Jack had not been in Varna camp twenty-four hours before he began ardently to pray that their stay there might not be long. The chief characteristics of the town were its vermin, filth, and abominable stench, its ill-paved, rugged streets, tortuous lanes, and ramshackle buildings. The Greeks, Armenians, and others surrounding the camps were some of the greatest rogues in the world; many, in fact, were no better than brigands, who thought as little of taking a human life as they did of killing a fowl, and who were already credited with the murder of several English and French soldiers. This fact was brought home to Jack on the very first night of his arrival. Everything had been hurry, bustle, scurry, and confusion. No preparations had been made for the cavalry, and the men were busy till dark fixing the horse-lines, pitching tents, and so on. Thoroughly tired with a hard day, they turned in; but, not, alas! to sleep. The heat, the insects, the flies (terrible buzzing, stinging pests), kept all awake for some time. At last the different noises about the camp died down, and all that could be heard was the stamping of the horses as they tugged at their head-ropes, or the occasional challenge of a sentry. Jack and Pearson, with several others, occupied a tent next to one in which was Will and some of his troop. Jack had at last sunk into a fitful sleep, when he was suddenly awakened by hearing several shots fired. Immediately he sat up just as another report rang out, and something whizzing past his head buried itself with a thud in the tent-pole. The sound sent a cold shiver through him, and he jumped to his feet. The others in the tent also woke up. ‘It can’t be an enemy taking us by surprise?’ said Pearson. ‘Anyway, boys, on with your things.’ Williams, Brandon, and the others hastily slipped on overalls and boots, and left the tent. As Jack went out into the fitful moonlight, for it was cloudy, he ran up against Will. ‘What’s up?’ asked the latter. ‘Don’t know. I heard firing, so turned out. What ought we to do--sound the alarm?’ ‘Not without orders.’ At that instant a sound of rushing footsteps was heard, and several figures darted by. Pearson, being a very tall man, took a couple of strides after one of the suspicious figures, trying to seize it, while he cried out, ‘You seem in a hurry, friend.’ Hardly had the words escaped his lips when there was a flash, a loud report, and another ball came whizzing past the heads of the Lancers. The momentary flash showed up a startling picture. Three brawny, picturesque-looking ruffians in baggy breeches and turbans, simply bristling with weapons, were seen rushing away. A voice shouted, ‘After the rogues, boys;’ and Sergeant Linham appeared on the scene.