ed descent on the unknown shores of the Crimea.

The Three Commanders--by W.H.G. Kingston

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

DESCENT ON THE CRIMEA--LANDING TROOPS--TOWING RAFTS--BATTLE OF THE
ALMA--TOM AND ARCHIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD--THE HORRORS OF WAR--BRINGING
OFF THE WOUNDED--BOMBARDMENT OF SEBASTOPOL--JACK AND MURRAY IN ACTION.

"Just gone seven bells, sir," said Billy Blueblazes, as he entered
Jack's cabin, sent according to orders by Mr Mildmay, who had the
morning watch on the 7th of September 1854. Jack was speedily on deck,
for there was plenty of work to be done that day. A gentle breeze blew
off the shore; not a cloud dimmed the sky, from which the moon cast her
beams over the calm surface of the ocean. By her pale light the
sailing-ships in all directions could be seen loosing their canvas,
while from numberless funnels wreaths of smoke were ascending, showing
that the steamers were preparing to move. All the officers were quickly
assembled on deck; many an eye was cast eastward to watch for the first
signs of coming day. The men were ordered to their stations. At length
a ruddy glow above the eastern horizon announced the approach of day;
shortly afterwards the loud roar of a gun from the lofty side of the
_Britannia_ gave the signal to weigh. The sails hanging from the yards
were let fall and sheeted home, the steamers sent forth denser columns
of smoke, which, rising in thick wreaths, floated in all directions
round the ships' funnels, obscuring the view.

The order had been given to rendezvous forty miles due west of Cape
Tarkand. Instantly the outer ships began to move; Sir Edmund Lyons'
ship, the _Agamemnon_, with signals flying at her masthead, proudly
gliding through their midst. The English transports, in five columns of
thirty each, obeying his orders, moved slowly eastward; then came the
ships of war, the guardians of the fleet, in single column. The French,
more numerous, but with much smaller vessels, sailed out in less compact
order, with their warships crowded with troops; the Turkish fleet,
similarly encumbered, followed. Among the English perfect order was
maintained, for every captain could thoroughly trust, and well knew that
he must obey, his gallant leader.

The French soon became scattered; their general, with some of their
line-of-battle ships, had sailed several days before, and what had
become of them was not known.

By the morning of the ninth the whole English fleet was anchor