Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/342

312 THE CANNONADE OF CHAI>. and even sometimes to sprinkle them with the ^" blood of men wounded. Shells also were burst- ing on all sides, and slaughtering the people at the batteries. Seeing the danger to which Korniloff exposed himself, Captain Ilynsky approached the Admiral, and entreated him to leave the bastion. By that time Korniloff had descended from the banquette, and was looking to see how the men at the bat- teries were pointing their guns. Ilynsky tried to carry his purpose by saying to Korniloff that his presence at the bastion denoted want of trust in his subordinates ; and added that he would so take care to fulfil his duty as to render unne- cessary the presence of the Admiral. Korniloff answered, ' And if you are to do your duty, why ' do you wish to prevent me from doing mine? ' My duty is to see all.' Korniloff visited the battery at the gorge of the Central Bastion, and then went on to the work which we call the Land Quarantine. Seeing that the men were suffering from thirst, he gave orders for hauling up casks of andrciuiiis watci to the battcries. Then, needing food, he teiB:' ' rode home to his quarters. Before he yet broke his fast, Korniloff found time to finish a letter which he had been writing to his wife. This, along with a watch which he regarded as a kind his letter of heirloom, Korniloff entrusted to the courier tohia'wffcT who was about to be despatched to Nicolayeff. 'Pray,' said he, 'give this watch to my wife — it ' must belong to my eldest son ; ' and then, in words half playful, but susceptible of an interpre-