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CHAPTER 22


  JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


3 October.--As I must do something or go mad, I write this diary. It is
now six o'clock, and we are to meet in the study in half an hour and
take something to eat, for Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward are agreed
that if we do not eat we cannot work our best.Our best will be, God
knows,required today. I must keep writing at every chance, for I dare
not stop to think. All, big and little, must go down.Perhaps at the end
the little things may teach us most.The teaching,big or little, could
not have landed Mina or me anywhere worse than we are today. However, we
must trust and hope. Poor Mina told me just now, with the tears running
down her dear cheeks, that it is in trouble and trial that our faith is
tested. That we must keep on trusting, and that God will aid us up to
the end. The end! Oh my God! What end? . . . To work! To work!

When Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward had come back from seeing poor
Renfield, we went gravely into what was to be done. First, Dr. Seward
told us that when he and Dr. Van Helsing had gone down to the room below
they had found Ren- field lying on the floor, all in a heap. His face
was all bruised and crushed in, and the bones of the neck were broken.

Dr. Seward asked the attendant who was on duty in the passage if he had
heard anything. He said that he had been sitting down, he confessed to
half dozing, when he heard loud voices in the room, and then Renfield
had called out loudly several times, "God! God! God!" After that there
was a sound of falling, and when he entered the room he found him lying
on the floor, face down, just as the doctors had seen him. Van Helsing
asked if he had heard "voices" or "a voice," and he said he could not
say. That at first it had seemed to him as if there were two, but as
there was no one in the room it could have been only one. He could swear
to it, if required, that the word "God" was spoken by the patient.

Dr. Seward said to us, when we were alone, that he did not wish to go
into the matter. The question of an inquest had to be considered, and it
would never do to put forward the truth, as no one would believe it. As
it was, he thought that on the attendant's evidence he could give a
certificate of death by misadventure in falling from bed. In case the
coroner should demand it, there would be a formal inquest, necessarily
to the same result.

When the question began to be discussed as to what should be our next
step, the very first thing we decided was that Mina should be in full
confidence. That nothing of any sort, no matter how painful, should be
kept from her. She herself agreed as to its wisdom, and it was pitiful
to see her so brave and yet so sorrowful, and in such a depth of
despair.

"There must be no concealment," she said. "Alas! We have had too much
already. And besides there is nothing in all the world that can give me
more pain than I have already endured, than I suffer now! Whatever may
happen, it must be of new hope or of new courage to me!"

Van Helsing was looking at her fixedly as she spoke, and said, suddenly
but quietly, "But dear Madam Mina, are you not afraid. Not for yourself,
but for others from your- self, after what has happened?"

Her face grew set in its lines, but her eyes shone with the devotion of
a martyr as she answered, "Ah no! For my mind is made up!"

"To what?" he asked gently, whilst we were all very still, for each in
our own way we had a sort of vague idea of what she meant.

Her answer came with direct simplicity, as though she was simply stating
a fact, "Because if I find in myself, and I shall watch keenly for it, a
sign of harm to any that I love, I shall die!"

"You would not kill yourself?" he asked, hoarsely.

"I would. If there were no friend who loved me, who would save me such a
pain, and so desperate an effort!" She looked at him meaningly as she
spoke.

He was sitting down, but now he rose and came close to her and put his
hand on her head as he said solemnly. "My child, there is such an one if
it were for your good. For myself I could hold it in my account with God
to find such an euthanasia for you, even at this moment if it were best.
Nay, were it safe! But my child . . ."

For a moment he seemed choked, and a great sob rose in his throat. He
gulped it down and went on, "There are here some who would stand between
you and death. You must not die. You must not die by any hand, but least
of all your own. Until the other, who has fouled your sweet life, is
true dead you must not die. For if he is still with the quick Undead,
your death would make you even as he is. No, you must live! You must
struggle and strive to live, though death would seem a boon unspeakable.
You must fight Death himself, though he come to you in pain or in joy.
By the day, or the night, in safety or in peril! On your living soul I
charge you that you do not die. Nay, nor think of death, till this great
evil be past."

The poor dear grew white as death, and shook and shiv- ered, as I have
seen a quicksand shake and shiver at the incoming of the tide. We were
all silent. We could do nothing. At length she grew more calm and
turning to him said sweetly, but oh so sorrowfully, as she held out her
hand, "I promise you, my dear friend, that if God will let me live, I
shall strive to do so. Till, if it may be in His good time, this horror
may have passed away from me."

She was so good and brave that we all felt that our hearts were
strengthened to work and endure for her, and we began to discuss what we
were to do. I told her that she was to have all the papers in the safe,
and all the papers or diaries and phonographs we might hereafter use,
and was to keep the record as she had done before. She was pleased with
the prospect of anything to do, if "pleased" could be used in connection
with so grim an interest.

As usual Van Helsing had thought ahead of everyone else, and was
prepared with an exact ordering of our work.

"It is perhaps well," he said, "that at our meeting after our visit to
Carfax we decided not to do anything with the earth boxes that lay
there. Had we done so, the Count must have guessed our purpose, and
would doubtless have taken measures in advance to frustrate such an
effort with regard to the others. But now he does not know our inten-
tions. Nay, more, in all probability, he does not know that such a power
exists to us as can sterilize his lairs, so that he cannot use them as
of old.

"We are now so much further advanced in our knowledge as to their
disposition that, when we have examined the house in Piccadilly,we may
track the very last of them.Today then, is ours, and in it rests our
hope. The sun that rose on our sorrow this morning guards us in its
course. Until it sets tonight, that monster must retain whatever form he
now has. He is confined within the limitations of his earthly envelope.
He cannot melt into thin air nor disappear through cracks or chinks or
crannies. If he go through a doorway, he must open the door like a
mortal. And so we have this day to hunt out all his lairs and sterilize
them. So we shall, if we have not yet catch him and destroy him, drive
him to bay in some place where the catching and the destroying shall be,
in time, sure."

Here I started up for I could not contain myself at the thought that the
minutes and seconds so preciously laden with Mina's life and happiness
were flying from us, since whilst we talked action was impossible. But
Van Helsing held up his hand warningly.

"Nay, friend Jonathan," he said, "in this, the quickest way home is the
longest way, so your proverb say. We shall all act and act with
desperate quick, when the time has come. But think, in all probable the
key of the situation is in that house in Piccadilly. The Count may have
many houses which he has bought. Of them he will have deeds of purchase,
keys and other things. He will have paper that he write on. He will have
his book of cheques. There are many belongings that he must have
somewhere. Why not in this place so cen- tral, so quiet,where he come
and go by the front or the back at all hours, when in the very vast of
the traffic there is none to notice. We shall go there and search that
house. And when we learn what it holds, then we do what our friend Art-
hur call, in his phrases of hunt `stop the earths' and so we run down
our old fox, so? Is it not?"

"Then let us come at once," I cried, "we are wasting the precious,
precious time!"

The Professor did not move, but simply said, "And how are we to get into
that house in Piccadilly?"

"Any way!" I cried. "We shall break in if need be."

"And your police? Where will they be, and what will they say?"

I was staggered, but I knew that if he wished to delay he had a good
reason for it. So I said, as quietly as I could, "Don't wait more than
need be. You know, I am sure, what torture I am in."

"Ah, my child, that I do. And indeed there is no wish of me to add to
your anguish. But just think, what can we do, until all the world be at
movement. Then will come our time. I have thought and thought, and it
seems to me that the simplest way is the best of all. Now we wish to get
into the house, but we have no key. Is it not so?"I nodded.

"Now suppose that you were, in truth, the owner of that house, and could
not still get in. And think there was to you no conscience of the
housebreaker, what would you do?"

"I should get a respectable locksmith, and set him to work to pick the
lock for me."

"And your police, they would interfere, would they not?"

"Oh no! Not if they knew the man was properly employed."

"Then," he looked at me as keenly as he spoke, "all that is in doubt is
the conscience of the employer, and the belief of your policemen as to
whether or not that employer has a good conscience or a bad one. Your
police must indeed be zealous men and clever, oh so clever, in reading
the heart, that they trouble themselves in such matter. No, no, my
friend Jonathan, you go take the lock off a hundred empty houses in this
your London, or of any city in the world, and if you do it as such
things are rightly done,and at the time such things are rightly done, no
one will interfere. I have read of a gentleman who owned a so fine house
in London, and when he went for months of summer to Switzerland and lock
up his house, some burglar come and broke window at back and got in.
Then he went and made open the shutters in front and walk out and in
through the door,before the very eyes of the police. Then he have an
auction in that house, and advertise it, and put up big notice. And when
the day come he sell off by a great auctioneer all the goods of that
other man who own them. Then he go to a builder, and he sell him that
house, making an agreement that he pull it down and take all away within
a certain time. And your police and other authority help him all they
can. And when that owner come back from his holiday in Switzerland he
find only an empty hole where his house had been. This was all done en
regle, and in our work we shall be en regle too. We shall not go so
early that the policemen who have then little to think of, shall deem it
strange. But we shall go after ten o'clock, when there are many
about,and such things would be done were we indeed owners of the house."

I could not but see how right he was and the terrible despair of Mina's
face became relaxed in thought. There was hope in such good counsel.

Van Helsing went on, "When once within that house we may find more
clues. At any rate some of us can remain there whilst the rest find the
other places where there be more earth boxes, at Bermondsey and Mile
End."

Lord Godalming stood up. "I can be of some use here," he said. "I shall
wire to my people to have horses and carriages where they will be most
convenient."

"Look here, old fellow," said Morris, "it is a capital idea to have all
ready in case we want to go horse backing, but don't you think that one
of your snappy carriages with its heraldic adornments in a byway of
Walworth or Mile End would attract too much attention for our purpose?
It seems to me that we ought to take cabs when we go south or east. And
even leave them somewhere near the neighborhood we are going to."

"Friend Quincey is right!" said the Professor. "His head is what you
call in plane with the horizon. It is a difficult thing that we go to
do, and we do not want no peoples to watch us if so it may."

Mina took a growing interest in everything and I was rejoiced to see
that the exigency of affairs was helping her to forget for a time the
terrible experience of the night. She was very, very pale, almost
ghastly, and so thin that her lips were drawn away, showing her teeth in
somewhat of prominence. I did not mention this last, lest it should give
her needless pain, but it made my blood run cold in my veins to think of
what had occurred with poor Lucy when the Count had sucked her blood. As
yet there was no sign of the teeth growing sharper, but the time as yet
was short, and there was time for fear.

When we came to the discussion of the sequence of our efforts and of the
disposition of our forces, there were new sources of doubt. It was
finally agreed that before starting for Piccadilly we should destroy the
Count's lair close at hand. In case he should find it out too soon, we
should thus be still ahead of him in our work of destruction. And his
presence in his purely material shape, and at his weakest, might give us
some new clue.

A s to the disposal of forces, it was suggested by the Professor that,
after our visit to Carfax, we should all enter the house in Piccadilly.
That the two doctors and I should remain there, whilst Lord Godalming
and Quincey found the lairs at Walworth and Mile End and destroyed
them.It was possible, if not likely, the Professor urged, that the Count
might appear in Piccadilly during the day, and that if so we might be
able to cope with him then and there. At any rate, we might be able to
follow him in force. To this plan I strenuously objected, and so far as
my going was concerned, for I said that I intended to stay and protect
Mina. I thought that my mind was made up on the subject, but Mina would
not listen to my objection. She said that there might be some law matter
in which I could be useful. That amongst the Count's papers might be
some clue which I could under- stand out of my experience in
Transylvania. And that, as it was, all the strength we could muster was
required to cope with the Count's extraordinary power. I had to give in,
for Mina's resolution was fixed. She said that it was the last hope for
her that we should all work together.

"As for me," she said, "I have no fear. Things have been as bad as they
can be. And whatever may happen must have in it some element of hope or
comfort. Go, my husband! God can, if He wishes it, guard me as well
alone as with any one present."

So I started up crying out, "Then in God's name let us come at once, for
we are losing time. The Count may come to Piccadilly earlier than we
think."

"Not so!" said Van Helsing, holding up his hand.

"But why?" I asked.

"Do you forget," he said, with actually a smile, "that last night he
banqueted heavily, and will sleep late?"

Did I forget! Shall I ever . . . can I ever! Can any of us ever forget
that terrible scene! Mina struggled hard to keep her brave countenance,
but the pain overmastered her and she put her hands before her face, and
shuddered whilst she moaned. Van Helsing had not intended to recall her
frightful experience. He had simply lost sight of her and her part in
the affair in his intellectual effort.

When it struck him what he said,he was horrified at his thoughtlessness
and tried to comfort her.

"Oh, Madam Mina," he said,"dear, dear, Madam Mina,alas! That I of all
who so reverence you should have said anything so forgetful. These
stupid old lips of mine and this stupid old head do not deserve so, but
you will forget it, will you not?" He bent low beside her as he spoke.

She took his hand, and looking at him through her tears, said hoarsely,
"No, I shall not forget, for it is well that I remember. And with it I
have so much in memory of you that is sweet, that I take it all
together. Now, you must all be going soon. Breakfast is ready, and we
must all eat that we may be strong."

Breakfast was a strange meal to us all. We tried to be cheerful and
encourage each other,and Mina was the brightest and most cheerful of us.
When it was over, Van Helsing stood up and said, "Now, my dear friends,
we go forth to our terr- ible enterprise. Are we all armed, as we were
on that night when first we visited our enemy's lair.Armed against
ghostly as well as carnal attack?"

We all assured him.

"Then it is well. Now, Madam Mina, you are in any case quite safe here
until the sunset. And before then we shall return . . . if . . . We
shall return! But before we go let me see you armed against personal
attack.I have myself,since you came down,prepared your chamber by the
placing of things of which we know, so that He may not enter. Now let me
guard yourself.On your forehead I touch this piece of Sacred Wafer in
the name of the Father, the Son, and . . .

There was a fearful scream which almost froze our hearts to hear. As he
had placed the Wafer on Mina's fore- head, it had seared it . . . had
burned into the flesh as though it had been a piece of whitehot metal.
My poor darl- ing's brain had told her the significance of the fact as
quickly as her nerves received the pain of it,and the two so overwhelmed
her that her overwrought nature had its voice in that dreadful scream.

But the words to her thought came quickly. The echo of the scream had
not ceased to ring on the air when there came the reaction, and she sank
on her knees on the floor in an agony of abasement. Pulling her
beautiful hair over her face, as the leper of old his mantle, she wailed
out.

"Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh! I must
bear this mark of shame upon my forehead until the Judgement Day."

They all paused. I had thrown myself beside her in an agony of helpless
grief, and putting my arms around held her tight. For a few minutes our
sorrowful hearts beat together, whilst the friends around us turned away
their eyes that ran tears silently. Then Van Helsing turned and said
gravely.So gravely that I could not help feeling that he was in some way
inspired, and was stating things outside himself.

"It may be that you may have to bear that mark till God himself see fit,
as He most surely shall, on the Judgement Day, to redress all wrongs of
the earth and of His children that He has placed thereon. And oh, Madam
Mina, my dear, my dear, may we who love you be there to see,when that
red scar, the sign of God's knowledge of what has been,shall pass away,
and leave your forehead as pure as the heart we know. For so surely as
we live, that scar shall pass away when God sees right to lift the
burden that is hard upon us. Till then we bear our Cross, as His Son did
in obedience to His Will. It may be that we are chosen instruments of
His good pleasure, and that we ascend to His bidding as that other
through stripes and shame. Through tears and blood. Through doubts and
fear, and all that makes the difference between God and man."

There was hope in his words, and comfort. And they made for resignation.
Mina and I both felt so, and simul- taneously we each took one of the
old man's hands and bent over and kissed it. Then without a word we all
knelt down together, and all holding hands, swore to be true to each
other. We men pledged ourselves to raise the veil of sorrow from the
head of her whom, each in his own way, we loved.And we prayed for help
and guidance in the terrible task which lay before us. It was then time
to start. So I said farewell to Mina, a parting which neither of us
shall forget to our dying day, and we set out.

To one thing I have made up my mind. If we find out that Mina must be a
vampire in the end, then she shall not go into that unknown and terrible
land alone. I suppose it is thus that in old times one vampire meant
many. Just as their hideous bodies could only rest in sacred earth, so
the holiest love was the recruiting sergeant for their ghastly ranks.

We entered Carfax without trouble and found all things the same as on
the first occasion. It was hard to believe that amongst so prosaic
surroundings of neglect and dust and decay there was any ground for such
fear as already we knew. Had not our minds been made up, and had there
not been terr- ible memories to spur us on, we could hardly have
proceeded with our task. We found no papers, or any sign of use in the
house. And in the old chapel the great boxes looked just as we had seen
them last.

Dr. Van Helsing said to us solemnly as we stood before him, "And now, my
friends, we have a duty here to do. We must sterilize this earth, so
sacred of holy memories, that he has brought from a far distant land for
such fell use. He has chosen this earth because it has been holy. Thus
we de- feat him with his own weapon, for we make it more holy still. It
was sanctified to such use of man, now we sanctify it to God."

As he spoke he took from his bag a screwdriver and a wrench, and very
soon the top of one of the cases was thrown open.The earth smelled musty
and close, but we did not some- how seem to mind, for our attention was
concentrated on the Professor. Taking from his box a piece of the Scared
Wafer he laid it reverently on the earth, and then shutting down the lid
began to screw it home, we aiding him as he worked.

One by one we treated in the same way each of the great boxes, and left
them as we had found them to all appearance. But in each was a portion
of the Host. When we closed the door behind us, the Professor said
solemnly, "So much is already done. It may be that with all the others
we can be so successful, then the sunset of this evening may shine of
Madam Mina's forehead all white as ivory and with no stain!"

As we passed across the lawn on our way to the station to catch our
train we could see the front of the asylum. I looked eagerly, and in the
window of my own room saw Mina. I waved my hand to her, and nodded to
tell that our work there was successfully accomplished. She nodded in
reply to show that she understood. The last I saw, she was waving her
hand in farewell. It was with a heavy heart that we sought the station
and just caught the train, which was steaming in as we reached the
platform.I have written this in the train.


Piccadilly, 12:30 o'clock.--Just before we reached Fenchurch Street Lord
Godalming said to me, "Quincey and I will find a locksmith. You had
better not come with us in case there should be any difficulty. For
under the circum- stances it wouldn't seem so bad for us to break into
an empty house. But you are a solicitor and the Incorporated Law Society
might tell you that you should have known better."

I demurred as to my not sharing any danger even of odium, but he went
on, "Besides, it will attract less atten- tion if there are not too many
of us. My title will make it all right with the locksmith,and with any
policeman that may come along.You had better go with Jack and the
Professor and stay in the Green Park. Somewhere in sight of the house,
and when you see the door opened and the smith has gone away, do you all
come across. We shall be on the lookout for you, and shall let you in."

"The advice is good!" said Van Helsing, so we said no more.Godalming and
Morris hurried off in a cab, we following in another. At the corner of
Arlington Street our contingent got out and strolled into the Green
Park. My heart beat as I saw the house on which so much of our hope was
centered,loom- ing up grim and silent in its deserted condition amongst
its more lively and spruce-looking neighbors. We sat down on a bench
within good view , and began to smoke cigars so as to attract as little
attention as possible. The minutes seemed to pass with leaden feet as we
waited for the coming of the others.

