e first and last of many poor
fellows. And I say again, it is a fearful thing to see God's image
defaced as I there saw it in a thousand terrible ways.

STORY FOUR, CHAPTER 5.

I have heard it said that no army was ever driven from so strong a
position as that from which we drove the Russians. We took a number of
prisoners, and among other things, the Russian general's carriage, with
his letters to the emperor, saying that we could not do just the very
thing we did do,--drive him from that hill.

The next day the army marched inland, with Sebastopol on our right, our
generals wishing to get round to the other side of the town, where there
was a good harbour for our ships called Balaclava. We marched on all
day, seeing now and then a few Cossacks, who galloped off as we
advanced. We bivouacked at night; that is to say, we slept on the
ground as we best could, with only our cloaks and blankets round us. We
had not much rest, for we were called to arms several times, it being
thought that the enemy were on us. At last we heard the approach of
cavalry. We sprang to our feet, and fell in ready for action, but it
was only our own cavalry, which had been sent up to protect our flanks.

The next day we came suddenly on a large body of Russians as it seemed.
They, however, did not stop for us, but made off, leaving a quantity of
wagons full of provisions and ammunition. We blew up the powder, which
we did not want, and helped ourselves to the provisions, which we did.
My comrades and I got a quantity of meal to make cakes, and firewood as
our share.

There was an old fort at Balaclava, on the top of a steep hill. It was
defended very bravely by its old commander; but he soon found that he
could not hold it, so he and his eighty men marched out and surrendered
themselves prisoners of war. We thus gained a good harbour for ships.
The part of the army to which I belonged, after remaining a few days at
Balaclava, was marched to the front before Sebastopol. We were here
employed in digging trenches, and throwing up batteries, and getting our
guns into position; that is, into the batteries, pointed towards the
town which we were about to attack. We were twenty-four hours on duty,
and the same number off duty, when we could rest from our work. Very
hard work it was. Thousands of us were employed in it. We had to cut a
zigzag road, as it were, deep into the ground, with a bank towards the
town, so that the shot f