Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 6.djvu/81

 III. EVE OP THE ACTION. 37 successively the lines of the 3d, 4th, 1st, and chap. Light Divisions, and learning in each that all was quiet, he at length reached Pennefathei's camp. There, some time before, the troops of the 2d Division not serving on outpost duty had stood to their arms as usual at the appointed hour of the early morning ; and already, in the absence of any known cause of alarm, had been dismissed to their accustomed occupations. The wood and the water parties had gone off to their work ; and all was tranquil. Captain Ewart learnt that from this camp there was nothing to report, except indeed that the night had been more than usually quiet. Three or four minutes still had to pass before all this repose would be broken. III. General Godrington, whose brigade, as we saw, ti.c first was camped on the south-western side of the ge,u;e'nf Careenage Ravine, had formed for himself the good habit of riding to the front every day about an hour before sunrise ; and on the morning of the 5th of November he was faithful to his cus- tom, bringing with him Mackenzie his able bri- gade-major. Having reached the right Lancaster battery he found that the relieved pickets had just come in ; and, there being at that time no apparent cause of alarm, they were ordered to march into camp. After waiting, however, some time. General Godrington heard the firing of mus- 432733