CHAPTER XV. THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ATTACK-DELIVERY OF THE ULTIMATUM -THE SIGNAL OF ATTACK-ADVANCE OF THE CORMORANT — THE NIMROD HOTLY ENGAGED-CHINESE ARTILLERY - PRACTICE —THE BATTERIES STORMED "SAUVE QUI PEUT”—TERRIFIC EX PLOSION-ASPECT OF THE FORTIFICATIONS-ATTACK OF THE As if to compensate to us for all the delay and discomfort to which we had already been subjected during our stay in the Gulf, the climate for the last few days would have been a credit to the Mediterranean. The sky was cloudless, and fresh breezes from the seaward had driven the salt waves into the Gulf, and forced back the muddy waters of the Peiho, until that river indulged in the poetic license of "meandering level with its font." On the 19th I crossed the bar at an early hour. The batteries maintained their usual aspect of repose. Here and there groups of soldiers were squatted round some big brass guns, or mandarins of rank with umbrella and banner bearers went their rounds; but as the day wore on they saw enough to rouse THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ATTACK. 293 them to vigilance and activity. Six gunboats came dancing merrily over the bar, each thronged with human beings, and forming a centre round which clustered a crowd of ships' boats, like chickens nestling under the maternal wing. Spasmodically puffing forth their six jets of white smoke, they steadily approached the awestruck garrison, who, however, to do them justice, manifested no external signs of alarm. That even the hardy progeny of the soldiers of Genghis Khan should have felt some degree of trepidation at witnessing a phenomenon of this description for the first time was natural; but not only did they conceal their intimidation, but had the hardihood to send off a message through Count Poutiatine, inviting us to "come on." come on." So we came on, and looked very pretty as we did so; the setting sun glancing on red coats and waving flags, and shedding its warm bright glow upon the devoted garrison, so many of whom were looking at it for the last time. These latter, however, probably not much given to sentiment at any time, were evidently more engrossed with the approaching foe than the departing day, and seemed to suspect that we were going to attack the same evening. Officers moved briskly about the batteries on horseback; the whole garrison stood to their guns, and turned out in a long and imposing line upon the glacis ; but their prowess was not yet destined to be tried. The gunboats came to an anchor at a long range from the forts; the garrison relapsed into quiet and security; the 294 DELIVERY OF THE ULTIMATUM. waves, so lately burnished gold, became polished silver as the rising moon tipped their crests, and the hoarse pant of the steam-engine was succeeded by the gruff chorus of the British sailor, who was too much excited by the prospect of “thrashing the fokees" on the morrow, to go to sleep until he had exhausted his repertory of appropriate songs. length the last barbarian strain died faintly away, and tar and Tartar were buried in profound repose. At At eight o'clock on the following morning, the English and French flag-captains, accompanied by Mr Lay, landed under a flag of truce with the ultimatum, and an intimation that a delay of two hours would be accorded for the exchange of garrisons, as required in the ultimatum. These gentlemen were received by a petty mandarin near the blue tent, where a repast had every day been spread for the entertainment of any such barbarians of distinction as should honour the Commissioners with a visit. To this official the ultimatum was handed, and the party retired. An interval of two hours then elapsed, at the expiry of which, as no further communication was received from the forts, it was concluded that the authorities preferred their own garrison to the one proposed as a substitute, and had determined to abide by the consequences. At ten o'clock, therefore, the signal was hoisted for the ships to take up their respective positions. The Cormorant, Mitraille, and Fusée had been told off to the attack of the two forts on the northern THE SIGNAL OF ATTACK. 295 side; while the three forts on the southern bank, with their long connecting-line of sandbag batteries, fell to the share of the Nimrod, Avalanche, and Dragonne. This apparently unequal distribution of French and English gunboats, by which the former appeared to have monopolised an undue share in the operations, was rendered necessary by the inefficiency of the French gunboats for performing sundry functions for which our smaller class of gunboats are alone adapted, and which we were compelled to do for them. Thus the Leven and Opossum were told off for French service throughout the day, and towed in their landing parties. During the subsequent period of our residence at Tientsin, our gunboats were constantly employed on the French account, bringing up provisions, supplies, &c., and performing the entire river service for both squadrons. To return to the signal of attack. Cameron and I had taken up our position for viewing the operations of the day on board the Nimrod. For a few moments before this signal was hoisted, the river presented a most animated appearance. The advanced ship up the river was the Cormorant, letting off impatient puffs of steam, as she waited like a greyhound till the leash should be slipped, and she should be started to burst through the bamboo barrier which was stretched across the river, and run the gauntlet of the fire of forts to which she would be exposed before reaching her position. Immediately behind her lay the Nimrod, her decks cleared 296 ADVANCE OF THE CORMORANT. for action, the men at their guns, and every soul eagerly longing for the welcome order. Some distance astern of her were our own gunboats, surrounded by their small fry, crowded with men, and the four large French gunboats. The signal flag had hardly reached the truck of the Slaney when the Cormorant darted off like an arrow: as her men were all lying flat on the deck, not a soul but her commander and two or three officers was to be seen on board. A moment had scarcely elapsed before Captain Saumarez had reason to congratulate himself on the wisdom of his precaution-puff, and a cloud of smoke like that of an exploded mine was followed by the whistle of a round-shot, then another, and another, till all three forts had opened on her in full chorus. But the Cormorant disdained reply; suddenly there was a shock, a tremor, and a start ahead-she had burst the barrier, composed of five seven-inch bamboo cables, buoyed across the river. In a moment more she was in position, and giving the batteries on the southern bank one gun by way of a recognition of the compliment they had paid her; she concentrated her tremendous fire on the northern forts, which were completely silenced in about eighteen minutes, at the expiry of which term the Fusée and Mitraille came up, too late, however, to participate in the bombardment. Meantime the Nimrod had been no less alert, and being already almost in position, opened incontinently a telling fire on the southern forts, thus diverting |