While the French lady and her daughter, with Mr Hudson, the American
mate, one seaman, and Hoddidoddi were carried off by one junk, the two
midshipmen, Captain Willock, and Jos, with the remaining seamen, found
themselves stowed away on board another.
"I say, Alick, we must try and help those poor ladies somehow or other,"
observed Jack; "I hope the pirates will not hurt them."
"I hope not, though I am afraid they will frighten the poor mamma out of
her wits," said Murray. "But without being selfish, we must first
consider how we are to get free ourselves."
"Something may turn up in the wheel of Fortune," returned Jack. "We
very nearly effected our escape; perhaps the next time we shall be more
fortunate; at present I cannot say that I see any opening by which we
may bring about that desirable event."
As he spoke he looked round the little cabin in which they were shut up
with a disconsolate yet half-ludicrous air. The prisoners were sitting
with their backs to the bulkheads, and their feet towards the centre of
the chamber. The door was locked, and there was no lookout except
through the chinks between the bamboos which formed the sides. They
discovered by the motion of the vessel, that there was a stiff breeze,
and that they were sailing along very rapidly. In vain they tried to
ascertain in what direction they were sailing. They looked through the
chinks, but all they could see were the figures of the crew as they
moved about the deck, and the inner part of the bulwarks and the back of
the shields which hung up above them. Hunger is a strong motive to
exertion. It had the effect, when after a time the party began to feel
its pangs, of making them somewhat less quiet than at first. Some of
the men were for trying to break out of their prison, but Captain
Willock assured them that the attempt would be useless, and suggested
that Jos should try the power of his eloquence in softening the hearts
of their captors. Jos expressed his approval of the proposed plan, and
forthwith began a loud chaunt, which he informed his fellow-prisoners
was descriptive of their present forlorn and famished condition, of the
prowess of the warriors of Queen Victoria, and of the certainty that
they would revenge any injury inflicted on any of their fellow-subjects,
as also of their custom of rewarding those who treated them well.
"I say," observed Jos, "Queen Victoria knock on de head any one hurt
us--give plenty money any one give us plenty food--make us fat."
"That's it," cried Jack, "sing away in that strain; they understand that
sort of reasoning better than any other argument."
On went Jos again with his chaunt, the commencement of which sounded
very like--
Hi fum diddle eye, ho fol lol,
Tittle-bats cats-call, tol de rol lol.
It is not necessary to give the whole of the song. Jos assured his
companions that it was very pathetic, and that if it did not move the
hearts of the pirates he would not believe that they had any hearts at
all. Whether the pathos, or the threats of vengeance, or the hopes of
reward held out had most effect is uncertain, but in a short time the
door of the cabin was opened, and a Chinamen appeared with a big copper
bowl or pot in his hands, full of a hot savoury mess. He looked at Jos
and nodded, as much as to say, "We heard you," and then placed the bowl
in the middle of the cabin. There were some chop-sticks in the bowl,
but no spoons, or knives, or forks. Captain Willock looked at them with
a puzzled air.
"If those are toothpicks they are whoppers, and I must say I would
rather they were not there," he observed, as he tucked back the cuff of
his coat. "However, I suppose we mustn't be particular, and as I guess
we're all equal just now, here goes."
Saying this he plunged his fingers into the bowl, and drew forth a
suspicious-looking mass. He gazed at it for a time, then shut his eyes,
and plunged it into his mouth.
"A wise proceeding," observed Jack, as he and Alick, following his
example, did the same.
The rest of the party were not so particular, and only opened their eyes
rather wider than usual as odd-looking particles of food were fished out
of the bowl. It was very soon emptied, for as everybody was hungry,
they were all eager to get their due portions. Most of them at first
fancied that they could have eaten twice as much; however, when Jack and
Alick leaned back again against the bulkheads, they were soon convinced
that they had had enough. In a little time, the door again opened, and
another man, who looked from his richer clothes and manner like an
officer, popped in his head and beckoned to Captain Willock and the two
midshipmen to come out of the cabin. They, happy to have the
opportunity of stretching their legs, jumped up with alacrity, and
followed him on deck.
