This was _Gladiator’s_ turn for night attack on batteries, and as it would be my “_Jenny d’ Acre’s_” turn next, I got friend Broke to take me on board a little after midnight. All lights out, the paddles just turning noiselessly. I was on the paddle-box when a flash from the shore and the approach of a burning fuse showed how correctly the Russians had calculated the spot. The master fell just before me, and the shell exploded over the opposite box, while a third person fell from the bridge. On inquiry I found that no one was hurt. The master from the _Princess Royal_ was on the bridge and had thrown himself down. The officer on the opposite bridge had done likewise. The young man who fell off the bridge had taken his tea a little too strong, and lost his balance; no harm done. [Sidenote: April 17.] Fresh case of smallpox, ditto breaking out in _Royal Albert_, sent their cases to our new hospital. With permission of Admiral, shifted berth to off Kazatch, to finish hospital. Landed strong party. Dined with Houston-Stewart. [Sidenote: April 21.] Oldfield in from trenches. Respite from firing. Things much the same as when trenches opened first. [Sidenote: April 22.] Visit from Inspector of Hospitals, Dr. Deas. [Sidenote: April 23.] Order from Commander-in-Chief to hoist quarantine flag, and consider ourselves in strict quarantine. [Sidenote: April 24.] Lord Rokeby and Baillie having come down, met them at stables with luncheon. Great farce this quarantine! [Sidenote: May 2.] Invited to meet Admiral on shore. Plan for an attack on Kertch with 12,000 French and 3000 English discussed. No work, though, for these big ships. _Alma_ troopship arrived. Friend John Astley, recovered from his wound in the neck at Alma, rejoined Fusilier Guards. [Sidenote: May 3.] Interruption in hospital works. General signal for captains and ordinary sailing: rendezvous and places of landing issued. Things looking more like business. Weighed at 8 P.M., and steered towards Odessa, altering course for eastward after dark. [Sidenote: May 4.] Early morning found Fleet enveloped in fog. Marines preparing to land. Fog dispelled by heat of sun. Signal, to cook three days’ provisions. Weather fine, all hands full of hope and expectation. As we drew near, general signal for “Captains to repair on board flag.” Disappointment great when it was announced that the expedition was at an end. French Admiral being recalled by Canrobert. [Sidenote: Kertch, May 5.] Before we turned our sterns on Kertch, Lord Lyons told me that he had tried to persuade General Brown, who commanded our troops, to go on with the forces _we_ had to Kertch. But the strict disciplinarian declined. Had he consented, on the appearance of our top-gallant yards above the horizon, the Kertch forts, which had had been prepared a month previously, would have been blown up, the war ended, and millions saved to the country. [Sidenote: Kazatch Bay, May 6.]