Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/99

 OPERATIONS IN THE SEA OF AZOF. 69 Thereupon Lyons resumed his fire on the place, CB P. and once more sent in the boats under Lieutenant 1 Mackenzie, who destroyed the more distant ves- sels which had previously escaped destruction. The service of landing on a part of the beach out of gunshot from the squadron, and, a second time, firing the corn-stores in the teeth of the Russians there seen to be gathered, seemed one of a des- perate kind ; and, supposing the enterprise to be attempted by a considerable body of men, it pro- mised to involve a painful sacrifice of life; but three fearless officers — Lieutenant Buckley of the Miranda, Lieutenant Burgoyne of the Swallow, and Mr John Eoberts, gunner of the Ardent, volunteered to achieve the object with their own unaided hands ; and, Captain Lyons accepting their offer, they not only accomplished the task, but then happily made good their way back in spite of all the Cossacks endeavouring to cut them off from their boat. That day, 90 merchant- vessels and corn-stores supposed to be worth £100,000 were destroyed. Those shoals off the mouths of the Don which ist to 3.1 had forbidden all hope of escape for the enemy's ope squadron of Kertch, now seemed to be defending and toe tit- 1 months of Taganrog and the adjacent shore from the enter- the Don prises of Captain Lyons and M. Sedaiges ; for in even its ' Inner ' roadstead, the flotilla of the Allies (as a whole) was kept far out at a distance of nearly 1 miles from the shore*
 * At first only 8£, but increased to 10 miles by a change of