At length we saw a four-wheeler drive up. Out of it, in leisurely
fashion, got Lord Godalming and Morris. And down from the box descended
a thick-set working man with his rush-woven basket of tools. Morris paid
the cabman, who touched his hat and drove away. Together the two
ascended the steps,and Lord Godalming pointed out what he wanted done.
The workman took off his coat leisurely and hung it on one of the spikes
of the rail, saying something to a policeman who just then sauntered
along. The policeman nodded acqui- escence,and the man kneeling down
placed his bag beside him. After searching through it, he took out a
selection of tools which he proceeded to lay beside him in orderly
fashion.Then he stood up, looked in the keyhole, blew into it,and
turning to his employers, made some remark. Lord Godalming smiled, and
the man lifted a good sized bunch of keys. Selecting one of them, he
began to probe the lock, as if feeling his way with it. After fumbling
about for a bit he tried a se- cond, and then a third. All at once the
door opened under a slight push from him, and he and the two others
entered the hall. We sat still. My own cigar burnt furiously, but Van
Helsing's went cold altogether. We waited patiently as we saw the
workman come out and bring his bag. Then he held the door partly open,
steadying it with his knees, whilst he fitted a key to the lock. This he
finally handed to Lord Godalming, who took out his purse and gave him
something.The man touched his hat, took his bag, put on his coat and de-
parted. Not a soul took the slightest notice of the whole transaction.

When the man had fairly gone, we three crossed the street and knocked at
the door. It was immediately opened by Quincey Morris, beside whom stood
Lord Godalming lighting a cigar.

"The place smells so vilely," said the latter as we came in. It did
indeed smell vilely. Like the old chapel at Carfax. And with our
previous experience it was plain to us that the Count had been using the
place pretty freely. We moved to explore the house, all keeping together
in case of attack, for we knew we had a strong and wily enemy to deal
with, and as yet we did not know whether the Count might not be in the
house.

In the dining room, which lay at the back of the hall, we found eight
boxes of earth. Eight boxes only out of the nine which we sought! Our
work was not over, and would never be until we should have found the
missing box.

First we opened the shutters of the window which looked out across a
narrow stone flagged yard at the blank face of a stable, pointed to look
like the front of a miniature house. There were no windows in it, so we
were not afraid of being overlooked. We did not lose any time in
examining the chests. With the tools which we had brought with us we
opened them, one by one, and treated them as we had treated those others
in the old chapel. It was evident to us that the Count was not at
present in the house, and we proceeded to search for any of his effects.

After a cursory glance at the rest of the rooms, from basement to attic,
we came to the conclusion that the dining room contained any effects
which might belong to the Count. And so we proceeded to minutely examine
them. They lay in a sort of orderly disorder on the great dining room
table.

There were title deeds of the Piccadilly house in a great bundle, deeds
of the purchase of the houses at Mile End and Bermondsey, notepaper,
envelopes, and pens and ink. All were covered up in thin wrapping paper
to keep them from the dust. There were also a clothes brush, a brush and
comb, and a jug and basin. The latter containing dirty water which was
reddened as if with blood. Last of all was a little heap of keys of all
sorts and sizes, probably those belonging to the other houses.

When we had examined this last find, Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris
taking accurate notes of the various add- resses of the houses in the
East and the South, took with them the keys in a great bunch, and set
out to destroy the boxes in these places.The rest of us are, with what
patience we can, waiting their return, or the coming of the Count.


CHAPTER 23


   DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


3 October.--The time seemed teribly long whilst we were waiting for the
coming of Godalming and Quincey Morris. The Professor tried to keep our
minds active by using them all the time. I could see his beneficent
purpose, by the side glances which he threw from time to time at Harker.
The poor fellow is overwhelmed in a misery that is appalling to see.
Last night he was a frank, happy-looking man, with strong, youthful
face, full of energy, and with dark brown hair. Today he is a drawn,
haggard old man, whose white hair matches well with the hollow burning
eyes and grief- written lines of his face. His energy is still intact.
In fact, he is like a living flame. This may yet be his sal- vation, for
if all go well, it will tide him over the des- pairing period. He will
then, in a kind of way, wake again to the realities o f life. Poor
fellow, I thought my own trouble was bad enough, but his . . .!

The Professor knows this well enough, and is doing his best to keep his
mind active. What he has been saying was, under the circumstances, of
absorbing interest. So well as I can remember, here it is:

"I have studied, over and over again since they came into my hands, all
the papers relating to this monster, and the more I have studied, the
greater seems the necessity to utterly stamp him out. All through there
are signs of his advance. Not only of his power, but of his knowledge of
it. As I learned from the researches of my friend Arminius of
Buda-Pesth, he was in life a most wonderful man. Soldier, statesman, and
alchemist. Which latter was the highest development of the science
knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain, a learning beyond compare,
and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse. He dared even to attend
the Scholomance, and there was no branch of knowledge of his time that
he did not essay.

"Well, in him the brain powers survived the physical death. Though it
would seem that memory was not all complete. In some faculties of mind
he has been, and is, only a child. But he is growing, and some things
that were childish at the first are now of man's stature. He is
experimenting, and doing it well. And if it had not been that we have
crossed his path he would be yet, he may be yet if we fail, the father
or furtherer of a new order of beings,whose road must lead through
Death, not Life."

Harker groaned and said, "And this is all arrayed against my darling!
But how is he experimenting? The know- ledge may help us to defeat him!"

"He has all along, since his coming, been trying his power, slowly but
surely. That big child-brain of his is working. Well for us, it is as
yet, a child-brain. For had he dared, at the first, to attempt certain
things he would long ago have been beyond our power. However, he means
to succeed, and a man who has centuries before him can afford to wait
and to go slow.Festina lente may well be his motto."

"I fail to understand," said Harker wearily. "Oh, do be more plain to
me! Perhaps grief and trouble are dulling my brain."

The Professor laid his hand tenderly on his shoulder as he spoke, "Ah,
my child, I will be plain. Do you not see how, of late, this monster has
been creeping into knowledge experimentally. How he has been making use
of the zoophagous patient to effect his entry into friend John's
home.For your Vampire,though in all afterwards he can come when and how
he will, must at the first make entry only when asked thereto by an
inmate. But these are not his most important experi- ments. Do we not
see how at the first all these so great boxes were moved by others. He
knew not then but that must be so. But all the time that so great
child-brain of his was growing, and he began to consider whether he
might not him- self move the box. So he began to help. And then, when he
found that this be all right, he try to move them all alone. And so he
progress, and he scatter these graves of him. And none but he know where
they are hidden.

"He may have intend to bury them deep in the ground. So that only he use
them in the night, or at such time as he can change his form, they do
him equal well, and none may know these are his hiding place! But, my
child, do not des- pair, this knowledge came to him just too late!
Already all of his lairs but one be sterilize as for him. And before the
sunset this shall be so. Then he have no place where he can move and
hide. I delayed this morning that so we might be sure. Is there not more
at stake for us than for him? Then why not be more careful than him? By
my clock it is one hour and already, if all be well,friend Arthur and
Quincey are on their way to us. Today is our day, and we must go sure,
if slow, and lose no chance. See! There are five of us when those absent
ones return."

Whilst we were speaking we were startled by a knock at the hall door,
the double postman's knock of the telegraph boy. We all moved out to the
hall with one impulse, and Van Helsing, holding up his hand to us to
keep silence, stepped to the door and opened it. The boy handed in a
dispatch. The Professor closed the door again,and after looking at the
direction, opened it and read aloud.

"Look out for D. He has just now, 12:45, come from Carfax hurriedly and
hastened towards the South. He seems to be going the round and may want
to see you: Mina."

There was a pause, broken by Jonathan Harker's voice, "Now, God be
thanked, we shall soon meet!"

Van Helsing turned to him quickly and said, "God will act in His own way
and time. Do not fear, and do not rejoice as yet. For what we wish for
at the moment may be our own undoings."

"I care for nothing now," he answered hotly, "except to wipe out this
brute from the face of creation. I would sell my soul to do it!"

"Oh, hush, hush, my child!" said Van Helsing. "God does not purchase
souls in this wise, and the Devil,though he may purchase, does not keep
faith. But God is merciful and just, and knows your pain and your
devotion to that dear Madam Mina. Think you, how her pain would be
doubled, did she but hear your wild words. Do not fear any of us, we are
all de- voted to this cause, and today shall see the end. The time is
coming for action. Today this Vampire is limit to the powers of man, and
till sunset he may not change. It will take him time to arrive here, see
it is twenty minutes past one, and there are yet some times before he
can hither come, be he never so quick. What we must hope for is that my
Lord Arthur and Quincey arrive first."

About half an hour after we had received Mrs. Harker's telegram, there
came a quiet, resolute knock at the hall door. It was just an ordinary
knock, such as is given hourly by thousands of gentlemen, but it made
the Professor's heart and mine beat loudly. We looked at each other, and
together moved out into the hall. We each held ready to use our var-
ious armaments, the spiritual in the left hand, the mortal in the right.
Van Helsing pulled back the latch, and holding the door half open, stood
back, having both hands ready for action. The gladness of our hearts
must have shown upon our faces when on the step,close to the door, we
saw Lord Godal- ming and Quincey Morris. They came quickly in and closed
the door behind them, the former saying, as they moved along the hall.

"It is all right. We found both places. Six boxes in each and we
destroyed them all."

"Destroyed?" asked the Professor.

"For him!" We were silent for a minute,and then Quincey said, "There's
nothing to do but to wait here. If, however, he doesn't turn up by five
o'clock, we must start off. For it won't do to leave Mrs. Harker alone
after sunset."

"He will be here before long now,' said Van Helsing, who had been
consulting his pocketbook. "Nota bene, in Madam's telegram he went south
from Carfax. That means he went to cross the river, and he could only do
so at slack of tide, which should be something before one o'clock. That
he went south has a meaning for us. He is as yet only suspi- cious, and
he went from Carfax first to the place where he would suspect
interference least. You must have been at Ber- mondsey only a short time
before him. That he is not here already shows that he went to Mile End
next. This took him some time, for he would then have to be carried over
the river in some way. Believe me, my friends, we shall not have long to
wait now. We should have ready some plan of attack, so that we may throw
away no chance. Hush, there is no time now. Have all your arms! Be
ready!" He held up a warning hand as he spoke,for we all could hear a
key softly inserted in the lock of the hall door.

I could not but admire, even at such a moment, the way in which a
dominant spirit asserted itself. In all our hunt- ing parties and
adventures in different parts of the world, Quincey Morris had always
been the one to arrange the plan of action, and Arthur and I had been
accustomed to obey him implicitly. Now, the old habit seemed to be
renewed instinc- tively. With a swift glance around the room,he at once
laid out our plan of attack, and without speaking a word, with a
gesture, placed us each in position. Van Helsing, Harker, and I were
just behind the door, so that when it was opened the Professor could
guard it whilst we two stepped between the incomer and the door.
Godalming behind and Quincey in front stood just out of sight ready to
move in front of the window. We waited in a suspense that made the
seconds pass with nightmare slowness. The slow, careful steps came along
the hall. The Count was evidently prepared for some surprise, at least
he feared it.

Suddenly with a single bound he leaped into the room. Winning a way past
us before any of us could raise a hand to stay him. There was something
so pantherlike in the movement, something so unhuman, that it seemed to
sober us all from the shock of his coming. The first to act was Hark-
er, who with a quick movement,threw himself before the door leading into
the room in the front of the house. As the Count saw us, a horrible sort
of snarl passed over his face, showing the eyeteeth long and pointed.
But the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of lion-like
disdain. His expression again changed as, with a single impulse, we all
advanced upon him. It was a pity that we had not some better organized
plan of attack, for even at the moment I wondered what we were to do. I
did not myself know whether our lethal weapons would avail us anything.

Harker evidently meant to try the matter, for he had ready his great
Kukri knife and made a fierce and sudden cut at him. The blow was a
powerful one. Only the diabol- ical quickness of the Count's leap back
saved him. A second less and the trenchant blade had shorn through his
coat, making a wide gap whence a bundle of bank notes and a stream of
gold fell out. The expression of the Count's face was so hellish,that
for a moment I feared for Harker, though I saw him throw the terrible
knife aloft again for another stroke. Instinctively I moved forward with
a protective impulse, holding the Crucifix and Wafer in my left hand. I
felt a mighty power fly along my arm, and it was without surprise that I
saw the monster cower back before a similar movement made spontaneously
by each one of us. It would be impossible to describe the expression of
hate and baffled malignity, of anger and hellish rage, which came over
the Count's face. His waxen hue became greenish-yellow by the contrast
of his burning eyes, and the red scar on the fore- head showed on the
pallid skin like a palpitating wound. The next instant, with a sinuous
dive he swept under Harker's arm, ere his blow could fall, and grasping
a handful of the money from the floor, dashed across the room, threw
himself at the window. Amid the crash and glitter of the falling glass,
he tumbled into the flagged area below. Through the sound of the
shivering glass I could hear the "ting" of the gold, as some of the
sovereigns fell on the flagging.

We ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the ground. He, rushing up
the steps, crossed the flagged yard, and pushed open the stable door.
There he turned and spoke to us.

"You think to baffle me, you with your pale faces all in a row, like
sheep in a butcher's. You shall be sorry yet, each one of you! You think
you have left me without a place to rest, but I have more. My revenge is
just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side. Your
girls that you all love are mine already. And through them you and
others shall yet be mine, my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my
jackals when I want to feed. Bah!"

With a contemptuous sneer, he passed quickly through the door, and we
heard the rusty bolt creak as he fastened it behind him. A door beyond
opened and shut. The first of us to speak was the Professor. Realizing
the difficulty of following him through the stable, we moved toward the
hall.

"We have learnt something . . . much! Notwithstanding his brave words,
he fears us. He fears time, he fears want! For if not, why he hurry so?
His very tone betray him, or my ears deceive. Why take that money? You
follow quick. You are hunters of the wild beast, and understand it so.
For me, I make sure that nothing here may be of use to him, if so that
he returns."

As he spoke he put the money remaining in his pocket, took the title
deeds in the bundle as Harker had left them, and swept the remaining
things into the open fireplace, where he set fire to them with a match.

Godalming and Morris had rushed out into the yard, and Harker had
lowered himself from the window to follow the Count. He had, however,
bolted the stable door, and by the time they had forced it open there
was no sign of him. Van Helsing and I tried to make inquiry at the back
of the house. But the mews was deserted and no one had seen him depart.

It was now late in the afternoon,and sunset was not far off. We had to
recognize that our game was up. With heavy hearts we agreed with the
Professor when he said, "Let us go back to Madam Mina. Poor, poor dear
Madam Mina. All we can do just now is done, and we can there, at least,
protect her. But we need not despair.There is but one more earth box,
and we must try to find it.When that is done all may yet be well."

I could see that he spoke as bravely as he could to com- fort Harker.
The poor fellow was quite broken down, now and again he gave a low groan
which he could not suppress.He was thinking of his wife.

With sad hearts we came back to my house, where we found Mrs. Harker
waiting us, with an appearance of cheerful- ness which did honor to her
bravery and unselfishness. When she saw our faces, her own became as
pale as death. For a second or two her eyes were closed as if she were
in secret prayer.

And then she said cheerfully, "I can never thank you all enough. Oh, my
poor darling!"

As she spoke, she took her husband's grey head in her hands and kissed
it.

"Lay your poor head here and rest it. All will yet be well, dear! God
will protect us if He so will it in His good intent." The poor fellow
groaned. There was no place for words in his sublime misery.

We had a sort of perfunctory supper together, and I think it cheered us
all up somewhat. It was, perhaps, the mere animal heat of food to hungry
people, for none of us had eaten anything since breakfast,or the sense
of companion- ship may have helped us, but anyhow we were all less
miserable, and saw the morrow as not altogether without hope.

True to our promise, we told Mrs. Harker everything which had passed.
And although she grew snowy white at times when danger had seemed to
threaten her husband, and red at others when his devotion to her was
manifested she listened bravely and with calmness. When we came to the
part where Harker had rushed at the Count so recklessly, she clung to
her husband's arm, and held it tight as though her clinging could
protect him from any harm that might come. She said nothing,
however,till the narration was all done,and matters had been brought up
to the present time.

Then without letting go her husband's hand she stood up amongst us and
spoke. Oh, that I could give any idea of the scene. Of that sweet,
sweet, good, good woman in all the rad- iant beauty of her youth and
animation, with the red scar on her forehead, of which she was
conscious, and which we saw with grinding of our teeth, remembering
whence and how it came. Her loving kindness against our grim hate. Her
tender faith against all our fears and doubting. And we, knowing that so
far as symbols went, she with all her goodness and purity and faith, was
outcast from God.

"Jonathan," she said, and the word sounded like music on her lips it was
so full of love and tenderness, "Jonathan dear, and you all my true,
true friends, I want you to bear something in mind through all this
dreadful time.I know that you must fight. That you must destroy even as
you destroyed the false Lucy so that the true Lucy might live hereafter.
But it is not a work of hate. That poor soul who has wrought all this
misery is the saddest case of all. Just think what will be his joy when
he, too,is destroyed in his worser part that his better part may have
spiritual immortality.You must be pitiful to him,too,though it may not
hold your hands from his destruction."

As she spoke I could see her husband's face darken and draw together, as
though the passion in him were shriveling his being to its core.
Instinctively the clasp on his wife's hand grew closer, till his
knuckles looked white. She did not flinch from the pain which I knew she
must have suffered, but looked at him with eyes that were more appealing
than ever.

As she stopped speaking he leaped to his feet, almost tearing his hand
from hers as he spoke.

"May God give him into my hand just for long enough to destroy that
earthly life of him which we are aiming at. If beyond it I could send
his soul forever and ever to burning hell I would do it!"

"Oh, hush! Oh, hush in the name of the good God. Don't say such things,
Jonathan, my husband, or you will crush me with fear and horror. Just
think, my dear . . . I have been thinking all this long, long day of it
. . . that . . . perhaps . . .some day . . . I, too, may need such pity,
and that some other like you, and with equal cause for anger,may deny it
to me! Oh, my husband! My husband, indeed I would have spared you such a
thought had there been another way. But I pray that God may not have
treasured your wild words, except as the heart-broken wail of a very
loving and sorely stricken man. Oh, God, let these poor white hairs go
in ev- idence of what he has suffered, who all his life has done no
wrong, and on whom so many sorrows have come."

We men were all in tears now. There was no resisting them, and we wept
openly. She wept, too, to see that her sweeter counsels had prevailed.
Her husband flung himself on his knees beside her, and putting his arms
round her, hid his face in the folds of her dress. Van Helsing beckoned
to us and we stole out of the room, leaving the two loving hearts alone
with their God.

Before they retired the Professor fixed up the room against any coming
of the Vampire, and assured Mrs. Harker that she might rest in peace.
She tried to school herself to the belief, and manifestly for her
husband's sake, tried to seem content. It was a brave struggle, and was,
I think and believe, not without its reward. Van Helsing had placed at
hand a bell which either of them was to sound in case of any emergency.
When they had retired, Quincey, Godalming, and I arranged that we should
sit up, dividing the night between us, and watch over the safety of the
poor stricken lady. The first watch falls to Quincey, so the rest of us
shall be off to bed as soon as we can.

Godalming has already turned in, for his is the second watch. Now that
my work is done I, too, shall go to bed.


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


3-4 October, close to midnight.--I thought yesterday would never end.
There was over me a yearning for sleep, in some sort of blind belief
that to wake would be to find things changed, and that any change must
now be for the better. Before we parted, we discussed what our next step
was to be, but we could arrive at no result. All we knew was that one
earth box remained, and that the Count alone knew where it was.If he
chooses to lie hidden, he may baffle us for years. And in the meantime,
the thought is too horr- ible, I dare not think of it even now. This I
know, that if ever there was a woman who was all perfection,that one is
my poor wronged darling. I loved her a thousand times more for her sweet
pity of last night,a pity that made my own hate of the monster seem
despicable. Surely God will not permit the world to be the poorer by the
loss of such a creature. This is hope to me. We are all drifting
reefwards now, and faith is our only anchor.Thank God! Mina is sleeping,
and sleeping without dreams. I fear what her dreams might be like, with
such terrible memories to ground them in. She has not been so calm,
within my seeing, since the sunset. Then, for a while, there came over
her face a repose which was like spring after the blasts of March. I
thought at the time that it was the softness of the red sunset on her
face, but some- how now I think it has a deeper meaning. I am not sleepy
myself, though I am weary . . . weary to death. However, I must try to
sleep. For there is tomorrow to think of, and there is no rest for me
until . . .


