After the body of Byrne had been disposed of, the Stinger returned to
Hong-Kong, where the men, one watch at a time, were permitted to visit
the shore. Many of them deserted, and succeeded in making good their
escape in American ships, which left the harbour about that time; others
joined piratical Chinese vessels, and became notorious for their cruelty
towards their captives; while the less cautious sailors, getting
intoxicated and overstaying their leave of absence, were re-captured by
the ship's corporal and sergeant of marines, who were paid the usual
blood money for their activity in securing the deserters. When the ship
was thoroughly refitted, and the vacancies in her crew had been filled
by drafts from other vessels, Puffeigh was directed to proceed to sea in
search of pirates; the admiral imagining that, if he sent the Stingers
away for a time upon active service, their commander would be enabled to
get them into something like discipline, they having been represented to
him as "a lot of worthless wretches, who could only be kept in order by
the cat-o'-nine tails."
During their cruise Crushe succeeded in bringing several of the new men
to the gratings, and his general language and conduct towards the crew
were as bad as ever.
After having searched the coast for over six months, during which time
they captured and destroyed a great number of junks, lorchas, and other
piratical craft, the Stinger returned to Hong-Kong, where her officers
and crew received their letters and newspapers, which had accumulated at
the Post-Office during their absence, the delivery to the crew taking
place as follows. The ship's corporal and Sergeant Spine having obtained
the sack of mails, proceeded forward with it, and upon reaching the
forecastle shot the contents into a dry wash deck tub; then the
boatswain piped, "Hands, lay forward for your letters." Every one was on
the alert, and a dozen men who could read clustered round the tub, and
assisted in the pleasing task of distributing the epistles.
"Bill Bowker!"
"Gone ashore. I'm his chum--here, chuck it over."
"Jerry Thompson!--one, two, three letters."
"Heave 'em here," cried the wag, who had brought up a bucket in which to
receive his correspondence.
"Charles Smith!"
"Vich Chawles is it?" demanded a stumpy individual; "is it I or Conkey
Smith?"
"Tommy Sims!"
"Runned away," observed one of the boys.
"Charles Dunstable--oh! he's dead."
"Harry Tomlin!"
"Bolted at Singapore."
"Tom Clare! three letters for you, old man."
"Jerry Thompson! Jerry Thompson! here you are, a regular bunch of 'em.
All the girls in Portsmouth must av bin awriting you, Jerry."
"Werry possible," coolly retorted the coxswain. "It's more than they'd
do to you, old fetch-and-carry."
"Mister Robert Brown! Here Bobby, here's a letter from one of them ere
lords as you is related to."
"Chuck it over ere, and hold yer thundering jaw," growled the gentleman
alluded to.
When the tub was cleared of its contents, a sale of letters commenced,
i. e. those who had none purchased one or two at second hand from their
more fortunate shipmates.
"Now, then," shouted a freckled-face Pat, "here's a chance for yez, my
boys,--a letthur from me Cousin Eiley--full av love and tinderness. Who
sez a pint ov grog for this? wid two songs, one called 'Teddy Regan,'
and the other 'Nora O'Shane,' put into the bargain. The letthur is worth
all the grog, as it's chock full of family matters. Come, me boys! who
sez a pint?" Upon this a big, stupid-looking topman called out in a
half-ashamed manner,--"Heave it over here, Tim, I'll give ye a pint for
it next time I'm cook." Having received it, the man walked below to his
mess, where he indulged in the luxury of spelling over the letter, which
we will give, with his comments upon the same.
"_Limerick_ (I wish I was there).
"MY DARLIN TIM (that's affectionate, anyhow),
"Ye will be sorry to learn that your aunt O'Brien is dead, an' has
bin waked and berried, rest her sowld." (She's a good religious
girl, anyhow.) "Peter McMahon swears he'll kill ye the fust time he
sets eyes on ye, as yer brother Michael split the skull of his
father's uncle during the wake." (Never mind, Tim; I'll help you.)
