BELLONA AND EMPRESS IN VICTORIA HARBOUR--A COMPLAINT OF PIRACY--MR. JULL
AGAIN--THE TWO SHIPS SAIL IN SEARCH OF HIS FLEET OF JUNKS--CAPTAIN PO-HO
GOES AS PILOT--FAIL IN WITH ORION--ORDERED TO JAPAN--EXPEDITION TO
ATTACK A PIRATICAL FLEET COMMANDED BY JULL--THE PIRATE FLEET SIGHTED--
TOM AND DESMOND SENT IN CHASE OF JUNKS--TOM HOARDS A JUNK, AND HAS GOOD
REASON FOR GETTING OUT OF HER AGAIN--TOM, PURSUING THE ENEMY, IS
CAPTURED--BILLY PULLS AFTER THE OTHER BOATS--THE FIRST JUNK BLOWS UP--
VAIN SEARCH FOR TOM--RETURN TO THE GNAT--THE FORT AND JUNKS ATTACKED--
THE ROUND MOON RECOVERED--JERRY RECOGNISES JULL--THE SEAMEN AND MARINES
ON SHORE PREPARE TO ATTACK THE FORT.
The Taku Forts had been captured, the march to Pekin accomplished, the
summer palace destroyed, the pride of the emperor humbled, and once more
peace was established.
Her Majesty's ships _Bellona_ and _Empress_ lay in Victoria Harbour, the
broad pennant of Commodore Murray, for he had lately been raised to that
rank, flying on board the former. He and Captain Rogers were seated in
the cabin of his ship after dinner. The officers who had been the
commodore's guests had retired, the midshipmen having previously
received a polite hint to go on deck and ascertain which way the wind
blew.
"I heartily hope we shall soon be ordered away from this most
undelectable coast," observed Jack.
"So do I, in truth," answered Murray. "From what I hear, we shall soon
be sent to Japan, which seems to be in a very unsettled state with the
Mikado, Tycoon, and the Damios at loggerheads. If the latter especially
are not put down, they will get the upper hand of their two spiritual
and temporal sovereigns, and then set to work to murder each other, and
the whole country will be thrown into a state of anarchy."
"I should be glad of something to do, at all events," said Jack. "The
gun-boats have all the work nowadays, and as we have reduced the
Celestials to order there is not much prospect of our big ships being
wanted."
"Had I a reason for proceeding in any definite direction I would sail
to-morrow," observed the commodore; "but there is no object in cruising
up and down the coast, expending coals and wearing out the ship."
"I am sometimes tempted to wish that steam power had never been
introduced on board men-of-war when I think of our early days on the
_Racer_ in the Mediterranean, and the life we led on the coast of Africa
and out here," said Jack. "After all, youngsters have the best of it."
"They certainly have few cares and responsibilities, and enjoy sounder
sleep than those in command can do when at sea," observed Murray.
While they were speaking, Archie Gordon, cap in hand, entered the cabin,
and addressing the commodore said, "A Chinaman has just come on board,
sir, and as far as we can understand, desires to see you to report that
his junk has some time ago been attacked and carried off by pirates."
"I will see him at once; let him come below," answered the commodore.
"Request Mr Chin-ho, the interpreter, to come here."
"He has gone on shore, sir," replied the midshipman. In less than a
minute Gordon returned, ushering in a stout-built Chinaman, dressed, to
English eyes, in a very unnautical costume, but characteristic of that
strange people.
"What have you got to say, my friend?" asked Murray, after the visitor
had made the usual salutation and been requested to sit down, for Murray
properly made it a rule to treat all the Chinese with due courtesy.
The stranger introduced himself as Po-ho, captain of the big junk _Round
Moon_. As the curious jargon in which he made his statement would not
be understood by most readers, we must give it in ordinary English.
"The _Round Moon_ was lying in Swatow roads, in company with several
other trading junks, when I, being asleep in my cabin, was awakened by a
loud noise on deck, of shrieks and cries, clashing of swords, scuffling
and thumps, as though men were falling. Rushing out to see what was the
matter, what was my horror to discover that the deck was in the
possession of strangers, and that most of my crew lay dead or dying. My
mate with two or three others was still fighting bravely, not far from
the cabin door, when I beheld an Englishman, Jull by name, whom I knew
to be a fearful scoundrel, a sword covered with blood in his hand, and
about to attack the mate and the others. Before I could run back and
get my arms, Jull had killed the mate, and the rest were cut down.
