men to each, tugging away with all their might to help their
vessel along.

"The brutes!" I thought to myself, as I watched the glint of the ruddy
sun upon their shiny heads and faces, with their pig tails swinging
behind, as they hung back straining at the great oars. For their sole
idea seemed to be escape, and not the slightest effort was made to pick
up any of their comrades struggling in the water.

It was wonderful how quickly they went, and I began to think that the
junk would escape. Three miles would be enough to place her all amongst
the reefs and shoals, where the gunboat dare not follow; and I was
thinking, as we glided rapidly in her wake, that the _Teaser_ would
chase her swiftly for about half the distance, and then lower the boats
to continue the pursuit, but I was wrong; I saw that the captain gave
Mr Reardon some order, then the gong rang in the engine-room, the way
of the _Teaser_ was checked, a turn of the wheel made her describe a
curve, and she slowly came to a standstill broadside on to the flying
junk.

The next minute the crews were piped away to the boats with their
complement of marines to each; and as they were lowered down a steady
fire was maintained with shell upon the junk.

I stood watching the shots, and saw the first of the broadside from one
heavy and three smaller guns strike the water close to the junk's hull,
fly up, dip again, and then burst over the cliffs.

The second went wide to the left, while the third also missed; and I saw
the captain stamp impatiently as the fourth went right over her.

"She'll get away," I thought; and it seemed a pity for this junk to
escape and form a nucleus for another strong pirate gang.

The firing continued, another broadside being directed at the flying
pirates, who seemed to be certain now of escape, for the junk was end-on
to us, and moving rapidly, forming a very difficult object for our
marksmen; the gunboat, of course, rising and falling all the time upon
the heaving sea.

In the intervals between the shots I had caught a glimpse of Barkins and
Smith climbing into two of the boats, but it was only a glimpse; and
then I was watching the effects of the fire again, as the boats pushed
off to go to the help of the floating men.

Shot after shot had been fired most ineffectively, and I heard
expostulations and angry words used to the captains of the guns; while
at every ineffective shell that burst far away a derisive yell rose from