"Tim achushla machree, send us yer half pay, for the love of
Mary--we're nigh starved at times, an' it's hard work for a poor
girl to keep straight, and she so poor and so many temptations
round her." (Poor girl, I'll send her my half pay if he don't. Tim
ain't half thoughtful for her.) "Mary Connor is married, and her
husband gone to sea with a black eye she gave him" (I suppose he
deserved it, anyhow); "an' Kathleen Shea wants to know if ye mean
to keep yer word with her." (If he don't I will.)
"Yer mother sends her love, and with the same from yer loving
"EILEY ROONEY."
(Bless her dear heart, how life-like she do write; that's what I
call a nateral sort of letter.)
At the first quiet opportunity, the sailor questioned Tim as to what his
Cousin Eily was like, and the answer he obtained was a quencher to his
passion. "She's an ould devil, as keeps a fruit stall, an' is as ugly as
the skipper, an' that's saying no little, me boy. But if ye wants to
fall in love wid an illigant slip ov a colleen, I'll intrejuce yez to me
Cousin Nora for a trifle ov grog." However, once bit twice shy, and the
now enlightened sailor concluded to leave Tim's relations alone.
Thompson received about twenty-five letters in all, including one in the
German language from Miss Pferdscreptern, which having opened, turned
over, and held in every conceivable position, he reluctantly sold to a
foretopman, who, not being able to read, did not care whether it was in
German or Hebrew. After picking out Mary Ann's epistles, Jerry sold the
balance of his correspondence unopened, and realized thereby a very
handsome profit.
Clare had three short notes from Polly, that is, they were written for
her by a friend, as she was unable to write even her own signature,
although she contrived to spell out the letters Tom sent her, he always
writing in a very round hand for her accommodation. Clare found that his
wife had made him a father, and that the mother and child were doing
well.
"God bless the dear creetur and her babby," he murmured, and a big tear
stole down his cheek and dropped upon the paper.
As the correspondence was written by a stranger, he did not expect there
would be many tender passages, but he found the letters cold and formal,
and for the moment cursed his fate, and imagined how warmly she would
greet him with her own lips could he but see her then. However, he knew
she was naturally shy; and comforting himself with the reflection that
they would meet when his time was up, he put the letters in his tobacco
box, and went in search of Jerry Thompson, to whom he imparted the news.
"Well, I'm werry glad to think it's a boy, but wouldn't you have liked a
gal better, Tom?"
"I like either a gal or a boy; it's all the same to me."
"Well! you're a father and I ain't, but if I was in your shoes I'd
prefer a gal. I always likes the gals afore any other sex. By-the-by, I
have heered from my Mary Ann."
"Have you? What does she say?"
"Well, first of all she says her missis av bin werry dicky and likely to
croak, and the sawboneses sent them off to Nice for the air, and she's
as hearty as a brick, and a learnin' French like one o'clock. But I hope
she won't learn it on the same principle as I did German."
Clare who was very little interested in his friend's recital, inquired
rather vaguely,
"Have you ever learned German?"
"Yes--well--I--excuse me; there's the old man a hollerin' for me.
Good-bye, Tom." Saying which the coxswain got up and walked briskly aft,
as if in obedience to the captain's summons.
The ship had been in harbour about a week and everything was adrift, as
is usually the case during refitting, when a signal was made from the
flag-ship for "the Stinger to proceed to sea." A number of the men had
just mustered upon the quarter-deck previous to going on shore, and were
of course dismissed to duty again, and the signal made for all boats to
come off at once. Knowing the ship was short-handed, some of the crew
being absent on leave, the admiral sent about forty picked seamen and
twenty marines on board, and in a few hours everything was ready for
sea, upon which they slipped anchor, and made the best of their way
through the Cap-sing-moon Passage.
Crushe adopted quite a conciliatory manner when speaking to the
supernumeraries, knowing it would not do to bully them as he did his own
men, consequently the former thought "the Stingers were a dissatisfied
lot, who, without a cause, gave their first lieutenant a bad name."