Seeing that I should share the same fate, I jumped through the cabin
port into the water, intending to swim to a junk astern, when Jull, who
had followed me into the cabin, discovering that I was overboard, fired
at me, but missed. I thought that I should escape, but presently
another shot struck me in the back; still I swam on, and reached the
side of the junk.
"When I got on board, the first thing I saw was my ship with all sails
set, standing out of the harbour. I wanted the captain of the junk who
had picked me up to give chase, but he answered, `No, no; Jull has got
too many men and long guns.' Before I could say anything more I had
fainted. When I came to myself, the _Round Moon_ was out of sight. I
have not seen her since, but wishing to recover her, I have not ceased
inquiring about Jull at every place at which I have touched. A few days
ago, as I was sailing from Chusan, I heard that Jull, in command of a
large fleet of junks, had attacked and plundered a number of merchant
vessels in that neighbourhood, and that he was even then at anchor with
all his fleet in a channel between the island of Latea and that of
Chusan. If you go at once northward with your steamers, you may arrive
in time to catch him before he sails away. He has nearly thirty junks,
carrying heavy guns and gingalls, and 500 or 600 men. Your steamers
cannot get up the creek to attack him, and he is very likely to make his
escape if he knows you are coming. You must, therefore, send in a large
force, and be very careful how you approach, and as he fights with a
rope round his neck, he will struggle to the last."
This narrative took a long time to deliver, as Mr Po-ho, though he
professed to speak English fluently, had to search about for words to
express himself, and Murray and Rogers had to cross-question him and
make him repeat over and over again what he had said before they could
comprehend his meaning. The above, however, as has been said, was the
substance of his statement, reduced to plain English. Murray inquired
whether Mr Po-ho, or rather Captain Po-ho, was ready to go as pilot.
He jumped at the offer. Nothing would give him more satisfaction than
to see Jull's head cut off.
"We will both go," said Murray. "Return on board, Jack; hoist the blue
Peter, fire your guns to bring off any of your officers or men who may
be on shore. I will do the same, and we will sail this very evening.
Are you ready, Captain Po-ho?" The Chinaman's little eyes twinkled with
satisfaction. "He would," he said, "send his boat back to let his
friends know that he had found some generous Englishmen to avenge his
loss, and expressed a hope that should his own junk be recovered, she
would be restored to him."
That night the two ships, with most of their officers on board--with the
exception of two or three, who, having gone to the other side of the
island, were left on shore--were steaming northward. Just before they
sighted Chusan, a vessel under all sail was seen standing from the
north-east. As she approached she made the signal of the _Orion_, and
that she had despatches for the commodore. The _Bellona's_ way was
therefore stopped, the _Empress_ also waiting for her. In a short time
Captain Adair came on board. He had come from Japan with the request
that some of the ships on the station might be sent there at once to
protect British interests, subjects, and property, which were in
constant danger from the Damios. The commodore decided, however, that
the matter was not so urgent as to prohibit his first looking after the
pirate and his fleet, and resolved to carry out his object, taking the
_Orion_ with him. At Chusan, off which he called to obtain further
information, he found a gun-boat, the _Gnat_, which, from her small
size, would be able to play an important part in the expedition.
From the information furnished by Captain Po-ho, Murray learned that the
pirate's stronghold was in the midst of several small islands, with four
navigable channels between them leading up to it, and that to prevent
the escape of the villains it would be necessary to watch the whole of
them. The pirate also, Po-ho said, had a strong battery on shore, its
guns commanding a deep bay, in which the junks were at anchor. Thus the
boats in the expedition would be exposed to a hot fire, and should the
junks be captured, they might immediately be sunk, before they could be
carried off, by the guns of the fort, which was described as being very
strong originally, and since it had been occupied by the pirates they
had been employed in still further adding to the defences. It was said
also that within was stored a large amount of merchandise, obtained by
the pirates during several cruises. One thing appeared certain, that
the piratical fleet was still at anchor off the fort. The commodore,
having obtained all the necessary information, stood with his squadron
late in the day towards the islands, so that he might not arrive off
them until darkness would conceal his movements. Po-ho advised that
three of the entrances should be guarded, each by one of the ships, and
that the gun-boat and boats should proceed up the other to attack the
pirates. This suggestion was adopted. Murray ordered three boats from
each ship, with a strong body of blue-jackets, to rendezvous alongside
the _Gnat_, which also carried the larger number of marines.
