Other Balkan States, too, were not lacking in desire to add the little territory of the Blue Mountains to their more ample possessions.
Albania, Dalmatia, Herzegovina, Servia, Bulgaria, looked with lustful eyes on the land, which was in itself a vast natural fortress, having close under its shelter perhaps the finest harbour between Gibraltar and the Dardanelles.
But the fierce, hardy mountaineers were unconquerable.

For centuries they had fought, with a fervour and fury that nothing could withstand or abate, attacks on their independence.

Time after time, century after century, they had opposed with dauntless front invading armies sent against them.

This unquenchable fire of freedom had had its effect.

One and all, the great Powers knew that to conquer that little nation would be no mean task, but rather that of a tireless giant.