After a couple of hours’ stay to give the horses time to rest, they again saddled up and took the road along the coast.  After riding two miles along the edge of the cliffs, they simultaneously checked their horses, as, upon mounting a slight rise, they saw before them the tents of a considerable party of Russian soldiers.  As they had paused the moment their heads came above the level, they were themselves unobserved, and turning, they rode back to the chateau they had quitted, where, having made their ponies comfortable, they prepared to pass the night.  There were plenty of luxurious beds, and they slept profoundly all night.  In the morning they went down to the sea.  Not a vestige of a boat was to be seen, and they began to question whether it would not be possible to make a small raft, and to paddle along the foot of the cliffs.

“We need not trouble about that now,” Lieutenant Myers said, “for, unless I am mistaken, we’re going to have a regular Black Sea gale in an hour or two.  The wind is freshening fast, and the clouds banking up.”

The lieutenant was not mistaken.  In an hour the wind was blowing in furious gusts, and the sea breaking heavily in the little bay.

Having nothing to do, they sat under the shelter of a rock, and watched the progress of the gale.  The wind was blowing dead along the shore, and grew fiercer and fiercer.  Three hours passed, and then Lieutenant Myers leaped to his feet.

“See,” he said, “there is a boat coming round the point!”

It was so.  Driving before the gale was a ship’s boat, a rag of sail was set, and they could see figures on board.

“She is making in here!” the lieutenant exclaimed.  “Let us run down and signal to them to beach her at that level spot just in front of the village.  No doubt it is some ship’s boat which came out to picnic at one of the villages near Balaklava, and they have been blown along the coast and have been unable to effect a landing.”

The boat’s head was now turned towards shore, the sail lowered, and the oars got out.  So high was the sea already, that the spectators feared every moment she would be swamped, but she was well handled, and once in the little bay the water grew smoother, and she soon made her way to the spot where the officers were standing.  The latter were astonished when the men leaped out instantly, and, without a word, rushed at them, and in a moment both were levelled to the ground by blows of stretchers.  When they recovered from the shock and astonishment, they found the sailors grouped round them.

“Hallo!” Jack exclaimed in astonishment, “Mr. Simmonds, is that you?  What on earth are you knocking us about like that for?”

“Why, Jack Archer!” exclaimed the officer addressed, “where on earth did you come from? and what are you masquerading as a Cossack for?  We saw you here, and of course took you for an enemy.  I thought you were up at the front.”