Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/73

THE RENEWED EXPEDITION TO KEltTCII. 43 or might be a feint ; and, although resting simply chap. on inference, his belief was no whit less distract- ! — ing than a feint really made. The sight of an ar- mada approaching the landing-place of Kamish Boroune did not even for an instant make Wran- gel believe himself safe against a descent on the shore some seventy miles to the westward, because he well knew that a signal run up in a minute by one of the flag-ships might, like magic, arrest and reverse the whole eastward movement, and swiftly send back the armada to waters off the known landing-ground in the neighbourhood of the town, Theodosia, where its presence would all at once challenge his command of the Isthmus, and with it, the very existence of all the force under his orders. It was under these painful conditions — condi- Baron . -r, Wrangel's tions deserving the study of any maritime Power retreat, which has coasts at home to defend, or coasts abroad to attack — that Baron Wrangel abandoned his defence of the Coast batteries, determined to have them destroyed, and drew off to Sultanoffka at first, but afterwards towards the great Eoad — the Imperial Road through the Isthmus which connected him with the main Russian army. Accordingly it was without opposition, though unopposed ° J . , ,. . ' landing ol not of course without guarding against any chance the troops. of attack, that (under the cover of guns disposed on board the steam frigates and other less vessels) the Allied troops with horses and batteries and all their train of appurtenances began to I ill the boats of the squadrons, and move towards the landing-