hot and shell on
the ships which might dare to oppose them.

The English and French admirals threw out the signal for the
steam-squadron to weigh. It was answered with alacrity--the vessels,
urged rapidly through the water by their paddles, stood in towards the
shore. As they approached, the silence of the morning was broken by the
loud roar of the Russian guns from the citadel and lower forts,
responded to by those of the allies fired from the decks of the
steamers; which, having delivered their broadsides with excellent aim,
stood off again to give place to their successors in the line. Having
made a semicircle and reloaded, they again came into action; this
manoeuvre being repeated without cessation, so that not a moment of
breathing-time was allowed to the Russians in the batteries. Most ably
were the guns of the latter served, many of them firing red-hot shot as
well as round-shot. At length, several of the former striking one of
the French steam frigates, flames were seen to burst out from her, and
she was compelled to stand out of action while her crew, not without
difficulty, extinguished the fire.

A breeze springing up, the gallant _Arethusa_ was seen standing in under
sail, and as she closed with the batteries, she opened her fire with
tremendous effect; then, putting down her helm, she came about and stood
off once more, amid showers of shot and shell which came sweeping over
and about her; though, close as she was, not a shot touched her.
Greatly to the disappointment of her gallant captain, he saw the signal
made from the flagship for his return. Thinking that he might shut one
eye, as Nelson did at Copenhagen, he however once more stood in,
delivering a fire from his eight-inch-shell guns, standing in even
closer than before. This manoeuvre he repeated several times; but again
the admiral, fearing that he would receive more damage than would be
compensated for by the injury inflicted on the enemy, finally recalled
him, and, sending for him on board the flagship, complimented him upon
his gallantry and the skilful way in which he had manoeuvred his ship.

The attacking squadron was now strengthened by several other steamers
and gunboats. The _Tornado_ had been playing her part. "We shall make
our fire tell before long," observed Jack to Higson, who stood by his
side, just as the ship had delivered her broadside and was standing out
of action. "See, flames are bursting out from the fort at the e