Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/114

 84 TlIK EXDIXG OF TIIH BLACK SKA FLEET. CTTAP. bearer was commanded to fire into her sides, in, order — as the navnl recounter of the scene ex- presses it — in order to 'shorten her agony.' Bui this last spectacle was more harrowing tlian all tliat had gone before. In the idea of the seamen, and many, perhaps, of the officers, the sacred name of the sliip, and the notion that some holy emblem or relic mnst still be remaining on board her, aronsed a belief or surmise that what the heathenish Thunder-bearer was doing might be a deed unspeakably impions. At a quarter before one the sacred man-of-war reeled. For a moment — so pious men thought — the waves fell away re- coiling, then closed, and bore the ship down. Eniip.i The destruction of the ships already condemned tiieHiaik was ouly a part of the sacrifice ; for it could not Bea fleet. i-iii i i- but be that the policy which had sunk seven snips and closed the entrance of the roadstead, was bringing to an end the career of the whole Black Sea fleet, and turning its crews into soldiers. The seamen knew that to change thus was to fall. Faiisiis- In the capital of many a state there sits an .TRiissia'u industrious clerk — a sovereign he may be or a viienonn- head of Department — working hard at the task Veiled into • 1 T r> aiiuiii- of eivinti' a base unitormitv to bodies ot armed mail. men, and never remitting his toil till fit hist ho is taught by disaster that the mind and the soul ho has laboured so hard to keep down are amongst the main needs of an army in time of war. If he sees a body of troops having some distinctive accoutrement which helps to sustain its individu- ality ill the midst of an army, and connects itself,