"Who is below there, Mr Reardon--Mr Brooke?"
"Ay, ay, sir," cried the latter.
"How many men did you find they had lost?"
"None, sir."
"Brought all off safely?"
"Yes, sir."
A tremendous cheer arose from the deck.
"I felt too giddy to speak just then, Herrick," said Mr Reardon. "Not
one man injured except myself. It is marvellous, my lad. But there; we
had plenty of poor fellows wounded aboard."
Ten minutes later two of the boats were swinging at the davits, and our
two were being towed astern, as the head of the _Teaser_ once more swung
round, and we went down with the tide. We anchored off the mouth of the
muddy river till morning, to which time was put off the hoisting on deck
of the rest of the loot, the account of whose amount and probable value
did more, they said, toward helping on the wounded than any of Dr
Price's ministrations.
But he had serious work with two of the wounded men, who tried very
hard, as he put it, to go out of hand; but he wouldn't let them. Two of
the pirates did die, though, and were cast overboard, sewn up decently
in hammocks, and with shot at their heels.
Seven days later we came to an anchor again off Tsin-Tsin, by which time
Mr Reardon's right eye and temple were horribly discoloured, but in
other respects he was quite well, and was present at what he called our
second gaol delivery, for he came on deck to see the prisoners, wounded
and sound, handed over to the Chinese authorities; but there was no such
display of pomp as on the first occasion, one row-boat only coming
alongside, with a very business-like officer, who superintended the
chaining of the pirates, and bundled them down.
"Just as if they had been so many sacks," Barkins said; and he was very
apt in his comparison.
I only said one word in allusion to the Chinese soldiery and their
officers. That word was--
"Brutes!"