“That was our intention; but having shipped all the troops, I wished to leave earlier, as we must make our time for entering the harbour of Balaklava, which is now so full that if we were to miss our turn, we might be kept outside for a day or two, and that would not be at all pleasant, especially if we happen to have rough weather. Here is Mr. Bracebridge; he is, no doubt, looking for you.” The screw was by this time propelling us slowly out of the Golden Horn. “Good morning, Monsieur Soyer; have you all your people on board?” said Mr. Bracebridge. “Yes, I have.” “I have only seen your secretary.” “Oh, I am sure they are here; I sent them on board this morning before nine o’clock, previous to going to Pera. Pray how is Miss Nightingale?” “She will be on deck directly. By-the-bye, is Mademoiselle a good sailor?” “Tolerably good; with this weather no one need fear being ill at sea,” said I, “though I hear the Black Sea is so very changeable, and that a tremendous hurricane often comes up suddenly even in the middle of summer. At all events, we have a good start.” We were then passing between lower Scutari and the Sultan’s palace, and facing us was the Sound of the Bosphorus, presenting a most delightful view of the European and the Asiatic shores. When I observed to Mr. Bracebridge that it was a pity Miss Nightingale was not on deck, he answered, “You’re right; I will go and fetch her.” A few minutes afterwards that lady made her appearance. “What a delightful day! and did you ever see a finer panorama?” “Never, Monsieur Soyer.” “What a glorious mine of subjects for a Claude Lorraine, mademoiselle! It is much to be regretted that he never visited these Moslem shores.” The vessel was now going at full speed. “We are near Kululee,” said Mr. Bracebridge. “Yes, we are,” said I; “and there is our friend the Bey on the palace steps. Look at him, Miss; he is in his grand costume. I wonder what is going on there to-day?” “To-day,” replied Mr. Bracebridge, “is Friday, the Turkish Sunday. Did you not hear the cannon just now, when the Sultan went to the Mosque?” “Oh, yes, I not only heard it, but also saw the procession, and very nearly lost the boat.” “I was told you were rather behind.” “So much so, that you were upon the move.” Miss Nightingale observed that although the Kululee hospitals were so well situated, it was reported by medical men that they were very unhealthy, more especially the lower one. “So I hear, Mademoiselle; but my opinion is, that it is owing to defective drainage. They were making fresh ventilators in the wards of the lower one yesterday, which will be a very great improvement. Miss Stanley is gone?” “Yes,” said Miss Nightingale; “she has been very unwell for some time.”