make another attempt to visit
Sidney. Having obtained the steeds they had ridden the previous day,
they took the way to the Col, halting on the first high ground they
reached. They saw that the Russians still retained in considerable
force the redoubts they had won from the Turks.

"They seem unpleasantly close to our lines," observed Tom to Archie;
"our fellows must keep pretty wide awake, or they will be taking us by
surprise some fine morning."

"Trust Sir Colin Campbell for that," answered Archie; "we Highlanders
are not men to be found napping in the face of an enemy."

They had not gone far when they met Lord Raglan and some of his staff,
and presently afterwards Sir Colin Campbell came up, when an earnest
conversation took place between the two generals. Jack was moving on
with his two midshipmen, when an aide-de-camp overtook him, from whom he
heard that it was in contemplation to abandon Balaclava, that the ships'
guns and stores not in use were to be embarked, and that all the vessels
not required were to go out of the harbour, or to be moved lower down
towards its mouth. Disappointed again, Jack had to return on board to
carry out his orders. He, however, gave the midshipmen leave to go as
far as the Guards' camp, with directions to return immediately they had
communicated with Sidney.

In high glee they rode on, determined, if possible, not to be again
stopped. Having passed through the Col, they skirted the edge of the
Chersonese to the right, when a windmill, for which they were told to
steer their course, appeared in sight. After going about two miles they
reached the Guards' camp, on some level ground at the top of the
plateau. Sidney was seated in his tent, unwashed and unshaven, wrapped
in his greatcoat, looking very unlike the trim Guardsman Tom had
hitherto seen him. He had just come in from the trenches. Having
thanked the two midshipmen for the welcome provisions they brought him,
he made them sit down, one on a portmanteau turned sideways, the other
on his only spare camp-stool.

"So you have come to witness the glories of war, Tom," said Sidney, with
a faint smile; "for my part, I confess I wish we could have another
stand-up fight, and get over the work in the trenches. I can tell you
it is not very pleasant to stand out in the cold for hours together,
with the chance of being shot at any moment."

"Archie and I couldn't help wishing that we were dragoons, with the
chance of c