Turkish vessels with heavy siege guns were on their way to Varna, and the "Falcon" was ordered to cross to the Crimea and report upon the advantages of several places for the landing of the allied army.

The mission was an exciting one, as beside the chance of a brush with shore batteries, there was the possibility that they might run against some of the Russian men-of-war, who still held that part of the Black Sea, and whose headquarters were at Sebastopol, the great fortress which was the main object of the expedition to the Crimea.
The "Falcon" started at night, and in the morning of the second day the hills of the Crimea were visible in the distance.

The fires were then banked up and she lay-to.

With nightfall she steamed on until within a mile or two of the coast, and here again anchored.

With the early dawn steam was turned on, and the "Falcon" steamed along as close to the shore as she dare go, the lead being constantly kept going, as but little was known of the depth of water on these shores.
Presently they came to a bay with a smooth beach.