to carry tales, we go ahead of scandal.  But I daresay that fear of the evil eye will follow hard behind us all the way.  The Professor seems tireless.  All day he would not take any rest, though he made me sleep for a long spell.  At sunset time he hypnotized me, and he says I answered as usual, “darkness, lapping water and creaking wood.”  So our enemy is still on the river.  I am afraid to think of Jonathan, but somehow I have now no fear for him, or for myself.  I write this whilst we wait in a farmhouse for the horses to be ready.  Dr. Van Helsing is sleeping.  Poor dear, he looks very tired and old and grey, but his mouth is set as firmly as a conqueror’s.  Even in his sleep he is intense with resolution.  When we have well started I must make him rest whilst I drive.  I shall tell him that we have days before us, and he must not break down when most of all his strength will be needed . . .  All is ready.  We are off shortly.

2 November, morning.—­I was successful, and we took turns driving all night.  Now the day is on us, bright though cold.  There is a strange heaviness in the air.  I say heaviness for want of a better word.  I mean that it oppresses us both.  It is very cold, and only our warm furs keep us comfortable.  At dawn Van Helsing hypnotized me.  He says I answered “darkness, creaking wood and roaring water,” so the river is changing as they ascend.  I do hope that my darling will not run any chance of danger, more than need be, but we are in God’s hands.

2 November, night.—­All day long driving.  The country gets wilder as we go, and the great spurs of the Carpathians, which at Veresti seemed so far from us and so low on the horizon, now seem to gather round us and tower in front.  We both seem in good spirits.  I think we make an effort each to cheer the other, in the doing so we cheer ourselves.  Dr. Van Helsing says that by morning we shall reach the Borgo Pass.  The houses are very few here now, and the Professor says that the last horse we got will have to go on with us, as we may not be able to change.  He got two in addition to the two we changed, so that now we have a rude four-in-hand.  The dear horses are patient and good, and they give us no trouble.  We are not worried with other travellers, and so even I can drive.  We shall get to the Pass in daylight.  We do not want to arrive before.  So we take it easy, and have each a long rest in turn.  Oh, what will tomorrow bring to us?  We go to seek the place where my poor darling suffered so much.  God grant that we may be guided aright, and that He will deign to watch over my husband and those dear to us both, and who are in such deadly peril.  As for me, I am not worthy in His sight.  Alas!  I am unclean to His eyes, and shall be until He may deign to let me stand forth in His sight as one of those who have not incurred His wrath.

MEMORANDUM BY ABRAHAM VAN HELSING