By daylight they arrived off the bay to which they had been guided by
Hoo-kee, their pilot, who, clad in a cast-off suit of Puffeigh's, walked
the bridge in a dignified manner; never leaving his elevated position
until the first shot was fired, upon which he darted below, and hid
himself in a sand-tank until the engagement was over.
Hoo-kee told Puffeigh that they were off the entrance of a bay which
contained a regular fleet of piratical junks, commanded by one Seh-wang;
and he strongly urged him to send away his boats and attack the junks
under cover of the fog, it being impossible to take the ship in during
the time it continued. Upon this Lieutenant Wilton, who had been
appointed to the vacancy caused by Ford's death, informed the commander
that he "knew every inch of the bay, having surveyed it about a year
ago." After a short consultation, and being urged strongly by the
master, who was also an old China ranger, Puffeigh reluctantly
consented, and with the leads going in both chains, the Stinger slowly
steamed into the bay, in spite of the fog, which was, to use a nautical
expression, as thick as pea-soup.
The master went out upon the jibboom and watched for the slightest lift
in the fog, while the captain and Lieutenant Wilton piloted the ship
from the bridge.
"Starboard!" cried Wilton. "Starboard!" bawled Puffeigh. "Junk ahead!
port your helm!" roared the master from forward.
Round went the wheel, and the Stinger shot past a huge junk, which
loomed through the fog like a line-of-battle ship.
"Steady! Let go the anchor!" commanded the master, who thereupon came
aft and reported to the captain that during a break in the fog he had
seen several junks ahead, and it was advisable to heave short, and
prepare for warm work, as soon as it cleared.
Puffeigh fussed about like an old woman, first directing the guns to be
loaded with shot, then countermanding the order, and giving instructions
to load with shell; and finally, by the advice of the master, who almost
took charge of the ship, he ordered them to load with grape and
canister. The gunner and his mates prayed for him.
Crushe worried round and blustered like the Pistol that he was, now and
then ordering some youngster out of what the lad considered a snug
place, swearing he'd have no skulking cowards in his ship, and all the
time wishing himself somewhere else.
The man who talks big before an engagement is generally very quiet
during the fight, and it proved so in this instance. Puffeigh was not
afraid; but being thoroughly incompetent to take his ship into action,
had to rely upon the master and Lieutenant Wilton.
The ship had been cleared for action before they arrived off the bay, so
there was very little to do after they had anchored, but to man the
capstan, ready to weigh, the moment they could descry the pirates.
Wilton requested permission to go ahead of the ship and explore the bay,
but thinking the risk too great, the commander would not allow him to do
so. The men were standing round their guns, which were all fully
manned--here and there along the deck being stationed powder-monkeys--i.
e. boys detailed to pass the leathern cases containing charges of
gunpowder, who, seated on their cartridge boxes, looked into the fog as
knowingly as the oldest salts in the ship. Some of the men munched
biscuit, which was surreptitiously obtained from below by the more
daring boys, who risked punishment to curry favor with the seamen; and
all of them imbibed pretty freely of the usual fighting drink--oatmeal
and water--tubs of that Scottish beverage being placed in different
parts of the upper deck.
Crushe, Puffeigh, and Mr. Beauman, the master, were consulting upon the
bridge, when suddenly the fog lifted, upon which the skipper became very
much excited, and directed the port bow-gun to be fired, "to wake 'em
up, you know."
"For Heaven's sake, don't do that!" urged the master; "we will wake them
up in a moment; they mustn't see us just yet."
Upon this the captain held his peace, and left the manoeuvring to be
done by abler persons, contenting himself by looking very imposing, and
whenever he could catch a sentence bellowing it through his
speaking-trumpet to the officer for whom it was intended. The men
laughed at him behind his back, as all of them could see he was utterly
adrift.