Later--I must have fallen asleep, for I was awakened by Mina, who was
sitting up in bed, with a startled look on her face. I could see easily,
for we did not leave the room in darkness. She had placed a warning hand
over my mouth, and now she whispered in my ear, "Hush! There is someone
in the corridor!" I got up softly, and crossing the room, gently opened
the door.

Just outside, stretched on a mattress, lay Mr. Morris, wide awake. He
raised a warning hand for silence as he whis- pered to me, "Hush! Go
back to bed. It is all right. One of us will be here all night. We don't
mean to take any chances!"

His look and gesture forbade discussion, so I came back and told Mina.
She sighed and positively a shadow of a smile stole over her poor, pale
face as she put her arms round me and said softly, "Oh, thank God for
good brave men!" With a sigh she sank back again to sleep. I write this
now as I am not sleepy, though I must try again.


4 October, morning.--Once again during the night I was wakened by Mina.
This time we had all had a good sleep, for the grey of the coming dawn
was making the windows into sharp oblongs,and the gas flame was like a
speck rather than a disc of light.

She said to me hurriedly, "Go, call the Professor. I want to see him at
once."

"Why?" I asked.

"I have an idea. I suppose it must have come in the night, and matured
without my knowing it. He must hypnotize me before the dawn, and then I
shall be able to speak. Go quick, dearest, the time is getting close."

I went to the door. Dr. Seward was resting on the matt- ress, and seeing
me, he sprang to his feet.

"Is anything wrong?" he asked, in alarm.

"No," I replied. "But Mina wants to see Dr. Van Helsing at once."

"I will go," he said, and hurried into the Professor's room.

Two or three minutes later Van Helsing was in the room in his dressing
gown, and Mr. Morris and Lord Godalming were with Dr. Seward at the door
asking questions. When the Pro- fessor saw Mina a smile, a positive
smile ousted the anxiety of his face.

He rubbed his hands as he said, "Oh, my dear Madam Mina, this is indeed
a change. See! Friend Jonathan, we have got our dear Madam Mina, as of
old, back to us today!" Then turning to her, he said cheerfully, "And
what am I to do for you? For at this hour you do not want me for
nothing."

"I want you to hypnotize me!" she said. "Do it before the dawn, for I
feel that then I can speak, and speak free- ly. Be quick, for the time
is short!" Without a word he motioned her to sit up in bed.

Looking fixedly at her, he commenced to make passes in front of her,
from over the top of her head downward, with each hand in turn. Mina
gazed at him fixedly for a few min- utes, during which my own heart beat
like a trip hammer, for I felt that some crisis was at hand. Gradually
her eyes closed, and she sat, stock still. Only by the gentle heaving of
her bosom could one know that she was alive.The Professor made a few
more passes and then stopped,and I could see that his forehead was
covered with great beads of perspiration. Mina opened her eyes, but she
did not seem the same woman. There was a far-away look in her eyes, and
her voice had a sad dreaminess which was new to me. Raising his hand to
im- pose silence, the Professor motioned to me to bring the others
in.They came on tiptoe, closing the door behind them, and stood at the
foot of the bed, looking on. Mina appeared not to see them. The
stillness was broken by Van Helsing's voice speaking in a low level tone
which would not break the current of her thoughts.

"Where are you?" The answer came in a neutral way.

"I do not know.Sleep has no place it can call its own." For several
minutes there was silence. Mina sat rigid, and the Professor stood
staring at her fixedly.

The rest of us hardly dared to breathe. The room was growing lighter.
Without taking his eyes from Mina's face, Dr. Van Helsing motioned me to
pull up the blind. I did so, and the day seemed just upon us. A red
streak shot up, and a rosy light seemed to diffuse itself through the
room. On the instant the Professor spoke again.

"Where are you now?"

The answer came dreamily, but with intention. It were as though she were
interpreting something. I have heard her use the same tone when reading
her shorthand notes.

"I do not know. It is all strange to me!"

"What do you see?"

"I can see nothing. It is all dark."

"What do you hear?" I could detect the strain in the Professor's patient
voice.

"The lapping of water. It is gurgling by, and little waves leap. I can
hear them on the outside."

"Then you are on a ship?'"

We all looked at each other, trying to glean something each from the
other. We were afraid to think.

The answer came quick, "Oh, yes!"

"What else do you hear?"

"The sound of men stamping overhead as they run about. There is the
creaking of a chain, and the loud tinkle as the check of the capstan
falls into the ratchet."

"What are you doing?"

"I am still,oh so still. It is like death!" The voice faded away into a
deep breath as of one sleeping, and the open eyes closed again.

By this time the sun had risen, and we were all in the full light of
day.Dr. Van Helsing placed his hands on Mina's shoulders, and laid her
head down softly on her pillow. She lay like a sleeping child for a few
moments, and then, with a long sigh, awoke and stared in wonder to see
us all around her.

"Have I been talking in my sleep?" was all she said.She seemed,however,
to know the situation without telling,though she was eager to know what
she had told. The Professor re- peated the conversation, and she said,
"Then there is not a moment to lose. It may not be yet too late!"

Mr. Morris and Lord Godalming started for the door but the Professor's
calm voice called them back.

"Stay, my friends. That ship, wherever it was, was weighing anchor at
the moment in your so great Port of Lon- don. Which of them is it that
you seek? God be thanked that we have once again a clue, though whither
it may lead us we know not. We have been blind somewhat. Blind after the
manner of men, since we can look back we see what we might have seen
looking forward if we had been able to see what we might have seen!
Alas, but that sentence is a puddle, is it not? We can know now what was
in the Count's mind, when he seize that money, though Jonathan's so
fierce knife put him in the danger that even he dread. He meant escape.
Hear me, ESCAPE! He saw that with but one earth box left, and a pack of
men following like dogs after a fox, this London was no place for him.
He have take his last earth box on board a ship, and he leave the land.
He think to escape, but no! We follow him. Tally Ho! As friend Arthur
would say when he put on his red frock! Our old fox is wily. Oh! So
wily, and we must follow with wile. I, too, am wily and I think his mind
in a little while. In meantime we may rest and in peace, for there are
between us which he do not want to pass, and which he could not if he
would. Unless the ship were to touch the land, and then only at full or
slack tide.See, and the sun is just rose, and all day to sunset is us.
Let us take bath, and dress, and have breakfast which we all need, and
which we can eat comfortably since he be not in the same land with us."

Mina looked at him appealingly as she asked, "But why need we seek him
further, when he is gone away from us?"

He took her hand and patted it as he replied, "Ask me nothing as yet.
When we have breakfast, then I answer all questions." He would say no
more, and we separated to dress.

After breakfast Mina repeated her question. He looked at her gravely for
a minute and then said sorrowfully, "Be- cause my dear, dear Madam Mina,
now more than ever must we find him even if we have to follow him to the
jaws of Hell!"

She grew paler as she asked faintly, "Why?"

"Because," he answered solemnly, "he can live for cen- turies, and you
are but mortal woman. Time is now to be dreaded, since once he put that
mark upon your throat."

I was just in time to catch her as she fell forward in a faint.


CHAPTER 24


   DR. SEWARD'S PHONOGRAPH DIARY

   SPOKEN BY VAN HELSING


This to Jonathan Harker.

You are to stay with your dear Madam Mina. We shall go to make our
search, if I can call it so,for it is not search but knowing, and we
seek confirmation only. But do you stay and take care of her today. This
is your best and most hol- iest office. This day nothing can find him
here.

Let me tell you that so you will know what we four know already, for I
have tell them. He, our enemy, have gone away. He have gone back to his
Castle in Transylvania.I know it so well, as if a great hand of fire
wrote it on the wall. He have prepare for this in some way, and that
last earth box was ready to ship somewheres.For this he took the money.
For this he hurry at the last, lest we catch him before the sun go
down.It was his last hope, save that he might hide in the tomb that he
think poor Miss Lucy, being as he thought like him, keep open to him.
But there was not of time. When that fail he make straight for his last
resource, his last earth- work I might say did I wish double entente. He
is clever, oh so clever! He know that his game here was finish. And so
he decide he go back home. He find ship going by the route he came, and
he go in it.

We go off now to find what ship, and whither bound. When we have
discover that, we come back and tell you all. Then we will comfort you
and poor Madam Mina with new hope. For it will be hope when you think it
over, that all is not lost. This very creature that we pursue, he take
hundreds of years to get so far as London. And yet in one day, when we
know of the disposal of him we drive him out. He is finite, though he is
powerful to do much harm and suffers not as we do. But we are strong,
each in our purpose, and we are all more strong together. Take heart
afresh, dear husband of Madam Mina. This battle is but begun and in the
end we shall win. So sure as that God sits on high to watch over His
children. Therefore be of much comfort till we return.

 VAN HELSING.


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


4 October.--When I read to Mina, Van Helsing's message in the
phonograph, the poor girl brightened up considerably. Already the
certainty that the Count is out of the country has given her comfort.
And comfort is strength to her. For my own part,now that his horrible
danger is not face to face with us, it seems almost impossible to
believe in it.Even my own terrible experiences in Castle Dracula seem
like a long forgotten dream. Here in the crisp autumn air in the bright
sunlight.

Alas! How can I disbelieve! In the midst of my thought my eye fell on
the red scar on my poor darling's white fore- head. Whilst that lasts,
there can be no disbelief. Mina and I fear to be idle, so we have been
over all the diaries again and again. Somehow, although the reality seem
greater each time, the pain and the fear seem less. There is some- thing
of a guiding purpose manifest throughout, which is comforting. Mina says
that perhaps we are the instruments of ultimate good. It may be! I shall
try to think as she does. We have never spoken to each other yet of the
future. It is better to wait till we see the Professor and the others
after their investigations.

The day is running by more quickly than I ever thought a day could run
for me again. It is now three o'clock.


 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL


5 October, 5 p.m.--Our meeting for report. Present: Professor Van
Helsing, Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward,Mr.Quincey Morris, Jonathan Harker,
Mina Harker.

Dr. Van Helsing described what steps were taken during the day to
discover on what boat and whither bound Count Dracula made his escape.

"As I knew that he wanted to get back to Transylvania, I felt sure that
he must go by the Danube mouth, or by some- where in the Black Sea,
since by that way he come. It was a dreary blank that was before us.
Omme Ignotum pro magnifico. And so with heavy hearts we start to find
what ships leave for the Black Sea last night. He was in sailing ship,
since Madam Mina tell of sails being set. These not so important as to
go in your list of the shipping in the Times,and so we go, by suggestion
of Lord Godalming, to your Lloyd's, where are note of all ships that
sail, however so small. There we find that only one Black Sea bound ship
go out with the tide. She is the Czarina Catherine, and she sail from
Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and thence to other ports and up the
Danube. `So!' said I, `this is the ship whereon is the Count.' So off we
go to Doolittle's Wharf,and there we find a man in an office. From him
we inquire o f the goings of the Czarina Catherine. He swear much, and
he red face and loud of voice, but he good fellow all the same. And when
Quincey give him something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it
up,and put it in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his cloth-
ing, he still better fellow and humble servant to us.He come with us,
and ask many men who are rough and hot. These be better fellows too when
they have been no more thirsty. They say much of blood and bloom,and of
others which I comprehend not, though I guess what they mean. But
nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know.

"They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about five
o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with high nose
and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning. That he be all in
black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or the
time. That he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to what ship
sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some took him to the office and
then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but halt at shore end of
gangplank,and ask that the captain come to him. The captain come, when
told that he will be pay well, and though he swear much at the first he
agree to term. Then the thin man go and some one tell him where horse
and cart can be hired. He go there and soon he come again, himself
driving cart on which a great box. This he himself lift down, though it
take several to put it on truck for the ship. He give much talk to
captain as to how and where his box is to be place. But the captain like
it not and swear at him in many tongues, and tell him that if he like he
can come and see where it shall be. But he say `no,' that he come not
yet, for that he have much to do. Whereupon the captain tell him that he
had better be quick, with blood, for that his ship will leave the place,
of blood, before the turn of the tide, with blood. Then the thin man
smile and say that of course he must go when he think fit, but he will
be surprise if he go quite so soon. The captain swear again, polyglot,
and the thin man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he will so
far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the sailing. Final
the captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him that he
doesn't want no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with blood, in
his ship, with blood on her also. And so, after asking where he might
pur- chase ship forms, he departed.

"No one knew where he went `or bloomin' well cared' as they said, for
they had something else to think of,well with blood again. For it soon
became apparent to all that the Czarina Catherine would not sail as was
expected.A thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it grew,and
grew. Till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all around her. The
captain swore polyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with bloom and blood,
but he could do nothing. The water rose and rose, and he began to fear
that he would lose the tide altogether. He was in no friendly mood, when
just at full tide, the thin man came up the gangplank again and asked to
see where his box had been stowed. Then the captain replied that he
wished that he and his box, old and with much bloom and blood, were in
hell. But the thin man did not be offend, and went down with the mate
and saw where it was place, and came up and stood awhile on deck in
fog.He must have come off by himself, for none notice him.Indeed they
thought not of him, for soon the fog begin to melt away, and all was
clear again. My friends of the thirst and the language that was of bloom
and blood laughed,as they told how the captain's swears exceeded even
his usual polyglot, and was more than ever full of pic- turesque, when
on questioning other mariners who were on movement up and down the river
that hour, he found that few of them had seen any of fog at all,except
where it lay round the wharf. However, the ship went out on the ebb
tide, and was doubtless by morning far down the river mouth. She was
then, when they told us, well out to sea.

"And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a time, for
our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on his way to the
Danube mouth.To sail a ship takes time, go she never so quick. And when
we start to go on land more quick, and we meet him there. Our best hope
is to come on him when in the box between sunrise and sunset. For then
he can make no struggle, and we may deal with him as we should.There are
days for us, in which we can make ready our plan. We know all about
where he go. For we have seen the owner of the ship, who have shown us
invoices and all papers that can be. The box we seek is to be landed in
Varna, and to be given to an agent, one Ristics who will there present
his credentials. And so our merchant friend will have done his part.
When he ask if there be any wrong, for that so, he can telegraph and
have inquiry made at Varna, we say `no,' for what is to be done is not
for police or of the customs. It must be done by us alone and in our own
way."

When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were certain
that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied, "We have the
best proof of that,your own evidence, when in the hypnotic trance this
morning."

I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should pursue
the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know that he would
surely go if the others went. He answered in growing passion, at first
quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more angry and more forceful,
till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least some of that
personal dominance which made him so long a master amongst men.

"Yes, it is necessary, necessary, necessary! For your sake in the first,
and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much harm
already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the short
time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small measure in
darkness and not knowing. All this have I told these others. You,my dear
Madam Mina,will learn it in the phonograph of my friend John, or in that
of your husband. I have told them how the measure of leaving his own
barren land,barren of peoples,and coming to a new land where life of man
teems till they are like the multitude of standing corn, was the work of
cen- turies. Were another of the Undead, like him, to try to do what he
has done, perhaps not all the centuries of the world that have been, or
that will be, could aid him.With this one, all the forces of nature that
are occult and deep and strong must have worked together in some
wonderous way. The very place, where he have been alive, Undead for all
these cen- turies, is full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical
world. There are deep caverns and fissures that reach none know whither.
There have been volcanoes,some of whose open- ings still send out waters
of strange properties, and gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless,
there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations of
occult forces which work for physical life in strange way, and in
himself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and warlike
time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more subtle
brain,more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital principle have
in strange way found their ut- most. And as his body keep strong and
grow and thrive, so his brain grow too. All this without that diabolic
aid which is surely to him. For it have to yield to the powers that come
from, and are, symbolic of good. And now this is what he is to us.He
have infect you, oh forgive me, my dear, that I must say such, but it is
for good of you that I speak. He infect you in such wise, that even if
he do no more,you have only to live, to live in your own old, sweet way,
and so in time, death,which is of man's common lot and with God's sanc-
tion, shall make you like to him. This must not be! We have sworn
together that it must not. Thus are we ministers of God's own wish. That
the world, and men for whom His Son die, will not be given over to
monsters, whose very existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to
redeem one soul al- ready, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross
to re- deem more. Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise. And
like them, if we fall, we fall in good cause."

He paused and I said, "But will not the Count take his rebuff wisely?
Since he has been driven from England, will he not avoid it, as a tiger
does the village from which he has been hunted?"

"Aha!" he said, "your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I shall
adopt him. Your maneater, as they of India call the tiger who has once
tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other prey, but prowl
unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from our village is a
tiger, too, a manea- ter, and he never cease to prowl. Nay, in himself
he is not one to retire and stay afar.In his life, his living life, he
go over the Turkey frontier and attack his enemy on his own ground. He
be beaten back, but did he stay? No! He come again, and again, and
again. Look at his persistence and en- durance. With the child-brain
that was to him he have long since conceive the idea of coming to a
great city. What does he do? He find out the place of all the world most
of pro- mise for him. Then he deliberately set himself down to prepare
for the task. He find in patience just how is his strength, and what are
his powers. He study new tongues. He learn new social life, new
environment of old ways, the pol- itics, the law, the finance, the
science, the habit of a new land and a new people who have come to be
since he was. His glimpse that he have had, whet his appetite only and
enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him to grow as to his brain. For it all
prove to him how right he was at the first in his sur- mises. He have
done this alone, all alone! From a ruin tomb in a forgotten land.What
more may he not do when the greater world of thought is open to him. He
that can smile at death, as we know him. Who can flourish in the midst
of diseases that kill off whole peoples. Oh! If such an one was to come
from God, and not the Devil, what a force for good might he not be in
this old world of ours. But we are pledged to set the world free. Our
toil must be in silence, and our efforts all in secret. For in this
enlightened age, when men believe not even what they see,the doubting of
wise men would be his greatest strength. It would be at once his sheath
and his armor, and his weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are
willing to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love.For
the good of mankind, and for the honor and glory of God."

After a general discussion it was determined that for tonight nothing be
definitely settled. That we should all sleep on the facts, and try to
think out the proper conclu- sions. Tomorrow, at breakfast, we are to
meet again, and after making our conclusions known to one another, we
shall decide on some definite cause of action . . .

I feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight. It is as if some haunting
presence were removed from me. Perhaps . . .

My surmise was not finished, could not be, for I caught sight in the
mirror of the red mark upon my forehead, and I knew that I was still
unclean.

 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


5 October.--We all arose early, and I think that sleep did much for each
and all of us. When we met at early break- fast there was more general
cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience again.

It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let
any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by
death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment. More
than once as we sat around the table, my eyes opened in wonder whether
the whole of the past days had not been a dream. It was only when I
caught sight of the red blotch on Mrs.Harker's forehead that I was
brought back to reality. Even now, when I am gravely revolving the
matter,it is almost impossible to realize that the cause of all our
trouble is still existent. Even Mrs. Harker seems to lose sight of her
trouble for whole spells. It is only now and again, when something
recalls it to her mind, that she thinks of her terrible scar. We are to
meet here in my study in half an hour and decide on our course of
action. I see only one immediate difficulty, I know it by instinct
rather than reason. We shall all have to speak frankly. And yet I fear
that in some mysterious way poor Mrs. Harker's tongue is tied. I know
that she forms conclusions of her own, and from all that has been I can
guess how brill- iant and how true they must be. But she will not, or
cannot, give them utterance. I have mentioned this to Van Helsing, and
he and I are to talk it over when we are alone.I suppose it is some of
that horrid poison which has got into her veins beginning to work. The
Count had his own purposes when he gave her what Van Helsing called "the
Vampire's baptism of blood." Well, there may be a poison that distills
itself out of good things.In an age when the existence of ptomaines is a
mystery we should not wonder at anything! One thing I know,that if my
instinct be true regarding poor Mrs.Harker's silences, then there is a
terrible difficulty, an unknown danger, in the work before us. The same
power that compels her silence may compel her speech. I dare not think
further, for so I should in my thoughts dishonor a noble woman!


