First Marched The Sailor With The Russian
Flag Of War Bravely Flying In The Breeze, Then Came The General And
I, Then Our Servants, And Lastly, If I Rightly Recollect, Two More
Of The Brigantine's Crew.
Our flag-bearer so exulted in his
honourable office, and bore the colours aloft with so much of pomp
and dignity, that I found it exceedingly hard to keep a grave
countenance.
We advanced towards the castle, but the people had
now had time to recover from the effect of the six-pounders (only
of course loaded with powder), and they could not help seeing not
only the numerical weakness of our party, but the very slight
amount of wealth and resource which it seemed to imply. They began
to hang round us more closely, and just as this reaction was
beginning the General, who was perfectly unacquainted with the
Asiatic character, thoughtlessly turned round in order to speak to
one of the servants. The effect of this slight move was magical.
The people thought we were going to give way, and instantly closed
round us. In two words, and with one touch, I showed my comrade
the danger he was running, and in the next instant we were both
advancing more pompously than ever. Some minutes afterwards there
was a second appearance of reaction, followed again by wavering and
indecision on the part of the Pasha's people, but at length it
seemed to be understood that we should go unmolested into the
audience hall.
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