It mounted to the plateau north of the harbor, wound along near the great north fort, and then across undulating land parallel with the sea.

They stopped for the night on the Katcha, where the allied army had turned off for their flank march to the southern side.
The boys during the march were allowed to walk as they liked, but two soldiers with loaded muskets kept near them.

They discussed the chances of trying to make their escape, but agreed that although they might be able to slip away from the convoy, the probability of their making their way through the Russian troops to their own lines at Balaklava or Sebastopol was so slight that the attempt would be almost madness.

Their figures would be everywhere conspicuous on the snow, their footsteps, could be followed, they had no food, and were ignorant of the language and country.

Altogether they determined to abandon any idea of escaping for the present.
There were but a dozen soldiers with the convoy, the officers being medical men in charge of the wounded.