aid, had a strong battery on shore, its
guns commanding a deep bay, in which the junks were at anchor. Thus the
boats in the expedition would be exposed to a hot fire, and should the
junks be captured, they might immediately be sunk, before they could be
carried off, by the guns of the fort, which was described as being very
strong originally, and since it had been occupied by the pirates they
had been employed in still further adding to the defences. It was said
also that within was stored a large amount of merchandise, obtained by
the pirates during several cruises. One thing appeared certain, that
the piratical fleet was still at anchor off the fort. The commodore,
having obtained all the necessary information, stood with his squadron
late in the day towards the islands, so that he might not arrive off
them until darkness would conceal his movements. Po-ho advised that
three of the entrances should be guarded, each by one of the ships, and
that the gun-boat and boats should proceed up the other to attack the
pirates. This suggestion was adopted. Murray ordered three boats from
each ship, with a strong body of blue-jackets, to rendezvous alongside
the _Gnat_, which also carried the larger number of marines.

Captain Rogers, accompanied by Po-ho as pilot and interpreter, went on
board the _Gnat_ and took command. The three midshipmen had each charge
of a boat, as had our old friend Jos Green, while the others were under
command of lieutenants or mates. Tom was accompanied by Billy
Blueblazes and Tim Nolan. The _Gnat_, taking the fleet of boats in tow,
steered towards the entrance of the chief channel, up which the
expedition was to proceed. As they neared it just before dawn, a rocket
was seen to rise, forming an arch in the dark sky, its glittering drops
shining brilliantly as they fell. It was fired apparently from the
centre of the island, where the fort was supposed to be situated, as a
signal to some of the junks which might have been at anchor near the
entrance of one of the channels. As Captain Po-ho could not give a very
exact account of the position of the fort, Captain Rogers thought it
prudent to wait until daybreak before commencing the attack. Of the
character of the enemy, however, he had no doubt, from the information
obtained at Chusan. They were a daring band of pirates, who had long
been the terror of traders.

The _Gnat_, having a long line of boats astern, made but slow way. A
brigh