That was his last joke. He fell quietly to sleep with the little case containing his parents' portrait on his breast.
He never woke again.
CHAPTER VII.
THE VICTORIOUS CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE—THE
SCOTCH WIFE AND THE TURKS—THE LIGHT BRIGADE,
AND THEIR AWFUL CHARGE.
Meanwhile, where was Menschikoff?
That question may well begin a fresh chapter. He had gone north, as I have said, to keep the communications open, and he did so most effectually. Not only did he get 12,000 troops around him that had not yet been in action, but soon received reinforcements from Russia, in addition to these, till his army swelled to 22,000, besides 3,500 horsemen and 78 guns.
He thought it was time to return now and see what we were about.
He was careful not to show his great resources. This might have frightened us into action sooner than was desirable.
Spies were very busy; nor was there much difficulty in such espionage, and it was soon found out that, bar the somewhat weak works manned by Turks on the range of heights I have already mentioned as stretching from Kamara Hills to the Upland across the valley of Balaklava, there was nothing much to fear between them and our camp. The 93rd were certainly something, but they could easily crush them by sheer force of numbers; and as for the Turks and marines round the harbour of Balaklava, well, they were too far away to take into account.
The height nearest to Kamara was called Canrobert's Hill. That was speedily taken, and so was the next one to it. The Turks with their twelve-pounders had done all they could, and artillery had also been hurried up to help them, supported by the Scots Greys.