Later.--When the Professor came in, we talked over the state of things.
I could see that he had something on his mind, which he wanted to say,
but felt some hesitancy about broaching the subject. After beating about
the bush a little, he said,"Friend John, there is something that you and
I must talk of alone, just at the first at any rate. Later, we may have
to take the others into our confidence."

Then he stopped, so I waited. He went on, "Madam Mina, our poor, dear
Madam Mina is changing."

A cold shiver ran through me to find my worst fears thus endorsed. Van
Helsing continued.

"With the sad experience of Miss Lucy, we must this time be warned
before things go too far. Our task is now in reality more difficult than
ever, and this new trouble makes every hour of the direst importance. I
can see the charac- teristics of the vampire coming in her face. It is
now but very, very slight. But it is to be seen if we have eyes to
notice without prejudge. Her teeth are sharper,and at times her eyes are
more hard. But these are not all, there is to her the silence now often,
as so it was with Miss Lucy. She did not speak, even when she wrote that
which she wished to be known later. Now my fear is this. If it be that
she can, by our hypnotic trance, tell what the Count see and hear, is it
not more true that he who have hypnotize her first, and who have drink
of her very blood and make her drink of his, should if he will, compel
her mind to disclose to him that which she know?"

I nodded acquiescence. He went on, "Then, what we must do is to prevent
this. We must keep her ignorant of our in- tent, and so she cannot tell
what she know not. This is a painful task! Oh, so painful that it
heartbreak me to think of it, but it must be. When today we meet, I must
tell her that for reason which we will not to speak she must not more be
of our council, but be simply guarded by us."

He wiped his forehead, which had broken out in profuse perspiration at
the thought of the pain which he might have to inflict upon the poor
soul already so tortured. I knew that it would be some sort of comfort
to him if I told him that I also had come to the same conclusion. For at
any rate it would take away the pain of doubt. I told him, and the
effect was as I expected.

It is now close to the time of our general gathering. Van Helsing has
gone away to prepare for the meeting, and his painful part of it. I
really believe his purpose is to be able to pray alone.


Later.--At the very outset of our meeting a great per- sonal relief was
experienced by both Van Helsing and myself. Mrs. Harker had sent a
message by her husband to say that she would not join us at present, as
she thought it better that we should be free to discuss our movements
without her presence to embarrass us. The Professor and I looked at each
other for an instant, and somehow we both seemed relieved. For my own
part, I thought that if Mrs. Harker realized the danger herself, it was
much pain as well as much danger averted. Under the circumstances we
agreed, by a questioning look and answer, with finger on lip, to pre-
serve silence in our suspicions, until we should have been able to
confer alone again. We went at once into our Plan of Campaign.

Van Helsing roughly put the facts before us first,"The Czarina Catherine
left the Thames yesterday morning.It will take her at the quickest speed
she has ever made at least three weeks to reach Varna. But we can travel
overland to the same place in three days. Now, if we allow for two days
less for the ship's voyage,owing to such weather influences as we know
that the Count can bring to bear,and if we allow a whole day and night
for any delays which may occur to us, then we have a margin of nearly
two weeks.

"Thus,in order to be quite safe, we must leave here on 17th at latest.
Then we shall at any rate be in Varna a day before the ship arrives, and
able to make such preparations as may be necessary. Of course we shall
all go armed, armed against evil things, spiritual as well as physical."

Here Quincey Morris added,"I understand that the Count comes from a wolf
country, and it may be that he shall get there before us. I propose that
we add Winchesters to our armament. I have a kind of belief in a
Winchester when there is any trouble of that sort around. Do you
remember, Art, when we had the pack after us at Tobolsk?What wouldn't we
have given then for a repeater apiece!"

"Good!" said Van Helsing, "Winchesters it shall be. Quincey's head is
level at times, but most so when there is to hunt,metaphor be more
dishonor to science than wolves be of danger to man. In the meantime we
can do nothing here. And as I think that Varna is not familiar to any of
us, why not go there more soon? It is as long to wait here as there.
Tonight and tomorrow we can get ready, and then if all be well, we four
can set out on our journey."

"We four?" said Harker interrogatively, looking from one to another of
us.

"Of course!" answered the Professor quickly. "You must remain to take
care of your so sweet wife!"

Harker was silent for awhile and then said in a hollow voice, "Let us
talk of that part of it in the morning. I want to consult with Mina."

I thought that now was the time for Van Helsing to warn him not to
disclose our plan to her, but he took no notice.I looked at him
significantly and coughed.For answer he put his finger to his lips and
turned away.


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


October, afternoon.--For some time after our meeting this morning I
could not think. The new phases of things leave my mind in a state of
wonder which allows no room for active thought. Mina's determination not
to take any part in the discussion set me thinking. And as I could not
argue the matter with her, I could only guess. I am as far as ever from
a solution now. The way the others received it, too puzzled me. The last
time we talked of the subject we agreed that there was to be no more
concealment of anything amongst us. Mina is sleeping now, calmly and
sweetly like a little child. Her lips are curved and her face beams with
happiness. Thank God, there are such moments still for her.


Later.--How strange it all is. I sat watching Mina's happy sleep, and I
came as near to being happy myself as I suppose I shall ever be. As the
evening drew on, and the earth took its shadows from the sun sinking
lower, the si- lence of the room grew more and more solemn to me.

All at once Mina opened her eyes, and looking at me tenderly said,
"Jonathan, I want you to promise me something on your word of honor. A
promise made to me, but made holily in God's hearing, and not to be
broken though I should go down on my knees and implore you with bitter
tears. Quick, you must make it to me at once."

"Mina," I said, "a promise like that, I cannot make at once. I may have
no right to make it."

"But, dear one," she said, with such spiritual inten- sity that her eyes
were like pole stars, "it is I who wish it. And it is not for myself.
You can ask Dr. Van Helsing if I am not right. If he disagrees you may
do as you will. Nay, more if you all agree, later you are absolved from
the promise."

"I promise!"I said, and for a moment she looked suprem- ely happy.
Though to me all happiness for her was denied by the red scar on her
forehead.

She said, "Promise me that you will not tell me any- thing of the plans
formed for the campaign against the Count. Not by word, or inference, or
implication, not at any time whilst this remains to me!" And she
solemnly pointed to the scar. I saw that she was in earnest, and said
solemnly, "I promise!" and as I said it I felt that from that instant a
door had been shut between us.


Later, midnight.--Mina has been bright and cheerful all the evening. So
much so that all the rest seemed to take courage, as if infected
somewhat with her gaiety. As a re- sult even I myself felt as if the
pall of gloom which weighs us down were somewhat lifted. We all retired
early. Mina is now sleeping like a little child. It is wonderful thing
that her faculty of sleep remains to her in the midst of her terrible
trouble. Thank God for it, for then at least she can forget her care.
Perhaps her example may affect me as her gaiety did tonight. I shall try
it. Oh! For a dream- less sleep.

6 October, morning.--Another surprise. Mina woke me early, about the
same time as yesterday, and asked me to bring Dr. Van Helsing. I thought
that it was another occas- sion for hypnotism, and without question went
for the Pro- fessor. He had evidently expected some such call, for I
found him dressed in his room. His door was ajar, so that he could hear
the opening of the door of our room. He came at once. As he passed into
the room, he asked Mina if the others might come, too.

"No," she said quite simply, "it will not be necessary. You can tell
them just as well. I must go with you on your journey."

Dr. Van Helsing was as startled as I was. After a mom- ent's pause he
asked, "But why?"

"You must take me with you. I am safer with you, and you shall be safer,
too."

"But why, dear Madam Mina? You know that your safety is our solemnest
duty. We go into danger, to which you are, or may be, more liable than
any of us from . . . from cir- cumstances . . . things that have been."
He paused embar- rassed.

As she replied, she raised her finger and pointed to her forehead. "I
know. That is why I must go. I can tell you now, whilst the sun is
coming up. I may not be able again. I know that when the Count wills me
I must go. I know that if he tells me to come in secret, I must by wile.
By any device to hoodwink, even Jonathan." God saw the look that she
turned on me as she spoke, and if there be indeed a Recording Angel that
look is noted to her ever-lasting honor. I could only clasp her hand. I
could not speak. My emotion was too great for even the relief of tears.

She went on. "You men are brave and strong. You are strong in your
numbers, for you can defy that which would break down the human
endurance of one who had to guard alone. Besides, I may be of service,
since you can hypnotize me and so learn that which even I myself do not
know."

Dr. Van Helsing said gravely, "Madam Mina, you are, as always, most
wise. You shall with us come. And together we shall do that which we go
forth to achieve."

When he had spoken, Mina's long spell of silence made me look at her.
She had fallen back on her pillow asleep. She did not even wake when I
had pulled up the blind and let in the sunlight which flooded the room.
Van Helsing motioned to me to come with him quietly. We went to his
room, and within a minute Lord Godalming, Dr. Seward, and Mr. Morris
were with us also.

He told them what Mina had said, and went on. "In the morning we shall
leave for Varna. We have now to deal with a new factor, Madam Mina. Oh,
but her soul is true. It is to her an agony to tell us so much as she
has done. But it is most right, and we are warned in time. There must be
no chance lost, and in Varna we must be ready to act the in- stant when
that ship arrives."

"What shall we do exactly?"asked Mr. Morris laconically.

The Professor paused before replying, "We shall at the first board that
ship. Then, when we have identified the box, we shall place a branch of
the wild rose on it. This we shall fasten, for when it is there none can
emerge, so that at least says the superstition. And to superstition must
we trust at the first. It was man's faith in the early, and it have its
root in faith still. Then, when we get the opportunity that we seek,
when none are near to see,we shall open the box, and . . . and all will
be well."

"I shall not wait for any opportunity," said Morris. "When I see the box
I shall open it and destroy the monster, though there were a thousand
men looking on, and if I am to be wiped out for it the next moment!" I
grasped his hand in- stinctively and found it as firm as a piece of
steel.I think he understood my look. I hope he did.

"Good boy," said Dr. Van Helsing. "Brave boy. Quincey is all man. God
bless him for it. My child, believe me none of us shall lag behind or
pause from any fear. I do but say what we may do . . . what we must do.
But, indeed,indeed we cannot say what we may do.There are so many things
which may happen, and their ways and their ends are so various that
until the moment we may not say. We shall all be armed, in all ways. And
when the time for the end has come, our effort shall not be lack. Now
let us today put all our affairs in order. Let all things which touch on
others dear to us, and who on us depend, be complete. For none of us can
tell what, or when, or how, the end may be. As for me, my own affairs
are regulate, and as I have nothing else to do, I shall go make
arrangements for the travel. I shall have all tickets and so forth for
our journey."

There was nothing further to be said, and we parted. I shall now settle
up all my affairs of earth,and be ready for whatever may come.


Later.--It is done. My will is made, and all complete. Mina if she
survive is my sole heir. If it should not be so, then the others who
have been so good to us shall have remainder.

It is now drawing towards the sunset. Mina's uneasi- ness calls my
attention to it. I am sure that there is something on her mind which the
time of exact sunset will reveal. These occasions are becoming harrowing
times for us all. For each sunrise and sunset opens up some new danger,
some new pain, which however, may in God's will be means to a good end.
I write all these things in the diary since my darling must not hear
them now. But if it may be that she can see them again, they shall be
ready.She is calling to me.


CHAPTER 25


   DR SEWARD'S DIARY


11 October, Evening.--Jonathan Harker has asked me to note this, as he
says he is hardly equal to the task, and he wants an exact record kept.

I think that none of us were surprised when we were asked to see Mrs.
Harker a little before the time of sunset. We have of late come to
understand that sunrise and sunset are to her times of peculiar freedom.
When her old self can be manifest without any controlling force subduing
or re- straining her, or inciting her to action. This mood or condition
begins some half hour or more before actual sun- rise or sunset, and
lasts till either the sun is high, or whilst the clouds are still aglow
with the rays streaming above the horizon. At first there is a sort of
negative condition, as if some tie were loosened, and then the abso-
lute freedom quickly follows. When, however, the freedom ceases the
change back or relapse comes quickly, preceeded only by a spell of
warning silence.

Tonight, when we met, she was somewhat constrained, and bore all the
signs of an internal struggle. I put it down myself to her making a
violent effort at the earliest instant she could do so.

A very few minutes, however, gave her complete control of herself. Then,
motioning her husband to sit beside her on the sofa where she was half
reclining, she made the rest of us bring chairs up close.

Taking her husband's hand in hers, she began, "We are all here together
in freedom, for perhaps the last time! I know that you will always be
with me to the end." This was to her husband whose hand had, as we could
see, tightened upon her. "In the morning we go out upon our task, and
God alone knows what may be in store for any of us. You are going to be
so good to me to take me with you. I know that all that brave earnest
men can do for a poor weak woman, whose soul perhaps is lost, no, no,
not yet, but is at any rate at stake, you will do. But you must remember
that I am not as you are. There is a poison in my blood, in my soul,
which may destroy me, which must destroy me, unless some re- lief comes
to us. Oh, my friends, you know as well as I do, that my soul is at
stake. And though I know there is one way out for me, you must not and I
must not take it!" She looked appealingly to us all in turn, beginning
and ending with her husband.

"What is that way?" asked Van Helsing in a hoarse voice. "What is that
way, which we must not, may not, take?"

"That I may die now, either by my own hand or that of another, before
the greater evil is entirely wrought.I know, and you know, that were I
once dead you could and would set free my immortal spirit, even as you
did my poor Lucy's.Were death, or the fear of death,the only thing that
stood in the way I would not shrink to die here now, amidst the friends
who love me. But death is not all. I cannot believe that to die in such
a case,when there is hope before us and a bitter task to be done, is
God's will.Therefore, I on my part, give up here the certainty of
eternal rest, and go out into the dark where may be the blackest things
that the world or the nether world holds!"

We were all silent, for we knew instinctively that this was only a
prelude. The faces of the others were set, and Harker's grew ashen grey.
Perhaps, he guessed better than any of us what was coming.

She continued, "This is what I can give into the hotch- pot." I could
not but note the quaint legal phrase which she used in such a place, and
with all seriousness. "What will each of you give? Your lives I know,"
she went on quickly, "that is easy for brave men. Your lives are God's,
and you can give them back to Him, but what will you give to me?" She
looked again questionly, but this time avoided her husband's face.
Quincey seemed to understand,he nodded, and her face lit up. "Then I
shall tell you plainly what I want, for there must be no doubtful matter
in this connection be- tween us now. You must promise me,one and all,
even you, my beloved husband,that should the time come, you will kill
me."

"What is that time?" The voice was Quincey's, but it was low and
strained.

"When you shall be convinced that I am so changed that it is better that
I die that I may live. When I am thus dead in the flesh, then you will,
without a moment's delay, drive a stake through me and cut off my head,
or do what- ever else may be wanting to give me rest!"

Quincey was the first to rise after the pause. He knelt down before her
and taking her hand in his said solemnly, "I'm only a rough fellow, who
hasn't, perhaps, lived as a man should to win such a distinction, but I
swear to you by all that I hold sacred and dear that, should the time
ever come, I shall not flinch from the duty that you have set us. And I
promise you, too, that I shall make all certain, for if I am only
doubtful I shall take it that the time has come!"

"My true friend!" was all she could say amid her fast- falling tears, as
bending over, she kissed his hand.

"I swear the same, my dear Madam Mina!"said Van Helsing. "And I!" said
Lord Godalming, each of them in turn kneeling to her to take the oath. I
followed, myself.

Then her husband turned to her wan-eyed and with a greenish pallor which
subdued the snowy whiteness of his hair, and asked, "And must I, too,
make such a promise, oh, my wife?"

"You too, my dearest,"she said, with infinite yearning of pity in her
voice and eyes. "You must not shrink. You are nearest and dearest and
all the world to me. Our souls are knit into one, for all life and all
time. Think, dear, that there have been times when brave men have killed
their wives and their womenkind, to keep them from falling into the
hands of the enemy. Their hands did not falter any the more because
those that they loved implored them to slay them. It is men's duty
towards those whom they love, in such times of sore trial! And oh, my
dear, if it is to be that I must meet death at any hand, let it be at
the hand of him that loves me best. Dr. Van Helsing, I have not forgot-
ten your mercy in poor Lucy's case to him who loved." She stopped with a
flying blush, and changed her phrase, "to him who had best right to give
her peace. If that time shall come again, I look to you to make it a
happy memory of my husband's life that it was his loving hand which set
me free from the awful thrall upon me."

"Again I swear!" came the Professor's resonant voice.

Mrs. Harker smiled, positively smiled,as with a sigh of relief she
leaned back and said, "And now one word of warn- ing, a warning which
you must never forget. This time,if it ever come, may come quickly and
unexpectedly, and in such case you must lose no time in using your
opportunity.At such a time I myself might be . . . nay! If the time ever
come, shall be, leagued with your enemy against you.

"One more request," she became very solemn as she said this, "it is not
vital and necessary like the other, but I want you to do one thing for
me, if you will."

We all acquiesced, but no one spoke. There was no need to speak.

"I want you to read the Burial Service." She was inter- rupted by a deep
groan from her husband. Taking his hand in hers, she held it over her
heart, and continued. "You must read it over me some day. Whatever may
be the issue of all this fearful state of things, it will be a sweet
thought to all or some of us. You, my dearest, will I hope read it, for
then it will be in your voice in my memory forever, come what may!"

"But oh, my dear one," he pleaded, "death is afar off from you."

"Nay," she said, holding up a warning hand. "I am deeper in death at
this moment than if the weight of an earthly grave lay heavy upon me!"

"Oh, my wife, must I read it?"he said, before he began.

"It would comfort me, my husband!" was all she said, and he began to
read when she had got the book ready.

How can I,how could anyone, tell of that strange scene, its
solemnity,its gloom,its sadness, its horror, and withal, its sweetness.
Even a sceptic, who can see nothing but a travesty of bitter truth in
anything holy or emotional,would have been melted to the heart had he
seen that little group of loving and devoted friends kneeling round that
stricken and sorrowing lady. Or heard the tender passion of her hus-
band's voice, as in tones so broken and emotional that often he had to
pause, he read the simple and beautiful service from the Burial of the
Dead. I cannot go on . . . words . . . and v-voices . . . f-fail m-me!

She was right in her instinct. Strange as it was, bizarre as it may
hereafter seem even to us who felt its potent influence at the time, it
comforted us much. And the silence, which showed Mrs. Harker's coming
relapse from her freedom of soul, did not seem so full of despair to any
of us as we had dreaded.


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


15 October, Varna.--We left Charing Cross on the morn- ing of the 12th,
got to Paris the same night, and took the places secured for us in the
Orient Express. We traveled night and day, arriving here at about five
o'clock. Lord Godalming went to the Consulate to see if any telegram had
arrived for him, whilst the rest of us came on to this hotel, "the
Odessus." The journey may have had incidents. I was, however, too eager
to get on, to care for them. Until the Czarina Catherine comes into port
there will be no interest for me in anything in the wide world. Thank
God! Mina is well, and looks to be getting stronger. Her color is coming
back. She sleeps a great deal. Throughout the journey she slept nearly
all the time. Before sunrise and sunset, how- ever, she is very wakeful
and alert. And it has become a habit for Van Helsing to hypnotize her at
such times. At first, some effort was needed,and he had to make many
passes. But now, she seems to yield at once, as if by habit, and
scarcely any action is needed. He seems to have power at these
particular moments to simply will, and her thoughts obey him. He always
asks her what she can see and hear.

