While still doubtful as to the best means of reaching the
theatre of war, it occurred to her that she could not do better than
make use of Lord Lydstone's yacht.
It would have to go home eventually--to be paid off and disposed of by
Lord Lydstone's heirs. But there was surely no immediate hurry for
this, and Mrs. Wilders thought she had sufficient influence with
Captain Trejago to persuade him, not only to postpone his departure,
but to take a trip to the Crimea.
In this she was perfectly successful, and the day after Lord
Lydstone's funeral the _Arcadia_, with a fine breeze aft, steered
northward across the Black Sea.
It reached Balaclava on the morning of the 5th of November, and Mrs.
Wilders immediately despatched a messenger on shore to inform the
general of her arrival. That day, however, the general and his brigade
were very busily employed. It was the day of Inkerman!
CHAPTER XVI.
"HARD POUNDING."
Mr. Hobson, as he called himself, had been perfectly right when he
gleefully assured Mrs. Wilders that the Russians were gathering up
their strength for a supreme effort against the allies. Reinforcements
had been steadily pouring into the Crimea for weeks past--two of the
Czar's sons had arrived to stir up the enthusiasm of the soldiers.
Menschikoff, who still commanded, counted confidently upon inflicting
exemplary chastisement upon the invaders.
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