Jack's first impulse was to look out for the junk which had Miss Cecile
and her mother on board, but she was nowhere to be seen. Their junk
was, however, standing down towards a fleet of considerable size. As
there was a stiffish breeze, they were soon among them, and from the
hailing, and talking, and chattering, and the way in which they
themselves were pointed at, the junks had pretty evidently not met for
some time. Jos, who was shortly after this allowed to come out of the
cabin, told them that they were right in their conclusions. The whole
fleet now made sail together, and stood to the eastward. The night,
when they were all shut up again in the same cabin, was not over
pleasant. When daylight broke, the door was opened, and they were
allowed to go out. It was a perfect calm, and the pirates were
propelling their huge junks, so unwieldy in appearance, with long oars,
or rather sculls, through the water at no inconsiderable rate. There
was evidently an object in this speed, for the Chinamen are not given to
exert themselves without a cause.
"Perhaps they are pursued by an enemy, and if so, we have a a chance of
being rescued," observed Jack, as he first went on deck.
"No, I think not. See, the whole fleet are steering for the same
point," answered Murray. "Ah! look ahead; what do you see there?"
"A brig, and I do believe a brig-of-war," exclaimed Rogers. "I
shouldn't be surprised if she proves to be the _Blenny_. If she is, the
pirates will find that they have caught a Tartar."
"She is not unlike your little brig, certainly, but at this distance it
is impossible to say," remarked Murray. "But even a brig-of-war in a
calm, surrounded by this host of junks, will have great odds against
her; still, our fellows will do their best--of that I am very certain."
"That they will, there's no doubt about it," observed Captain Willock.
"You Britishers fight well, I guess, and no wonder, when you've had us
to practise with."
"I wonder, captain, that you do not declare that the Yankees taught us
to fight," said Jack, laughing.
"And so we did, I guess," quickly answered the skipper. "We taught you
a trick or two, at all events."
"What was that?" asked Jack.
"To keep awake," answered Captain Willock. "It is the first thing for a
soldier or a sailor to do, you'll allow, and before that time you were
apt to go to sleep now and then I calculate."
"Perhaps you are right, captain," said Murray; "but what was the other
trick you taught us?"
"Not to despise your enemies, I guess," answered the skipper. "You
despised us, and we beat you; you did not despise the French, who were
ten times better soldiers than the Americans were, and had fifty times
better generals than we had, and you beat them. There was the
difference. Never think meanly of the people with whom you are
fighting. Believe that you will drub them in the end--that's all right;
but only fancy you can do so with a great deal of trouble and hard
fighting, and always believe that they are about to play you some trick
or other. That's my philosophy about fighting. I'd advise you to take
up the same and stick to it. And this brings me to that brig of yours
out there. You make sure that she'll drub the junks. Just take care
that the junks don't drub her; not but that I know what your people are
made of, and next to our people there ain't any people who fight better
in the world when they're put to it, that I'll allow, but--"
"All right," exclaimed Jack, who did not wish to discuss the subject.
"But see what these cunning rogues are about."
While the above discussion was going on, the fleet of junks had
separated into four divisions. One led, keeping away so as to give a
respectful berth to the brig, two others branched off on either side,
and one, which was the junk which bore the midshipmen and their
fortunes, gave up sculling and remained stationary. It was very evident
that the intention of the pirates was completely to surround the brig.
After a time, the last-named division began once more to creep slowly
on, and, the circle being formed, the whole advanced, decreasing it by
degrees, till they got within range of the brig's guns. So eager were
the pirates that they paid little attention to their prisoners, who all,
therefore, assembled on the deck to watch proceedings.
"She is the _Blenny_, there is no doubt about it," cried Jack. "Our
fellows will not knock under as long as a man remains alive on the deck
to fight her guns."
The Chinese knew that their shot would not fly across the brig so as to
hit their friends on the other side of her, so as they closed in their
circle became complete, with short distances only between each junk.
The prisoners also watched proceedings with such intense interest, that
they totally forgot the danger to which they themselves were exposed.
"I wish that the brig would open her fire, and give it these scoundrels
well," cried Jack; "I wonder that they don't begin." He had scarcely
spoken when there was a flash and a report from one of the brig's guns,
and a shot struck the junk just astern of them. Several of the Chinese
fired in return, but their shot scarcely reached the brig. The pirate
admiral or commodore, on seeing this, threw out signals to close in
still more, and as the junks began to move the _Blenny_ let fly both her
broadsides at the same moment, several of the shot striking the junks,
and ripping open their sides.
This in no way daunted them. They seemed resolved on the destruction of
the brig. The sculls were still more vigorously plied, and they
advanced rapidly, till they had got her well within range of their guns.
