They had been seen to ride away together, and when in the evening they were found to be absent, it was supposed that they had gone down to Balaklava and slept there.

When upon the following day they were still missing, it was supposed that the admiral had retained them for duty on board ship.

The storm, which had scattered everything, had put them out of the thoughts of the commanding officer, and it was only that morning that, no letter respecting them having been received, he was about to write to their respective captains to inquire the cause of their absence.

This was now explained, and as they had been detained by circumstances altogether beyond their control, they escaped without a reprimand, and were indeed warmly congratulated upon the adventures they had passed through.
In the meantime the cannonade had been going on very heavily in front.
The Russian outworks were showing signs of weakness after the tremendous pounding they were receiving.

The French were pushing their trenches close up to the Malakoff, and upon both sides the soldiers were busy with pick and shovel.