d it was found to be afloat almost at the
northern end of the bay, having been placed in that position, either
from ignorance or treachery, by the French. There was no time for
expostulation, the French were found already to have occupied the whole
ground. To avoid the risk of a dispute, Sir Edmund Lyons, like a wise
man, knowing that a similar landing-place existed a little farther to
the north, also with a lake inside it, at once ordered the transports to
proceed there and take up their proper places.

The day was fine and the water smooth, and early in the morning the
landing commenced. So admirably were the arrangements made that the
troops landed in the order they were to take on the march, while the
line-of-battle ships remained outside, thus keeping up the communication
with a steamer stationed off the mouth of Sebastopol harbour, so that,
should the Russian fleet sail out, they might at once proceed to meet
it, and prevent it from interfering with the transports. Jack's ship,
and other disengaged steamers, were in the meantime sent to cruise up
and down the coast and annoy the enemy. Jack ran down to the south, and
communicated with the vessel off the mouth of the harbour. Greatly to
his disappointment, no signs were to be perceived among the Russian
fleet that they were likely to come out and give battle. Now was their
opportunity, if they intended to do so, for their scouts on shore must
have informed them that the French and Turkish men-of-war were employed
in landing their troops, and for what they could tell the English were
similarly occupied.

"You may depend on it," observed Jack, "by some means or other they know
that our ships are ready to meet them, and they feel pretty sure that
they would get the worst of it."

The _Tornado_, keeping clear of the formidable batteries which frowned
defiance from the northern side of the harbour, now stood close inshore.
Above her rose a series of cliffs, with a broad plateau on the summit,
extending as far as the mouth of the Alma River. A group of tents were
near the edge of the cliff.

"Where there are tents there are men," observed Higson; "are we to fire
at them?"

"It is our business to do so," answered Jack, "though it is not much to
my fancy to fire at men who cannot return the compliment. Elevate the
guns so as to clear the top of the cliff." The engines being stopped,
the _Tornado_ opened her fire. Presently one tent went down, then
another