They were completely surrounded, and only owed their preservation to the continual presence of an ironclad.

Under these circumstances it was thought advisable to withdraw the men, and Dervish Pasha entrusted me with the task.

To give an idea of the precarious position of this force, I may mention that, as I approached the place in my flagship, we heard the sound of smart cannonading, and I found the guard-ship engaged with a battery of field-pieces.

The Russians had recently received a large accession of force, and several field-guns of large calibre; and so, not content with troubling the camp daily with an enfilading fire, had thought to try conclusions with the heavy guns afloat.

On our appearance the action ceased, the Russians withdrawing their battery into the safe shelter of the forest.