She answers to the first, "Nothing, all is dark."

And to the second,"I can hear the waves lapping against the ship, and
the water rushing by.Canvas and cordage strain and masts and yards
creak. The wind is high . . . I can hear it in the shrouds, and the bow
throws back the foam."

It is evident that the Czarina Catherine is still at sea, hastening on
her way to Varna. Lord Godalming has just returned. He had four
telegrams, one each day since we start- ed,and all to the same
effect.That the Czarina Catherine had not been reported to Lloyd's from
anywhere. He had arranged before leaving London that his agent should
send him every day a telegram saying if the ship had been reported. He
was to have a message even if she were not reported, so that he might be
sure that there was a watch being kept at the other end of the wire.

We had dinner and went to bed early. Tomorrow we are to see the Vice
Consul, and to arrange, if we can, about get- ting on board the ship as
soon as she arrives. Van Helsing says that our chance will be to get on
the boat between sun- rise and sunset. The Count, even if he takes the
form of a bat, cannot cross the running water of his own volition, and
so cannot leave the ship. As he dare not change to man's form without
suspicion, which he evidently wishes to avoid, he must remain in the
box. If, then, we can come on board after sunrise, he is at our mercy,
for we can open the box and make sure of him, as we did of poor Lucy,
before he wakes. What mercy he shall get from us all will not count for
much. We think that we shall not have much trouble with officials or the
seamen. Thank God! This is the country where bribery can do anything,
and we are well supplied with money. We have only to make sure that the
ship cannot come into port between sunset and sunrise without our being
warned, and we shall be safe.Judge Moneybag will settle this case, I
think!


16 October.--Mina's report still the same. Lapping waves and rushing
water, darkness and favoring winds. We are evidently in good time, and
when we hear of the Czarina Cat- herine we shall be ready. As she must
pass the Dardanelles we are sure to have some report.


17 October.--Everything is pretty well fixed now, I think, to welcome
the Count on his return from his tour. Go- dalming told the shippers
that he fancied that the box sent aboard might contain something stolen
from a friend of his, and got a half consent that he might open it at
his own risk. The owner gave him a paper telling the Captain to give him
every facility in doing whatever he chose on board the ship, and also a
similar authorization to his agent at Varna. We have seen the agent, who
was much impressed with Godalming's kindly manner to him, and we are all
satisfied that whatever he can do to aid our wishes will be done.

We have already arranged what to do in case we get the box open. If the
Count is there, Van Helsing and Seward will cut off his head at once and
drive a stake through his heart. Morris and Godalming and I shall
prevent interfer- ence, even if we have to use the arms which we shall
have ready. The Professor says that if we can so treat the Count's body,
it will soon after fall into dust. In such case there would be no
evidence against us, in case any suspicion of murder were aroused. But
even if it were not, we should stand or fall by our act, and perhaps
some day this very script may be evidence to come between some of us and
a rope. For myself, I should take the chance only too thankfully if it
were to come. We mean to leave no stone unturned to carry out our
intent. We have arranged with certain officials that the instant the
Czarina Catherine is seen, we are to be informed by a special messenger.


24 October.--A whole week of waiting. Daily telegrams to Godalming, but
only the same story. "Not yet reported." Mina's morning and evening
hypnotic answer is unvaried. Lap- ping waves, rushing water, and
creaking masts.


 TELEGRAM, OCTOBER 24TH
 RUFUS SMITH, LLOYD'S, LONDON, TO LORD GODALMING, CARE OF

H. B. M. VICE CONSUL, VARNA

"Czarina Catherine reported this morning from Dardanelles."

DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


25 October.--How I miss my phonograph! To write a diary with a pen is
irksome to me! But Van Helsing says I must. We were all wild with
excitement yesterday when Godal- ming got his telegram from Lloyd's. I
know now what men feel in battle when the call to action is
heard.Mrs.Harker, alone of our party, did not show any signs of
emotion.After all,it is not strange that she did not,for we took special
care not to let her know anything about it, and we all tried not to show
any excitement when we were in her presence.In old days she would, I am
sure, have noticed, no matter how we might have tried to conceal it. But
in this way she is greatly changed during the past three weeks. The
lethargy grows upon her, and though she seems strong and well, and is
getting back some of her color, Van Helsing and I are not satisfied. We
talk of her often. We have not, however, said a word to the others. It
would break poor Harker's heart, certainly his nerve, if he knew that we
had even a suspicion on the subject. Van Helsing examines, he tells me,
her teeth very carefully, whilst she is in the hypnotic condition, for
he says that so long as they do not begin to sharpen there is no active
danger of a change in her. If this change should come, it would be
necessary to take steps! We both know what those steps would have to be,
though we do not mention our thoughts to each other. We should neither
of us shrink from the task, awful though it be to contemplate.
"Euthanasia" is an excellent and a comforting word! I am grateful to
whoever invented it.

It is only about 24 hours' sail from the Dardanelles to here, at the
rate the Czarina Catherine has come from London. She should therefore
arrive some time in the morning, but as she cannot possibly get in
before noon, we are all about to retire early. We shall get up at one
o'clock, so as to be ready.


25 October, Noon.--No news yet of the ship's arrival. Mrs. Harker's
hypnotic report this morning was the same as usual, so it is possible
that we may get news at any moment. We men are all in a fever of
excitement, except Harker, who is calm. His hands are cold as ice, and
an hour ago I found him whetting the edge of the great Ghoorka knife
which he now always carries with him.It will be a bad lookout for the
Count if the edge of that "Kukri" ever touches his throat, driven by
that stern, ice-cold hand!

Van Helsing and I were a little alarmed about Mrs. Harker today. About
noon she got into a sort of lethargy which we did not like. Although we
kept silence to the others, we were neither of us happy about it. She
had been restless all the morning, so that we were at first glad to know
that she was sleeping. When, however, her husband mentioned casually
that she was sleeping so soundly that he could not wake her, we went to
her room to see for ourselves. She was breathing naturally and looked so
well and peaceful that we agreed that the sleep was better for her than
any- thing else. Poor girl, she has so much to forget that it is no
wonder that sleep, if it brings oblivion to her, does her good.


Later.--Our opinion was justified, for when after a refreshing sleep of
some hours she woke up, she seemed brighter and better than she had been
for days. At sunset she made the usual hypnotic report. Wherever he may
be in the Black Sea, the Count is hurrying to his destination. To his
doom, I trust!



26 October.--Another day and no tidings of the Czarina Catherine. She
ought to be here by now. That she is still journeying somewhere is
apparent, for Mrs. Harker's hypnotic report at sunrise was still the
same. It is possible that the vessel may be lying by, at times, for fog.
Some of the steamers which came in last evening reported patches of fog
both to north and south of the port. We must continue our watching, as
the ship may now be signalled any moment.


27 October, Noon.--Most strange. No news yet of the ship we wait for.
Mrs. Harker reported last night and this morning as usual. "Lapping
waves and rushing water," though she added that "the waves were very
faint." The telegrams from London have been the same, "no further
report." Van Helsing is terribly anxious, and told me just now that he
fears the Count is escaping us.

He added significantly, "I did not like that lethargy of Madam Mina's.
Souls and memories can do strange things during trance." I was about to
as k him more, but Harker just then came in, and he held up a warning
hand. We must try tonight at sunset to make her speak more fully when in
her hypnotic state.

 28 October.--Telegram. Rufus Smith, London, to Lord
 Godalming, care H. B. M. Vice Consul, Varna
 "Czarina Catherine reported entering Galatz at one
 o'clock today."

 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


28 October.--When the telegram came announcing the arrival in Galatz I
do not think it was such a shock to any of us as might have been
expected. True, we did not know whence, or how, or when, the bolt would
come. But I think we all expected that something strange would happen.
The day of arrival at Varna made us individually satisfied that things
would not be just as we had expected.We only waited to learn where the
change would occur. None the less, however, it was a surprise. I suppose
that nature works on such a hopeful basis that we believe against
ourselves that things will be as they ought to be, not as we should know
that they will be. Transcendentalism is a beacon to the angels, even if
it be a will-o'-the-wisp to man. Van Helsing raised his hand over his
head for a moment, as though in remonstrance with the Almighty. But he
said not a word,and in a few seconds stood up with his face sternly set.

Lord Godalming grew very pale, and sat breathing heav- ily. I was myself
half stunned and looked in wonder at one after another. Quincey Morris
tightened his belt with that quick movement which I knew so well. In our
old wandering days it meant "action." Mrs. Harker grew ghastly white, so
that the scar on her forehead seemed to burn, but she folded her hands
meekly and looked up in prayer. Harker smiled, actually smiled,the dark,
bitter smile of one who is without hope, but at the same time his action
belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of the
great Kukri knife and rested there.

"When does the next train start for Galatz?" said Van Helsing to us
generally.

"At 6:30 tomorrow morning!" We all started, for the answer came from
Mrs. Harker.

"How on earth do you know?" said Art.

"You forget, or perhaps you do not know, though Jona- than does and so
does Dr. Van Helsing, that I am the train fiend. At home in Exeter I
always used to make up the time tables, so as to be helpful to my
husband. I found it so useful sometimes, that I always make a study of
the time tables now. I knew that if anything were to take us to Castle
Dracula we should go by Galatz, or at any rate through Bucharest, so I
learned the times very carefully. Unhappily there are not many to learn,
as the only train tomorrow leaves as I say."

"Wonderful woman!" murmured the Professor.

"Can't we get a special?" asked Lord Godalming.

Van Helsing shook his head, "I fear not. This land is very different
from yours or mine. Even if we did have a special, it would probably not
arrive as soon as our regular train. Moreover, we have something to
prepare.We must think. Now let us organize. You, friend Arthur,go to the
train and get the tickets and arrange that all be ready for us to go in
the morning. Do you, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of the ship and
get from him letters to the agent in Galatz, with authority to make a
search of the ship just as it was here. Quincey Morris, you see the Vice
Consul, and get his aid with his fellow in Galatz and all he can do to
make our way smooth, so that no times be lost when over the Danube. John
will stay with Madam Mina and me, and we shall consult. For so if time
be long you may be delayed. And it will not matter when the sun set,
since I am here with Madam to make report."

"And I," said Mrs. Harker brightly, and more like her old self than she
had been for many a long day, "shall try to be of use in all ways, and
shall think and write for you as I used to do. Something is shifting
from me in some strange way, and I feel freer than I have been of late!"

The three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to
realize the significance of her words. But Van Helsing and I, turning to
each other, met each a grave and troubled glance. We said nothing at the
time, however.

When the three men had gone out to their tasks Van Hel- sing asked
Mrs.Harker to look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part of
Harker's journal at the Castle.She went away to get it.

When the door was shut upon her he said to me, "We mean the same! Speak
out!"

"Here is some change. It is a hope that makes me sick, for it may
deceive us."

"Quite so. Do you know why I asked her to get the manuscript?"

"No!" said I, "unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me alone."

"You are in part right, friend John, but only in part. I want to tell
you something. And oh, my friend, I am taking a great, a terrible, risk.
But I believe it is right. In the moment when Madam Mina said those
words that arrest both our understanding, an inspiration came to me. In
the trance of three days ago the Count sent her his spirit to read her
mind. Or more like he took her to see him in his earth box in the ship
with water rushing, just as it go free at rise and set of sun. He learn
then that we are here, for she have more to tell in her open life with
eyes to see ears to hear than he, shut as he is, in his coffin box. Now
he make his most effort to escape us.At present he want her not.

"He is sure with his so great knowledge that she will come at his call.
But he cut her off, take her, as he can do, out of his own power, that
so she come not to him. Ah! There I have hope that our man brains that
have been of man so long and that have not lost the grace of God, will
come higher than his child-brain that lie in his tomb for centur- ies,
that grow not yet to our stature, and that do only work selfish and
therefore small. Here comes Madam Mina. Not a word to her of her trance!
She knows it not, and it would overwhelm her and make despair just when
we want all her hope, all her courage, when most we want all her great
brain which is trained like man's brain, but is of sweet woman and have
a special power which the Count give her, and which he may not take away
altogether, though he think not so. Hush! Let me speak, and you shall
learn. Oh, John, my friend, we are in awful straits. I fear, as I never
feared before. We can only trust the good God. Silence! Here she comes!"

 I thought that the Professor was going to break down and have
hysterics, just as he had when Lucy died,but with a great effort he
controlled himself and was at perfect nervous poise when Mrs. Harker
tripped into the room, bright and happy looking and, in the doing of
work, seemingly for- getful of her misery. As she came in, she handed a
number of sheets of typewriting to Van Helsing. He looked over them
gravely, his face brightening up as he read.

Then holding the pages between his finger and thumb he said, "Friend
John, to you with so much experience already, and you too, dear Madam
Mina, that are young, here is a lesson. Do not fear ever to think. A
half thought has been buzzing often in my brain, but I fear to let him
loose his wings. Here now, with more knowledge, I go back to where that
half thought come from and I find that he be no half thought at all.That
be a whole thought, though so young that he is not yet strong to use his
little wings. Nay, like the `Ugly Duck' of my friend Hans Andersen,he be
no duck thought at all, but a big swan thought that sail nobly on big
wings, when the time come for him to try them. See I read here what
Jonathan have written.

"That other of his race who, in a later age, again and again, brought
his forces over The Great River into Turkey Land, who when he was beaten
back, came again, and again, and again, though he had to come alone from
the bloody field where his troops were being slaughtered, since he knew
that he alone could ultimately triumph.

"What does this tell us? Not much? No! The Count's child thought see
nothing, therefore he speak so free. Your man thought see nothing. My
man thought see nothing, till just now. No! But there comes another word
from some one who speak without thought because she, too, know not what
it mean, what it might mean. Just as there are elements which rest, yet
when in nature's course they move on their way and they touch, the pouf!
And there comes a flash of light, heaven wide, that blind and kill and
destroy some. But that show up all earth below for leagues and leagues.
Is it not so? Well, I shall explain. To begin, hav e you ever study the
philosophy of crime? `Yes' and `No.' You, John, yes, for it is a study
of insanity. You, no, Madam Mina, for crime touch you not, not but once.
Still, your mind works true, and argues not a particulari ad universale.
There is this peculiarity in criminals. It is so constant, in all
countries and at all times, that even police, who know not much from
philosophy, come to know it empirically, that it is. That is to be
empiric. The criminal always work at one crime, that is the true
criminal who seems predestinate to crime, and who will of none
other.This criminal has not full man brain. He is clever and cunning and
resourceful, but he be not of man stature as to brain. He be of child
brain in much. Now this criminal of ours is pre-destinate to crime also.
He, too, have child brain, and it is of the child to do what he have
done. The little bird, the little fish, the little animal learn not by
principle, but empirically. And when he learn to do,then there is to him
the ground to start from to do more. `Dos pou sto,' said Archimedes.
`Give me a fulcrum, and I shall move the world!' To do once, is the
fulcrum whereby child brain become man brain. And until he have the
purpose to do more,he continue to do the same again every time, just as
he have done before! Oh, my dear, I see that your eyes are opened, and
that to you the lightning flash show all the leagues,"for Mrs.Harker
began to clap her hands and her eyes sparkled.

He went on, "Now you shall speak. Tell us two dry men of science what
you see with those so bright eyes." He took her hand and held it whilst
he spoke. His finger and thumb closed on her pulse, as I thought
instinctively and uncon- sciously, as she spoke.

"The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and Lombroso would
so classify him, and qua criminal he is of an imperfectly formed mind.
Thus, in a difficulty he has to seek resource in habit. His past is a
clue, and the one page of it that we know, and that from his own lips,
tells that once before, when in what Mr. Morris would call a`tight
place,' he went back to his own country from the land he had tried to
invade, and thence,without losing purpose, prepared himself for a new
effort. He came again better equipped for his work, and won. So he came
to London to invade a new land. He was beaten,and when all hope of
success was lost, and his existence in danger, he fled back over the sea
to his home. Just as formerly he had fled back over the Danube from
Turkey Land."

"Good, good! Oh, you so clever lady!" said Van Helsing,
enthusiastically, as he stooped and kissed her hand.A moment later he
said to me, as calmly as though we had been having a sick room
consultation, "Seventy-two only,and in all this excitement. I have
hope."

Turning to her again, he said with keen expectation, "But go on. Go on!
There is more to tell if you will. Be not afraid. John and I know. I do
in any case, and shall tell you if you are right. Speak, without fear!"

"I will try to. But you will forgive me if I seem too egotistical."

"Nay! Fear not, you must be egotist, for it is of you that we think."

"Then, as he is criminal he is selfish. And as his intellect is small
and his action is based on selfishness,he confines himself to one
purpose. That purpose is remorseless. As he fled back over the
Danube,leaving his forces to be cut to pieces,so now he is intent on
being safe, careless of all. So his own selfishness frees my soul
somewhat from the terr- ible power which he acquired over me on that
dreadful night. I felt it! Oh, I felt it! Thank God, for His great
mercy! My soul is freer than it has been since that awful hour. And all
that haunts me is a fear lest in some trance or dream he may have used
my knowledge for his ends."

The Professor stood up, "He has so used your mind, and by it he has left
us here in Varna, whilst the ship that carried him rushed through
enveloping fog up to Galatz, where, doubtless, he had made preparation
for escaping from us. But his child mind only saw so far. And it may be
that as ever is in God's Providence, the very thing that the evil doer
most reckoned on for his selfish good, turns out to be his chiefest
harm. The hunter is taken in his own snare, as the great Psalmist says.
For now that he think he is free from every trace of us all, and that he
has escaped us with so many hours to him, then his selfish child brain
will whisper him to sleep. He think, too, that as he cut himself off
from knowing your mind, there can be no knowledge of him to you. There
is where he fail! That terrible baptism of blood which he give you makes
you free to go to him in spirit, as you have as yet done in your times
of freedom, when the sun rise and set. At such times you go by my voli-
tion and not by his. And this power to good of you and others, you have
won from your suffering at his hands. This is now all more precious that
he know it not, and to guard himself have even cut himself off from his
knowledge of our where. We, however, are not selfish, and we believe
that God is with us through all this blackness, and these many dark
hours. We shall follow him, and we shall not flinch.Even if we peril
ourselves that we become like him. Friend John, this has been a great
hour, and it have done much to advance us on our way. You must be scribe
and write him all down, so that when the others return from their work
you can give it to them, then they shall know as we do."

And so I have written it whilst we wait their return, and Mrs. Harker
has written with the typewriter all since she brought the MS to us.


CHAPTER 26


   DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


29 October.--This is written in the train from Varna to Galatz. Last
night we all assembled a little before the time of sunset. Each of us
had done his work as well as he could, so far as thought, and endeavor,
and opportunity go, we are prepared for the whole of our journey, and
for our work when we get to Galatz. When the usual time came round Mrs.
Harker prepared herself for her hypnotic effort, and after a longer and
more serious effort on the part of Van Helsing than has been usually
necessary, she sank into the trance. Usually she speaks on a hint, but
this time the Professor had to ask her questions, and to ask them pretty
resolutely, before we could learn anything. At last her answer came.

"I can see nothing. We are still. There are no waves lapping, but only a
steady swirl of water softly running against the hawser. I can hear
men's voices calling, near and far, and the roll and creak of oars in
the rowlocks. A gun is fired somewhere, the echo of it seems far away.
There is tramping of feet overhead, and ropes and chains are drag- ged
along. What is this? There is a gleam of light. I can feel the air
blowing upon me."

