The Dark Star

As I am now afraid that an enemy may impersonate an official of

the German Embassy, I have the missionary's promise that he will

retain and conceal the contents of my box until I instruct him

otherwise. I am practically in hiding at his house, and in actual

fear of my life.

May 15. The missionary and his wife and baby travel to

Gallipoli, where an American school for girls is about to be

opened.

Today, in a café, I noticed that the flies, swarming on the edge

of my coffee cup, fell into the saucer dead. I did not taste my

coffee.

May 16. Last night a shot was fired through my door. I have

decided to travel to Gallipoli with the missionary.

May 18. My groom stole and ate an orange from my breakfast tray.

He is dead.

May 20. The Reverend Mr. Carew and his wife are most kind and

sympathetic. They are good people, simple, kindly, brave,

faithful, and fearlessly devoted to God's service in this vile

land of treachery and lies.

May 21. I have confessed to the Reverend Mr. Carew as I would

confess to a priest in holy orders. I have told him all under

pledge of secrecy. I told him also that the sanctuary he offers

might be violated with evil consequences to him; and that I would

travel as far as Gallipoli with him and then leave. But the kind,

courageous missionary and his wife insist that I remain under the

protection which he says the flag of his country affords me. If I

could only get my third set of plans out of the country!

May 22. Today my coffee was again poisoned. I don't know what

prevented me from tasting it--some vague premonition. A pariah dog

ate the bread I soaked in it, and died before he could yelp.

It looks to me as though my end were inevitable. Today I gave my

bronze figure of Erlik, the Yellow Devil, to Mrs. Carew to keep as

a dowry for her little daughter, now a baby in arms. If it is

hollow, as I feel sure, there are certain to be one or two jewels

in it. And the figure itself might bring five hundred marks at an

antiquary's.

May 30. Arrived at the Gallipoli mission. Three Turkish

ironclads lying close inshore. A British cruiser, the Cobra, and

an American cruiser, the Oneida, appeared about sunset and

anchored near the ironclads. The bugles on deck were plainly

audible. If a German warship appears I shall carry my box on

board. My only chance to rehabilitate myself is to get the third

set of plans to Berlin.