And so they did, for, on the horses passing the spot where the torpedoes were placed, an explosion took place through which several horses were killed.

The rest turned right back, and the causeway being very narrow, dashed amongst the advancing troops, causing the greatest confusion, so much so that the whole party had to retreat and we saw them no more.
It is true that one of the small ironclads had about got the range of the advancing enemy along the sea-beach, so making their position rather precarious, but I believe that the real cause of the failure was the action of the horses.
In the meantime, the light draft Russian gun-boats came down the river, and began to fire shell and shot at a long range at the small town and fortifications of Sulina.

This was answered by the temporary batteries alone, the ships being out of range.

Desultory fighting went on for about twenty-four hours, when the Russians, finding the hopelessness of the enterprise, especially now that the troops had retired, gave it up as a bad job and steamed up the Danube again.

This was the only serious attack made upon Sulina, which Russia could never have taken and held till she had destroyed the Turkish fleet.