s the city. In the middle of this
fleet the plucky little _Hyson_, with Gordon on board, came paddling
along.

By noon they reached a barrier of stakes placed across the creek.
These they pulled up, sailed to the shore, and landed their troops
close to the rebel stockades. For a minute the Tae-Pings stood and
stared, uncertain what to do, and then, in terror, ran before Gordon's
army.

There had been many boats in the creek, but the rebels had sprung out
of them and a left them to drift about with their sails up, so that it
was no easy work for the _Hyson_ to thread her way amongst them. Still
the little boat steamed slowly and steadily on towards Soochow. Along
the banks of the canal the rebels, in clusters, were marching towards
safety. On them the _Hyson_ opened fire, puffing and steaming after
them, and battering them with shells and bullets.

Like an angry little sheep-dog driving a mob of sheep, it drove the
rebels onwards. Many lay dead on the banks, or fell into the water and
were drowned. One hundred and fifty of them were taken as prisoners on
board the _Hyson_.

When they were less than a mile from Soochow, as night was beginning to
fall, Gordon decided to turn back and rejoin the rest of his forces.
Some of the rebels, thinking that the _Hyson_ was gone for good, had
got into their boats again, and were gaily sailing up the creek when
they saw the steamer's red and green lights, and heard her whistle.

The mere glare of the lights and hoot of the whistle seemed to throw
them into a panic. In the darkness the flying mobs of men along the
canal banks met other rebels coming to reinforce them, and in the wild
confusion that followed the guns of the _Hyson_ mowed them down. About
10.30 P.M. the crew of the _Hyson_ heard tremendous yells and cheers
coming from a village near Quinsan, where the rebels had made a stand.
Gordon's gunboats were firing into the stone fort, and from it there
came a rattle and a sparkle of musketry like fireworks, and wild yells
and shouts from the rebels. The gunboats were about to give in and run
away when the little _Hyson_ came hooting out of the darkness.
Gordon's army welcomed him with deafening cheers, and the rebels threw
down their arms and fled. The _Hyson_ steamed on up the creek towards
Quinsan, and in the darkness Gordon saw a huge crowd of men near a high
bridge. It was too dark to see clearly, but the _Hyson_ blew her
whistle. At once from the huddled