day but is now
calmer, and there is every prospect of fine weather for to-morrow's
murderous work. Away to the east the Asiatic coast is beautifully lit
up by the setting sun, also the yellow rocks that stretch to Kum Kale
on the south of the entrance to the Dardanelles, while the hills on
Gallipoli are visible but in haze. From my present post I look over
the Plain of Troy to the high mountains beyond. To-morrow it is to be
Troy Field and the wooden horse of Troy all over again.

10.30 p.m.--Arrived on coal boat at 6.30. Place in stern fitted up for
officers' supper; two lime barrels and a few rough boards form table:
whisky: tinned meat: biscuits: 2200 of us on board: all happy and fit.
We start in two hours: only 12 or 13 miles to go: then anchor 1-1/2
miles from land and wait for daylight and bombardment; then at proper
moment rush in: said that coast is to be battered with 150,000 shells.
Supper finished some time ago and am writing this in the mess I have
just mentioned. Some sleeping or pretending; others smoking; I doing
latter and sitting on board after trying to snooze with head on a big
box and less high one in small of back; but too uncomfortable for
anything, so whipped out my "bookie" and scribbled; light bad, only an
oily lamp with glass smoked black, and nearly 20 feet distant. Queer
scene altogether.

_April 25th._--Sunday is just ten minutes old, and the ship's screw
has started--we are off!

_Later._--Still Sunday the 25th--5.15 p.m.

Hell with the lid off! Yes, I know what hell is, nor do I believe
anyone in the world knows better. To-day I have seen shells plunging
through the ship's hold in which I was, carrying off heads and legs,
but my pulse has not once given an extra beat. "My word, sir," said a
tar coming up to me, "you have a nerve." Tars have no lack of nerve as
I have seen to-day, and I felt vastly proud of the compliment. Three
of our Generals are reported on the casualty list, and Col.
Smith-Carrington shot through the head on the bridge of our ship.

The bombardment commenced at 4.50 a.m. and was expected to carry on
for an hour or a little over, but after twelve hours of the most
terrific cannonade ever experienced in this world it has not yet come
to an end. Now at 5.30 an occasional shot comes from a battleship.
The constant roar has made my head ache, and I am dead tired, having
worked hard all day, and I must give an account of this another day.

_April 26th._--The batt