282 
now THE “beggars” leave CASTRIES BAY. 
board to pay them a visit and hear the news; for the 
last time ■sve had seen them (during our survey of the 
straits) it had been reported that the English and Erench 
cruisers had discovered the Kussiaii squadron stowed 
away in the Bay of Castries, and Ave thought, of course, 
that there had been a grand battle. 
Upon reaching the deck we were received by the most 
disgusted-looking set of Avarriors that I ever looked 
upon. AVo shook hands Avarmly, and tried to get them 
to tell us about “the fight;” but all Ave could get out 
of them for a long AAdiile Avere the following Avords: — 
“The beggars cut stick in a heavy fog, and left us suck- 
ing our fingers.” After a Avhile, however, they became 
moi'e communicative, and A\^e learned as folloAvs: — 
While Admiral Sterling, in the Winchester frigate, 
Avith the assistance of the steamer Hornet, was block- 
ading the llussiau vessels moored in Castries 33ay, a fresh 
gale blew on shore, causing him to haul his Avind for 
an offing; and, Avhen this gale Avith its accompanying 
fog had passed over, the llussians had disappeared, ships 
and all. The Hornet immediately lauded a party, who 
found things in great disorder, there being all the ap- 
jiearances of a hasty flight. Bread just done to a turn 
Avas found in the oven. Twenty barrels of good flour, 
a quantity of spars, and, lastly, some ladies’ dresses and 
trinkets AA^ere also found: these latter were retained by 
the captain of the Hornet to be restored to their oAvner 
on a future occasion. A daguerreotype of a lady Avas 
also found Avhich had been taken in London. 
Our friends told us all this, and ended by saying that 
the “ beggars” must be someAvherc in the Gulf of Tartary, 