Captain Rogers, accompanied by Po-ho as pilot and interpreter, went on
board the _Gnat_ and took command. The three midshipmen had each charge
of a boat, as had our old friend Jos Green, while the others were under
command of lieutenants or mates. Tom was accompanied by Billy
Blueblazes and Tim Nolan. The _Gnat_, taking the fleet of boats in tow,
steered towards the entrance of the chief channel, up which the
expedition was to proceed. As they neared it just before dawn, a rocket
was seen to rise, forming an arch in the dark sky, its glittering drops
shining brilliantly as they fell. It was fired apparently from the
centre of the island, where the fort was supposed to be situated, as a
signal to some of the junks which might have been at anchor near the
entrance of one of the channels. As Captain Po-ho could not give a very
exact account of the position of the fort, Captain Rogers thought it
prudent to wait until daybreak before commencing the attack. Of the
character of the enemy, however, he had no doubt, from the information
obtained at Chusan. They were a daring band of pirates, who had long
been the terror of traders.
The _Gnat_, having a long line of boats astern, made but slow way. A
bright look-out was kept, lest any of the junks might attempt to steal
out and escape; but none appeared. The rocket, however, was an evidence
that some of the pirate fleet, at all events, were still inside. The
entrance was at length gained. The shore on either side was so close
that, had the enemy concealed themselves among the rocks and shrubs,
they might greatly have annoyed the flotilla without the risk of much
damage to themselves.
When morning broke the _Gnat_ was approaching a long, low, rocky point,
over which the masts of a considerable fleet of junks could be
perceived. The steamer must at the same time have been discovered by
the pirates, for the junks' sails were hoisted, and the wind favouring
them, they stood away towards a channel in the opposite direction.
"The villains will soon find they have made a mistake, if they expect to
get off that way," observed Tom to Blueblazes. "They will fall from the
frying-pan into the fire. The shots from our ships will send every one
of them to the bottom." Just then the _Gnat_ grounded on a sand-bank,
and the boats had to take to their oars while she made efforts to back
off. While she was thus engaged, the junks were seen returning to their
anchorage, sweeping along at a good speed.
"The rascals have discovered that they are caught in a trap, and, like
rats driven into a corner, will fight desperately," said Tom. "We shall
have some real work to do, Billy."
"I don't mind much about that, provided it will soon be over and we can
get back to breakfast," answered the other midshipman. "I am terribly
hungry already."
This delay enabled the greater part of the pirate fleet to get back to
their anchorage, but the wind blowing stronger as the sun rose, three of
them, unable to make headway against it, turned down another channel,
expecting probably to escape in that direction, being thus unable to
render any assistance to their companions.
On this Captain Rogers ordered three of the boats, of which Tom's was
one, to go in chase of the fugitives and capture them, hoping, from the
prisoners who might be taken, to ascertain the strength of the fort, so
that he might devise the best way of attacking it. The second
lieutenant of the _Empress_ led the boats, Desmond's making the third.
Away they pulled as hard as they could go. The pirates, seeing them
coming, opened on them with their stern guns, and at the same time kept
up a pretty hot fire with gingalls; but their shot generally flew over
the boats, which, although the junks sailed well, were rapidly coming up
with them.
"I will take the headmost; you board the other two," sang out the
lieutenant, addressing Tom and Desmond.
In each boat, it should have been said, there were four marines, who, in
return, fired at the junks, taking steady aim, and seldom failing to
kill or wound some of their crews. The channel took several turnings,
which would have been an advantage to the pursuers had they been
acquainted with the navigation, but the fear of running on any rocks or
sand-banks made them keep directly astern of the junks. Presently a
shot struck one of Tom's men, and another knocked an oar to pieces.
This of course caused some delay, and the boat dropped astern. On
rounding a point Tom saw that the junk he had been ordered to board was
in the act of running ashore in a small bay at the further side, while
the other two junks continued their course, pursued by the lieutenant
and Desmond. Tom considered it his duty to attack the one which could
no longer escape him. He was soon alongside; but as he and his men
clambered up on deck the pirates rushed forward, leaped down over the
bows on to the beach, and began to make their way inland. Tom, on
looking round from the more elevated position he had gained, discovered
that the creek ran at the back of the fort, but how far off he could not
tell.
"We must capture some of those fellows; Captain Rogers wants some
prisoners," he sang out, and was about to lead the way over the bows
when Tim Nolan exclaimed, "The villains have set their craft on fire.
