heir prey."

The row-boats must have been too far off at the time of the chase of the
three prisoners to have heard the shouting, so they probably hoped to
catch the British asleep. Mr Cherry was in doubt whether he should
attack them unless they were aggressors. They might, after all, be only
harmless traders. They glided on pretty rapidly. Soon they had rounded
the point, and were making for the spot where the boats had been, when
those on board them discovered the Englishmen. They stopped, and then
came dashing on towards the point.

"They are enemies," cried Mr Cherry; "give it to them, my lads." A
sharp fire of grape, accompanied by musketry from the four boats, right
into the bows of the junks, had the effect of arresting their progress.
They could not tell how many more boats there might be behind those they
saw.

"Reload your pieces, my lads, as fast as you can--quick!" shouted Mr
Cherry. It was done before the pirates had recovered from their
confusion, and when they once more advanced, a second dose was ready for
them. This was given with such good effect that they pulled round to
escape. The commanding officer, observing this, ordered his boats to
advance. On they dashed, the men loading and firing as they could, till
they reached the junks. Then, each boat selecting an antagonist, the
seamen leaped on board, and with their cutlasses very soon drove the
crew overboard. None of the pirates would yield, and not a prisoner was
taken. As some time was expended in this engagement, the remainder of
the junks escaped. Where they had gone it was difficult to say in the
darkness; but Jack Rogers told Mr Cherry that he thought he had seen
them steering for the bay.

Into the bay, therefore, the boats proceeded, and pulled round and round
it. In vain they searched, however, and at last Mr Cherry ordered them
to bring up and wait till daylight. As soon as it was dawn it was "Up
anchor and out oars," and away they pulled again. They had not gone far
before they discovered the boats run up on the beach deserted by the
crews. Paddy Adair and Jack were for dashing in at once; but the more
prudent lieutenant called them back. He first ordered that all the guns
should be loaded and pointed towards some suspicious-looking bushes on a
height above the beach, and then directed Terence to pull rapidly in
towards the boats, and to set them on fire. The other boats advanced
more slowly, two at a short distanc