It was nearly midnight when we were shouting, pianoly, “_Baraguay d’Hilliers_ ahoy!” No reply was made to either the first or second hail, so I raised the dismal melody a few notes higher, which at last brought, to our astonishment, a beautiful boat manned by six smart oarsmen. The craft was handsomely painted, having a small red and white burgee at the stern. At first I thought it was an optical delusion, or a fairy scene raised by the magic power of Ondine, the queen of the waters. In less than two minutes they neared the shore, and one of the fairies addressed us thus: “Pray, are you the gentlemen who are accompanying Miss Nightingale?”
“I and my men have been waiting for you, sir, these three hours.”
“I cannot tell you further, than that we were sent to fetch Miss Nightingale, and referred to you. I believe you are Mr. Bracebridge?”
“Yes; and I am at a loss to understand what you mean.”
“I’ve brought a letter from our master, Lord Ward, which will explain all.”
“I have delivered it on board; but the last orders from his lordship were, that if I had to wait all night, I was to bring you to him.”
“Not exactly. But I am sure his lordship is still waiting for you; so you had better come as far as the _London_--it won’t take you ten minutes.”
We then jumped in. Mr. Bracebridge said, “I tell you how it is: no doubt Lord Ward has heard of what has happened, and probably intends to offer to take Miss Nightingale in his yacht to Scutari.”
“Very likely; but it would not do to accept the invitation without first obtaining the permission of Admiral Boxer.”
“We shall see, Mr. Bracebridge. Perhaps Lord Ward will lend it to the invalid; for he has only just arrived, and it is doing nothing.”
On getting on board the _New London_, we found that Lord Ward, tired of waiting, had retired to rest, having left special orders to be called the instant we arrived, no matter at what hour. As it was nearly one o’clock, we made all kinds of objections to his being disturbed, but in vain. The lamps were lit in the saloon, and we were invited to walk in. We found Lord Ward _en robe-de-chambre_, quite ready to receive us.
We were about to apologize for being so late, when Lord Ward proceeded to say that he had heard of the non-departure of Miss Nightingale, and the cause, and that if she would accept his yacht, he should be happy to place it at her disposal to convey her to Scutari. He added, that she might take her own time, as he intended to remain a fortnight in the Crimea, and that no one should be on board excepting those whom she chose to take with her, and his medical attendant.
