icers had but little prospect of fighting,
they had work enough to do in landing the troops and stores, they being
thus engaged at all hours of the day and night for many days together.

"There is little honour or glory to be gained, that I can see, though we
are very useful, I dare say," observed Desmond to Tom, after they had
been in their boats for twelve hours on a stretch. "However, I don't
mind if we can help the soldiers to lick the Celestials, who deserve a
sound drubbing, at all events."

The soldiers were worse off than their sailor brethren. Rain came down,
rendering the town almost uninhabitable by the horrible smells which
arose, while the mud in many places was several feet deep. Such was the
detestable spot in which the army was cooped up for nearly a fortnight.

The allied armies having captured the Taku Forts, the smaller steamers
entered the river and greatly aided the army by conveying troops and
stores to Teit-sin; but very few naval men saw anything of the
subsequent operations, which terminated in the surrender of Pekin and
the destruction of the emperor's summer palace, and the establishment of
peace between the British and Chinese.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

BELLONA AND EMPRESS IN VICTORIA HARBOUR--A COMPLAINT OF PIRACY--MR. JULL
AGAIN--THE TWO SHIPS SAIL IN SEARCH OF HIS FLEET OF JUNKS--CAPTAIN PO-HO
GOES AS PILOT--FAIL IN WITH ORION--ORDERED TO JAPAN--EXPEDITION TO
ATTACK A PIRATICAL FLEET COMMANDED BY JULL--THE PIRATE FLEET SIGHTED--
TOM AND DESMOND SENT IN CHASE OF JUNKS--TOM HOARDS A JUNK, AND HAS GOOD
REASON FOR GETTING OUT OF HER AGAIN--TOM, PURSUING THE ENEMY, IS
CAPTURED--BILLY PULLS AFTER THE OTHER BOATS--THE FIRST JUNK BLOWS UP--
VAIN SEARCH FOR TOM--RETURN TO THE GNAT--THE FORT AND JUNKS ATTACKED--
THE ROUND MOON RECOVERED--JERRY RECOGNISES JULL--THE SEAMEN AND MARINES
ON SHORE PREPARE TO ATTACK THE FORT.

The Taku Forts had been captured, the march to Pekin accomplished, the
summer palace destroyed, the pride of the emperor humbled, and once more
peace was established.

Her Majesty's ships _Bellona_ and _Empress_ lay in Victoria Harbour, the
broad pennant of Commodore Murray, for he had lately been raised to that
rank, flying on board the former. He and Captain Rogers were seated in
the cabin of his ship after dinner. The officers who had been the
commodore's guests had retired, the midshipmen having previously
received a polite hint to go on deck and ascertain which way the wi