“Yes, I have seen it, and it shall be attended to.”
Lord Raglan and his staff then started in the direction of the French head-quarters, and I towards Balaklava, where I arrived about dusk. I left my pony at the General Hospital, and walked to the opposite side of the harbour, which I had in the morning left all in confusion, and, to my astonishment, found quiet and almost deserted. The only person I saw was Admiral Boxer, who came and thanked me for the assistance I had given him in the morning.
“Don’t mention it, admiral,” said I; “I shall at all times be happy to do everything in my power to render myself agreeable to you. Pray tell me, where are they all gone?”
“To their camp, to be sure.”
“What—regiments, horses, and all?”
“Yes, the vessels alongside this morning have not only discharged their cargoes, but are, I believe, out of the harbour and anchored in the bay. We shall have two more in, which must be discharged to-morrow.”
“This silence is almost inconceivable after so much noise and bustle.”
“It is,” said the admiral. “I don’t understand those Sardinians, they speak so fast and loud; but they are fine fellows for all that, and no mistake.”
The words were hardly out of his mouth, when two Sardinians attached to the commissariat came towards us, and inquired whether we understood French or Italian. I informed them that I spoke French.
“Then, pray, sir, can you tell us where to find ce diable d’amiral Anglais?”