The _Robert Lowe_ had anchored, and was moored in her new berth on the right-hand side of the harbour, nearly opposite the commandant’s house. Although the operation of getting in had taken nearly two hours, so interesting was the sight that no one had thought of making preparations to leave the vessel, which is generally the first thing thought of. Miss Nightingale pointed out to me the hospital called the “Sanatorium,” situated on the top of the hill, near the Genoese heights and fortifications. Turning round, she next pointed to a row of white buildings, which constituted the General Hospital, which she said she should like to visit that day if time allowed. Mr. Bracebridge came and informed us that the captain would be happy for us to stay on board as long as he remained in harbour, which might be a few days--or till we found a ship to suit us. As it was impossible to procure either a house, hut, or even a tent, in Balaklava, we of course accepted the offer. The day was drawing to a close, and, as we were rather fatigued, we postponed our visit to the hospital till the next morning. CHAPTER XIV. COMMENCEMENT OF MY CAMPAIGN IN THE CRIMEA. Visitors to Miss Nightingale--The floating drawing-room--Terrible cannonade--A sortie--Second series of visitors--Young Thomas, the drummer-boy--His devotion to Miss Nightingale--Balaklava mud--General Hospital--The Sanatorium--Rugged ascent--Extensive view--Dr. Henderson--Storm of the 14th of November described by an eye-witness--Tour round the hospital--An officer patient--Return to the _Robert Lowe_--Off to the camp--A party of equestrians--A perfect Babel--Small hospital at Kadikoi--Splendid array of camps--A regimental hospital--Lord Raglan’s house--Colonel Steele--General Hospital before Sebastopol--“The good lady of Scutari”--An ovation--A peep at Sebastopol--The Three-mortar Battery--P. M. dodging a shell--A striking scene--Losing the way--The Zouaves--Various adventures--A casualty--Once more on board. No sooner was it known that Miss Nightingale had arrived, than hosts of visitors poured in from all directions, amongst whom were Commissary Filder, Mr. Henderson, Chief Doctor at the Balaklava Hospital, the Clergyman, Doctor Sutherland, Mr. Anderson, &c., &c., which caused her to hold a kind of floating drawing-room. Mr. Bracebridge was also busily engaged, so I did not see him again till dinner-time. I despatched the four soldier cooks I had instructed and brought with me to the Sanatorium, as the troops were landing, and they were required on shore. Having settled my future plan of operations with my secretary, and closed our post for the next day, I was quite at liberty to accompany Miss Nightingale in the morning on her visit to the various hospitals, as we had previously decided.