ity comes up to them. However, you must
have some luncheon, and then we'll ride towards the Schumla, where we
can hear, though we can't see, what is going forward."

As soon as luncheon was over, Sidney ordered his horse, a sorry steed,
not quite suitable for Rotten Row. He, with his two brothers, set out
for the position of the second division. They had got but a short
distance from the camp, when they passed a party of men carrying
stretchers, on each of which was laid a human form, the rigid outline of
the features and feet showing through the blanket shroud. The chaplain
followed to read the funeral service; but few, except those required
officially to attend, followed their comrades to their last
resting-place. Farther on were two groups of men, six or eight in each,
shovelling out the earth from some oblong holes. Silently they
laboured; no smiles were on their countenances, no jokes passed between
them; they themselves might soon be the occupants of similar
resting-places. Tom shuddered. "I have been too much accustomed to
scenes like these to take notice of them," said Sidney; "we seldom pass
a day without the loss of two or three men, and sometimes many more."

They at length reached the height towards which they were riding, and,
on dismounting from their steeds, they could hear the rolling thunder
which came from far-off Silistria, one continued roar, as the garrison
poured the fire of their guns on the persevering hosts of Russia.

"It seems to me as if every man in the Russian army must be blown to
pieces by this time," observed Tom.

"So they would if they were above ground," answered Jack, "but they are
in their trenches, and only occasionally do those iron missiles carry
death in their track, except when an assault is being made, and then
they sweep them down by hundreds."

The despatches Jack had to convey not being ready, he was compelled to
remain on shore till the following morning. All night long the low
thunder of the siege was heard even more continuously than before. He
awoke just at dawn, and listened; the wind came from the same quarter,
but no longer was the booming sound of the cannon heard. "It is all
over with the brave garrison of Silistria, I am afraid," he observed to
Sidney, who had joined him outside the tent.

"If it is, we shall soon have a brush with the Russians," was the
answer; "I heartily hope so, for active service will help to stop the
fearful ravages of the c