eck we have to decamp as quickly as possible.

But there is now a rumour that the 89th Ambulance may not have the
honour of participating in this dash. Whyte and I are greatly upset by
this rumour which we hope to goodness is nothing but a mistake on
Morris's part.

Went out in the afternoon looking for the "Marquette," but she has not
yet arrived. With some officers of the West Riding Engineers, Whyte
and I visited the "Queen Elizabeth," the most powerful ship afloat,
and went over her lower front turret, climbing by an iron ladder to
the top, lowering ourselves through a manhole and clattering down on
the floor behind the breeches of the guns. The muzzles of these guns
look enormous, but I was completely thunderstruck when I saw the two
great breeches side by side. They reminded me of two big engine
boilers. They must be about 6 feet in diameter and are probably not
less. The officer who took us round had a breech block swung back, and
we were allowed to examine everything freely.

_April 18th._--Started once more on the hunt for the "Marquette" (now
B. 13) and found her at last out in the offing waiting for medical
leave and orders to enter the harbour. Until she was medically
examined we were not allowed on board, and had to yell to our friends
on the upper deck and had a large mail bag lowered for the Ambulance.
My letters had been looked out by Stephen, and these were lowered in
his helmet at the end of a 2-inch rope.

We enjoyed the sail over an absolutely smooth sea, and being Sunday we
could hear and see that service was being conducted on several
warships and troopers. That warlike tune "Onward! Christian Soldiers"
was well played by a band on an Australian troopship, all singers and
non-singers on our boat joining in. "Queen Elizabeth" is familiarly
and affectionately known as "Lizzie" by all and sundry.

_April 19th._--To-day is warmer than we have felt it since we left
Mex. I have been observing all along how few birds are to be seen
here. I saw a few small ones the day I was on shore, but I have never
seen any of these flying over the bay or about the ships. The harbour
gets very filthy, and highly "smelly". All refuse is dumped overboard,
and pipes are continually discharging their filth from openings at
various levels all round each ship. Food of all kinds, especially
whole loaves and buns float about everywhere, enough to feed thousands
of gulls, if they would only come along and scavenge. To-d