In ten minutes the boat landed them at Pera, close to the bridge of boats across the Golden Horn. For a time the lads made no motion to advance, so astonished were they at the crowd which surged across the bridge: Turkish, English, and French soldiers, Turks in turbans and fezes, Turkish women wrapped up to the eyes in white or blue clothes; hamals or porters staggered past under weights which seemed to the boys stupendous; pachas and other dignitaries riding on gayly-trapped little horses; carriages, with three or four veiled figures inside and black guards standing7 on the steps, carried the ladies of one harem to visit those of another. The lads observed that for the most part these dames8, instead of completely hiding their faces with thick wrappings as did their sisters in the streets, covered them merely with a fold of thin muslin, permitting their features to be plainly seen. These ladies evidently took a lively interest in what was going on, and in no way took it amiss when some English or French officer stared unceremoniously at their pretty faces; although their black guards gesticulated angrily on these occasions, and were clearly far more indignant concerning the admiration9 which their mistresses excited than were those ladies themselves.
At last the boys moved forward across the bridge, and Jack presently found himself next to two young English officers proceeding10 in the same direction. One of these turned sharply round as Jack addressed his companion.
"Hallo, Jack!"
"Hallo, Harry11! What! you here? I had no idea you had got your commission yet. How are you, old fellow, and how are they all at home?"
"Every one is all right, Jack. I thought you would have known all about it. I was gazetted three days after you started, and was ordered to join at once. We wrote to tell you it."
"I have never had a letter since I left home," Jack said. "I suppose they are all knocking about somewhere. Every one is complaining about the post. Well, this is jolly; and I see you are in the 33d too, the regiment12 you wanted to get into. When did you arrive?"
"We came in two days ago in the 'Himalaya.' We are encamped with the rest of the light division who have come up. Sir George Brown commands us, and will be here from Gallipoli in a day or two with the rest of the division."
The boys now introduced their respective friends to each other, and the four wandered together through Constantinople, visited the bazaars13, fixed14 upon lots of pretty things as presents to be bought and taken home at the end of the war, and then crossed the bridge again to Pera, and had dinner at Missouri's, the principal hotel there, and the great rendezvous15 of the officers of the British army and navy. Then they took a boat and rowed across to Scutari, where Harry did the honors of the camp, and at sundown Jack and his messmate returned on board the "Falcon16."
The next three weeks passed pleasantly, Jack spending all his time, when he could get leave, with his brother, and the latter often coming off for an hour or two to the "Falcon." Early in May the news arrived that the Russians had advanced through the Dobrudscha and had commenced the siege of Silistria. A few hours later the "Falcon" and several other ships of war were on their way up the Dardanelles, convoying numerous store-ships bound to Varna. Shortly afterwards the generals of the allied17 armies determined that Varna should be the base for the campaign against the Russians, and accordingly towards the end of May the troops were again embarked18.
Varna is a seaport19, surrounded by an undulating country of park-like appearance, and the troops were upon their arrival delighted with their new quarters. Here some 22,000 English and 50,000 French were encamped, together with 8,000 or 10,000 Turks. A few days after their arrival Jack obtained leave for a day on shore, and rowed out to Alladyn, nine miles and a half from Varna, where the light division, consisting of the 7th, 19th, 23d, 33d, 77th, and 88th regiments20, was encamped. Close by was a fresh-water lake, and the undulated ground was finely wooded with clumps21 of forest timber, and covered with short, crisp grass. No more charming site for a camp could be conceived. Game abounded22, and the officers who had brought guns with them found for a time capital sport. Everyone was in the highest spirits, and the hopes that the campaign would soon open in earnest were general. In this, however, they were destined23 to be disappointed, for on the 24th of June the news came that the Turks had unaided beaten off the Russians with such heavy loss in their attack upon Silistria that the latter had broken up the siege, and were retreating northward24.
A weary delay then occurred while the English and French home authorities, and the English and French generals in the field were settling the point at which the attack should be made upon Russia. The delay was a disastrous25 one, for it allowed an enemy more dangerous than the Russians to make his insidious26 approaches. The heat was very great; water bad, indeed almost undrinkable, the climate was notoriously an unhealthy one, and fruit of all kinds, together with cucumbers and melons, extremely cheap, and the soldiers consequently consumed very large quantities of these.
Through June and up to the middle of July, however, no very evil consequences were apparent. On the 21st of July two divisions of French troops under General Canrobert marched into the Dobrudscha, in search of some bodies of Russians who were said to be there. On the night of the 28th cholera27 broke out, and before morning, in one division no less than 600 men lay dead. The other divisions, although situated28 at considerable distances, were simultaneously29 attacked with equal violence, and three days later the expedition returned, having lost over 7000 men. Scarcely less sudden or less fatal was the attack among the English lines, and for some time the English camps were ravaged30 by cholera.
