battery, his name had been submitted to the Queen for an ensign's
commission in the Royal Picts.

CHAPTER XII.

CATCHING A TARTAR.

After their victory at the Alma the allies tarried long on the ground
they had gained. There were many excuses, but no sound reasons, for
thus wasting precious moments that would never return. It was alleged
that more troops had to be landed; that the removal of the sick and
wounded to ship-board consumed much time; that further progress must
be postponed until the safest method of approaching Sebastopol had
been discussed in many and lengthy councils of war.

Yet at this moment the great fortress and arsenal lay at their mercy.
They had but to put out their hands to capture it. Menschikoff's
beaten army was long in rallying, and when at last it resumed the
coherence of a fighting force its leader withdrew it altogether from
Sebastopol, thus abandoning the fortress to its fate.

Its chief fortifications now were on the northern side, that nearest
the allies, and within a short day's march. Only one redoubt--the
so-called Star Fort--was of any formidable strength, and as this was
close to the sea-shore it was exposed to the bombardment of the fleets.
But the Star Port lay before the French, supposing that the original
order of march was preserved; and the French, exaggerating its powers
of resistance, could not be persuaded to face the risks of assault.
The fact was, St. Arnaud lay dying, and for the moment all vigour was
gone from the conduct of the French arms.

Little doubt exists to-day that the northern fortifications could not
have resisted a determined attack. That it was not attempted was
another grave error; to be followed by yet another, when, after a
hazardous detour--the well-known "flank march"--the allies transferred
themselves to the southern side of Sebastopol, and again neglected a
palpable opportunity. The north side might be fairly well protected;
the south was practically defenceless; a few weak earth-works,
incomplete, and without artillery, were its only bulwarks; its only
garrison were a few militia battalions and some hastily-formed
regiments of sailors from the now sunken Russian ships of war.

It must undoubtedly have fallen by a _coup de main_. But generals
hesitated and differed, bolder spirits were overruled, undue weight
was given to the too-cautious counsels of scientific soldiers, and it
was decided to sit down before and slowly besiege the pl