ranged up on either beam, with terrible
effect. One junk went down, and another was left without a scull to
impel her, and with a third of her crew killed or wounded.

Still the pirates were undaunted. On they came, again to receive
another broadside. But one now remained. The junks moved away to a
short distance, to hold a consultation, it seemed. The result was to
renew the attack on the brig.

"We'll give our last dose, lads, to that big fellow, who is, I suppose,
their admiral," cried Jack, who had taken command of the guns on one
side, in place of the lieutenant who was lolled.

With a cheer, the men obeyed, and the big junk reeled from the effect of
their fire. The opposite broadside was discharged at the same time.
And now the brig was unarmed; but she had still stout hearts and sharp
cutlasses on board, and, grasping the latter, the crew prepared to
defend her to the last.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

FIGHT TO THE LAST!

The Chinese pirates now made sure that the brig was their own, though so
severe was the lesson she had given them that they showed a considerable
disposition to approach her with caution. Still, as they drew closer
and closer round her, and she no longer continued to fire, they grew
bolder in their proceedings. Hitherto the crew of the _Blenny_ were not
aware that their powder was exhausted. Captain Hemming thought it
better to tell them. "My lads," he exclaimed, in as cheerful a tone as
he could assume, "we have run short of powder, but as I take it, no one
would dream of striking to these cut-throats; we'll show them that
British seamen know how to use their cutlasses." The men gave a hearty
cheer, to show that they responded to their commander's appeal. Still
there were fearful odds against them. The pirate junks pressed on, and
though the gallant tars would have despised the crews who manned them,
still, from their very numbers, they might prove overwhelming.

"My dear Jack," said Alick, in a low voice, "I never thought it would
come to this; but it seems that the enemy will get the better of us,
after all. We'll render a good account of them, however, before that."

"We will," said Jack, drawing in his sword-belt a hole tighter, and
clutching his cutlass with a firmer grasp. "That big fellow will be
alongside us in half a minute. But, I say, what are those?" He
pointed, as he spoke, through an opening between two of the junks. All
eyes were turned in the same direct