Balaklava, Thursday.--Got up at five o’clock. Off for the day, accompanying M. Soyer and other friends. My mule very restive. Accident the first--broke a strap. Weather very hot, water scarce, wine and beer more so. Ride up a ravine--nearly spilt. Quarrel with a Bashi-Bazouk. Gallop away from my friends. Splendid view of head-quarters. Visit the sick and wounded at General Hospital: Miss Nightingale present--troops greet her with cheers. First glance of Sebastopol, peeping through the gabions. Dangerous visit to the Three-gun Battery. A shell! a shell! Barely have time to lie flat upon the grass. One of our party wounded by a splinter. Dangerous travelling at night. Take coffee with the Zouaves. Arrive home safely, but very hungry, after our perilous expedition. We left Mr. Anderson, the horses were taken from us, and we went on board the _Robert Lowe_. The captain was in great anxiety about us, thinking that something had occurred to Miss Nightingale, who, indeed, appeared much fatigued with her glorious excursion. She made no remark on the subject; but, on the contrary, requested me to accompany her early the next morning to both hospitals. This I promised to do with great pleasure; and so ended that lady’s first visit to the camp hospitals in the Crimea. Seven bells was striking--all was silent and at rest in the harbour--nothing was heard save the noise of the bells from the different ships, the booming of the cannon at Sebastopol, with now and then the sharp rattle of musketry, and the gloomy voice of the sentinel’s challenge--“Who goes there?” “A friend.” “Pass, friend. All’s well.” CHAPTER XV. THE ENGLISH AND TURKISH COMMANDERS-IN-CHIEF. Miss Nightingale indisposed--More visitors--Admiral Boxer--A valuable receipt--The admiral’s indefatigable industry--Miss Nightingale’s perseverance--Off to the hospitals again--Genoese Heights--Return--Last day on board the _Robert Lowe_--Removal to the _London_--A rough ride to Balaklava--Meeting with Lord Raglan--Introduction--Omer Pacha--Conversation--Arrival at Kadikoi--Reception of General della Marmora--Fraternization. The next morning was wet, chilly, and uncomfortable; and I heard with sorrow that Miss Nightingale was rather indisposed. It did not, indeed, surprise me, considering the fatigue she had undergone the previous day--more especially as she had taken no refreshment the whole of the time. I made sure that she would postpone her visit to the hospitals. Numbers of visitors poured in as usual; amongst them was Admiral Boxer, Chief Admiral of the Port of Balaklava. Mr. Bracebridge was upon deck, and directly he saw the admiral waiting, he went and spoke to him. “Good morning, admiral,” said Mr. Bracebridge, and then did me the honour of introducing me. “Oh! so you are the Monsieur Soyer I have often heard of; and I made sure you were a much older man than you appear to be.”