At 8.10 P.M. we were moving in line as slowly as the screw would allow, when we perceived the P. & O. steamer _Colombo_, carrying troops, on starboard bow, creeping out from one of the small inlets, so near that unless she at once stopped she must foul us. We hailed without effect. We could not stop without fouling next astern: a musket was fired. _Colombo_ stopped, but too late. A crash, and I saw a twelve-foot figurehead drop with a loud splash into the water. My tows astern, not injured. We had quietly embarked 600 Turkish troops. [Sidenote: Theodosia, May 23.] Dense fog during the night. Fleet assembled during the day, and I had time to seek the _Colombo_, whose captain found his way on board the _Acre_. Something was wrong with the machinery; he had been unable to stop his ship in time to save her figurehead. The Crimea is to Russia what the Isle of Wight might be to England. [Sidenote: Kertch, May 24.] Arrived at Kertch. Army landed during the afternoon and bivouacked on the beach. _Princess Royal_ and _St. Jean d’ Acre_ had similar cargoes of Turkish troops, which we landed without either trouble or complaint. The Russians blew up their magazine, set fire to their stores, ships, etc. A large open space appeared to be covered with tumuli, varying in size, shaped like the roofs of barns, from which you could not see far without mounting to the top, as Clarence Paget and I did, selecting the highest. From the top, not more than three miles distant, we saw the Russians evacuating the Citadel. A battery of artillery faced the spot where our troops had landed. In rear of the guns, the Russians, bag and baggage, were retreating. We returned to the landing-place, and had to pass through a regiment of French Rifles enjoying a rest and sleep in the sun. Paget, who spoke French, told the French officer commanding that there were a thousand Russian troops passing within three miles of him. The officer appeared not to credit the statement, whereupon Paget put his glass into his hand and asked him to mount the nearest tumulus and see for himself. The officer then drew his sword, calling out, “Aux armes,” in which he was joined by the whole regiment. A mile of fishermen’s nets were soon in a blaze. Later in the afternoon I took young Stephenson, when we mounted on one of these tumuli and noticed a Russian galloping towards us. The troops of the expedition were now all alive and had formed across the small peninsula in open skirmishing order, and were advancing to capture the small garrison which Paget and I had seen pass out towards Arabat four hours previously. The Russian was unaware of the danger he was galloping into; he pulled up, but, not understanding us, galloped on. It was now time for us to retreat within our own lines. The Russian, too, who had seen our skirmishers, was in full retreat. [Sidenote: Kertch, May 25.]