Q: CHAPTER XII

Vivian read the note over a thousand times. He could not retire to rest. He called Essper George, and gave him all necessary directions for the morning. About three o'clock Vivian lay down on a sofa, and slept for a few hours. He started often in his short and feverish slumber. His dreams were unceasing and inexplicable. At first von Sohnspeer was their natural hero; but soon the scene shifted. Vivian was at Ems, walking under the well-remembered lime-trees, and with the Baroness. Suddenly, although it was mid-day, the Sun became large, blood-red, and fell out of the heavens; his companion screamed, a man rushed forward with a drawn sword. It was the idiot Crown Prince of Reisenburg. Vivian tried to oppose him, but without success. The infuriated ruffian sheathed his weapon in the heart of the Baroness. Vivian shrieked, and fell upon her body, and, to his horror, found himself embracing the cold corpse of Violet Fane!

Vivian and Essper mounted their horses about seven o'clock. At eight they had reached a small inn near the Forest Councillor's house, where Vivian was to remain until Essper had watched the entrance of the Minister. It was a few minutes past nine when Essper returned with the joyful intelligence that Owlface and his master had been seen to enter the Courtyard. Vivian immediately mounted Max, and telling Essper to keep a sharp watch, he set spurs to his horse.

"Now, Max, my good steed, each minute is golden; serve thy master well!" He patted the horse's neck, the animal's erected ears proved how well it understood its master's wishes; and taking advantage of the loose bridle, which was confidently allowed it, the horse sprang rather than galloped to the Minister's residence. Nearly an hour, however, was lost in gaining the private road, for Vivian, after the caution in the Baroness's letter, did not dare the high road.

1. two
2. about seven o'clock
3. a small inn
4. the Forest Councillor's house
5. eight
6. Vivian
7. Owlface and his master
8. the Courtyard
9. Max
10. each minute
11. yes
12. they were on the private road
13. because of the caution in the Baroness's letter
14. a thousand times
15. No
16. About three o'clock
17. no
18. on a sofa
19. unceasing and inexplicable
20. it became large, blood-red, and fell out of the heavens

Numbered questions:
1. How many people got on their steeds?
2. At what time?
3. Where were they going?
4. Next to what?
5. What time did they get there?
6. Who was staying there?
7. Who did Essper see that made him happy?
8. Where did he see them?
9. What is Vivian's horse named?
10. What does he relate to riches?
11. Was the animal responsive?
12. Why did it take a long time to travel?
13. Why take that one?
14. How many times did he look over a letter?
15. Was it easy to sleep?
16. When did he finally settle down?
17. He went to bed?
18. Where then?
19. What kind of dreaming did he do?
20. What happened to the sun in his dream?

Q: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

IN WHICH SOME DESPERATE ENTERPRISES ARE UNDERTAKEN.

At this time the Russians had taken up a strong position in the Balkan mountain range, and entrenched themselves within a short distance of the enemy.

After a night and a day of aimless wandering, Jacob Lancey found himself at last in a rocky defile between the hostile lines. How he got there he could not tell, but there he was, in a position of imminent danger, with the sentinels of the belligerent armies on either side of him.

Evening was setting in when he made this discovery, and recoiled, happily without having been seen, into a narrow rocky place where the fast-failing light had already deepened into gloom. A cold white fog was slowly creeping up from the valleys and covering the hill-sides.

It is in such places and circumstances that men conceive and execute designs, which, according to their nature, are deeds of recklessness or of heroism. Two such ventures were afoot that night.

In the Russian camp preparations were being made for a night attack on a village in possession of the Turks, and out of which, with a view to future movements, it was deemed necessary to drive them. In this village there dwelt a youth, an intimate friend of Dobri Petroff. The two had played with each other in childhood, had roamed about the country together in boyhood, and, when they reached man's estate, had become faster friends than ever, being bound by the ties of intellectual as well as physical sympathy. When this friend, Petko Borronow, left Yenilik at the death of his mother, it was to take charge of the little farm in the Balkan mountains,--the desolate home where his sister Giuana, an invalid, and a beautiful girl, was now left in solitude.

1. A night attack.
2. A village.
3. The Turks.
4. Dobri Petroff.
5. Yes.
6. An intimate friend.
7. Yes.
8. Played with each other.
9. Roamed about the country together.
10. Become faster friends than ever.
11. Intellectual as well as physical sympathy.
12. Petko Borronow.
13. Left Yenilik.
14. His mother,
15. To take charge of the little farm.
16. The Balkan mountains.
17. No.
18. His sister Giuana.
19. She was an invalid.
20. Beautiful.

Numbered questions:
1. What was being planned in the Russian base?
2. On who?
3. Whose village?
4. Who was the kid in that village?
5. Was he known to the main character?
6. How?
7. Had they known each other when they were small children?
8. What did they do during that time?
9. And when they were a bit older?
10. And as adults?
11. What tied them together?
12. Who was the friend?
13. What did he do after a death in his family?
14. Who had died?
15. Why did he leave?
16. Where?
17. Was the farm crowded?
18. Did anyone live there?
19. How was she impaired?
20. How could her looks be described?