Away steamed the Stinger straight for the nearest craft, which proved to
be a lorcha, and by no means a despicable enemy. She was evidently well
manned and armed, and quite prepared for the man-of-war. The rest of the
pirates were further up the bay, some of them being but partly visible,
as the fog still lingered there; but they were all now awake, and firing
crackers to their gods, or beating gongs in a very energetic and
ferocious manner.
The big lorcha suddenly swung round, and sent a hail of shot across the
Stinger's decks. No one was hurt by this discharge, the crew all being
down behind their guns, which formed, as it were, so many breastworks
for them; but the ship was twice hulled, once badly on the port bow near
the water line. The Stinger quickly put her helm a-port, as the lorcha
was again endeavouring to swing into position, so as to give her another
broadside. They were now within a cable's length of the pirate; but, in
spite of her rapid firing, they steamed right ahead. Wilton and Mr.
Beauman were on the bridge with the captain, who, when he saw they
intended to run into the lorcha, and carry her by boarding, bristled up,
and seizing his speaking-trumpet bellowed forth,
"Hands, repel boarders on both bows!"
Up sprang the men, who obedient to orders rushed forward and swarmed
upon the forecastle. Crash came another broadside from the pirate,
killing two men and wounding several others. One moment more, and the
steam-ship ran into the lorcha. Smash went the bulwarks of the latter,
and with a hearty cheer the sailors swarmed over the Stinger's bows,
upon seeing which many of the pirates leapt overboard. Thompson was
delighted, and had several combats with his enemies, who were rapidly
disarmed and kicked over-board by the good-natured fellow. As he was one
of the first men below, he had the honour of killing the pirate-captain,
Seh-wang. On entering the stateroom, Jerry found himself confronted by
that huge Chinaman who was fencing at him with two swords, uttering most
unearthly sounds as he did so. The sailor quietly cut down his guard,
and then told him to get out of the port, upon which Seh-wang fumbled in
his dress for a moment, then drawing forth a revolver, shut both eyes
and pulled the trigger. Snick went the cap, but no other report
followed. Upon this Jerry ran him through the body, and having looted
him, i. e., taken everything valuable, he coolly secured his plunder and
went on deck, reaching it just in time to jump on board the Stinger,
which was now becoming a mark for the pirates at the upper end of the
bay. When he got to the quarter-deck he informed Puffeigh that he had
killed the Chinese captain, but as the lorcha was fired by the Stingers,
the fact of his killing Seh-wang was never proved, although the Chinese
declared he perished with the ship, and Thompson lost special mention
for bravery; but he consoled himself with his loot, and considered the
account balanced. Had the fact of his having searched the body been
known, Puffeigh would have compelled him to disgorge his plunder, his
maxim being that all such articles belonged to himself.
The Stinger now made the best of her way up the bay; as she did so,
keeping up a galling fire from her bow guns. Having arrived nearly
within short range of the pirates' fire, Puffeigh ordered the anchor to
be let go, and when the ship swung to the tide, she being broadside on,
poured a telling discharge into the junks, two or three of which were
shortly afterwards discovered to be on fire. The pirates replied in a
most determined manner, and a severe engagement ensued, during which the
ship was badly hulled and several men killed or wounded. Old Price, who
was acting as captain of the starboard bow gun, was cut in two by a
chain shot. Boy Jordun, who seemed to think the engagement was a sort of
theatrical spectacle, and who ran about as unconcernedly as possible,
received a ball in his left arm--upon which he went below to the doctor,
and after observing that he thought he was wounded, the plucky child
fell upon the dead body of a man stretched out upon the floor, and
fainted away from loss of blood. Clare quietly did his duty, but the
lash had taken all enthusiasm out of him; towards the end of the action
he was hit on the forehead, but he merely bound his neck-handkerchief
round the wound, and kept at his gun.
