The consequence was the Russians had time to march round large bodies of troops from the other side, and the object of the expedition—­the capture of Sebastopol by a coup de main—­was altogether thwarted.  No more imposing sight was ever seen than that witnessed by the bands of Cossacks on the low shores of the Crimea, when the allied fleets anchored a few miles south of Eupatoria.  The front extended nine miles in length, and behind this came line after line of transports until the very topmasts of those in the rear scarce appeared above the horizon.  The place selected for the landing-place was known as the Old Fort, a low strip of bush and shingle forming a causeway between the sea and a stagnant fresh-water lake, known as Lake Saki.

At eight o’clock in the morning of the 14th of September, the French admiral fired a gun, and in a little more than an hour six thousand of their troops were ashore, while the landing of the English did not commence till an hour after.  The boats of the men-of-war and transports had already been told off for the ships carrying the light division, which was to be the first to land, and in a wonderfully short time the sea between the first line of ships and the shore was covered with a multitude of boats crowded with soldiers.  The boats of the “Falcon” were employed with the rest, and as three weeks had elapsed since Jack had received his wound, he was able to take his share of duty, although his arm was still in a sling.  The ship to which the “Falcon’s” boats were told off lay next to that which had carried the 33d, and as he rowed past, he exchanged a shout and a wave of the hand with Harry, who was standing at the top of the companion-ladder, seeing the men of his company take their seats in the boats.  It was a day of tremendous work.  Each man and officer carried three days’ provisions, and no tents or other unnecessary stores were to be landed.  The artillery, however, had to be got ashore, and the work of landing the guns on the shingly beach was a laborious one indeed.  The horses in vain tugged and strained, and the sailors leaped over into the water and worked breast high at the wheels, and so succeeded in getting them ashore.  Jack had asked permission from Captain Stuart to spend the night on shore with his brother, and just as he was going off from the ship for the last time.  Simmonds, who had obtained his acting commission in place of Mr. Pascoe, said, “Archer, I should advise you to take a tarpaulin and a couple of bottles of rum.  They will be useful before morning, I can tell you, for we are going to have a nasty night.”

Indeed the rain was already coming down steadily, and the wind was rising.  Few of those who took part in it will ever forget their first night in the Crimea.  The wind blew pitilessly, the rain poured down in torrents, and twenty-seven thousand Englishmen lay without shelter in the muddy fields, drenched to the skin.  Jack had no trouble in finding his brother’s regiment, which was in the advance, some two or three miles from the landing-place.  Harry was delighted to see him, and the sight of the tarpaulin and bottles did not decrease the warmth of his welcome.  Jack was already acquainted with most of the officers of the 33d.