Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/324

 294 OEDERS AND PREPARATIONS CHAP. Almost suddenly the pestilence ceased on board . • the British ships of war. The dead were over- board, and the survivors returned to their accus- tomed duties with an alacrity quickened by the delight of looking forward to active operations against the enemy. Instinctively, or else with wise design, both officers and men dropped all mention of the tragedy through which they had passed.* In a few days from the time when the cholera had been raging with its utmost fury, the crews of the fleet were ready to undertake the great business of embarking the troops and landing them on the coast of the Crimea. Weakly con- In the camps of the Allied armies, at this Eng^rsh '^ time, the cholera had abated, but had not ceased. ery. "j^-^q^q -were fevers, too, and other complaints. Grievous sickness fell upon that part of our camp which had been pitched in the midst of the beauteous scenery of the lake of Devna, but the whole English army at this time began to show signs of failing health. It appeared that, even of the men out of hospital and actually present under arms, hardly any were in the en- joyment of sound health — hardly any were capable of their usual amount of exertion. This weakly condition of the men was destined to act, with other causes, in bringing upon the army cruel sufferings ; and it may be asked • I was for several days on board the Britannia without once, I think, hearing the least allusion to the pestilence whi^li just four weeks before had slain 139 of the ship's crew.