Here she stopped. She had risen, as if impulsively, from where she lay
on the sofa, and raised both her hands, palms upwards, as if lifting a
weight. Van Helsing and I looked at each other with understanding.
Quincey raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her intently,whilst
Harker's hand instinctively closed round the hilt of his Kukri. There
was a long pause. We all knew that the time when she could speak was
passing, but we felt that it was useless to say anything.

Suddenly she sat up, and as she opened her eyes said sweetly, "Would
none of you like a cup of tea? You must all be so tired!"

We could only make her happy, and so acqueisced. She bustled off to get
tea. When she had gone Van Helsing said, "You see, my friends. He is
close to land. He has left his earth chest. But he has yet to get on
shore. In the night he may lie hidden somewhere, but if he be not
carried on shore, or if the ship do not touch it, he cannot achieve the
land. In such case he can, if it be in the night,change his form and
jump or fly on shore, then, unless he be carried he cannot escape. And
if he be carried, then the customs men may discover what the box
contain. Thus, in fine, if he escape not on shore tonight, or before
dawn, there will be the whole day lost to him. We may then arrive in
time. For if he escape not at night we shall come on him in daytime,
boxed up and at our mercy. For he dare not be his true self, awake and
visible, lest he be discovered."

There was no more to be said, so we waited in patience until the dawn,
at which time we might learn more from Mrs. Harker.

Early this morning we listened,with breathless anxiety, for her response
in her trance. The hypnotic stage was even longer in coming than before,
and when it came the time re- maining until full sunrise was so short
that we began to despair. Van Helsing seemed to throw his whole soul
into the effort. At last, in obedience to his will she made reply.

"All is dark. I hear lapping water, level with me, and some creaking as
of wood on wood." She paused, and the red sun shot up. We must wait till
tonight.

And so it is that we are travelling towards Galatz in an agony of
expectation. We are due to arrive between two and three in the morning.
But already, at Bucharest, we are three hours late, so we cannot
possibly get in till well after sunup. Thus we shall have two more
hypnotic messages from Mrs. Harker! Either or both may possibly throw
more light on what is happening.


Later.--Sunset has come and gone. Fortunately it came at a time when
there was no distraction. For had it occurred whilst we were at a
station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation.
Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than
this morning. I am in fear that her power of reading the Count's
sensations may die away, just when we want it most. It seems to me that
her imagination is beginning to work. Whilst she has been in the trance
hitherto she has confined herself to the simp- lest of facts. If this
goes on it may ultimately mislead us. If I thought that the Count's
power over her would die away equally with her power of knowledge it
would be a happy thought. But I am afraid that it may not be so.

When she did speak, her words were enigmatical,"Some- thing is going
out. I can feel it pass me like a cold wind. I can hear, far off,
confused sounds, as of men talking in strange tongues, fierce falling
water, and the howling of wolves." She stopped and a shudder ran through
her, in- creasing in intensity for a few seconds, till at the end, she
shook as though in a palsy. She said no more, even in answer to the
Professor's imperative questioning. When she woke from the trance, she
was cold, and exhausted, and lan- guid, but her mind was all alert. She
could not remember anything, but asked what she had said. When she was
told, she pondered over it deeply for a long time and in silence.


30 October, 7 a.m.--We are near Galatz now, and I may not have time to
write later. Sunrise this morning was anx- iously looked for by us all.
Knowing of the increasing diff- iculty of procuring the hypnotic trance,
Van Helsing began his passes earlier than usual. They produced no
effect, how- ever, until the regular time, when she yielded with a still
greater difficulty, only a minute before the sun rose. The Professor
lost no time in his questioning.

Her answer came with equal quickness, "All is dark. I hear water
swirling by, level with my ears, and the creaking of wood on wood.
Cattle low far off. There is another sound, a queer one like . . ." She
stopped and grew white, and whiter still.

"Go on, go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van Helsing in an agonized
voice. At the same time there was despair in his eyes, for the risen sun
was reddening even Mrs. Harker's pale face. She opened her eyes, and we
all started as she said, sweetly and seemingly with the utmost
unconcern.

"Oh, Professor, why ask me to do what you know I can't? I don't remember
anything." Then, seeing the look of amaze- ment on our faces, she said,
turning from one to the other with a troubled look, "What have I said?
What have I done? I know nothing, only that I was lying here, half
asleep, and heard you say `go on! speak, I command you!' It seemed so
funny to hear you order me about, as if I were a bad child!"

"Oh, Madam Mina," he said, sadly, "it is proof,if proof be needed, of
how I love and honor you, when a word for your good, spoken more earnest
than ever, can seem so strange be- cause it is to order her whom I am
proud to obey!"

The whistles are sounding. We are nearing Galatz.We are on fire with
anxiety and eagerness.

MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL


30 October.--Mr. Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been
ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be spared, since
he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were distributed much
as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming went to the Vice
Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some sort
to the official, we being in extreme hurry. Jonathan and the two doctors
went to the shipping agent to learn partic- ulars of the arrival of the
Czarina Catherine.


Later.--Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and the Vice
Consul sick. So the routine work has been attended to by a clerk. He was
very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power.


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


30 October.--At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr.Seward, and I called on
Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London firm of Hapgood.
They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord Godalming's
telegraphed request, asking them to show us any civility in their
power.They were more than kind and courteous, and took us at once on
board the Czarina Catherine, which lay at anchor out in the river
harbor. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name, who told us of his
voyage. He said that in all his life he had never had so favorable a
run.

"Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we expect it that we should
have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck, so as to keep up the
average. It's no canny to run frae London to the Black Sea wi' a wind
ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were blawin' on yer sail for his
ain pur- pose. An' a' the time we could no speer a thing.Gin we were
nigh a ship, or a port, or a headland, a fog fell on us and travelled
wi' us,till when after it had lifted and we looked out, the deil a thing
could we see. We ran by Gibraltar wi' oot bein' able to signal. An' til
we came to the Dardanelles and had to wait to get our permit to pass, we
never were within hail o' aught. At first I inclined to slack off sail
and beat about till the fog was lifted. But whiles, I thocht that if the
Deil was minded to get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it
whether we would or no.If we had a quick voyage it would be no to our
miscredit wi'the owners, or no hurt to our traffic,an' the Old Mon who
had served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no
hinderin' him."

This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition and commercial
reasoning, aroused Van Helsing,who said,"Mine friend, that Devil is more
clever than he is thought by some, and he know when he meet his match!"

The skipper was not displeased with the compliment, and went on, "When
we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble. Some o' them, the
Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had
been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had started
frae London. I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out their twa
fingers when they saw him,to guard them against the evil eye. Man! but
the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly ri- deeculous! I sent them
aboot their business pretty quick, but as just after a fog closed in on
us I felt a wee bit as they did anent something, though I wouldn't say
it was again the big box. Well, on we went, and as the fog didn't let up
for five days I joost let the wind carry us, for if the Deil wanted to
get somewheres, well, he would fetch it up a'reet. An' if he didn't,
well, we'd keep a sharp lookout anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way
and deep water all the time. And two days ago, when the mornin' sun came
through the fog, we found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz.
The Roumanians were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the
box and fling it in the river. I had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a
handspike. An' when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in
his hand, I had convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the
property and the trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the
river Danube.They had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to fling
in, and as it was marked Galatz via Varna,I thocht I'd let it lie till
we discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegither. We didn't do much
clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchor. But in the
mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sunup, a man came aboard wi' an
order, written to him from England, to receive a box marked for one
Count Dracula. Sure eneuch the matter was one ready to his hand. He had
his papers a' reet, an' gla d I was to be rid o' the dam' thing, for I
was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it. If the Deil did have any
luggage aboord the ship,I'm thinkin' it was nane ither than that same!"

"What was the name of the man who took it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing with
restrained eagerness.

"I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and stepping down to his cabin,
produced a receipt signed "Immanuel Hildesheim." Burgen-strasse 16 was
the address. We found out that this was all the Captain knew, so with
thanks we came away.

We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the Adelphi
Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fez. His arguments were
pointed with specie, we doing the punctuation, and with a little
bargaining he told us what he knew. This turned out to be simple but
important. He had received a letter from Mr. de Ville of London, telling
him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to avoid customs, a box
which would arrive at Galatz in the Czarina Catherine. This he was to
give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky, who dealt with the Slovaks
who traded down the river to the port. He had been paid for his work by
an English bank note, which had been duly cashed for gold at the Danube
International Bank. When Skinsky had come to him, he had taken him to
the ship and handed over the box, so as to save parterage. That was all
he knew.

We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find him. One of his
neighbors,who did not seem to bear him any affec- tion, said that he had
gone away two days before,no one knew whither. This was corroborated by
his landlord, who had re- ceived by messenger the key of the house
together with the rent due, in English money. This had been between ten
and eleven o'clock last night. We were at a standstill again.

Whilst we were talking one came running and breathless- ly gasped out
that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the
churchyard of St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if by
some wild animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see the
horror, the women cry- ing out. "This is the work of a Slovak!" We
hurried away lest we should have been in some way drawn into the affair,
and so detained.

As we came home we could arrive at no definite conclu- sion. We were all
convinced that the box was on its way, by water,to somewhere, but where
that might be we would have to discover.With heavy hearts we came home
to the hotel to Mina.

When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to taking Mina
again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate, and it is at
least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary step, I was
released from my promise to her.


 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL


30 October, evening.--They were so tired and worn out and dispirited
that there was nothing to be done till they had some rest, so I asked
them all to lie down for half an hour whilst I should enter everything
up to the moment. I feel so grateful to the man who invented the
"Traveller's" typewriter, and to Mr. Morris for getting this one for me.
I should have felt quite astray doing the work if I had to write with a
pen . . .

It is all done. Poor dear, dear Jonathan, what he must have suffered,
what he must be suffering now. He lies on the sofa hardly seeming to
breathe,and his whole body appears in collapse. His brows are knit. His
face is drawn with pain. Poor fellow, maybe he is thinking,and I can see
his face all wrinkled up with the concentration of his thoughts. Oh! if
I could only help at all. I shall do what I can.

I have asked Dr. Van Helsing, and he has got me all the papers that I
have not yet seen. Whilst they are resting, I shall go over all
carefully,and perhaps I may arrive at some conclusion. I shall try to
follow the Professor's example, and think without prejudice on the facts
before me . . .

I do believe that under God's providence I have made a discovery. I
shall get the maps and look over them.

I am more than ever sure that I am right. My new con- clusion is
ready,so I shall get our party together and read it. They can judge it.
It is well to be accurate, and every minute is precious.


 MINA HARKER'S MEMORANDUM

 (ENTERED IN HER JOURNAL)


Ground of inquiry.--Count Dracula's problem is to get back to his own
place.

(a) He must be brought back by some one. This is evident. For had he
power to move himself as he wished he could go either as man, or wolf,
or bat, or in some other way. He evidently fears discovery or
interference, in the state of helplessness in which he must be, confined
as he is between dawn and sunset in his wooden box.

(b) How is he to be taken?--Here a process of exclu- sions may help us.
By road, by rail, by water?

1. By Road.--There are endless difficulties, especi- ally in leaving the
city.

(x) There are people. And people are curious, and investigate. A hint, a
surmise, a doubt as to what might be in the box, would destroy him.

(y) There are, or there may be, customs and octroi officers to pass.

(z) His pursuers might follow. This is his highest fear. And in order to
prevent his being betrayed he has repelled, so far as he can, even his
victim, me!

2. By Rail.--There is no one in charge of the box. It would have to take
its chance of being delayed, and delay would be fatal, with enemies on
the track. True, he might escape at night. But what would he be, if left
in a strange place with no refuge that he could fly to? This is not what
he intends, and he does not mean to risk it.

3. By Water.--Here is the safest way, in one respect, but with most
danger in another. On the water he is power- less except at night. Even
then he can only summon fog and storm and snow and his wolves. But were
he wrecked, the living water would engulf him, helpless, and he would
indeed be lost. He could have the vessel drive to land, but if it were
unfriendly land, wherein he was not free to move, his position would
still be desperate.

We know from the record that he was on the water, so what we have to do
is to ascertain what water.

The first thing is to realize exactly what he has done as yet. We may,
then, get a light on what his task is to be.

Firstly.--We must differentiate between what he did in London as part of
his general plan of action, when he was pressed for moments and had to
arrange as best he could.

Secondly we must see, as well as we can surmise it from the facts we
know of, what he has done here.

As to the first, he evidently intended to arrive at Galatz, and sent
invoice to Varna to deceive us lest we should ascertain his means of
exit from England. His immed- iate and sole purpose then was to escape.
The proof of this, is the letter of instructions sent ot Immanuel
Hildesheim to clear and take away the box before sunrise.There is also
the instruction to Petrof Skinsky. These we must only guess at, but
there must have been some letter or message, since Skin- sky came to
Hildesheim.

That, so far, his plans were successful we know. The Czarina Catherine
made a phenomenally quick journey. So much so that Captain Donelson's
suspicions were aroused. But his superstition united with his canniness
played the Count's game for him, and he ran with his favoring wind
through fogs and all till he brought up blindfold at Galatz. That the
Count's arrangements were well made, has been proved.Hilde- sheim
cleared the box, took it off, and gave it to Skinsky. Skinsky took it,
and here we lose the trail. We only know that the box is somewhere on
the water, moving along. The customs and the octroi, if there be any,
have been avoided.

Now we come to what the Count must have done after his arrival, on land,
at Galatz.

The box was given to Skinsky before sunrise. At sun- rise the Count
could appear in his own form. Here, we ask why Skinsky was chosen at all
to aid in the work? In my husband's diary, Skinsky is mentioned as
dealing with the Slovaks who trade down the river to the port. And the
man's remark,that the murder was the work of a Slovak, showed the
general feeling against his class. The Count wanted iso- lation.

My surmise is this, that in London the Count decided to get back to his
castle by water, as the most safe and secret way. He was brought from
the castle by Szgany, and probably they delivered their cargo to Slovaks
who took the boxes to Varna, for there they were shipped to London. Thus
the Count had knowledge of the persons who could arrange this service.
When the box was on land, before sunrise or after sunset, he came out
from his box, met Skinsky and instructed him what to do as to arranging
the carriage of the box up some river. When this was done, and he knew
that all was in train, he blotted out his traces, as he thought, by
murdering his agent.

I have examined the map and find that the river most suitable for the
Slovaks to have ascended is either the Pruth or the Sereth. I read in
the typescript that in my trance I heard cows low and water swirling
level with my ears and the creaking of wood. The Count in his box, then,
was on a river in an open boat, propelled probably either by oars or
poles, for the banks are near and it is working against stream. There
would be no such if floating down stream.

Of course it may not be either the Sereth or the Pruth, but we may
possibly investigate further. Now of these two, the Pruth is the more
easily navigated, but the Sereth is, at Fundu, joined by the Bistritza
which runs up round the Borgo Pass. The loop it makes is manifestly as
close to Dracula's castle as can be got by water.


MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL--CONTINUED


When I had done reading, Jonathan took me in his arms and kissed me. The
others kept shaking me by both hands, and Dr. Van Helsing said, "Our
dear Madam Mina is once more our teacher. Her eyes have been where we
were blinded. Now we are on the track once again, and this time we may
succeed. Our enemy is at his most helpless. And if we can come on him by
day, on the water, our task will be over. He has a start, but he is
powerless to hasten, as he may not leave this box lest those who carry
him may suspect. For them to suspect would be to prompt them to throw
him in the stream where he perish. This he knows, and will not. Now men,
to our Council of War, for here and now, we must plan what each and all
shall do."

"I shall get a steam launch and follow him," said Lord Godalming.

"And I, horses to follow on the bank lest by chance he land," said Mr.
Morris.

"Good!" said the Professor, "both good. But neither must go alone. There
must be force to overcome force if need be. The Slovak is strong and
rough, and he carries rude arms." All the men smiled, for amongst them
they carried a small arsenal.

Said Mr. Morris, "I have brought some Winchesters. They are pretty handy
in a crowd, and there may be wolves. The Count, if you remember, took
some other precautions. He made some requisitions on others that Mrs.
Harker could not quite hear or understand. We must be ready at all
points."

Dr. Seward said, "I think I had better go with Quincey. We have been
accustomed to hunt together, and we two, well armed, will be a match for
whatever may come along. You must not be alone, Art. It may be necessary
to fight the Slovaks, and a chance thrust, for I don't suppose these
fellows carry guns, would undo all our plans.There must be no
chances,this time. We shall not rest until the Count's head and body
have been separated, and we are sure that he cannot rein- carnate."

He looked at Jonathan as he spoke, and Jonathan looked at me. I could
see that the poor dear was torn about in his mind. Of course he wanted
to be with me. But then the boat service would, most likely, be the one
which would destroy the . . . the . . . Vampire. (Why did I hesitate to
write the word?)

He was silent awhile, and during his silence Dr. Van Helsing spoke,
"Friend Jonathan, this is to you for twice reasons. First, because you
are young and brave and can fight, and all energies may be needed at the
last. And again that it is your right to destroy him.That, which has
wrought such woe to you and yours. Be not afraid for Madam Mina. She
will be my care, if I may. I am old. My legs are not so quick to run as
once. And I am not used to ride so long or to pursue as need be, or to
fight with lethal weapons. But I can be of other service. I can fight in
other way. And I can die, if need be, as well as younger men. Now let me
say that what I would is this. While you, my Lord Godalming and friend
Jonathan go in your so swift little steamboat up the river, and whilst
John and Quincey guard the bank where per- chance he might be landed, I
will take Madam Mina right into the heart of the enemy's country. Whilst
the old fox is tied in his box, floating on the running stream whence he
cannot escape to land, where he dares not raise the lid of his cof- fin
box lest his Slovak carriers should in fear leave him to perish, we
shall go in the track where Jonathan went, from Bistritz over the Borgo,
and find our way to the Castle of Dracula. Here,Madam Mina's hypnotic
power will surely help, and we shall find our way, all dark and unknown
otherwise, after the first sunrise when we are near that fateful place.
There is much to be done, and other places to be made sanc- tify, so
that that nest of vipers be obliterated."

Here Jonathan interrupted him hotly, "Do you mean to say, Professor Van
Helsing, that you would bring Mina, in her sad case and tainted as she
is with that devil's illness, right into the jaws of his deathtrap? Not
for the world! Not for Heaven or Hell!"

He became almost speechless for a minute, and then went on, "Do you know
what the place is? Have you seen that awful den of hellish infamy, with
the very moonlight alive with grisly shapes,and ever speck of dust that
whirls in the wind a devouring monster in embryo? Have you felt the
Vampire's lips upon your throat?"

Here he turned to me, and as his eyes lit on my fore- head he threw up
his arms with a cry, "Oh, my God, what have we done to have this terror
upon us?" and he sank down on the sofa in a collapse of misery.

The Professor's voice,as he spoke in clear, sweet tones, which seemed to
vibrate in the air, calmed us all.

"Oh, my friend, it is because I would save Madam Mina from that awful
place that I would go. God forbid that I should take her into that
place. There is work, wild work, to be done before that place can be
purify. Remember that we are in terrible straits. If the Count escape us
this time, and he is strong and subtle and cunning, he may choose to
sleep him for a century, and then in time our dear one," he took my
hand, "would come to him to keep him company, and would be as those
others that you, Jonathan, saw. You have told us of their gloating lips.
You heard their ribald laugh as they clutched the moving bag that the
Count threw to them. You shudder, and well may it be. Forgive me that I
make you so much pain, but it is necessary. My friend, is it not a dire
need for that which I am giving, possibly my life? If it, were that any
one went into that place to stay, it is I who would have to go to keep
them company."

"Do as you will," said Jonathan, with a sob that shook him all over, "we
are in the hands of God!"