She'll be after goin' off like a sky-rocket in another minute."
"Back, back to the boat!" shouted Tom, seeing that Tim's words were
likely to prove true.
The whole party quickly tumbled in, each man trying to be first. Tom
was the last to leave his prize, and followed with no little reluctance.
Shoving off, they pulled away in the direction they had before been
going, to assist, if necessary, the other boats. They had not got far,
however, when Tom caught sight of some of the pirates who had landed.
They halted, and appeared as if they intended to return to the stranded
junk. In their hurry they had thrown down their gingalls, and were
armed only with their swords.
"We must have some of those fellows," cried Tom.
Steering in his boat, he jumped on shore, followed by the marines and
four seamen, while he told Billy to remain in charge of the rest of the
crew.
Off the little party dashed, hoping without difficulty to capture some
of the pirates. The latter turned and fled, leading their pursuers to a
distance from the boat. Tom imprudently was rushing on considerably
ahead of his men when a volley fired from among some rocks laid three of
their number low. The rest halted to return the fire of their concealed
enemy, but, seeing no one, they let fly among the rooks, against which
their bullets were flattened, without doing further execution. Before
they could re-load a party of desperadoes sprang out, and seizing Tom,
dragged him along with them. In vain Tom endeavoured to free himself,
expecting every instant to feel the point of a sword, or its edge, at
the back of his neck. The survivors of his party charged bravely,
hoping to recover him; but another volley wounded two more, and, seeing
that they would all be cut off, they retreated towards the boat. They
would even now probably have been attacked had not Billy, showing
unusual discretion on hearing the firing, landed with the rest of the
men, and fired on the advancing pirates. What was his dismay to find
that Tom was not among those returning.
"Where is Mr Rogers?" he exclaimed.
"The pirates, sir, have got hold of him," answered Tim, who had
reluctantly returned. "If we are quick about it, and the rest can come
with us, we can overtake them, and we will get back Mr Rogers, at all
events."
Billy and the rest of the men could not resist this appeal, and were
rushing forward when they came to the three men who had fallen. One was
dead, but the other two were still living, though unable to walk. They
entreated that they might be carried back to the boat; and Billy,
finding that the pirates had disappeared, judged that there would be no
use in pursuing them, and he remembered also that he had been directed
to remain in the boat.
Notwithstanding, therefore, Nolan's remark, Billy ordered the men back
to the boat. Just at that instant the junk, from which their attention
had been diverted, and which had been in flames fore and aft, blew up
with a loud explosion, portions of the fragments being scattered far and
wide, many falling close to them.
"Shove off!" cried Billy; "not a moment must be lost."
His crew pulled away after the lieutenant and Desmond, in the hopes that
should they have succeeded in taking the two junks, of obtaining their
assistance and going in search of Tom. On getting round the point which
hid them from sight, Billy discovered the junks, nearly a mile away,
both on shore. As his boat got nearer he caught glimpses of the pirates
running among the bushes, in the direction, as far as he could judge, of
the fort. Both junks had, therefore, been captured. Billy only hoped
that the pirates had not attempted the same trick they had played him,
by laying trains to their magazines, although he half expected, before
he reached the junks, to see them blow up into the air.
In his eagerness to save his other shipmates, he almost forgot poor Tom.
"Give way, lads, give way!" he cried. "They will all be sent up like
sky-rockets if we don't warn them in time."
The seamen made the boat fly over the water, understanding the danger as
fully as he did.
As he got near he shouted out, "Back, back to the boats, or you will all
be blown up!"
"No fear about that, now," answered Desmond, from the deck of the
nearest junk. "We found a burning fusee, sure enough, but took good
care to throw it overboard. Hallo! where's Rogers?" he exclaimed,
looking down into the boat.
"Gone! The pirates have got hold of him, and may probably have cut his
head off," answered Billy.
"Gone! His head out off!" cried Desmond, in an agony of grief, although
scarcely believing his messmate's account; "How did you come away
without him?"
"We could not help it," answered Billy, in a melancholy tone. "We
should all have been killed if we had not. We have as it is lost two
poor fellows knocked over, and four wounded. That shows that we did not
give up the attempt to rescue Rogers while there was a chance of
success."
"Pull round and report to Mr Norman what has occurred. I will go with
you," said Desmond, jumping into Billy's boat.
