Meantime the _Britannia, Trafalgar, Vengeance, Queen, Rodney_, and _Bellerophon_, were proceeding southward in order to complete the line across the harbour, while the _Sanspareil, London, Arethusa_, and _Albion_ took up positions to the northward of the _Agamemnon_. Not till afterwards, of course, did Jack hear of the gallant conduct of Mr Ball, in command of the little steam-tender _Circassia_, which was seen ahead of the _Agamemnon_, taking soundings for her, and leading her close up to the shoal. Sir Edmund told him that his ship would probably be sunk, and undertook to have his boats in readiness to pick up him and his crew should such an event occur. As the tender moved ahead of the great ship, the lead-line was struck out of the leadsman's hands; but another line was immediately found, and the little vessel continued her course. Though she received nine shots in her hull, the leadsman was the only man wounded on board. Having performed her duty, she steamed off out of harm's way. The _Agamemnon_ was, however, so well placed to the north-west, that the rear guns only of the fort could be brought to bear on her, and as she was much nearer in than the enemy expected, most of their shot struck her masts and rigging. So close was the _Sanspareil_ to her stern that that ship's foremost guns could not at first be fired. This made it necessary for her to haul off, but it was only to return to render her able support to the _Agamemnon_. The greater number of the ships were now hotly engaged, well-nigh twelve hundred guns firing rapidly away at the various forts, and crumbling the upper works of the nearest to pieces; but still all the time the iron shower sent by the Russians came crashing on board the ships of the allies, sending many a brave seaman to his account, and wounding a far greater number. "The admiral is signalising us," exclaimed Higson; "we are to run alongside the _Briton_, and carry her into action." No sooner had he uttered the words, than a loud cheer arose from the crew; in a short time, having obeyed the order she had received, they were where they had longed to be--in the line of battle, under the enemy's fire, the _Briton_ having, as was the case with many of the other ships, landed a considerable number of her people to join the naval brigade on shore. A portion of the _Tornado's_ crew were called on board to assist in working her guns; happy did those consider themselves who were thus employed. Among the officers were Mr Mildmay and Tom and Archie. As they were stationed on the upper deck, they could occasionally see, when the dense wreaths which encircled the combatants blew by, what was going forward. Mr Mildmay stood as cool as usual, every now and then pulling out his notebook and making notes in it.