ld be done, a landing-party was to be
thrown ashore who would carry with them a number of powder-bags for
blowing in the gates; after which the idea was to enter the fort and
carry it by storm. If the guns could not be entirely silenced, then as
much damage as possible was to be done, and the assault was to be
attempted in any case.

The men signified their comprehension of the plan with a cheer; then
rifles were loaded, bayonets fixed, cartridge-pouches refilled, and
cutlasses brought up from below and belted on. Frobisher gave the word,
and the _Su-chen_ went ahead at full speed for the junks. The men on
the latter at once understood the move, and did their utmost to prevent
it coming off, but all to no purpose. The gunboat crashed in between
them, grapnels were hove aboard each junk, and the two parties of
boarders, with Frobisher and the lieutenant at their head, scrambled up
on the decks of the junks, where a desperate hand-to-hand struggle at
once commenced.

The pirates, knowing that they could expect no mercy, showed none, and
no quarter was given on either side. Frobisher, at the head of his men,
strove to cut his way forward, driving the pirates ahead of him and
overboard; but he soon realised that this was going to be an exceedingly
difficult task. The desperadoes were splendidly armed, and seemed not
to know the meaning of the word fear. Men found revolvers flashing in
their very faces, and spoke no more in this world; the air scintillated
with the gleam of whirling steel and vibrated with the hoarse shouts of
the combatants and the cries of wounded men; while, to add to the horror
and confusion of the scene, the guns of the fort opened fire murderously
upon friend and foe alike.

Twice the pirates had given way slightly, but each time they had
recovered their ground, and however many of them were killed, others
seemed to appear from nowhere to take their places; and so the fight
raged with unabated fury. Frobisher picked out a man who appeared to be
one of the chiefs, and made herculean efforts to reach him; but time and
again a whirlwind of men swept in between him and his prey, so that the
fellow seemed unapproachable.

Then, suddenly, there arose a roar of exultation from the pirates, and,
turning, Frobisher saw the other boarding party give way, and, seemingly
struck with panic, go tumbling back on board the _Su-chen_, defeated.
Frobisher, forgetting that he would not be understood, shouted