CHAPTER XLin. THE ARMISTICE 1^ THE CRIMEA. Arrival of tlic news — IMore explosions — Terms of the armistice settled — A fraternization — Barter — Attempts to peneti-ate into the country — Termination of the interview — Appearance of tlie llussians — The Wliite Buildings destroyed — Death of an officer at the explosion — The conditions of the armistice settled. Camp before SEBASToroi., Fehi-tiary 2S. This morning brought us news of the conclusion of an armistice. The Eussians had it first, by telegraph from St. Petersburg. At 8 a.m. a boat, bearing a flag of truce, put off from the north side, and was met half-way across the harbour by one from 'the French. The Russians brought a communication of the armistice from General Liiders, and the mail from Constantinople, which arrived early to-day, brought its confirmation to the allies.
To-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, there is to be a meeting of the Russian and allied officers at Taktir-bridge, to an'ange the details of the truce. It is believed that this will amount to vei'y little more than a cessation of fire, and that a line of demarcation will be drawn midway between the advanced posts, which will limit walks, rides, shooting parties, &c. People here seem generally well pleased that the suspension of arms is to be only until the 31st of March. Previously to that date little could be done in the way of militarj' operations. Meanwhile, and as if to celebrate the armistice, the so-called White Bnildmgs were blown up this afternoon. It became known in the com-se of the morning that the explosion was fixed for half-past three; and that the brig in the Dockyard Creek was also to be blown up, by way of experiment, and for the particular gratification of Mr.
Deane, " the infernal diver." Soon after three o'clock, spectators began to assemble at the Redan, in front of Picket-house-hill, on Cathcart's-hill, and m other commanding positions. There was not a very strong muster at any of these places, for we are rather blase in the matter of explosions; and, although the day was bright and sunny, the ground was very heavy with mud and snow, and the cold too sharp to be pleasant. There was a certain amount of snowballing among the pedestrians, which doubtless contributed to keep up a supply of caloric, and one or two base attacks were made upon unfortunate equestrians, who, not having snow within their reach, or a supply of readymade snowballs in their pockets, had no choice but to charge their assailants or resort to ignominious flight.
The majority of the horsemen sat ruefully awaiting the blow up; a canter for wai-mth would have been desirable, but the ground was most unfavoui-able — deep and spread with a sheet of snow, concealing holes. Half-an-hour passed; feet were very cold, noses very blue, fingers hardly felt the reins, grumbling was heard: " It is nearly four o'clock; why the deuce doesn't it go off?" Patience is, I fear, not a very common virtue in the Crimean army. An impromptu " shave," suggested by the ciicumstances of the moment, was passed about. " Pelissier is coming; they wait for him." Now, it so happened that Pelissier was not coming. The armistice gives him something to do and think of, and moreover, he came a few days ago, it having been notified to him that the Wliite Buildings were then to be blo%vn up, but were not.
So he no longer put his faith in the unpunctual engineers of perfidious Albion, but stayed away. Some French and other foreign ofiicers came; some of them were in the Eedan, and others, who came from the French head-quarters, were on the slope in front of Pickethouse-hill, just over the ravine, waiting patiently and confidingly. Another half-hour passed. A quarter-past four, and no explosion. Strong language began to be used; wishes Avere uttered whose fulfilment would certainly not be desired by the engineers, at whose door, rightly or wrongly, the delay was laid. The third half-hour had not quite elapsed when a report spread that the explosion was put off. According to some accounts, it would occur in an hour and a-half; according to others, to-morrow, while a third party talked of next Aveek; and there was a general movement campwards.