THE LANDING. 335 tliat the English army effected its landing at Old chap. Fort. ^^^^- The bend of the coast-line at Kalamita Bay is Position of of such a character that a spectator on board a squadrons, vessel close iu-shore is bounded in his view of the sea towards the south by the headland near the Alma; but if he stands a little way out to sea, the coast opens, and he then commands an unobstructed view home to the entrance of the Sebastopol harbour. So, whilst the in-shore squadrons approached the beach so closely as to be able to cover the lauding, the bulk of the Eng- lish fleet, commanded byDundasin person, lay far of the main enough out to be able to command the whole of °^ '^ the vast bay from Eupatoria to Sebastopol, keep- ing up an unbroken chain of communication from cape to cape, and always held ready to engage the Russian fleet if by chance it should come out and give battle.* Detached vessels reconnoitred the coast, and practised their gunners upon every en- campment or gathering of troops which seemed to be within range. As though in the arrogant yet quiet assertion of an ascendant beyond dispute, one solitary English ship, watching off the Sebas- topol harbour, stood sentry over the enemy's fleet.
- It has been already explained that the French men-of-
war were doing duty as transports, and were not therefore in a condition to engage the enemy. There were people who thoughtlessly blamed Duudas for not taking part with the iu-shore squadron in the bustle of the landing. Of course his duty was to hold his off-shore squadron in readiness for an engagement with the Sebastopol fleet; and this he took Cflre to'd...
