to speak English fluently, had to search about for words to
express himself, and Murray and Rogers had to cross-question him and
make him repeat over and over again what he had said before they could
comprehend his meaning. The above, however, as has been said, was the
substance of his statement, reduced to plain English. Murray inquired
whether Mr Po-ho, or rather Captain Po-ho, was ready to go as pilot.
He jumped at the offer. Nothing would give him more satisfaction than
to see Jull's head cut off.

"We will both go," said Murray. "Return on board, Jack; hoist the blue
Peter, fire your guns to bring off any of your officers or men who may
be on shore. I will do the same, and we will sail this very evening.
Are you ready, Captain Po-ho?" The Chinaman's little eyes twinkled with
satisfaction. "He would," he said, "send his boat back to let his
friends know that he had found some generous Englishmen to avenge his
loss, and expressed a hope that should his own junk be recovered, she
would be restored to him."

That night the two ships, with most of their officers on board--with the
exception of two or three, who, having gone to the other side of the
island, were left on shore--were steaming northward. Just before they
sighted Chusan, a vessel under all sail was seen standing from the
north-east. As she approached she made the signal of the _Orion_, and
that she had despatches for the commodore. The _Bellona's_ way was
therefore stopped, the _Empress_ also waiting for her. In a short time
Captain Adair came on board. He had come from Japan with the request
that some of the ships on the station might be sent there at once to
protect British interests, subjects, and property, which were in
constant danger from the Damios. The commodore decided, however, that
the matter was not so urgent as to prohibit his first looking after the
pirate and his fleet, and resolved to carry out his object, taking the
_Orion_ with him. At Chusan, off which he called to obtain further
information, he found a gun-boat, the _Gnat_, which, from her small
size, would be able to play an important part in the expedition.

From the information furnished by Captain Po-ho, Murray learned that the
pirate's stronghold was in the midst of several small islands, with four
navigable channels between them leading up to it, and that to prevent
the escape of the villains it would be necessary to watch the whole of
them. The pirate also, Po-ho s