Jack was extremely anxious about his brother, for the light division suffered even more severely31 than did the others. But he was not able to go himself to see as to the state of things, for the naval32 officers were not allowed to go on shore more than was absolutely necessary. And as the camp of the light division had been moved some ten miles farther away on to the slopes of the Balkans, it would have been impossible to go and return in one day. Such precautions as were taken, however, were insufficient33 to keep the cholera from on board ship. In a short time the fleet was attacked with a severity almost equal to that on shore, and although the fleet put out to sea, the flagship in two days lost seventy men.
Fortunately the "Falcon" had left Varna before the outbreak extended to the ships. The Crimea had now been definitely determined upon as the point of assault. Turkish vessels35 with heavy siege guns were on their way to Varna, and the "Falcon" was ordered to cross to the Crimea and report upon the advantages of several places for the landing of the allied army. The mission was an exciting one, as beside the chance of a brush with shore batteries, there was the possibility that they might run against some of the Russian men-of-war, who still held that part of the Black Sea, and whose headquarters were at Sebastopol, the great fortress36 which was the main object of the expedition to the Crimea.
The "Falcon" started at night, and in the morning of the second day the hills of the Crimea were visible in the distance. The fires were then banked up and she lay-to. With nightfall she steamed on until within a mile or two of the coast, and here again anchored. With the early dawn steam was turned on, and the "Falcon" steamed along as close to the shore as she dare go, the lead being constantly kept going, as but little was known of the depth of water on these shores. Presently they came to a bay with a smooth beach. The ground rose but gradually behind, and a small village stood close to the shore.
"This looks a good place," Captain Stuart said to the first lieutenant37. "We will anchor here and lower the boats. You, Mr. Hethcote, with three boats, had better land at that village, get any information that you can, and see that there are no troops about. If attacked by a small force, you will of course repel38 it; if by a strong one, fall back to your boats, and I will cover your retreat with the guns of the ship. The other two boats will be employed in sounding. Let the master have charge of these, and make out, as far as he can, a perfect chart of the bay."
In a few minutes the boats were lowered, and the men in the highest glee took their places. Jack was in the gig with the first lieutenant. The order was given, and the boats started together towards the shore. They had not gone fifty yards before there was a roar of cannon39, succeeded by the whistle of shot. Two masked batteries, one upon each side of the bay, and mounting each six guns, had opened upon them. The cutter, commanded by the second lieutenant, was smashed by a round shot and instantly sunk. A ball struck close to the stroke-oar of the gig, deluging40 its occupants with water and ricochetting over the gunwale of the boat, between the stroke-oar and Mr. Hethcote. Two shot hulled41 the "Falcon," and others whistled through her rigging.
"Pick up the crew of the cutter, Mr. Hethcote, and return on board at once," Captain Stuart shouted; the engines of the "Falcon" at once began to move, and the captain interposed the ship between the nearest battery and the boats, and a few seconds later her heavy guns, which had previously42 been got ready for action, opened upon the forts. In two minutes the boats were alongside with all hands, save one of the cutter's crew who had been cut in two by the round shot. The men, leaving the boats towing alongside, rushed to the guns, and the heavy fire of the "Falcon" speedily silenced her opponents. Then, as his object was to reconnoitre, not to fight, Captain Stuart steamed out to sea. He was determined, however, to obtain further information respecting the bay, which appeared to him one adapted for the purpose of landing.
"I will keep off till nightfall, Mr. Hethcote. We will then run in as close as we dare, showing no lights, and I will then ask you to take a boat with muffled43 oars44 to row to the village. Make your way among the houses as quietly as possible, and seize a couple of fishermen and bring them off with you. Our interpreter will be able to find out from them at any rate, general details as to the depth of water and the nature of the anchorage."
"Who shall I take with me, sir?"
"The regular gig's crew and Mr. Simmonds. He has passed, and it may give him a chance of promotion45. I think, by the way, you may as well take the launch also; it carries a gun. Do not let the men from it land, but keep her lying a few yards off shore to cover your retreat if necessary. Mr. Pascoe will command it."
There was a deep but quiet excitement among the men when at nightfall the vessel34's head was again turned towards shore, and the crews of the gig and launch told to hold themselves in readiness. Cutlasses were sharpened and pistols cleaned. Not less was the excitement in the midshipmen's berth46, where it was known that Simmonds was to go in the gig; but no one knew who was to accompany the launch. However, Jack turned out to be the lucky one, Mr. Pascoe being probably glad to please the first lieutenant by selecting his relation, although that officer would not himself have shown favoritism on his behalf.
