiloff. And though to-day I will endeavour to effect his arrest I fear very much that he is well guarded against anything of the sort.”

Once more the courtyard rang with the clatter of hoofs. There was commotion below and in the palace.

“It is word from the front,” the King cried.

The messenger stood before him.

“Your Majesty,” he announced, “General Dartnoff has telegraphed that he is engaged. He adds that there seems to be some extensive movement preparing.”

Ughtred tore himself away. Sara choked back a sob, and held out both her hands. At the moment of parting they were alone.

“Good-bye, dear,” she whispered. “Do your best and have faith. I am not afraid for you or for Theos.”

He kissed her and galloped away, followed by his few attendants. Her cheerfulness was inspiring. His heart swelled with pride at the thought of her. She had destroyed forever his lingering superstition as to the obligations of race—she a daughter of the democracy with the heart and courage of a queen. Ughtred had passed through his one hour of weakness. As the engine with its one solitary carriage tore across the plain to Solika a new and finer hopefulness was born in him. Her words and her steadfast optimism had fired his blood. He would fight his country’s enemy so that for very shame Europe should cry “Hold!”