Later.--Oh, it did me good to see the way that these brave men worked.
How can women help loving men when they are so earnest, and so true, and
so brave! And, too, it made me think of the wonderful power of money!
What can it not do when basely used. I felt so thankful that Lord Godal-
ming is rich, and both he and Mr. Morris,who also has plenty of money,
are willing to spend it so freely. For if they did not,our little
expedition could not start,either so promptly or so well equipped, as it
will within another hour. It is not three hours since it was arranged
what part each of us was to do. And now Lord Godalming and Jonathan have
a lovely steam launch, with steam up ready to start at a moment's
notice. Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris have half a dozen good horses, well
appointed. We have all the maps and appliances of various kinds that can
be had. Professor Van Helsing and I are to leave by the 11:40 train
tonight for Veresti, where we are to get a carriage to drive to the
Borgo Pass. We are bringing a good deal of ready money,as we are to buy
a carr- iage and horses. We shall drive ourselves, for we have no one
whom we can trust in the matter. The Professor knows something of a
great many languages, so we shall get on all right. We have all got
arms, even for me a large bore revol- ver. Jonathan would not be happy
unless I was armed like the rest. Alas! I cannot carry one arm that the
rest do, the scar on my forehead forbids that. Dear Dr. Van Helsing
comforts me by telling me that I am fully armed as there may be wolves.
The weather is getting colder every hour, and there are snow flurries
which come and go as warnings.


Later.--It took all my courage to say goodby to my dar- ling. We may
never meet again. Courage, Mina! The Pro- fessor is looking at you
keenly. His look is a warning. There must be no tears now, unless it may
be that God will let them fall in gladness.


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


30 October, night.--I am writing this in the light from the furnace door
of the steam launch. Lord Godalming is firing up. He is an experienced
hand at the work, as he has had for years a launch of his own on the
Thames, and another on the Norfolk Broads. Regarding our plans, we
finally de- cided that Mina's guess was correct,and that if any waterway
was chosen for the Count's escape back to his Castle, the Sereth and
then the Bistritza at its junction, would be the one. We took it, that
somewhere about the 47th degree, north latitude, would be the place
chosen for crossing the country between the river and the Carpathians.
We have no fear in running at good speed up the river at night. There is
plenty of water, and the banks are wide enough apart to make steam- ing,
even in the dark, easy enough. Lord Godalming tells me to sleep for a
while,as it is enough for the present for one to be on watch. But I
cannot sleep, how can I with the terr- ible danger hanging over my
darling, and her going out into that awful place . . .

My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God.Only for that faith
it would be easier to die than to live,and so be quit of all the
trouble. Mr. Morris and Dr. Seward were off on their long ride before we
started.They are to keep up the right bank, far enough off to get on
higher lands where they can see a good stretch of river and avoid the
following of its curves. They have, for the first stages, two men to
ride and lead their spare horses, four in all, so as not to excite
curiosity. When they dismiss the men, which shall be shortly, they shall
themselves look after the horses. It may be necessary for us to join
forces. If so they can mount our whole party. One of the saddles has a
moveable horn, and can be easily adapted for Mina, if required.

It is a wild adventure we are on. Here, as we are rushing along through
the darkness, with the cold from the river seeming to rise up and strike
us, with all the myster- ious voices of the night around us,it all comes
home.We seem to be drifting into unknown places and unknown ways. Into a
whole world of dark and dreadful things. Godalming is shut- ting the
furnace door . . .


31 October.--Still hurrying along.The day has come, and Godalming is
sleeping.I am on watch. The morning is bitterly cold, the furnace heat
is grateful, though we have heavy fur coats. As yet we have passed only
a few open boats, but none of them had on board any box or package of
anything like the size of the one we seek. The men were scared every
time we turned our electric lamp on them,and fell on their knees and
prayed.


1 November, evening.--No news all day. We have found nothing of the kind
we seek. We have now passed into the Bistritza, and if we are wrong in
our surmise our chance is gone. We have overhauled every boat, big and
little. Early this morning, one crew took us for a Government boat, and
treated us accordingly. We saw in this a way of smoothing matters,so at
Fundu,where the Bistritza runs into the Sereth, we got a Roumanian flag
which we now fly conspicuously. With every boat which we have
over-hauled since then this trick has succeeded. We have had every
deference shown to us, and not once any objection to whatever we chose
to ask or do. Some of the Slovaks tell us that a big boat passed them,
go- ing at more than usual speed as she had a double crew on board. This
was before they came to Fundu, so they could not tell us whether the
boat turned into the Bistritza or contin- ued on up the Sereth. At Fundu
we could not hear of any such boat, so she must have passed there in the
night. I am feel- ing very sleepy. The cold is perhaps beginning to tell
upon me, and nature must have rest some time. Godalming insists that he
shall keep the first watch. God bless him for all his goodness to poor
dear Mina and me.


2 November, morning.--It is broad daylight. That good fellow would not
wake me. He says it would have been a sin to, for I slept peacefully and
was forgetting my trouble. It seems brutally selfish to me to have slept
so long, and let him watch all night, but he was quite right. I am a new
man this morning. And, as I sit here and watch him sleeping, I can do
all that is necessary both as to minding the engine, steering, and
keeping watch. I can feel that my strength and energy are coming back to
me. I wonder where Mina is now, and Van Helsing. They should have got to
Veresti about noon on Wednesday. It would take them some time to get the
carriage and horses. So if they had started and travelled hard, they
would be about now at the Borgo Pass. God guide and help them! I am
afraid to think what may happen. If we could only go faster. But we
cannot. The engines are throb- bing and doing their utmost. I wonder how
Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris are getting on. There seem to be endless
streams run- ning down the mountains into this river, but as none of
them are very large, at present, at all events, though they are
doubtless terrible in winter and when the snow melts, the horsemen may
not have met much obstruction. I hope that be- fore we get to Strasba we
may see them. For if by that time we have not overtaken the Count, it
may be necessary to take counsel together what to do next.

 DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


2 November.--Three days on the road. No news, and no time to write it if
there had been, for every moment is precious. We have had only the rest
needful for the horses. But we are both bearing it wonderfully. Those
adventurous days of ours are turning up useful. We must push on. We
shall never feel happy till we get the launch in sight again.


3 Novenber.--We heard at Fundu that the launch had gone up the
Bistritza. I wish it wasn't so cold. There are signs of snow coming. And
if it falls heavy it will stop us. In such case we must get a sledge and
go on, Russian fashion.

4 Novenber.--Today we heard of the launch having been detained by an
accident when trying to force a way up the rapids. The Slovak boats get
up all right, by aid of a rope and steering with knowledge. Some went up
only a few hours before.Godalming is an amateur fitter himself, and
evidently it was he who put the launch in trim again.

Finally, they got up the rapids all right, with local help, and are off
on the chase afresh. I fear that the boat is not any better for the
accident, the peasantry tell us that after she got upon smooth water
again,she kept stopping every now and again so long as she was in
sight.We must push on harder than ever. Our help may be wanted soon.


 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL


31 October.--Arrived at Veresti at noon. The Professor tells me that
this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotize me at all, and that all I
could say was, "dark and quiet." He is off now buying a carriage and
horses. He says that he will later on try to buy additional horses, so
that we may be able to change them on the way. We have something more
than 70 miles before us. The country is lovely, and most interesting. If
only we were under different conditions, how delightful it would be to
see it all. If Jonathan and I were driving through it alone what a
pleasure it would be.To stop and see people, and learn something of
their life, and to fill our minds and memories with all the color and
pictur- esqueness of the whole wild,beautiful country and the quaint
people! But, alas!


Later.--Dr. Van Helsing has returned. He has got the carriage and
horses. We are to have some dinner, and to start in an hour. The
landlady is putting us up a huge basket of provisions. It seems enough
for a company of soldiers. The Professor encourages her, and whispers to
me that it may be a week before we can get any food again. He has been
shopping too, and has sent home such a wonderful lot of fur coats and
wraps, and all sorts of warm things. There will not be any chance of our
being cold.

We shall soon be off. I am afraid to think what may happen to us. We are
truly in the hands of God. He alone knows what may be, and I pray Him,
with all the strength of my sad and humble soul, that He will watch over
my beloved husband. That whatever may happen, Jonathan may know that I
loved him and honored him more than I can say, and that my latest and
truest thought will be always for him.


CHAPTER 27


   MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL


1 November.--All day long we have travelled, and at a good speed. The
horses seem to know that they are being kindly treated, for they go
willingly their full stage at best speed.We have now had so many changes
and find the same thing so constantly that we are encouraged to think
that the journey will be an easy one. Dr. Van Helsing is laconic, he
tells the farmers that he is hurrying to Bistritz, and pays them well to
make the exchange of horses. We get hot soup, or coffee, or tea, and off
we go. It is a lovely country. Full of beauties of all imaginable kinds,
and the people are brave, and strong, and simple, and seem full of nice
quali- ties. They are very, very superstitious. In the first house where
we stopped, when the woman who served us saw the scar on my forehead,
she crossed herself and put out two fingers towards me, to keep off the
evil eye. I believe they went to the trouble of putting an extra amount
of garlic into our food, and I can't abide garlic. Ever since then I
have taken care not to take off my hat or veil, and so have escaped
their suspicions. We are travelling fast, and as we have no driver with
us 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 Jona- than, 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 res-
olution. 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 heav- iness for want of a better word. I
mean that it oppresses us both. It is very cold, and only our warm furs
keep us com- fortable. At dawn Van Helsing hypnotized me. He says I ans-
wered "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


4 November.--This to my old and true friend John Seward, M. D., of
Purefleet, London, in case I may not see him. It may explain. It is
morning, and I write by a fire which all the night I have kept alive,
Madam Mina aiding me.It is cold, cold. So cold that the grey heavy sky
is full of snow, which when it falls will settle for all winter as the
ground is hardening to receive it.It seems to have affected Madam Mina.
She has been so heavy of head all day that she was not like herself.She
sleeps, and sleeps, and sleeps! She who is usual so alert, have done
literally nothing all the day. She even have lost her appetite. She make
no entry into her little diary, she who write so faithful at every
pause. Something whisper to me that all is not well. However, tonight
she is more vif.Her long sleep all day have refresh and restore her, for
now she is all sweet and bright as ever. At sunset I try to hypnotize
her, but alas! with no effect. The power has grown less and less with
each day, and tonight it fail me altogether. Well, God's will be done,
whatever it may be, and whithersoever it may lead!

Now to the historical, for as Madam Mina write not in her stenography, I
must, in my cumbrous old fashion, that so each day of us may not go
unrecorded.

We got to the Borgo Pass just after sunrise yesterday morning. When I
saw the signs of the dawn I got ready for the hypnotism. We stopped our
carriage, and got down so that there might be no disturbance. I made a
couch with furs, and Madam Mina, lying down, yield herself as usual,but
more slow and more short time than ever, to the hypnotic sleep. As
before, came the answer, "darkness and the swirl- ing of water." Then
she woke, bright and radiant and we go on our way and soon reach the
Pass. At this time and place, she become all on fire with zeal. Some new
guiding power be in her manifested, for she point to a road and say,
"This is the way."

"How know you it?" I ask.

"Of course I know it,' she answer, and with a pause, add, "Have not my
Jonathan travelled it and wrote of his travel?"

At first I think somewhat strange, but soon I see that there be only one
such byroad. It is used but little, and very different from the coach
road from the Bukovina to Bis- tritz, which is more wide and hard, and
more of use.

So we came down this road. When we meet other ways, not always were we
sure that they were roads at all, for they be neglect and light snow
have fallen, the horses know and they only.I give rein to them, and they
go on so patient. By and by we find all the things which Jonathan have
note in that wonderful diary of him. Then we go on for long, long hours
and hours. At the first, I tell Madam Mina to sleep. She try, and she
succeed.She sleep all the time, till at the last, I feel myself to
suspicious grow, and attempt to wake her. But she sleep on, and I may
not wake her though I try. I do not wish to try too hard lest I harm
her. For I know that she have suffer much, and sleep at times be
all-in-all to her. I think I drowse myself, for all of sudden I feel
guilt, as though I have done something. I find myself bolt up, with the
reins in my hand, and the good horses go along jog, jog, just as ever.I
look down and find Madam Mina still asleep. It is now not far off sunset
time, and over the snow the light of the sun flow in big yellow flood,
so that we throw great long shadow on where the mountain rise so steep.
For we are going up, and up, and all is oh, so wild and rocky, as though
it were the end of the world.

Then I arouse Madam Mina. This time she wake with not much trouble, and
then I try to put her to hypnotic sleep. But she sleep not, being as
though I were not. Still I try and try, till all at once I find her and
myself in dark, so I look round, and find that the sun have gone down.
Madam Mina laugh, and I turn and look at her. She is now quite awake,
and look so well as I never saw her since that night at Carfax when we
first enter the Count's house. I am amaze, and not at ease then. But she
is so bright and tender and thoughtful for me that I forget all fear. I
light a fire, for we have brought supply of wood with us, and she
prepare food while I undo the horses and set them, tethered in shel-
ter, to feed. Then when I return to the fire she have my supper ready. I
go to help her, but she smile, and tell me that she have eat already.
That she was so hungry that she would not wait. I like it not,and I have
grave doubts. But I fear to affright her, and so I am silent of it. She
help me and I eat alone, and then we wrap in fur and lie beside the
fire, and I tell her to sleep while I watch.But present- ly I forget all
of watching. And when I sudden remember that I watch, I find her lying
quiet, but awake, and looking at me with so bright eyes. Once, twice
more the same occur, and I get much sleep till before morning. When I
wake I try to hypnotize her, but alas! Though she shut her eyes
obedient, she may not sleep. The sun rise up, and up, and up, and then
sleep come to her too late, but so heavy that she will not wake. I have
to lift her up, and place her sleeping in the carriage when I have
harnessed the horses and made all ready. Madam still sleep,and she look
in her sleep more healthy and more redder than before. And I like it
not. And I am afraid, afraid, afraid! I am afraid of all things, even to
think but I must go on my way. The stake we play for is life and death,
or more than these, and we must not flinch.


5 November, morning.--Let me be accurate in everything, for though you
and I have seen some strange things together, you may at the first think
that I, Van Helsing, am mad. That the many horrors and the so long
strain on nerves has at the last turn my brain.

All yesterday we travel, always getting closer to the mountains, and
moving into a more and more wild and desert land. There are great,
frowning precipices and much falling water, and Nature seem to have held
sometime her carnival. Madam Mina still sleep and sleep. And though I
did have hun- ger and appeased it, I could not waken her, even for food.
I began to fear that the fatal spell of the place was upon her, tainted
as she is with that Vampire baptism. "Well," said I to myself, "if it be
that she sleep all the day, it shall also be that I do not sleep at
night." As we travel on the rough road,for a road of an ancient and
imperfect kind there was, I held down my head and slept.

Again I waked with a sense of guilt and of time passed, and found Madam
Mina still sleeping, and the sun low down. But all was indeed changed.
The frowning mountains seemed further away, and we were near the top of
a steep rising hill, on summit of which was such a castle as Jonathan
tell of in his diary. At once I exulted and feared. For now,for good or
ill, the end was near.

I woke Madam Mina, and again tried to hypnotize her,but alas! unavailing
till too late.Then, ere the great dark came upon us, for even after down
sun the heavens reflected the gone sun on the snow, and all was for a
time in a great twi- light. I took out the horses and fed them in what
shelter I could. Then I make a fire, and near it I make Madam Mina, now
awake and more charming than ever, sit comfortable amid her rugs. I got
ready food, but she would not eat, simply saying that she had not
hunger. I did not press her,knowing her unavailingness. But I myself
eat, for I must needs now be strong for all. Then, with the fear on me
of what might be, I drew a ring so big for her comfort, round where
Madam Mina sat. And over the ring I passed some of the wafer, and I
broke it fine so that all was well guarded. She sat still all the time,
so still as one dead. And she grew whiter and even whiter till the snow
was not more pale, and no word she said. But when I drew near, she clung
to me, and I could know that the poor soul shook her from head to feet
with a tremor that was pain to feel.

I said to her presently, when she had grown more quiet, "Will you not
come over to the fire?" for I wished to make a test of what she could.
She rose obedient, but when she have made a step she stopped, and stood
as one stricken.

"Why not go on?" I asked.She shook her head, and coming back, sat down
in her place. Then, looking at me with open eyes, as of one waked from
sleep, she said simply,"I cannot!" and remained silent. I rejoiced, for
I knew that what she could not, none of those that we dreaded could.
Though there might be danger to her body, yet her soul was safe!

Presently the horses began to scream, and tore at their tethers till I
came to them and quieted them. When they did feel my hands on them,they
whinnied low as in joy,and licked at my hands and were quiet for a
time.Many times through the night did I come to them, till it arrive to
the cold hour when all nature is at lowest, and every time my coming was
with quiet of them. In the cold hour the fire began to die, and I was
about stepping forth to replenish it, for now the snow came in flying
sweeps and with it a chill mist. Even in the dark there was a light of
some kind, as there ever is over snow, and it seemed as though the snow
flurries and the wreaths of mist took shape as of women with trailing
gar- ments. All was in dead, grim silence only that the horses whinnied
and cowered, as if in terror of the worst. I began to fear, horrible
fears. But then came to me the sense of safety in that ring wherein I
stood. I began too, to think that my imaginings were of the night, and
the gloom, and the unrest that I have gone through, and all the terrible
anxiety. It was as though my memories of all Jonathan's horrid
experience were befooling me. For the snow flakes and the mist began to
wheel and circle round, till I could get as though a shadowy glimpse of
those women that would have kissed him. And then the horses cowered
lower and lower, and moaned in terror as men do in pain. Even the
madness of fright was not to them, so that they could break away. I
feared for my dear Madam Mina when these weird figures drew near and
circled round. I looked at her, but she sat calm, and smiled at me. When
I would have stepped to the fire to replenish it, she caught me and held
me back, and whispered, like a voice that one hears in a dream, so low
it was.

"No! No! Do not go without. Here you are safe!"

I turned to her, and looking in her eyes said, "But you? It is for you
that I fear!"

Whereat she laughed, a laugh low and unreal, and said, "Fear for me! Why
fear for me? None safer in all the world from them than I am,"and as I
wondered at the meaning of her words, a puff of wind made the flame leap
up, and I see the red scar on her forehead. Then, alas! I knew. Did I
not, I would soon have learned, for the wheeling figures of mist and
snow came closer, but keeping ever without the Holy circle. Then they
began to materialize till, if God have not taken away my reason, for I
saw it through my eyes. There were before me in actual flesh the same
three women that Jon- athan saw in the room,when they would have kissed
his throat. I knew the swaying round forms, the bright hard eyes, the
white teeth, the ruddy color, the voluptuous lips. They smiled ever at
poor dear Madam Mina. And as their laugh came through the silence of the
night, they twined their arms and pointed to her, and said in those so
sweet tingling tones that Jonathan said were of the intolerable
sweetness of the water glasses, "Come, sister. Come to us. Come!"

In fear I turned to my poor Madam Mina, and my heart with gladness leapt
like flame. For oh! the terror in her sweet eyes, the repulsion, the
horror, told a story to my heart that was all of hope. God be thanked
she was not, yet of them. I seized some of the firewood which was by me,
and holding out some of the Wafer, advanced on them towards the fire.
They drew back before me,and laughed their low horrid laugh. I fed the
fire, and feared them not. For I knew that we were safe within the ring,
which she could not leave no more than they could enter. The horses had
ceased to moan, and lay still on the ground. The snow fell on them
softly, and they grew whiter. I knew that there was for the poor beasts
no more of terror.

And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the
snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror. But
when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again.
At the first coming of the dawn the horrid figures melted in the
whirling mist and snow. The wreaths of transparent gloom moved away
towards the castle, and were lost.

