Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/100

70 OPERATIONS IN THE SEA OF AZOF. chap. There existed, however, some channels lying ' open to the incursion of vessels with a very light draught, such, for instance, as the English Eecruit or the French Mouette ; and although, as might well be expected, the enemy had taken good care to remove the lights and the beacons, it was pos- sible for the skill of the seamen to re-discover (by sounding) the veins of deeper — though still shallow — water that found their way through the shoal. Taganrog, we know, was a place where the vast supplies brought down the Don lay stored on the beach ; and the problem requiring solu- tion asked how to effect the destruction of these warlike treasures whilst defended from naval aggression by a shoal ten miles broad, and by more than 3000 troops. The resources for this purpose owned by Lyons and M. Sedaiges consisted only as yet of those vessels both few and small which, like the Eecruit and Mouette, could make their way over the shoal. They brought with them, of course, their ships' companies, each including its share of marines, but had otherwise no troops on board. In the night of the 1st of June, Lieutenant Day found a channel for his craft, the Eecruit — a vessel that drew little water — and, the next morning, going on board her, Captain Lyons re- connoitred the town. Since (with only the stated exceptions) the wind and a consequent fall of 3 feet in the depth of tin' water.