210 TEAVEL, ADVENTUKE, AND SPORT. 



heavy sound of the gun, which gave promise of speedy 

 destruction. Every message from the hill brought 

 tidings of success ; every shot was telling ; the third 

 which was fired had entered an embrasure ; the stones 

 were falling and crumbling from the walls already. 

 There was no doubt of a breach now. The fort 

 replied by a smarter and more earnest fire than we 

 had yet experienced ; but from the greater elevation 

 of the battery, the shot fell chiefly over it, and came 

 plumping into our camp. It was now evident that, 

 had the enemy been more active in trying to ascertain 

 our position, it might have been made a very uncom- 

 fortable one. One shot had told with fatal effect in 

 the battery. Striking the trunnion of one of the 

 guns, it glanced off and wounded "Wrottesley, a lieu- 

 tenant of Engineers. Death was marked on his face 

 as he was borne through the camp. He lived only 

 to be carried to the sea-beach. Young, fresh, and 

 full of life, his career had scarce begun ere it was 

 ended. He was the second victim war had claimed 

 within a short time from the same family. 



Every hour the fire of the fort slackened every 

 hour the breach gaped wider. Every moment the 

 signal for assault was expected. Our men awaited 

 it sheltered under the lateral ridge, ready and eager. 

 At four o'clock the seamen were relieved at the guns 

 by marine artillerymen, and soon afterwards the breach 

 became practicable. Ere an assault could be planned, 

 the white flag was hoisted again, and the fort was 