The lieutenant was, of course, greatly grieved. "We must try and
ascertain his fate, at all events. You did not see his head cut off?"
he asked, turning to Billy.
"No, sir. We saw him in the pirates' hands. They were dragging him
along."
"Then, perhaps they intend holding him as a hostage," observed Mr
Norman. "The junks do not appear to have much in them; and so, for fear
lest the pirates should get on board again, we will set them on fire,
and pull back to where you lost Rogers."
Mr Norman at once gave the order, which the seamen executed with the
delight of school-boys igniting huge bonfires, and then the three boats
pulled back in the direction of the still burning junk. On reaching it
Mr Norman landed his men, forming them in more regular order than Tom
had done, four of the marines advancing in skirmishing order to feel the
way.
No enemy, however, appeared; but being an experienced officer, he knew
that they might be lurking at no great distance ahead, or concealed
behind the brushwood either on the right hand or the left, so that they
might attack him at any moment on the flank or get behind him and out
off his retreat. Having advanced therefore a short distance, he ordered
a halt, and getting close under a hill from the top of which he hoped to
obtain a survey of the country, he climbed up it, accompanied by
Desmond.
"There's the fort, sir," exclaimed the latter, "and I see a number of
men going into it. If they have not cut off Rogers's head, they will be
taking him in with them, and he'll run a great risk of being killed when
the _Gnat_ opens fire on the fort."
Mr Norman thought Desmond was right in his conjectures.
"Could not we make a dash at the rear of the fort? we might get in
before the pirates know we were coming," said Desmond.
"With a stronger party I would try what we could do; but as the pirates
must have been watching us, they would be prepared for an attack, and I
very much doubt if we should succeed."
Desmond, though eager to try and rescue Tom, of whose death he was as
yet far from being convinced, acknowledged to himself that his
lieutenant was right. They remained a few minutes longer, taking a more
perfect survey of the fortress and the surrounding country.
"If I mistake not, could we land on the right side of it, we might make
our way, concealed by the mass of brushwood to the rear of the fort, and
get close up to it before we are discovered, while the pirates, if they
expect us to make the attempt, will be looking out for us over that open
ground more to the left; but we must get back and communicate with
Captain Rogers," observed the lieutenant.
Mr Norman, directly he came down from the hill, ordered his men to
retreat. As soon as they were on board, the boats pulled away for the
_Gnat_ as fast as the crews could lay their backs to the oars, all
knowing the importance of placing the wounded under the surgeon's care
as soon as possible. Two poor fellows required no doctoring, but their
bodies were carried, nevertheless, for the purpose of giving them, as
Jack called it, "decent burial?"--in reality that they might be sewn up
neatly in their hammocks, with a shot at their feet, to carry them down
to the oozy bed of the ocean beyond the ken of the sharks.
The _Gnat_ had just got off, and with the musquito fleet in tow was
steaming up towards the pirates' stronghold. As Mr Norman's three
boats passed within long range of the fort, several shots were fired at
them without doing any damage, nor did the pirates make chase, which
they might have done with a good chance of capturing their enemies.
At last the boats got alongside the _Gnat_. Captain Rogers received the
account Mr Norman gave him with much concern.
"But is it certain that he is killed? Did any one see him fall?" he
inquired.
"No, sir," answered Mr Norman. "We are confident that he was made
prisoner; but the belief is that the pirates, in revenge for the
destruction of their junks, would have cut off his head unless they were
induced to hold him as a hostage."
"I trust that the latter is the case, and that we may manage to get him
out of their hands," observed Captain Rogers. "But in my anxiety to
save him I must not neglect my duty. We must attack these fellows
without delay. Unfortunately they have had some time for preparations,
and will give us more trouble than would have been the case had not this
craft got on shore. I purpose, while the boats attack the junks, to
land the marines and storm the fort."
Captain Adair having come on board, Captain Rogers directed him to
accompany the marines with a small body of blue-jackets.
"I believe, sir, that we may be able to get to the rear of the fort from
a landing-place I discovered as I came along," said Mr Norman. "While
the _Gnat_ and the boats are assaulting the fort, we may hope to
approach undiscovered, and by coming suddenly on the pirates, should
your brother be still alive, we may be able to rescue him before they
have time to revenge themselves by killing him."
"I trust that you are right, Mr Norman, and that the poor fellow has
escaped, although from the pirates not having sent off a flag of truce
to treat for terms, I greatly fear that they have not kept him as an
hostage."
