It was a fine sunset. Away over the muddy plain the Western skies were dragon-red, and clouds stirred by the evening breeze sailed in and out of the luminous belt which reflected a soft pink on the face of the rising moon climbing over the Eastern horizon.
I stale-mated a game of chess. Also received a gift of three brace of starlings that are the veriest God-send for the seedy.
March 17th.—We had an extraordinary breakfast of kedjereed tinned salmon Square-Peg brought with him.
Cockie's temperature is increasing and ought to be diminished.
I played patience a little, which I can't stick for long. There are not many books circulating.
March 18th.—Another beautiful day! I stale-mated a game of chess with Square-Peg, and then had a walk round the trenches almost up to the Fort. There is an old disused trench skirting the river on the eastern side, where we sat in a hidden nook and let the cool breeze from the river play on our feverish dank foreheads.
Grass is beginning to grow in patches here and there on the maidan; and here and there a truant mule did himself well behind the bund. Presently the Turks or Arabs spotted us, and we reluctantly had to leave the blissful spot.
Rumour says that the Turks have some new 7·5-inch guns coming. If so, the damage done will be ten times what it has been. And if they only had high-explosive shell the smashing up of the fort wall and the town would be a very short affair.
A bombardier of the 76th Battery, an excellent lad, has just died of wounds from the aeroplane's bomb. I remember upholding him in a matter of duty once.
Every day some one goes, either from wounds or sickness. And so far as we know the end is not yet.