Fothergill looked round. The other junk had been attacked by two of the
enemy, one on each side, and the little body of sailors were gathered in
her waist, and were defending themselves against an overwhelming number
of the enemy. The other three piratical junks had been carried somewhat
up the creek by the tide that was sweeping inward, and could not for the
moment take part in the fight.
"Mr. Oliphant is hard pressed, sir." He asked the master: "Shall we
take to the boats?"
"That will be the best plan," Mr. Bellew replied. "Quick, lads, get the
boats alongside and tumble in; there is not a moment to be lost."
The crew at once sprang to the boats and rowed to the other junk, which
was but some thirty yards away.
The Chinese, absorbed in their contest with the crew of the pinnace, did
not perceive the new-comers until they gained the deck, and with a shout
fell furiously upon them. In their surprise and consternation the
pirates did not pause to note that they were still five to one superior
in number, but made a rush for their own vessels.
The English at once took the offensive. The first lieutenant with his
party boarded one, while the new-comers leapt on to the deck of the
other. The panic which had seized the Chinese was so complete that they
attempted no resistance whatever, but sprang overboard in great numbers
and swam to the shore, which was but twenty yards away, and in three
minutes the English were in undisputed possession of both vessels.
"Back again, Mr. Fothergill, or you will lose the craft you captured,"
Lieutenant Oliphant said; "they have already cut her free."
The Chinese, indeed, who had been beaten below by the boarding party,
had soon perceived the sudden departure of their captors. Gaining the
deck again they had cut the lashings which fastened them to the other
junk, and were proceeding to hoist their sails. They were too late,
however.
Almost before the craft had way on her, Fothergill and his crew were
alongside. The Chinese did not wait for the attack, but at once sprang
overboard and made for the shore. The other three junks, seeing the
capture of their comrades, had already hoisted their sails, and were
making up the creek. Fothergill dropped an anchor, left four of his men
in charge, and rowed back to Mr. Oliphant.
"What shall we do next, sir?"
"We will give those fellows on shore a lesson, and silence their
battery. Two men have been killed since you left. We must let the
other junks go for the present. Four of my men were killed and eleven
wounded before Mr. Bellew and you came to our assistance.
"The Chinese were fighting pluckily up to that time, and it would have
gone very hard with us if you had not been at hand. They will fight
when they think they have got it all their own way. But before we land
we will set fire to the five junks we have taken. Do you return and see
that the two astern are well lighted, Mr. Fothergill; Mr. Mason will see
to these three. When you have done your work take to your boat and lay
off till I join you. Keep the junks between you and the shore, to
protect you from the fire of the rascals there."
"I cannot come with you, I suppose, Fothergill?" Percy Adcock said, as
the midshipman was about to descend into his boat again.
"Yes, come along, Percy. It doesn't matter what you do now. The
captain will be so pleased when he hears that we have captured and burnt
five junks, that you will get off with a very light scolding, I
imagine."
"That's just what I was thinking, Jack. Has it not been fun?"
"You wouldn't have thought it fun if you had got one of those matchlock
balls in your body. There are a good many of our poor fellows just at
the present moment who do not see anything funny in the affair at all.
Here we are; clamber up."