It was about eleven o'clock when the "Falcon" approached her former position, or rather to a point a mile seaward of it as nearly as the master could bring her, for the night was extremely dark and the land scarcely visible. Not a light was shown, not a voice raised on board, and the only sound heard was the gentle splash of the paddles as they revolved47 at their slowest rate of speed. The falls had been greased, the rowlocks muffled, and the crew took their places in perfect silence.
"You understand, Mr. Hethcote," were Captain Stuart's last words, "that you are not to attempt a landing if there is the slightest opposition48."
Very quietly the boats left the "Falcon's" side. They rowed abreast49 and close to each other, in order that the first lieutenant could give orders to Mr. Pascoe in a low tone. The men were ordered to row quietly, and to avoid any splashing or throwing up of water. It was a longer row than they had expected, and it was evident that the master, deceived by the uncertain light, had brought the vessel up at a point considerably50 farther from the shore than he had intended. As they got well in the bay they could see no lights in the village ahead; but an occasional gleam near the points at either side showed that the men in the batteries were awake and active. As the boat neared the shore the men rowed, according to the first lieutenant's orders, more and more gently, and at last, when the line of beach ahead became distinctly visible, the order was given to lie upon their oars. All listened intently, and then Mr. Hethcote put on his helm so that the boat which had still some way on it drifted even closer to the launch.
"Do you hear anything, Mr. Pascoe?"
"I don't know, sir. I don't seem to make out any distinct sound, but there certainly appears to be some sort of murmur51 in the air."
"So I think, too."
Again they listened.
"I don't know, sir," Jack whispered in Mr. Pascoe's ear, "but I fancy that at times I see a faint light right along behind those trees. It is very faint, but sometimes their outline seems clearer than at others."
Mr. Pascoe repeated in a low voice to Mr. Hethcote what Jack had remarked.
"I fancied so once or twice myself," he said. "There," he added suddenly, "that is the neigh of a horse. However, there may be horses anywhere. Now we will paddle slowly on. Lay within a boat's length of the shore, Mr. Pascoe, keep the gun trained on the village, and let the men hold their arms in readiness."
In another minute the gig's bow grated on the beach. "Quietly, lads," the first lieutenant said. "Step into the water without splashing. Then follow me as quickly as you can."
The beach was a sandy one, and the footsteps of the sailors were almost noiseless as they stole towards the village. The place seemed hushed in quiet, but just as they entered the little street a figure standing in the shade of a house rather larger than the rest, stepped forward and challenged, bringing, as he did so, his musket52 to the present. An instant later he fired, just as the words, "A Russian sentry53," broke from the first lieutenant's lips. Almost simultaneously three or four other shots were fired at points along the beach. A rocket whizzed high in the air from each side of the bay, a bugle54 sounded the alarm, voices of command were heard, and, as if by enchantment55, a chaos56 of sounds followed the deep silence which had before reigned57, and from every house armed men poured out.
"Steady, lads, steady!" Mr. Hethcote shouted. "Fall back steadily58. Keep together, don't fire a shot till you get to the boat; then give them a volley and jump on board. Now, retire at the double."
For a moment the Russians, as they poured from the houses, paused in ignorance of the direction of their foes59, but a shout from the sentry indicated this, and a scattering60 fire was opened. This, however, was at once checked by the shout of the officer to dash forward with all speed after the enemy. As the mass of Russians rushed from the village, the howitzer in the bows of the launch poured a volley of grape into them, and checked their advance. However, from along the bushes on either side fresh assailants poured out.
"Jump on board, lads, jump on board!" Mr. Hethcote shouted, and each sailor, discharging his musket at the enemy, leapt into his place. "Give them a volley, Mr. Pascoe. Get your head round and row. Don't let the men waste time in firing."
The volley from the launch again momentarily checked the enemy, and just as she got round, another discharge from the gun further arrested them. The boats were not, however, thirty yards from the shore before this was lined with dark figures who opened a tremendous fire of musketry.
"Row, lads, row!" Mr. Pascoe shouted to his men. "We shall be out of their sight in another hundred yards."
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1
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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2
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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3
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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4
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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5
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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6
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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7
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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8
dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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10
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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11
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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13
bazaars
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| （东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场 | |
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14
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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15
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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16
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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17
allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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18
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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seaport
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| n.海港，港口，港市 | |
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20
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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21
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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22
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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24
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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25
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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26
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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cholera
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| n.霍乱 | |
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28
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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29
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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30
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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31
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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32
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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33
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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34
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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35
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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36
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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38
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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39
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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40
deluging
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| v.使淹没( deluge的现在分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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41
hulled
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| 有壳的，有船身的 | |
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42
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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43
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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44
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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46
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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47
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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48
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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49
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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50
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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51
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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52
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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53
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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54
bugle
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| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
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55
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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56
chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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57
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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58
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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59
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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60
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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