The Chinese fired all sorts of missiles--bar, chain, and round
shot--musket balls, and copper cash--some going far beyond the Stinger,
and others falling along way short. Finding there was little chance of
beating off the man-of-war, the pirates set fire to their ships and
abandoned them. Upon seeing this Puffeigh ordered his men to cease
firing; and having cleared the decks and weighed anchor, the Stinger
steamed towards the town, passing, as she did so, the line of piratical
vessels, many of which were burning most furiously.
Old Jemmy was standing upon the carriage of his gun, looking over the
side, and passing comments upon the junks as the ship steamed slowly
passed them, when a gun on board one of them was discharged by the heat,
and the ball striking the old man, stretched him senseless upon the
deck. Several men sprang forward to assist him, and he was carried below
and handed over to the surgeon.
The Stingers counted thirty-five craft in all; and as these were moored
in a line so as to mask the town, they were not aware, until they
rounded the last junk, of the little amusement which was going on
between the townspeople and the pirates who had taken to the water. It
seems that the former, finding matters were going against the
freebooters, had turned out _en masse_, and prevented their landing, and
when the man-of-war hove in sight, round the stem of the last lorcha,
they were engaged in the lively business of knocking the pirates over
the heads with bamboos, clubs, or stones. Upon seeing their British
allies, they boldly put off in their sampans, and slaughtered their
former tyrants most perseveringly.
"Where's the pilot? Where's Hoo-kee?" demanded Puffeigh.
After a search, the too-brave Chinaman was found, and being interrogated
by the skipper, sagely informed him that, "Peecee man lib here catchee
pilong and gib he fum-fum," this information being a not very lucid
explanation of the state of affairs going on alongside the ship, which
any child could understand, without its being thus oracularly described
by the Chinaman.
Taking the advice of his officers, Puffeigh left the pirates to be dealt
with by the townspeople, and the Stingers were piped to breakfast. All
were quite ready for the food which they brought on deck and devoured as
they viewed the slaughter of the pirates, the same being a novel zest
for their meal.
Puffeigh took this opportunity to reconnoitre the bay, and found it was
surrounded by high hills, with its entrance masked by rocks, which
rendered it a most desirable resort for pirates, as without previous
intimation any ship might pass up and down the coast a hundred times and
not suspect the existence of an inlet in that place. He now perceived
the burnt hull of an English merchant-ship lying near the town; and as
he had been sent to avenge the outrage of this very seizure, he
determined, when his men were refreshed, to land and endeavour to
ascertain the fate of the crew of the burnt vessel.
"Boat alongside, sir," sang out the sentry on the bridge.
"What is she?"
"Chinese, sir."
"Send Hoo-kee here."
Upon this the pilot walked to the gangway and saluted the Celestials,
who climbed over the side, speaking of course in his own vernacular.
"Hi! you dogs. I'm pilot here. If you don't cumshaw me (i. e. fee me),
I'll get these red-haired devils to burn your town about your ears."
"Most illustrious sir!" exclaimed the foremost moon-face, "we are very
poor, but" (puffing through want of breath) "we will pay you two hundred
dollars to assist us, if you'll come on shore and fetch it."
"What does the fellow say?" demanded Puffeigh.
"He say, some peecee pilong come catchee he long tim, and he no savee
how many peecee Eingleesh man him kill."
"Bring them aft, here."
The self-appointed deputation of towns-folks walked aft, and falling
upon their knees, kow-tow'd (i. e. knocked their foreheads upon the
deck), and then awaited the great Fanqui's pleasure.
"Tell them to get up."
"Get up, you fools; this old rice-bag doesn't know what kow-tow is."
"We'd rather not, my lord. Tell the great man we can't _lie easily_ when
we look at his terrible hairy face."
"What do they say, Hoo-kee?"
"Why, him say you too muchee lansome, and he fraid speekee you spose him
lookee you in him face."
"Hum!" The flattery tickled the vain old fellow, who thereupon allowed
the deputation to remain upon their knees, and by the assistance of the
pilot learnt, that Seh-wang left one night, and that on the following
morning they saw a foreign-built vessel anchored in the bay. Some of the
pirates who landed to visit their wives told them that they had killed
all the Fanquis but one woman, whom they had landed and removed from the
town to a joss-house, which they pointed out upon one of the
neighbouring hills, where it was presumed she would now be found.
