duk and a
natural capacity for strategy enabled him for long to wage
successful guerrilla warfare, which baffled the Turks. The dense
forests and the roadless mountains were natural fortresses of which
he made full use.

Alternating with astonishing outbursts of energy and ferocity, were
periods of sullen silence during which he sat for days without
speaking, gnawing his nails. That there was a strain of insanity in
his genius appears certain--an insanity which has reappeared in his
great-grandson and namesake who, subject to similar fits of loss of
control, used to terrorise the populace by galloping furiously
through village streets, and was finally forced to abdicate his
right to the throne in March 1909, after the brutal murder of his
valet. A case worth the study of students of heredity.

A contemporary of old Karageorge thus describes him:

"His bold forehead bound with a tress of black hair gave him a look
rather Asiatic than European. . . . This man was one of the bold
creations of wild countries and troublous times--beings of impetuous
courage, iron strength, original talent and doubtful morality."

The might of his personality overcame all obstacles. He appealed to
Russia for aid, and a Russian Minister was sent to Serbia along with
money and men. He freed and ruled over a large tract of land. But
his rule was not much milder than that of the Jannisaries, and his
harsh tyranny made him many enemies. When his wrath was once aroused
it was unrestrainable, and he struck down and killed many of his own
followers. Discontent arose and spread.

The Serbs divided into many parties, each with rival leaders.
Russia, who had supported Karageorge, was now herself engaged in a
life and death struggle with Napoleon. The Russian regiment which
had been quartered at Belgrade, left the country. The turn of the
Turks had now come. They attacked the Serbs in force. With no aid
from without to be hoped for, the country was in greater danger than
ever. But even common danger, as history has again and again shown,
does not suffice to cure that fatal Slav weakness--the tendency to
split into rival parties led by jealous chieftains. There was no
union among the Serb forces now, at the very hour when it was most
needed. And for some never explained reason Karageorge failed to
appear.

His Voyvodas struggled with the foe and were beaten back and
suddenly, in October 1813, Karageorge, the chosen leader of the
Serbian people, f