itish and Chinese empires were linked in the
bonds of peace, the ships of war of the former had plenty to do in
keeping in order the numerous hordes of pirates which infested those
seas, and considerably impeded her commerce, plundering her merchantmen,
and cutting the throats of the crews whenever opportunity offered.

The frigate and brig had been at Singapore but a few days when an open
boat under sail was seen entering the harbour. She stood for the
_Blenny_, which was the outer vessel. Jack Rogers, who was doing duty
as officer of the watch, hailed her to know what she wanted. A glance
at the condition of her crew told him more than any words could have
done. Their faces were wan and bloodless, their dresses torn, and
several had their heads and limbs bound up. One man sat at the helm,
and another forward to manage the sail; the rest lay along the thwarts
or at the bottom of the boat, apparently more dead than alive. The boat
came alongside, but no one in her had strength left to climb on board.
Even the man at the helm sank back exhausted as she was made fast. Jack
ordered some slings to be got ready to hoist them up, and then, taking
some brandy and water in a bottle, he leaped down into the boat to
administer it to the poor people. His restorative was only just in
time, for many of them were already almost dead. The surgeon and most
of the officers of the brig were on shore. Jack, therefore, signalled
to the frigate to send a doctor forthwith. Doctor McCan, who had been
appointed to the frigate, accompanied by Murray, soon came on board, and
every possible assistance was given to the famished strangers. After
some time the man who had steered the boat recovered. He said that he
was mate of a ship bound from China to the Australian colonies, and that
when she was about three hundred miles distant from Singapore, she had
been attacked by a fleet of piratical Illanoon prahus, and her captain
and crew had resisted to the utmost, but she was reduced almost to a
wreck, and at night by some accident caught fire. The first mate was
the only surviving officer; the captain and the rest, with many of the
crew, had been killed by the pirates. During the darkness the survivors
made their escape unpursued, though they could see the prahus
approaching the burning wreck soon after they had left her.

As soon as this information was conveyed on shore, the frigate and brig
were ordered to proceed to sea in search o