RUPERT’S JOURNAL—Continued.

May 18, 1907.

The two weeks that have passed have been busy, and may, as time goes on, prove eventful.  I really think they have placed me in a different position with the Blue Mountaineers—certainly so far as those in this part of the country are concerned.  They are no longer suspicious of me—which is much; though they have not yet received me into their confidence.  I suppose this will come in time, but I must not try to hustle them.  Already they are willing, so far as I can see, to use me to their own ends.  They accepted the signalling idea very readily, and are quite willing to drill as much as I like.  This can be (and I think is, in its way) a pleasure to them.  They are born soldiers, every man of them; and practice together is only a realization of their own wishes and a further development of their powers.  I think I can understand the trend of their thoughts, and what ideas of public policy lie behind them.  In all that we have attempted together as yet they are themselves in absolute power.  It rests with them to carry out any ideas I may suggest, so they do not fear any assumption of power or governance on my part.  Thus, so long as they keep secret from me both their ideas of high policy and their immediate intentions, I am powerless to do them ill, and I may be of service should occasion arise.  Well, all told, this is much.  Already they accept me as an individual, not merely one of the mass.  I am pretty sure that they are satisfied of my personal bona fides.  It is policy and not mistrust that hedges me in.  Well, policy is a matter of time.  They are a splendid people, but if they knew a little more than they do they would understand that the wisest of all policies is trust—when it can be given.  I must hold myself in check, and never be betrayed into a harsh thought towards them.  Poor souls! with a thousand years behind them of Turkish aggression, strenuously attempted by both force and fraud, no wonder they are suspicious.  Likewise every other nation with whom they have ever come in contact—except one, my own—has deceived or betrayed them.  Anyhow, they are fine soldiers, and before long we shall have an army that cannot be ignored.  If I can get so that they trust me, I shall ask Sir Colin to come out here.  He would be a splendid head for their army.  His great military knowledge and tactical skill would come in well.  It makes me glow to think of what an army he would turn out of this splendid material, and one especially adapted for the style of fighting which would be necessary in this country.

If a mere amateur like myself, who has only had experience of organizing the wildest kind of savages, has been able to advance or compact their individual style of fighting into systematic effort, a great soldier like MacKelpie will bring them to perfection as a fighting machine.  Our Highlanders, when they come out, will foregather with them, as mountaineers always do with each other.  Then we shall have a force which can hold its own against any odds.  I only hope that Rooke will be returning soon.  I want to see those Ingis-Malbron rifles either safely stored in the Castle or, what is better, divided up amongst the mountaineers—a thing which will be done at the very earliest moment that I can accomplish it.  I have a conviction that when these men have received their arms and ammunition from me they will understand me better, and not keep any secrets from me.

All this fortnight when I was not drilling or going about amongst the mountaineers, and teaching them the code which I have now got perfected, I was exploring the side of the mountain nearest to here.  I could not bear to be still.  It is torture to me to be idle in my present condition of mind regarding my Lady of the Shroud . . . Strange I do not mind mentioning the word to myself now.  I used to at first; but that bitterness has all gone away.