“I am only too ready, sir.”

“That’s right.  Lord Raglan does not spare himself, neither must you.”

“I know, sir.  How disgraceful it is that he should be attacked by the London newspapers and accused of doing nothing at all!”

“Yes, indeed!  Why, he was writing by candle-light at six o’clock this morning, and after breakfast he saw us all, the heads of departments and three divisional generals.  Since then he has been writing without intermission.  By-and-by he will ride through the camp, seeing into everything with his own eyes.”

“His lordship is indefatigable:  it is the least we can do to follow his example,” said McKay, as he hurried away.

This was one of many such conversations between our hero and his new chief.  By degrees the quartermaster-general came to value the common-sense opinion of this practical young soldier, and to discuss with him unreservedly the more pressing needs of the hour.

There was as yet no improvement in the state of the Crimean army; on the contrary, as winter advanced, it deteriorated, pursued still by perverse ill-luck.  The weather was terribly inclement, alternating between extremes.  Heavy snowstorms and hard frosts were followed by thaws and drenching rains.  The difficulties of transport continued supreme.  Roads, mere spongy sloughs of despond, were nearly impassable, and the waste of baggage-animals was so great that soon few would remain.

To replace them with fresh supplies became of paramount importance.

“We must draw upon neighbouring countries,” said General Airey, talking it over one day with McKay.  “It ought to have been done sooner.  But better now than not at all.  I will send to the Levant, to Constantinople, Italy—­”

“Spain,” suggested McKay.

“To be sure!  What do you suppose we could get from Spain?”

“Thousands of mules and plenty of horses.”

“It is worth thinking of, although the distance is great,” replied the quartermaster-general.  “I will speak to Lord Raglan at once on the subject.  By-the-way, I think you know Spanish?”

“Yes,” said McKay, “fairly well.”

“Then you had better get ready to start.  If any one goes, I will send you.”

This was tantamount to an order.  General Airey’s advice was certain to be taken by Lord Raglan.

Next morning McKay started for Gibraltar, specially accredited to the Governor of the fortress, and with full powers to buy and forward baggage-animals as expeditiously as possible.

CHAPTER XXI.

AGAIN ON THE ROCK.

McKay travelled as far as Constantinople in one of the man-of-war despatch-boats used for the postal service.  There he changed into a transport homeward bound, and proceeded on his voyage without delay.

But half-an-hour at Constantinople was enough to gain tidings of the Arcadia and her passengers.