Instinctively, with the dawn coming, I turned to Madam Mina, intending
to hypnotize her. But she lay in a deep and sudden sleep, from which I
could not wake her. I tried to hypnotize through her sleep, but she made
no response, none at all, and the day broke. I fear yet to stir. I have
made my fire and have seen the horses, they are all dead. Today I have
much to do here,and I keep waiting till the sun is up high. For there
may be places where I must go, where that sunlight, though snow and mist
obscure it, will be to me a safety.

I will strengthen me with breakfast, and then I will do my terrible
work.Madam Mina still sleeps, and God be thanked! She is calm in her
sleep . . .


 JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL


4 November, evening.--The accident to the launch has been a terrible
thing for us. Only for it we should have overtaken the boat long ago,
and by now my dear Mina would have been free. I fear to think of her,
off on the wolds near that horrid place. We have got horses, and we
follow on the track. I note this whilst Godalming is getting ready. We
have our arms. The Szgany must look out if they mean to fight. Oh, if
only Morris and Seward were with us. We must only hope! If I write no
more Goodby Mina! God bless and keep you.

DR. SEWARD'S DIARY


5 November.--With the dawn we saw the body of Szgany before us dashing
away from the river with their leiter wagon. They surrounded it in a
cluster, and hurried along as though beset. The snow is falling lightly
and there is a strange excitement in the air. It may be our own
feelings, but the depression is strange. Far off I hear the howling of
wolves. The snow brings them down from the mountains, and there are
dangers to all of us,and from all sides.The horses are nearly ready, and
we are soon off. We ride to death of some one. God alone knows who, or
where, or what, or when, or how it may be . . .


 DR. VAN HELSING'S MEMORANDUM


5 November, afternoon.--I am at least sane. Thank God for that mercy at
all events, though the proving it has been dreadful. When I left Madam
Mina sleeping within the Holy circle, I took my way to the castle. The
blacksmith hammer which I took in the carriage from Veresti was useful,
though the doors were all open I broke them off the rusty hinges, lest
some ill intent or ill chance should close them, so that being entered I
might not get out. Jonathan's bitter experience served me here. By
memory of his diary I found my way to the old chapel, for I knew that
here my work lay. The air was oppressive. It seemed as if there was some
sulphurous fume, which at times made me dizzy. Either there was a
roaring in my ears or I heard afar off the howl of wolves. Then I
bethought me of my dear Madam Mina, and I was in terrible plight. The
dilemma had me between his horns.

Her, I had not dare to take into this place, but left safe from the
Vampire in that Holy circle. And yet even there would be the wolf! I
resolve me that my work lay here, and that as to the wolves we must
submit, if it were God's will. At any rate it was only death and freedom
beyond. So did I choose for her. Had it but been for myself the choice
had been easy, the maw of the wolf were better to rest in than the grave
of the Vampire! So I make my choice to go on with my work.

I knew that there were at least three graves to find, graves that are
inhabit. So I search, and search, and I find one of them. She lay in her
Vampire sleep, so full of life and voluptuous beauty that I shudder as
though I have come to do murder. Ah, I doubt not that in the old time,
when such things were, many a man who set forth to do such a task as
mine, found at the last his heart fail him, and then his nerve. So he
delay, and delay, and delay, till the mere beauty and the fascination of
the wanton Undead have hypno- tize him. And he remain on and on, till
sunset come, and the Vampire sleep be over. Then the beautiful eyes of
the fair woman open and look love,and the voluptuous mouth present to a
kiss, and the man is weak.And there remain one more victim in the
Vampire fold. One more to swell the grim and grisly ranks of the Undead!
. . .

There is some fascination, surely, when I am moved by the mere presence
of such an one, even lying as she lay in a tomb fretted with age and
heavy with the dust of centuries, though there be that horrid odor such
as the lairs of the Count have had. Yes, I was moved. I, Van Helsing,
with all my purpose and with my motive for hate. I was moved to a
yearning for delay which seemed to paralyze my faculties and to clog my
very soul. It may have been that the need of nat- ural sleep, and the
strange oppression of the air were be- ginning to overcome me. Certain
it was that I was lapsing into sleep, the open eyed sleep of one who
yields to a sweet fascination, when there came through the snow stilled
air a long, low wail, so full of woe and pity that it woke me like the
sound of a clarion. For it was the voice of my dear Madam Mina that I
heard.

Then I braced myself again to my horrid task, and found by wrenching
away tomb tops one other of the sisters, the other dark one. I dared not
pause to look on her as I had on her sister, lest once more I should
begin to be en- thrall. But I go on searching until, presently, I find
in a high great tomb as if made to one much beloved that other fair
sister which,like Jonathan I had seen to gather herself out of the atoms
of the mist. She was so fair to look on, so radiantly beautiful,so
exquisitely voluptuous, that the very instinct of man in me,which calls
some of my sex to love and to protect one of hers, made my head whirl
with new emotion. But God be thanked, that soul wail of my dear Madam
Mina had not died out of my ears. And, before the spell could be wrought
further upon me, I had nerved myself to my wild work. By this tim e I
had searched all the tombs in the chapel, so far as I could tell. And as
there had been only three of these Undead phantoms around us in the
night, I took it that there were no more of active Undead existent.
There was one great tomb more lordly than all the rest. Huge it was, and
nobly proportioned. On it was but one word.


 DRACULA


This then was the Undead home of the King Vampire, to whom so many more
were due. Its emptiness spoke eloquent to make certain what I knew.
Before I began to restore these women to their dead selves through my
awful work, I laid in Dracula's tomb some of the Wafer, and so banished
him from it, Undead, for ever.

Then began my terrible task, and I dreaded it. Had it been but one, it
had been easy, comparative. But three! To begin twice more after I had
been through a deed of horror. For it was terrible with the sweet Miss
Lucy, what would it not be with these strange ones who had survived
through cen- turies, and who had been strenghtened by the passing of the
years. Who would, if they could, have fought for their foul lives . . .

Oh, my friend John, but it was butcher work. Had I not been nerved by
thoughts of other dead,and of the living over whom hung such a pall of
fear, I could not have gone on. I tremble and tremble even yet, though
till all was over, God be thanked, my nerve did stand. Had I not seen
the repose in the first place,and the gladness that stole over it just
ere the final dissolution came, as realization that the soul had been
won, I could not have gone further with my butchery. I could not have
endured the horrid screeching as the stake drove home,the plunging of
writhing form, and lips of bloody foam. I should have fled in terror and
left my work undone. But it is over! And the poor souls, I can pity them
now and weep, as I think of them placid each in her full sleep of death
for a short moment ere fading. For, friend John,hardly had my knife
severed the head of each, before the whole body began to melt away and
crumble into its native dust, as though the death that should have come
centuries agone had at last assert himself and say at once and loud,"I
am here!"

Before I left the castle I so fixed its entrances that never more can
the Count enter there Undead.

When I stepped into the circle where Madam Mina slept, she woke from her
sleep and, seeing me, cried out in pain that I had endured too much.

"Come!" she said, "come away from this awful place! Let us go to meet my
husband who is, I know, coming towards us." She was looking thin and
pale and weak. But her eyes were pure and glowed with fervor. I was glad
to see her paleness and her illness, for my mind was full of the fresh
horror of that ruddy vampire sleep.

And so with trust and hope, and yet full of fear, we go eastward to meet
our friends, and him, whom Madam Mina tell me that she know are coming
to meet us.


 MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL


6 November.--It was late in the afternoon when the Pro- fessor and I
took our way towards the east whence I knew Jonathan was coming. We did
not go fast, though the way was steeply downhill, for w e had to take
heavy rugs and wraps with us. We dared not face the possibility of being
left without warmth in the cold and the snow. We had to take some of our
provisions too, for we were in a perfect desolation, and so far as we
could see through the snowfall, there was not even the sign of
habitation. When we had gone about a mile,I was tired with the heavy
walking and sat down to rest. Then we looked back and saw where the
clear line of Drac- ula's castle cut the sky. For we were so deep under
the hill whereon it was set that the angle of perspective of the Car-
pathian mountains was far below it. We saw it in all its grandeur,
perched a thousand feet on the summit of a sheer precipice, and with
seemingly a great gap between it and the steep of the adjacent mountain
on any side. There was some- thing wild and uncanny about the place. We
could hear the distant howling of wolves. They were far off, but the
sound, even though coming muffled through the deadening snowfall, was
full of terror. I knew from the way Dr. Van Helsing was searching about
that he was trying to seek some strategic point, where we would be less
exposed in case of attack. The rough roadway still led downwards. We
could trace it through the drifted snow.

In a little while the Professor signalled to me, so I got up and joined
him. He had found a wonderful spot,a sort of natural hollow in a rock,
with an entrance like a doorway between two boulders. He took me by the
hand and drew me in.

"See!" he said,"here you will be in shelter. And if the wolves do come I
can meet them one by one."

He brought in our furs, and made a snug nest for me,and got out some
provisions and forced them upon me. But I could not eat, to even try to
do so was repulsive to me, and much as I would have liked to please
him,I could not bring myself to the attempt. He looked very sad, but did
not reproach me. Taking his field glasses from the case, he stood on the
top of the rock, and began to search the horizon.

Suddenly he called out, "Look! Madam Mina,look!Look!"

I sprang up and stood beside him on the rock. He handed me his glasses
and pointed. The snow was now falling more heavily, and swirled about
fiercely, for a high wind was be- ginning to blow. However, there were
times when there were pauses between the snow flurries and I could see a
long way round. From the height where we were it was possible to see a
great distance. And far off, beyond the white waste of snow, I could see
the river lying like a black ribbon in kinks and curls as it wound its
way. Straight in front of us and not far off, in fact so near that I
wondered we had not noticed before, came a group of mounted men hurrying
along. In the midst of them was a cart, a long leiter wagon which swept
from side to side,like a dog's tail wagging, with each stern inequality
of the road. Outlined against the snow as they were, I could see from
the men's clothes that they were peasants or gypsies of some kind.

On the cart was a great square chest. My heart leaped as I saw it, for I
felt that the end was coming. The evening was now drawing close, and
well I knew that at sunset the Thing, which was till then imprisoned
there, would take new freedom and could in any of many forms elude
pursuit.In fear I turned to the Professor. To my consternation, however,
he was not there. An instant later, I saw him below me. Round the rock
he had drawn a circle, such as we had found shelter in last night.

When he had completed it he stood beside me again say- ing, "At least
you shall be safe here from him!" He took the glasses from me, and at
the next lull of the snow swept the whole space below us. "See,"he
said,"they come quickly. They are flogging the horses, and galloping as
hard as they can."

He paused and went on in a hollow voice, "They are rac- ing for the
sunset. We may be too late. God's will be done!" Down came another
blinding rush of driving snow, and the whole landscape was blotted out.
It soon passed, however, and once more his glasses were fixed on the
plain.

Then came a sudden cry, "Look! Look! Look! See, two horsemen follow
fast, coming up from the south. It must be Quincey and John. Take the
glass. Look before the snow blots it all out!" I took it and looked. The
two men might be Dr. Seward and Mr. Morris. I knew at all events that
neither of them was Jonathan. At the same time I knew that Jonathan was
not far off. Looking around I saw on the north side of the coming party
two other men, riding at breakneck speed. One of them I knew was
Jonathan, and the other I took, of course, to be Lord Godalming. They
too, were pursuing the party with the cart. When I told the Professor he
shouted in glee like a schoolboy, and after looking intently till a snow
fall made sight impossible,he laid his Winchester rifle ready for use
against the boulder at the opening of our shelter.

"They are all converging," he said."When the time comes we shall have
gypsies on all sides." I got out my revolver ready to hand, for whilst
we were speaking the howling of wolves came louder and closer. When the
snow storm abated a moment we looked again. It was strange to see the
snow fall- ing in such heavy flakes close to us, and beyond, the sun
shining more and more brightly as it sank down towards the far mountain
tops. Sweeping the glass all around us I could see here and there dots
moving singly and in twos and threes and larger numbers.The wolves were
gathering for their prey.

Every instant seemed an age whilst we waited. The wind came now in
fierce bursts, and the snow was driven with fury as it swept upon us in
circling eddies. At times we could not see an arm's length before us.
But at others, as the hollow sounding wind swept by us, it seemed to
clear the air space around us so that we could see afar off. We had of
late been so accustomed to watch for sunrise and sunset,that we knew
with fair accuracy when it would be.And we knew that before long the sun
would set. It was hard to believe that by our watches it was less than
an hour that we waited in that rocky shelter before the various bodies
began to con- verge close upon us. The wind came now with fiercer and
more bitter sweeps, and more steadily from the north.It seemingly had
driven the snow clouds from us, for with only occasional bursts, the
snow fell. We could distinguish clearly the individuals of each party,
the pursued and the pursuers. Strangely enough those pursued did not
seem to realize, or at least to care, that they were pursued. They
seemed, how- ever,to hasten with redoubled speed as the sun dropped
lower and lower on the mountain tops.

Closer and closer they drew. The Professor and I crouc- hed down behind
our rock, and held our weapons ready. I could see that he was determined
that they should not pass. One and all were quite unaware of our
presence.

All at once two voices shouted out to, "Halt!" One was my Jonathan's,
raised in a high key of passion. The other Mr. Morris' strong resolute
tone of quiet command. The gypsies may not have known the language, but
there was no mistaking the tone, in whatever tongue the words were
spoken. Instinc- tively they reined in, and at the instant Lord
Godalming and Jonathan dashed up at one side and Dr. Seward and Mr.
Morris on the other. The leader of the gypsies, a splendid looking
fellow who sat his horse like a centaur,waved them back, and in a fierce
voice gave to his companions some word to pro- ceed. They lashed the
horses which sprang forward. But the four men raised their Winchester
rifles, and in an unmistak- able way commanded them to stop. At the same
moment Dr. Van Helsing and I rose behind the rock and pointed our
weapons at them. Seeing that they were surrounded the men tightened
their reins and drew up. The leader turned to them and gave a word at
which every man of the gypsy party drew what wea- pon he carried,knife
or pistol,and held himself in readiness to attack. Issue was joined in
an instant.

The leader, with a quick movement of his rein,threw his horse out in
front, and pointed first to the sun, now close down on the hill tops,
and then to the castle,said something which I did not understand. For
answer, all four men of our party threw themselves from their horses and
dashed towards the cart. I should have felt terrible fear at seeing
Jona- than in such danger, but that the ardor of battle must have been
upon me as well as the rest of them. I felt no fear, but only a wild,
surging desire to do something. Seeing the quick movement of our
parties,the leader of the gypsies gave a command. His men instantly
formed round the cart in a sort of undisciplined endeavor, each one
shouldering and pushing the other in his eagerness to carry out the
order.

In the midst of this I could see that Jonathan on one side of the ring
of men, and Quincey on the other, were forcing a way to the cart. It was
evident that they were bent on finishing their task before the sun
should set.Noth- ing seemed to stop or even to hinder them.Neither the
level- led weapons nor the flashing knives of the gypsies in front, nor
the howling of the wolves behind, appeared to even attract their
attention. Jonathan's impetuosity, and the manifest singleness of his
purpose, seemed to overawe those in front of him. Instinctively they
cowered aside and let him pass.In an instant he had jumped upon the
cart, and with a strength which seemed incredible,raised the great box,
and flung it over the wheel to the ground. In the meantime, Mr. Morris
had had to use force to pass through his side of the ring of Szgany.All
the time I had been breathlessly watching Jonathan I had, with the tail
of my eye, seen him pressing desperately forward, and had seen the
knives of the gypsies flash as he won a way through them, and they cut
at him. He had parried with his great bowie knife, and at first I
thought that he too had come through in safety. But as he sprang beside
Jonathan, who had by now jumped from the cart, I could see that with his
left hand he was clutching at his side, and that the blood was spurting
through his fingers.He did not delay notwithstanding this, for as
Jonathan, with desperate energy, attacked one end of the chest,
attempting to prize off the lid with his great Kukri knife, he attacked
the other frantically with his bowie. Under the efforts of both men the
lid began to yield. The nails drew with a screeching sound, and the top
of the box was thrown back.

By this time the gypsies, seeing themselves covered by the Winchesters,
and at the mercy of Lord Godalming and Dr. Seward, had given in and made
no further resistance. The sun was almost down on the mountain tops, and
the shadows of the whole group fell upon the snow. I saw the Count lying
within the box upon the earth, some of which the rude falling from the
cart had scattered over him. He was deathly pale, just like a waxen
image,and the red eyes glared with the horrible vindictive look which I
knew so well.

As I looked, the eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in them
turned to triumph.

But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jona- than's great
knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat. Whilst at the
same moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart.

It was like a miracle, but before our very eyes, and almost in the
drawing of a breath, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from
our sight.

I shall be glad as long as I live that even in that moment of final
dissolution, there was in the face a look of peace, such as I never
could have imagined might have rested there.

The Castle of Dracula now stood out against the red sky, and every stone
of its broken battlements was articulated against the light of the
setting sun.

The gypsies, taking us as in some way the cause of the extraordinary
disappearance of the dead man, turned, without a word, and rode away as
if for their lives. Those who were unmounted jumped upon the leiter
wagon and shouted to the horsemen not to desert them. The wolves, which
had withdrawn to a safe distance, followed in their wake, leaving us
alone.

Mr. Morris, who had sunk to the ground, leaned on his elbow, holding his
hand pressed to his side. The blood still gushed through his fingers.I
flew to him,for the Holy circle did not now keep me back, so did the two
doctors. Jonathan knelt behind him and the wounded man laid back his
head on his shoulder. With a sigh he took, with a feeble effort, my hand
in that of his own which was unstained.

He must have seen the anguish of my heart in my face, for he smiled at
me and said, "I am only too happy to have been of service! Oh, God!" he
cried suddenly, struggling to a sitting posture and pointing to me. "It
was worth for this to die! Look! Look!"

The sun was now right down upon the mountain top, and the red gleams
fell upon my face, so that it was bathed in rosy light. With one impulse
the men sank on their knees and a deep and earnest "Amen" broke from all
as their eyes followed the pointing of his finger.

The dying man spoke, "Now God be thanked that all has not been in vain!
See! The snow is not more stainless than her forehead! The curse has
passed away!"

And, to our bitter grief, with a smile and in silence, he died, a
gallant gentleman.


 NOTE


Seven years ago we all went through the flames. And the happiness of
some of us since then is, we think, well worth the pain we endured. It
is an added joy to Mina and to me that our boy's birthday is the same
day as that on which Quincey Morris died. His mother holds, I know, the
secret belief that some of our brave friend's spirit has passed into
him. His bundle of names links all our little band of men together. But
we call him Quincey.

In the summer of this year we made a journey to Transyl- vania, and went
over the old ground which was, and is, to us so full of vivid and
terrible memories.It was almost imposs- ible to believe that the things
which we had seen with our own eyes and heard with our own ears were
living truths. Every trace of all that had been was blotted out. The
castle stood as before, reared high above a waste of desolation.

When we got home we were talking of the old time, which we could all
look back on without despair, for Godalming and Seward are both happily
married. I took the papers from the safe where they had been ever since
our return so long ago. We were struck with the fact, that in all the
mass of mater- ial of which the record is composed, there is hardly one
authentic document.Nothing but a mass of typewriting, except the later
notebooks of Mina and Seward and myself, and Van Helsing's memorandum.
We could hardly ask any one, even did we wish to, to accept these as
proofs of so wild a story. Van Helsing summed it all up as he said, with
our boy on his knee.

"We want no proofs. We ask none to believe us! This boy will some day
know what a brave and gallant woman his mother is. Already he knows her
sweetness and loving care. Later on he will understand how some men so
loved her, that they did dare much for her sake.

JONATHAN HARKER