Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/49

 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. 23 Marshal St Arnaud based his ydan of attack. He chap. proposed that the war-steamers, closiug in as nearly ' as was practicable, should move parallel with the ^lau.^"'"''"'* land-forces, and a little in advance ; that, under cover of their fire, a portion of the French force should advance along the shore and seize the "West Cliff; and that this movement should be followed up by a resolute, vigorous, and unremitting attack upon the enemy's left flank and left front.* !M. St Arnaud was at this time free from pain ; and, knowing that now, at last, he had an enemy in his front, and that a great conflict was near at hand, he seemed to be fired with a more than healthy energy. Sometimes in English, sometimes in the rapid words of liis own tongue, and always with vehement gesture, he laboured to show how sure it was that the attack from his right centre would be fierce, unrelentinf]^, decisive. Lord Eaglau, The part , ' . ., ' takeu br- east in another mould, sat quiet, with governed LordHag- ' i- > o Ian at the features, restraining — or only, perhaps, postpon- coufereLca. ing — his smiles, listening graciously, assenting, or not dissenting, putting forward no plan of his own, and, in short, eluding discussion. This method, perhaps, w^as instinctive with him ; but, in his intercourse with the French, he followed it deliberately and upon system. He never forgot tliat to keep good our relations with the French was his great duty ; and, studying how best to but with the difrerence that the force advancing to turn the enemy's left was to be covered and supported by fire from tha shipping.
 * The plan was like that of the j^reat Freileiick at LciUhcn,