"By Jove, ain't they going it!" Every minute added to the din, till the musketry grew into one tremendous roar, above which the almost unbroken roll of the cannon could scarce by heard.

Along the whole face of the trenches the batteries of the allies joined in the din; for it was expected that the Russians would seize the opportunity to attack them also.
In a short time the fusillade of musketry broke out far to the left, and showed that the Russians were there attacking the French lines.
The noise was tremendous, and all in camp were oppressed by the sound which told of a mighty conflict raging, but of which they could see absolutely nothing.
"This is awful," Jack said.

"Here they are pounding away at each other, and we as much out of it as if we were a thousand miles away.
Don't I wish Captain Peel would march us all down to help!" But in view of the possible sortie, it would have been dangerous to detach troops from their places on the trenches and batteries, and the sailors had nothing to do but to wait, fuming over their forced inaction while a great battle was raging close at hand.

Overhead the Russian balls sang in swift succession, sometimes knocking down a tent, sometimes throwing masses of earth into the air, sometimes bursting with a sharp detonation above them; and all this time the rain fell, and the mist hung like a veil around them.

Presently a mounted officer rode into the sailor's camp.
"Where am I ?" he said.