Jack reached the admiral's ship in safety, but not without a further adventure. This was only part of the last, however. For sitting against a tree, and looking very faint and weak, was the very Russian he had shot.
Jack shared his water with him, and bound up his wound, which was through the right biceps. Then he left beside him a portion of the food he had brought for himself, and hoping his friends would speedily find him, went trotting off once more.
* * * * *
The question whether or not Sebastopol could have been carried by assault during the last days of September is one we need not pause to consider now, but Cathcart was in favour of it, and even the clever Russian, Colonel Todleben, one of the historians of the war, admits that the assault might have been successful.
It was on the Upland to the south of Sebastopol that most of the fighting and suffering would now take place, or around it.
The town and harbour of Balaklava itself had soon fallen into our possession, and the allies were encamped on the plateau above it ([vide plan]), formerly called the Chersonese, and now, as I have said, "the Upland."
An attack on the north side of Sebastopol, you will perceive, was never seriously contemplated, though Todleben had made every preparation to repel it.
Early in the morning of the second of October, the women, children, and non-combatants left Sebastopol, with as much of their goods and chattels as they could conveniently carry. A dreary journey away north lay before them, but it was imperative. War knows no sentiment where her interests are concerned. Bellona is indeed a stern mistress. But thus relieved, the great and wise engineer, Todleben, found himself quite unshackled in the defence. The mere drones had left the great hive, and so he bent all his energies to strengthening the works and forts.