thousand of the brave fellows who
had manned them were killed. One steamer only managed to get away and
carry the news to Constantinople. Scarcely four hundred Turks, all of
those more or less wounded, escaped on shore. The town was also
dreadfully knocked about, and many people were killed. Natchimoff,
having waited till the next day, returned to the harbour of Sebastopol.
I only hope the next time he sails out of it, whether or not he has the
whole of the Russian fleet to back him, that he will fall in with a
British squadron. Depend upon it, England will not allow this outrage
to go unavenged. The allied fleets are by this time in the Black Sea,
looking out for the enemy. I wish you were there, but we shall be
reinforcing the fleet in the Black Sea, as well as sending another up
the Baltic to attack the Russians on their northern shores."

This was not a time that Adair could press his suit with Sir John,
though Colonel Giffard promised to use his influence as soon as he
returned home. Meantime the colonel and Julia accepted the admiral's
and Mrs Deborah's invitation to remain at Southsea till Jack had paid
off the _Gauntlet_. She was to be immediately recommissioned as soon as
she had undergone the necessary repairs.

The court-martial to try Adair for the loss of the _Romp_ immediately
took place; when not only was he honourably acquitted, but next day he
was appointed to the command of the _Gauntlet_, ordered to proceed with
the squadron under Sir Charles Napier to the Baltic. Jack, taking it
into his head that he was to be placed on the shelf, proposed to marry
at once; but the very next day he was appointed to a new steamer ordered
to be brought forward with all despatch for the Mediterranean squadron.
He had time, therefore, only to run home for a few days, and to return
immediately to Portsmouth.

The _Opal_ meantime had arrived, and, being paid off, her crew were
turned over to Jack's new ship, the _Tornado_. Murray, once more with
his dear Stella, very naturally had no wish to leave her, and they were
on the point of setting off for Scotland, when he received a flattering
note from Captain Hemming, which completely altered his plans. "I have
been appointed to the _Briton_, seventy-four, and, having to select my
commander, I beg that you will allow me to name you, as I am very sure
that you will get her well manned and quickly fit for sea, and that you
will ably second me in any work we have to