And now from every side they opened on her, while, she replied in the
most spirited way, firing her guns as rapidly as they could be hauled
in, loaded, and run out again. The shot from the pirate's junks told,
however, with very considerable effect on her, and the midshipmen had
too much reason to fear that many of their friends must have lost the
number of their mess. The pirates all seemed to aim at the hull of the
brig. They expected, apparently, that the calm would continue, and all
they wanted was to kill as many of the Englishmen as they could before
they attempted to board her.
"I say, I guess your friends aboard there will be getting the worst of
it if this sort of fun lasts much longer," observed the Yankee captain
to Murray.
"I am afraid so, indeed," answered Alick, with a deep sigh and a sinking
of the heart; "I wish we were aboard to help them."
"I guess, now, we should have a better chance of helping them by being
aboard here," answered the captain. Alick thought so likewise. He and
Jack were glad that they were not compelled to fight against their
countrymen.
The larger number of the junks had placed themselves ahead and astern of
the brig, and kept pouring in a raking fire on her. To avoid this as
much as she could, she got out her sweeps; but they continued to change
their positions as often as she got her head round, so that the English
had not a moment's respite. The pirates shouted with delight as they
saw the success of their plan. They, of course, thought it would be a
great thing to cut off an outer Barbarian man-of-war, and anticipated no
small amount of valuable plunder as their reward. They, however, were
all this time not escaping scot-free, for the brig's shot went through
and through the hulls of their junks, and several of them were reduced
to a sinking condition; while the musketry of the marines told with no
little effect on their decks. Still they had the advantage of an
immense superiority in numbers, and although they might lose twice as
many men as the crew of the brig numbered, they might still come off
victorious. Nearer and nearer crept the junks. For some time no people
were killed on board the one which had captured the midshipmen. This
made her captain and crew grow bold, and approach still nearer to the
_Blenny_.
"They would be wiser if they kept at a distance," observed Rogers;
"they'll catch it to a certainty."
"Perhaps they hope to bring the combat to a conclusion," remarked
Murray.
"They'll not do that, let me tell them, in a hurry," exclaimed Jack;
"they little think what sort of a fellow they have to deal with in
Hemming. He'll give them more than they expect."
While Jack was speaking, several shots came crashing on board the junk,
killing five men, wounding others, and knocking away part of the
bulwarks. The wounded men set up the most terrific cries, and their
shipmates, anxious to avoid a second edition of the same dose, put
about, and sculled off to a more respectful distance. Another junk, the
next in the line, was not so fortunate. The greater part of a broadside
struck her. The midshipmen saw her reel with the shock, and immediately
she began to sink lower and lower, till down she went, and the water
washed over the spot where she had just before floated. Numbers of her
crew went down with her or followed her to the bottom. Very few of the
neighbouring junks took the trouble of lowering their boats to pick up
the remainder, and numbers were drowned in sight of their countrymen, by
whom, with a little exertion, they might have been saved.
The engagement had now lasted several hours, and neither side had gained
any material advantage. Some junks had been sunk, and a good many
Chinamen killed; but as a set-off against this, there could be no doubt
that the brig had lost several men. Jack, too, observed that she now
only fired when the junks pressed very close round her, and he could not
but suspect that she was running short of ammunition. The evening was
drawing on. It was a question whether darkness would favour the crew of
the brig, or make her enemies bolder. She at length ceased firing, and
manning all her sweeps, she began to move forward, very clearly with the
intention of fighting her way out from among the pirates.
"She is coming towards us. Hurrah!" cried Jack. "Now if we could but
knock the fellows aboard here on the head, we might render her some
help."
"Don't be trying that on," said Captain Willock. "We shall only lose
our lives if we make the attempt."
"But I must get on board her somehow or other," answered Jack, as he
spoke, kicking off his shoes and throwing off his jacket. It had now
grown very dark, though the constant flashes of the guns kept the scene
well lighted up. The _Blenny_ could be seen, though she had ceased
firing, gliding on towards them. The pirates had been taking no notice
of their prisoners for some time. The brig had got within a cable's
length of them.
"Now or never," cried Jack. "Alick, in case I am drowned, you'll do all
I have asked you." And without waiting for a reply, he sprang over the
side of the junk, and catching hold of a rope, let himself down into the
water without a splash, and struck off towards the brig. The pirates
did not understand what he was doing till he had reached the water; at
first they thought he was in despair going to drown himself, but when
they saw him swimming away they began to fire at him with the jingalls.
