Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/354

 324 VOYAGE OF THE AKMADA CHAP, turned into venturers, intent, as Argonauts of old, XXI • • L_ in gazing upon the shores of a strange land to which they were committing their lives. From many a crowded deck they strained their eyes to pierce the unknown. They could not see troops. They saw a road along the shore : now and then there appeared a peasant with a cart ; now and then a horseman riding at full speed. Neither peasant nor horseman seemed ever to pause in his duty that he might cast a glance of wonder at the countless armada which was gathering in upon his country. At the northern end of the bay there was a bright little town : maps showed that this was Eupatoria. ooeapatioii At uoou ou the 13th, the English tieet had drawn near to this port of Eupatoria. There were no Russian forces there except a few con- valescent soldiers ; and the place being defence- less. Colonel Trochu and Colonel Steele, accom- panied by Mr Calvert the interpreter, were despatched to summon it. The governor or head man of the place was an official personage in a liigh state of discipline. He had before his eyes the armed navies of the Allies, with the countless sails of their convoys ; and to all that vast arma- ment he had nothing to oppose except the forms of office. But to him the forms of office seemed all-sufficing, and on these he still calmly relied ; so, when the summons was delivered, he insisted upon fumigating it according to tin; health regula- tions of the little port. When he understood that the Webtern Powers intended to land, he said that lEnpatoiia.