Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/94

64 Ol'KRATIONS IN TnE SEA OF AZOF. chap. 'Cossacks! the Cossacks!' there well might be IV ■ ' felt strange emotions when — along with a now friendly England — outstretching the long naval arm, and touching the westermost nests of that once notorious horde which, however disregarded as combatants, had as plunderers startled the France of an earlier and horrible time. Those were men who, not quitting their saddles, would trot up the stairs of the palace or the house they were going to despoil, and ride straight into a drawing- room on horses well used like them- selves to the piteous screaming of women.( 3 ) The scat of What Lyons disturbed on the Sea and the [LtLyons shores of the Azof was a vast seat of industry, but industry plainly devoted to the business of war. The shipping engaged, it is true, was but lately the shipping of commerce bearing corn to foreign ports ; but it had been brought into the service of the Czar for commissariat purposes, and was busied in transporting supplies for the use of Prince Gortchakoffs army. To this end alone were corn - stores lining the beach, and unarmed vessels plying in hundreds. It was the right and the duty of Lyons to destroy, if he could, the foundations of all this hostile activity. nis task not The Allies having no troops on board, and the to battle. ° enemy having no war-ships, there could not of course well take place any great engagement be- tween them; and no one reading what follows must hearken at all for a battle, but rather think of the task committed to some naval officer who