"Last night was a very hot one, but we cannot hope for a very quiet time now or in the near future. I sleep without undressing in order that I maybe ready for any emergency. Consequently, I cannot observe your medical advice to take care of myself; nevertheless, I feel splendid." [Sidenote: The Shadows of Fate] These words were destined soon to receive a fulfilment more heart-shaking than any that can have presented itself as possible to the mind either of the writer of the letter or of its recipient. For even then stern Fate was standing ready with the abhorred shears; the shadows were gathering round the head of the devoted Makaroff; and his weary watch, pursued so bravely, so unflinchingly, and, alas for him and his country, so unavailingly, was moving swiftly towards its tragic close. [Sidenote: The Great Catastrophe] For on April 13th the telegraph wires flashed all over the world the news of a blow to Russia's might in the Far East, more appallingly dramatic in its suddenness and more fatal in its consequences than any that had yet befallen her in the preceding two months of bungling and misfortune. The stunning intelligence was conveyed to the Czar in the following telegram from Rear-Admiral Grigorovitch, Naval Commandant at Port Arthur:-- "The battleship _Petropavlovsk_ struck a mine, which exploded and the vessel capsized. "Our squadron is lying under Golden Hill and the Japanese squadron is approaching. "Admiral Makaroff apparently perished with the _Petropavlovsk_. "The Grand Duke Cyril, who was saved, was slightly wounded. "I beg humbly to report to your Majesty that those saved from the _Petropavlovsk_ up to the present are Grand Duke Cyril, six officers, 32 sailors, all wounded. The bodies of four officers, a surgeon, and 12 sailors have been found. "The Japanese fleet has disappeared. Details will be supplied by Rear-Admiral Prince Ukhtomsky, who has assumed provisional command of the fleet." Swiftly upon the track of this first message there followed the brief account of a further disaster, which placed another of Russia's finest battleships _hors de combat_. Prince Ukhtomsky telegraphed that "during some manoeuvring of the battleship squadron, the _Pobieda_ was struck by a mine amidships on the starboard side. She was able to gain the port by herself and none on board were killed or wounded." [Illustration: BLOWING UP OF THE PETROPAVLOVSK.] [Sidenote: The Story of the "Petropavlovsk"]