showing that the
riflemen of both parties were awake. They again ceased, and the same
silence as before reigned over the scene.

The _Tornado's_ heavy guns were loaded, and elevated to throw their shot
into the city, and their crews stood ready to fire at the word of
command. Jack waited till his ship had reached the point he was
directed to gain. "Fire!" he shouted. The next instant the loud roar
of his guns echoed through the harbour, arousing many a weary sleeper in
the Russian fortifications. The French ship immediately fired her guns
in rapid succession, and then both vessels steamed round away from the
spot they had previously occupied, towards which numberless Russian guns
immediately directed their fire, though not a shot touched either of
them. The _Tornado's_ guns were reloaded, and, standing back, she
rapidly discharged them, the French ship following her example. Again
the shot from the forts came rushing through the air, falling around the
ships, but without striking them. In this way they continued circling
round, now firing from one point, now from another, and each time after
firing taking different directions.

At length every gun which could be brought to bear on the harbour began
to play upon them, but, by keeping ever on the move, for a considerable
time not a shot took effect. At length, as Tom and Archie were standing
close together, a shot from one of the heights whistled by close to
their heads, and struck the bulwarks behind them.

"I say, Tom, if that shot had been a few inches on one side, where
should you and I have been by this time?" said Archie.

"Not a pleasant subject for contemplation," answered Tom; "however, a
miss is as good as a mile."

"I have been thinking seriously of the matter," observed Archie; "not
that I am afraid, but I am very sure that we ought to be prepared to go
out of the world, seeing that at any moment either of us may lose our
lives."

"It doesn't do to think of that sort of thing," said Tom, not liking
Archie's tone.

"Now there you're wrong. I believe that it is much wiser to think about
it than to be taken unprepared," replied Archie. "My Cousin Alick
thinks very seriously, and no one can say that he is not as brave an
officer as any man in the fleet. I tell you honestly that I have been
saying my prayers, and asking God to help me to take Him at His word,
and to trust to His plan of salvation--that is what I want you to do,
Tom, also. I sh