Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/102

 72 OPERATIONS IN THE SEA OF AZOF. chap. From the way in which these welcome means ' were about to be used, it resulted that launches and other less boats would, this time, lie expected to render the same kind of service as that which a fleet any day undertakes when, by pouring down fire on a beach, it covers a landing of troops. The measureless inferiority of any mere boats as com- pared with a man-of-war was to be compensated by the power they had of coming to much closer quarters with an enemy arrayed on the shore. On the morning of the 3d of June (after duly concerting his measures with M. S^daiges) Captain Lyons, on board the Recruit, advanced to an anchorage only 1400 yards from the mole-head, having with him the other light-draught vessels, both English and French, which were all of them towing their launches. On board one of the French light-draught vessels thus brought through the shoal to the front M. Sddaiges was present in person. With the boats all collected astern of their vessels, Captain Lyons and M. S^daiges awaited the Governor's answer to their summons.* The answer came after a while from General Krasnoff — an answer importing that he rejected the terms, and that having troops at his disposal, he meant to defend the place.( 4 ) Then down ran the flag of truce which, since the despatch of the summons, Captain Lyons had shown from the mast-head of the little Recruit, shown. See ante, ]>. (iij.
 * What the terms of each summons were lias been before