Trip to Kamiesch--Bornet’s love for war--Dangerous quarters--Arrival at Kamiesch--Town of pasteboard--The 8th of September--Orders for the assault--Carousals--Looking on--Stopped by the sentinels--Get by at last--The batteries open fire--The French flag on the Malakhoff--Wounded men--The officer’s wife--Naval officers trying to dodge the sentries--Become my guests--Reports respecting General Wyndham--Cathcart’s Hill--The Duke of Newcastle--Dine with General Wyndham on the day of the attack upon Sebastopol--Sir John Campbell and the French cook--An excellent dinner--Rare autographs--General Wyndham summoned to head-quarters. Early on the 3rd of September we started for Kamiesch; but, as usual, Bornet could not forget his old trade, and love for his fellow-soldiers. “Governor,” said he, “the 3rd Zouaves who were on duty in the trenches last night are on their return to camp. It is eight o’clock, and if we take this ravine we shall meet some of them, and learn what is going on.” Having the whole day before us, I consented to go; we took the road called the French Ravine, which led from the French head-quarters to the trenches before Sebastopol. The returning Zouaves we met, but the cannon balls also met us. Being in the ravine, we were not in great danger, as they passed over our heads and fell on our left side. The principal danger was when they struck a large stone, causing it to roll down the side of the ravine, sometimes at a terrific rate. The shells were far more objectionable; but, thanks to Providence, none hit us. While retreating, Bornet said, “By a thousand bombs, governor, it must be a fresh battery they are firing from: we always used to go this way to the trenches.” “Well,” said I, “new or old, let us get out of it.” Putting our horses to a gallop, we were soon out of danger, and on the road to Kamiesch. Near the French head-quarters we met two Zouaves. They told us the French trenches were now within twenty yards of the Malakhoff tower. “The cannon,” they said, “project about twenty feet over our heads, and cannot touch us; but the grenades, which the Russians throw among us by hundreds, cause the loss of many men, though we extinguish a great number when they fall.” Bornet now proposed the _vin blanc_, but to his regret and my delight, they refused, or we should probably not have seen Kamiesch that day. In many instances I have known French soldiers refuse.