But as none who have dared to wander in amongst our hills ever return to their own land, we may not know of how they speak at home of their battles here.

Still, these men were evidently not to be despised; and our Gospodar, who is a wise man as well as a valiant, warned us to be prudent, and not to despise our foes over much.

We did as he counselled, and in proof we only took ten men, as we had only twenty against us.

But then there was at stake much beyond life, and we took no risks.

So, as the great clock at Vissarion clanged of noon, the eight fastest runners of the Blue Mountains, together with the Gospodar Rupert and myself, swept out on our journey.