l means. I go to rescue our brothers from
imprisonment and death. No fears can hold me back, as no
inducements could prevail on me to slip stealthily by their place
of confinement and push forward to celebrate my wedding while they
perhaps were being led out to execution. I go forth alone and
unarmed, and I am hopeful of success. Meanwhile do you guard and
cherish my beloved. Above all, take her away from this place early
to-morrow morning. Our presence here is known to one man, and he
may betray us. You know the way to Porlik Grotto; few people are
even aware of its existence, so well is it hidden from the view of
travellers. Thither you must conduct our companion, and I will join
you there with our two brothers from Monastery Heights. I may
perhaps be there before you. But if it should please God not to
prosper my undertaking, take Blanka home with you, and, if the Lord
preserves our family, treat her as a sister. She is worthy of your
adoption. Break to her gently the news of my fate. In the
accompanying pocketbook is all her worldly wealth, as well as my
own savings. Take charge of it. My brother Jonathan resembles me in
appearance, and is a much better man than I. To him I leave _all_
that I now call mine.

"Do not betray to Blanka any anxiety on my account. If God be with
me, who shall prevail against me?

"Your brother,
"MANASSEH."

CHAPTER XVI.

A DESPERATE HAZARD.

After finishing his letter, Manasseh took a number of banknotes out of
his pocketbook and put them into his waistcoat pocket, and then softly
slipped the pocketbook itself, with his letter, under Aaron's pillow. On
Blanka's pure brow, as she lay asleep, he gently pressed a parting kiss,
after which he heaped fresh fuel on the fire, stole out of the cave,
saddled his horse, and rode away into the darkness.

The signal-fire on Monastery Heights showed him where to find the
Wallachian camp. No outposts challenged his progress, and he made his
way unmolested to the ruined monastery which sheltered the insurgents.
Fastening his horse to a tree, he turned his steps toward the belfry
tower that marked the position of the cloister and the chapel, which, as
the only building on the mountain with a whole roof, served the
Wallachian leader and his staff as headquarters.