Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/55

 TlIF, I'LANK MAi;Cir. and lor the tliiid time in lliis singular campaign, chap. it once again liappeued that of the whole Allied army he himself was the foremost explorer. A bend in the road brought him to the edge of what seemed to be only a small inland pool with a rivulet trickling into it; for the rest of the sheet of water to which he had come lay hidden behind the fold of the hill. Beyond the pool, but still very close at hand, there rose a bar- rier of steep, lofty hills ; and one of them was crowned, as it seemed, with an antique castle in ruins.* All at once, from a mortar in the ancient castle, riie opened Irom one tire was opened, and, in the next moment, a shell ofUieoia ■•■ _ castles. dropped plumping into the pool. This shot was followed by more, and one of the shells which came down sank into the earth — without bursting — at a spot very near the chief. Lord Eaglan looked angry, imagining, I believe, for a moment, that the villagers of Kadikoi had meant to deceive him when they said that Balaclava was unde- fended. He ordered that the two flanking heights Loni should be occupied by the Light Division, and by measures, a part of Brandling's troop of horse-artillery. The ground at a few paces distant afforded more or less shelter from the fire of the castle ; but pend- ing the operation entrusted to the Light Division, but from the way in wliieh the hills interfolded, the contrary seemed to be the case. Codrington with his brigade ascended the hill on our right and encountered no opposition, but had the happiness of reassuring some gentlewomen who had lied thither in terror from Balaclava
 * 'I'he castle was on the left of the two flanking heights ;