Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/349

ACROSS THE BLACK SEA. 319 liis resolve. He said that the Allied armies chap. XX should land at Old Fort, '_ There are times when, to anxious, doubting mortals, no boon from Heaven is so welcome as the final resolve which is to govern their actions. It was so now. Debating ceased, and a happy alacrity came in its stead. That day our fleet and the swarming convoy close gathered around had been still lying anchored in deep water at the point of rendezvous. To many those long, peaceful Sabbath hours seemed to token a wanton delay, or worse than delay — some falter- ing in the great purpose of the Allies : but at night the Caradoc came in ; and soon, though few could tell whence came the change, nor what had been passing, there flew from deck to deck a joy- ful belief — a belief that in some way — in some way not yet understood, the enterprise had gath- ered new force. The French and Turkish fleets, less amply pro- vided with steam - power than the English, had fallen to leeward ; but on the evening of the 11th they were anchored within thirty miles of the British fleet, and the communication was of course kept up by steam-vessels. During the whole of Tuesday the 12th, the The whole French, Turkish, and English fleets were slowly verging on . , . , , , , . . , the coast of drawing together and converging upon the theo-imea. enemy's coast. Before sunset the armed navies were all near together, and from their decks men could make out with glasses the low cliff to the north of Eupatoria. The English fleet anchored