Favoured by the darkness, he was soon out of their sight. To avoid the
sweeps, he had to make a wide circuit, and he was pretty well tired when
he got under the stern of the brig.
"Brig ahoy. Heave a rope here, and help me aboard," he sang out.
"A man overboard!" exclaimed some one from the afterpart of the deck.
"Pass a rope here; be smart now. Heave!"
"Who is it? who is it?" cried several voices.
"It's I, Jack Rogers. Be quick, now, for I've had a long swim," cried
Jack. He soon got hold of the rope which was heaved to him, and was
hauled on board over the stern.
"What! Rogers, my dear fellow, is it you?" exclaimed Captain Hemming,
as he grasped his hand. "Where have you come from?"
Jack told him, and urged that they should immediately board the junk he
had left, and rescue the rest of the prisoners.
"My only doubt is, whether we can get alongside her," answered Captain
Hemming. "However, we will try. I am glad to engage in any work with
cold steel; but, Rogers, I am sorry to say that our ammunition is almost
expended, and though we will not yield as long as a man remains alive to
fight, I look with apprehension to what may occur." The brig was now
approaching the junk, which fired away furiously at her, but this did
not stop her progress, and before the pirates knew what was going to
happen, she dashed alongside.
"Lash her to the junk. Boarders, follow me." Jack had seized a
cutlass, and, dripping with wet, he sprang on board by the side of his
commander. "Alick, Captain Willock, friends, all get on board the brig
as fast as you can," he sang out.
Murray and the rest of the prisoners were ready enough to follow his
advice. Seizing what weapons they could lay hands on, they cut down or
knocked over all the pirates who opposed them, and soon gained the deck
of the brig. The boarders in the meantime cleared the junk, the greater
number of her crew who escaped their cutlasses jumping overboard and
perishing in the sea. The seamen then hove overboard all the guns of
the junk, and returned to the brig. They would have set her on fire,
but had they done so, they would very likely have got burnt themselves.
"That's one enemy less, my lads," cried Captain Hemming in a cheerful
tone, though he felt anything but cheerful. "We must treat the rest in
the same way."
The pirates on board the other junks, discovering what had occurred,
took very good care to keep out of the way of the brig.
Captain Hemming, therefore, spent the whole night in trying in vain to
get alongside some more junks, and when morning dawned they appeared
formed in a close circle round her as on the previous day. Those on
board the _Blenny_ had passed an anxious and harassing night; the
prospect for the following day was gloomy indeed. The second
lieutenant, a midshipman, and eight men had been killed, and twenty were
wounded, many of them put out of fighting trim. Jack and his companions
afforded, therefore, a very welcome addition to their strength. With
daylight the pirates began to fire away as on the previous day.
Rogers and Murray, however, now felt very differently to what they had
done on the previous day. Then all the shots they saw fired were
against their friends; now the few Captain Hemming ventured to let fly
were against their enemies. At length only three rounds remained on
board. The brig ceased firing. The pirates thought that the time for
boarding her simultaneously had arrived, and gliding up closed their
circle round her.
In vain all on board looked out for the sign of a breeze. Not a cloud
was in the sky--the sea was like glass. The sweeps were therefore again
manned, and she advanced as fast as they could urge her towards the
approaching line. The pirates came on, thinking that she would fall an
easy prey into their hands.
"Reserve your fire, my lads, till we are close to them," cried the
captain. "Now give it them." The broadsides of the brig were poured
into the junks, which had ranged up on either beam, with terrible
effect. One junk went down, and another was left without a scull to
impel her, and with a third of her crew killed or wounded.
Still the pirates were undaunted. On they came, again to receive
another broadside. But one now remained. The junks moved away to a
short distance, to hold a consultation, it seemed. The result was to
renew the attack on the brig.
"We'll give our last dose, lads, to that big fellow, who is, I suppose,
their admiral," cried Jack, who had taken command of the guns on one
side, in place of the lieutenant who was lolled.
With a cheer, the men obeyed, and the big junk reeled from the effect of
their fire. The opposite broadside was discharged at the same time.
And now the brig was unarmed; but she had still stout hearts and sharp
cutlasses on board, and, grasping the latter, the crew prepared to
defend her to the last.