e first attack they had
lost a great many men, and it is supposed that their repeated advances
throughout the night were, more to recover their dead and wounded than
to make any fresh attack on our compact little force, whose deadly aim
and rapid firing must have astonished them, and who certainly were,
one and all, prepared to sell their lives as dearly as possible.

To the left of our position, and about 200 yards up the river, large
trees were being felled during the night; and by the torch-lights
showing the spot, the officer of the boat, Mr. Partridge, kept up
a very fair ball-practice with the pinnace's gun. Toward morning a
shot fell apparently just where they were at work; and that being
accompanied by what we afterward ascertained caused more horror and
consternation among the enemy than any thing else, a common signal
sky-rocket, made them resign the ground entirely to us. The last shot,
too, that was fired from the pinnace had killed three men.

As daylight broke I found that most of our party had squatted down
with their guns between their knees, and, being completely exhausted,
had fallen asleep in spite of the rain. Few will ever forget that
night. There were two natives and one marine only of our party badly
wounded; the latter was struck by a rifle shot, which entered his
chest and lodged in his shoulder; and this poor fellow, a gallant
young officer named Jenkins, already distinguished in the Chinese
war, volunteered to convey in the second gig, with four boys only,
down to the Jolly Bachelor. He performed this duty, and was again up
with the party before daylight.

At daylight we found the pirates collecting in some force above us; and
several shots were fired, as if to try the range of their rifles; but
they took good care not to come within reach of our muskets. Shortly
after, the tide beginning to rise, we made preparations for ascending
further up the river. This was more than they bargained for, as we
were close to where they had removed their families, with such little
valuables as they could collect, when we so unexpectedly carried their
forts and took possession of their town; and we were not sorry on
observing, at that moment, a flag of truce advance from their party
down the stream, and halt half way to our position. We immediately
sent an unarmed Malay to meet them; and after a little talk, they
came to our boats. The message was, that they were ready to abide by
any terms we might dictat