Upon hearing this, it was determined to land the sailors and marines,
and march to the joss-house, which the towns-people stated was about
seventy le (ten miles) from the town.
"Mr. Shever, pipe man and arm boats."
In a few moments the ship's boats were in the water and the crews in
their places, the pinnace with its brass howitzer, and first and second
cutters with their rocket apparatus, being, on account of their
armament, the last boats ready. Much to his chagrin, Mr. Beauman, was
left behind in charge of the ship, the whole of the executive officers
being detailed for shore duty. About twelve o'clock Puffeigh stepped
into his gig, and the flotilla proceeded towards the shore, the master
having instructions if he saw a white flag flying in the gig, to shell
the town, ten men and boys being left on board to carry out this duty.
Upon reaching the shore a number of the townsfolks came down, and
welcomed the party, whereupon Puffeigh assumed a grand air, and told the
"elders" that they need not be alarmed, as he would not hurt them, this
being translated to them by Hoo-kee, as follows:--
"You crouching dogs, this vermilion-faced devil says if you don't hand
over the dollars upon our return from the joss-house, he'll blow you
into the water."
"Tell them I want two guides, and that I will reward them if they are
faithful."
"Do you hear? You common things! The vermilion-visaged devil says he
wants two guides, who are to go with us at once."
Having selected a couple of active looking volunteers, the party
commenced their journey. First marched the sailors under command of
Lieutenant Wilton; these men drew the brass howitzer and its
limber-boxes, it being fitted for use as a field piece. Next came a
sedan containing Puffeigh, borne by six Chinese, twelve others being
secured to act as relays. Bringing up the rear were the marines under
control of Crushe, these men carrying the rocket apparatus. Jerry
Thompson walked by the side of the sedan, having charge of the bearers,
and acting as a sort of aide-de-camp to the captain.
The fighting party marched through the streets to the tune of "Old Dan
Tucker," played upon a violin, by one of the blue-jackets; and a more
jolly set of fellows could not be imagined. All their troubles
forgotten, all animosity buried, everything absorbed in one idea--the
rescue of a poor girl from slavery.
Leaving the shore party to make the best of their way to the joss-house,
we will return to the Stinger.
Master Jordun, who had been attended to and placed in a cot, finding the
place pretty quiet after the departure of the fighting party, got up and
cruised round the sick bay. He had made a critical survey of nearly all
its occupants, and thought it time to return to his cot, fearing the
surgeon would come back and give him a scolding, when his attention was
suddenly arrested by hearing a husky voice repeat his name.
"Young Bill! I say! Come here."
"Who's that ere a flyin' my number?"
"Me--yer old chum, Jemmy," was the faint response.
"Where are ye?" demanded the boy, who could not see any resemblance to
his friend in the mummy-like figure from which the sound appeared to
proceed.
"Here I am, and it's all up with me, my boy--I'm going fast. Although
that infernal sawbones ses I'm all right, Jemmy ain't long for this
world."
"Humbug! You're all right. Why, I'm wounded and a walkin' about."
At this moment the surgeon entered, and asked the boy why he was out of
his cot.
"Old Jemmy called me, sir."
"Is that the doctor!" quavered the old sailor.
"What do you want, my man? You must keep quiet."
Upon this the old fellow, calling the surgeon to him, desired he would
bear witness that he left "his clothes, pay, and prize money to that ere
kid Bill Jordun."
"I'll see that it is done; but if you remain quiet, you will recover."
Old Jemmy kept quite still until the surgeon left again, upon which he
called to the boy and told him to step out of the sick-bay, and go to
his ditty box, in which he would find a bottle of grog, and to bring it
to him at once, never mind who said no.
