fied. However, absolute unity is very seldom to
be found. Indeed, it is almost impossible; and in a free community is
not altogether to be desired. When it is apparent, the gathering lacks
that sense of individual feeling which makes for the real consensus of
opinion--which is the real unity of purpose. The meeting was at first,
therefore, a little cold and distant. But presently it began to thaw,
and after some fiery harangues I was asked to speak. Happily, I had
begun to learn the Balkan language as soon as ever Uncle Roger's wishes
had been made known to me, and as I have some facility of tongues and a
great deal of experience, I soon began to know something of it. Indeed,
when I had been here a few weeks, with opportunity of speaking daily with
the people themselves, and learned to understand the intonations and
vocal inflexions, I felt quite easy in speaking it. I understood every
word which had up to then been spoken at the meeting, and when I spoke
myself I felt that they understood. That is an experience which every
speaker has in a certain way and up to a certain point. He knows by some
kind of instinct if his hearers are with him; if they respond, they must
certainly have understood. Last night this was marked. I felt it every
instant I was talking and when I came to realize that the men were in
strict accord with my general views, I took them into confidence with
regard to my own personal purpose. It was the beginning of a mutual
trust; so for peroration I told them that I had come to the conclusion
that what they wanted most for their own protection and the security and
consolidation of their nation was arms--arms of the very latest pattern.
Here they interrupted me with wild cheers, which so strung me up that I
went farther than I intended, and made a daring venture. "Ay," I
repeated, "the security and consolidation of your country--of _our_
country, for I have come to live amongst you. Here is my home whilst I
live. I am with you heart and soul. I shall live with you, fight
shoulder to shoulder with you, and, if need be, shall die with you!"
Here the shouting was terrific, and the younger men raised their guns to
fire a salute in Blue Mountain fashion. But on the instant the Vladika
{1} held up his hands and motioned them to desist. In the immediate
silence he spoke, sharply at first, but later ascending to a high pitch
of single-minded, lofty eloquence. His words rang in my ears long afte