more they were off Hong Kong. It was
ascertained that large numbers of Chinese war-junks were collected,
keeping out of the way, as they fancied, of the outer barbarians, in the
various creeks and channels which run into the Canton river. These
channels were narrow and shallow in some places, and guarded with forts
and booms, and natural as well as artificial bars. Nevertheless the
admiral determined to proceed up them with such part of his force most
fitted for the work.

The ships of war had congregated in the Blenheim passage of the Canton
river. The steamers, which had gone up to explore, had reported that
there was a high hill with a strong fort on the top of it on the left of
the channel, and other forts on the opposite side, and that above these
forts there were no less than seventy large war-junks. The Chinese
evidently believed that their hill fort could not be taken. Had they
read the history of the battles of the English, they might have had some
unpleasant misgivings on the subject.

It was pitch dark as the various boats of the flotilla collected round
the steamer on board which the admiral had hoisted his flag. The screw
steamers towed up the boats. The three midshipmen managed to keep close
to each other. In silence they glided over the smooth water, some small
lights on buoys showing the passage up. It was hoped that they might
surprise the enemy, but first a rocket on one side and then one on the
other, answered by the fleet behind, showed that they were wide awake.

"The dawn is breaking, we shall soon be in the thick of it," observed
Jack. Soon after this, just through the grey twilight, a bright flash
burst forth high up the hill, followed by a report, and a shot pitched
into the water right ahead of the steamer, and sent its spray flying
over her. With unabated speed on she went, and now flash after flash
burst forth from the hill, and the shot came hissing and bounding on
every side round the steamer: still no one was hit. The steamer was
making directly for the fort; suddenly she came to a full stop; she had
run on a bar formed by the Chinese for the defence of the positions.
The boats ran in one upon another; but the oars were got out, and they
were soon clear. The order was then given to land, and storm the fort.
A steep side of the hill was left unprotected. The simple Chinese were
under the impression that no human being could clamber up it. On went
the marines and bluejacket