While the _Gnat_ sailed on Captain Rogers made the necessary
arrangements for the attack. She, with two of the largest boats, were
to bombard the fort, the rest of the flotilla were to board the junks,
with the exception of the boats under Mr Norman, who was to land with
their crews and some marines and attack the fort in the rear. Very
little time longer elapsed before the _Gnat_, the leading vessel, got
within range of the junks, which immediately began to blaze away with
their guns and gingalls, she and her smaller consorts returning the fire
with interest. Two large junks lay directly in the way; one, after the
first round was fired, began to settle down so rapidly that many of the
crew must have sunk with her, while the rest were seen swimming like a
shoal of tadpoles towards the shore. The other, a fine-looking vessel,
stood out longer.
"Fire at te deck, at te deck!" cried Po-ho; "she my ship; no sink her!"
A volley of musketry made the pirate crew quit the vessel and follow
their companions on shore, while the _Round Moon_ remained floating
tranquilly, although Captain Murray fully expected to see her burst out
into flames and blow up as the others had done. Po-ho entreated that he
might go on board to prevent any such catastrophe; and he was allowed
the dingy and a couple of men that he might take possession of his
vessel. He might have been safer on board the _Gnat_, for several shot
from the fort struck the junk as the man-of-war glided in between her
and the shore. So close did the _Gnat_ get that the guns of the fort,
which were trained at too high an elevation, sent their shot over her;
while the shells, round shot, and rockets, which she poured into the
fort, were apparently producing havoc among its defenders. First one
gun was silenced, then another, but the remainder continued blazing
away, either at the gun-boat or at the other boats.
The report that Tom Rogers had been taken prisoner soon spread among the
boats of the _Empress_, and from them to the boats of the other ships,
no one exactly knowing how it had happened. There was a search on board
each junk captured, in the hopes of discovering him, as junk after junk
was taken. Several, however, which were farther from those first
attacked, slipped their cables and tried to run on shore; some were
overtaken before they had time to do so; others were set on fire by the
pirates and blew up, and the remainder succeeded in effecting their
purpose.
A good many of the prisoners, however, were taken, who either could not
swim or had not time to make their escape. The British casualties were
very small, as only two or three of the junks showed fight. One of the
largest fired away until the boats were close up to her; she then cut
her cable and made for the shore, still blazing away with her heavy
guns, gingalls, and match-locks. Twice the crew were about to desert
their guns and attempt to leap overboard, but were restrained by a
fine-looking fellow in a Malay dress, who with his sword kept the men to
their duty, cutting down two or three who showed signs of disobedience.
Jerry Bird was in one of the boats of the _Empress_, and catching sight
of the pirate captain, he exclaimed, "Why, as I'm alive, that's no other
than our friend Jonathan Jull! Hallo, Mr Jull, knock under; it's no
use holding out!"
A fire-lock aimed at Jerry's head was the only answer made by the pirate
chief. Fortunately the bullet merely cut off one of his love-locks, and
the junk, already close to the shore, stood on. In another minute she
touched the beach, when Jull, firing the last gun, set the example of
deserting her, and leaping overboard, began to wade up the beach,
surrounded by his men, towards the fort.
The British boats followed them, but as they got to the other side of
the junk they were exposed to a hot fire from the fort. This, however,
did not stop them. On they rushed, their lieutenant leading them,
hoping to capture the pirate chief, and thus quickly put an end to the
contest. Jull, however, had a very fast pair of legs, and he and his
men were close up to the gate, when the gun-boats ceased firing and two
rockets rose together, the signal agreed on to show that the party on
shore were about to attack the fort.
In the mean time Captain Adair, with the marines, Lieutenant Norman,
Desmond, and Gordon, had landed in a little sheltered bay, which had
been discovered near the fort, and had pushed on without being perceived
by the enemy. They advanced cautiously, feeling their way, in case of
an ambush having been placed to attempt their destruction. All the time
the continuous cannonade going on sounded in their ears.
Mr Norman had told Captain Adair that he had seen a number of people
escaping from the junks, as well as others outside the fort, and that it
would, therefore, be but prudent to be prepared for a surprise.
None, however, was made. The pirates had apparently assembled in their
fort, determined to hold out to the last. They must have seen, however,
that their case was desperate, when junk after junk was taken or
destroyed, and that unless they possessed abundance of ammunition and
provisions they must very soon have to surrender.