Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/408

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378 THE CANNON ADi: OF CIIAT. this while, nearly half of tJie Albion's crew were L. mustered at ' fire quarters,' to get down the three conflagrations which threatened the powder-maga- zine. The men worked as steadily as at an in- spection. INIore for pride's sake than with any notion of effective reply to the cliff batteries, one gun was from time to time fired.* The signal which M-as flying from the masthead of the xVlbion imported that she was in danger; and the practised eyes of seamen who gazed from the neighbouring ships conveyed to them an exact perception of her predicament. They understood the problem ; and watching to see how Stewart would solve it, they soon became willing admirers of the skill with which he applied the power of the Firebrand to the object of getting out the dis- abled ship. The success with which Commander Uogers and Captain Stewart and the crews of both the Albion and the Firebrand encountered these dangers and troubles was not, of course likely to be greeted with that land of welcome at home which is given to tidings of victory ; but, peihaps, as a sound proof of firmness and seamanlike skill, it was of a fully equal value. When this hard - smitten ship Albion, with signal flying that she was on fire, was at length moved away out of range, she had lost 10 killed and 71 wounded. Lieutenant Chase was one of the killed ; *t" and amongst the wounded there were • Commander Rogers to Admiral Dundas, 17th October 1854. t Described by Commander Rogers {nhi supra) as a ' very ' valuable and intelligent ofTicer.'