396 THE CANNONADE OF c H A P. which sounded like anger — that the Eussians in XIII T L_ Fort Constantine were not standing to their guns.* Though the Eodney was comparatively distant from the cliff batteries, it is believed that she suffered more from their fire than she did from the guns of Fort Constantine. Indeed, one of the theories which seeks to account for the impunity of the Eodney, is based upon the supposition that some of those who were directing the fire of Fort Constantine per- ceived the ship to be aground, and regarded her almost as their own. This idea receives some support from the fact, that the moment the Spite- ful moved ahead, so as to disclose herself to the gunners in Fort Constantine, she experienced full proof that they did not intend to grant her the least measure of that indulgence which they gave to the 90-gun ship. The fleets For somc time, the French ships had been haul- liauling off. . p» , .-^ mg on, when Dundas at length sent up his signal to cease firing and come out of range.f Except The Rodney the Eoducy stiU fighting on the shoal, with her sliU aground ./ o o 7 onthesho.ai. satellite steamer at her side, the whole Allied fleet hauled off. Though in order to get off the Eodney there was wanted some more steam power, Captain Graham
- General do Todleben liaviiig stated, as we saw, that the
Agamemnon was so placed at the dead angle of Fort Constan- tine as not to be liable to be touched by any of the guns in the casemates, gives no other explanation of the causes which ren- dered the fort so harmless. + At 5.30. — Log of Britannia. According to the same re- cord, the French ships began to haul off at 5.10.
