the crowded junk--the shouts increasing each time.

"Another broadside, Reardon," cried the captain; "and then we must run
in as far as we dare. Pick out half-a-dozen of the best men with the
rifle to place on the bows to pick off the steersman."

"Ay, ay, sir," cried Mr Reardon; then directly, "All gone in the boats,
sir."

Just then, as I was thinking that the junk must escape, one of our big
guns was fired with a crash which made the deck vibrate. There was a
tremendous puff of smoke, which was drawn toward us so that I could not
see the effect, but the shell seemed to burst almost directly with a
peculiar dull crash, and another yell arose from the distant vessel.
Only it was not a derisive cry like the last, but a faint startling
chorus of long-continued shrieks, despairing and wild.

"That's got her, sir," cried Mr Reardon; and we waited impatiently for
the smoke to float by. But it still shut out the junk from where we
stood, while it passed away from the men forward at the gun, and they
gave us the first endorsement of Mr Reardon's words by bursting out
into a hearty cheer, which was taken up by the crews of the other guns.
Then we were clear of the smoke, looking landward to see a crowd of men
struggling in the water, swimming about to reach planks and pieces of
the junk, which had been blown almost to pieces by our great shell, and
had sunk at once, while yet quite a mile from the nearest rocks.

"Ha!" ejaculated the captain, "a good evening's work! Now, Reardon,
down with the other two boats, and save every poor wretch you can."

"Only one left, sir," cried Mr Reardon; and in a few minutes, fully
manned, she was about to be lowered down, when I looked quickly at the
captain, and he read my meaning.

"Want to go?" he said, and then nodded sharply.

I dashed down, climbed upon the bulwark, seized the falls just as they
were about to be cast off, and slid down into the stern to take my
place. Then the oars fell with a splash, and away we went over the
ruddy sea to try and save all we could of the wretches upon whom so
terrible a retribution had come.

One of the warrant officers was in command; he gave me a grim nod.

"Want to see the fun?" he said.

"I want to see the men saved," I replied; "I don't know where the fun
comes in."

"You soon will," he said. "Look out for yourself, my lad; and don't be
too eager to help them."

"Why?"

"You'll soon see," he said gruffly. Then turning to t