The young scamp, desirous of pleasing the man who had made him his heir,
did as he was directed; and having secured the bottle, took it to his
friend, who begged him to put it to his lips--"gentle, my boy." The lad
did as he was desired, and having held it there until he thought the old
fellow had imbibed his share, he removed it and took a pull at it
himself.
"Give us another nip," piteously pleaded the mummy.
"It ain't good for you, old 'un--you knows it isn't," replied the boy;
who, however, replaced the bottle to his friend's lips, and allowed him
to empty its contents.
"I'm blowed! if he ain't a sucked it dry!" ejaculated the lad. "I say,
Jemmy, how do you feel now?"
But old Jemmy replied not, so the boy covered him up and left him.
About five hours after this the sick-bay man, thinking the old man was
very quiet, proceeded to uncover his face, and found he was dead; upon
which he reported to the surgeon that, "Old Jemmy were dead, and that he
smelt werry strong of rum." Boy Jordun became delirious during the
night, and as he also was perfumed in the same manner, the doctor
concluded that some numskull had given them a glass of grog, and blamed
his man for not keeping a good look-out.
Some time after when the boy was informed of the death of his friend,
he snivelled, and declared "he was werry sorry, as the old bloke was
allus a thundering good old kove to him."
Finding everything was pretty quiet, the master boarded all the junks
which were not much injured by fire, and hoisted the British flag upon
them as prizes. By the time this was done it became necessary to return
to the ship; and having set the watch, and made the rounds, Mr. Beauman
retired to rest, thoroughly done up. Nothing occurred to render it
imperative that he should be called during the night, and the Stingers
not on duty slumbered in their hammocks; while those who were compelled
to remain upon deck kept their eyes open, and thought how calm and
peaceful the bay appeared, with the stars shining down upon the water,
beneath which were sunk eleven hundred pirates, who twenty-four hours
before had been alive, and quite unconscious of their approaching fate.
A few of the more superstitious among the watchers declared that every
now and then some of the murdered men would rise to the surface, groan
and sink again. Probably it was the noise of fish they heard, but to the
day of their deaths they believed that "Bloody Bay" (as they termed it)
swarmed with spirits that night. One man was so affected by his fears,
that he left his post, and going below was led into the ward-room, where
he came across a bottle of brandy, a portion of which he found himself
compelled to swallow. No doubt he was under the baneful influence of the
spooks when he did this, as when he was found helplessly reclining upon
the fore hatchway, he gravely declared that it was seeing so many ghosts
that took away his senses. As the man had been twice flogged, the humane
master forgave him, and determined not to report the circumstance to the
captain, when the latter returned; which act of clemency so touched the
delinquent, that he made a vow not to take another drop of grog during
the time he belonged to the ship. And to his honour be it said, he
faithfully kept his word.
More than twenty-four hours had passed, and he had seen no sign of the
landing-party. Beauman got the ship in order, repaired the rigging, and
obtained some fruit and vegetables from the shore, but when the sun went
down the second night the master was still left in suspense, and, to
tell the truth, became quite uneasy, never leaving the deck a moment
during the night. When morning broke a sampan came off with a message
from the head man of the town, from which Beauman, who could speak a
little Chinese, made out that the Stingers had found the pirates at
home, but had been beaten off with great loss, and were fleeing towards
the mountains.
He knew that the landing party was but small, and if they had fallen
into an ambuscade all of them might be murdered; but knowing how
unblushingly the Chinese can pervert the truth, he made up his mind to
await further developments. Sending the messenger back with a polite
intimation, that if the expedition did not return within eight-and-forty
hours he would fire upon the town, he devoted his energies to
instructing the boys how to act in case the party were lost, and in
training his guns upon prominent buildings, the ship being moored
broadside on to the place. During the day they buried the dead, and
eight bodies were conveyed to a small island near the entrance of the
bay, and decently interred.
When night set in Beauman became restless, and began to think there was
some truth in the story brought off from the shore. "Sixty hours away
from the ship, and no sign of them yet. Poor fellows! they have been
captured and put to death."