_March 4th._--I must finish my story of yesterday. Soon after lunch news was received from the _Kamchatka_ that her condenser did not work. She also reported that a Kingston valve had been torn out, that she was beginning to fill with water, and that they were putting a mat under. I thought they would send me to the _Kamchatka_ and keep me there for the whole voyage. I was sent for by the admiral. I went to the _Kamchatka_, and found horror and confusion reigning there. In the engine-room compartment the water was already breast-high. I managed to put it right somehow. It happened that the Kingston was not torn out, but the flap in the Kingston pipe was damaged. They shut the flap, not taking precautionary measures, and ejected it out of the pipe, and water came in through the opening formed. When the danger passed I returned to the _Suvaroff_. The admiral sent me to the _Kamchatka_, to remain until the work was finished. I went there in the duty steamboat. I sent it back and returned in a rowing-boat to the _Suvaroff_, where another surprise awaited me. They were unable to hoist the steamboat in the _Aurora_. The davits were damaged. I hastened there. In all the other ships the boats were already hoisted. I set out for the _Aurora_ in the admiral's light whaler, which is usually hoisted at the last moment. Every moment was valuable. We had to hurry. The men pulled with all their might. At all costs the _Aurora's_ steamboat had to be hoisted, otherwise it would have had to be left behind. The work was strenuous. They hammered, filed, and bound, rove the falls, and the boat was eventually hoisted. I was annoyed at having dirtied myself. You may imagine the need there was to hurry. All this business began at twelve o'clock, and it was necessary that the fleet should weigh anchor at three o'clock. Weigh anchor! and the _Kamchatka_ sinking and a steamboat not able to be hoisted! Besides this, there was a report from the _Kamchatka_ in the morning that there was a breakage in her steering arrangements. I took it on myself to say that she could go with such damages. Nevertheless, I was able to put everything to rights by half-past two. I breathed freely. The signal was hoisted, and we began to get up anchor. The starting of the fleet was a pretty sight. There were forty-two ships, if you count torpedo-boats and transports. French torpedo-boats came to escort the fleet. They wished us a prosperous voyage, and cheered. Our bands played the Marseillaise. Excitement reigns in the wardroom. Will it be for long? Am I pleased? I cannot understand my own feelings. On one hand I am anxious about the fate of the fleet; on the other, there is the possibility of seeing you soon, and the feeble, feeble hope of beating the Japanese fleet. If by any chance that should happen, Russia will have command of the sea, and the battle-scenes on land will be changed in our favour. If we are beaten--then Japan is strong, very strong.