bounds, and showed itself in presents,--a chest of tea for the
crew, and pieces of silk for Mr Brooke and myself; parting with us
afterwards in the most friendly way, and, as Ching afterwards told me,
saying that we were the nicest foreign devils he ever met.

Our news when we went on board made the captain change our course. We
were bound for a river a hundred miles lower down, but it was deemed
advisable to go back and proceed as far up the Ayshong, as a fresh nest
of the desperadoes might be discovered there.

By night we were off the muddy stream, one which appeared to be of no
great width, but a vast body of water rushed out from between the rocky
gates, and from the desolate, uninhabited look of the shores it seemed
probable that we might find those we sought up there.

It was too near night to do much, so the captain contented himself with
getting close in after the boat sent to take soundings, and at dark we
were anchored right in the mouth, with the watch doubled and a boat out
as well to patrol the river from side to side, to make sure that the
enemy, if within, did not pass us in the darkness.

All lights were out and perfect silence was maintained, while, excited
by the prospect of another encounter, not a man displayed the slightest
disposition to go to his hammock.

It was one of those soft, warm, moist nights suggestive of a coming
storm, the possibility of which was soon shown by the faint quivering of
the lightning in the distance.

"Storm before morning," whispered Barkins.

"Yes," said Smith; "storm of the wrong sort. I want to hear our guns
going, not thunder."

From time to time the boat which was on the patrol duty came alongside
to report itself, but there was no news; in fact, none was expected, for
such a dark night was not one that would be chosen by vessels wishing to
put to sea.

I had been disposed to ask for permission to go in the boat, but Mr
Reardon's countenance looked rather stormy, so I had given up the idea,
and contented myself with stopping on board with my two messmates, to
watch the dark mouth of the river.

It soon grew very monotonous, having nothing to see but the shapes of
the distant clouds, which stood out now and then like dimly-seen
mountains high up above the land. But by degrees the distant flickering
of the lightning grew nearer, and went on slowly growing brighter, till
from time to time, as we leaned over the bulwarks, listening to the
faint rushing so