her cable and made for the shore, still blazing away with her heavy
guns, gingalls, and match-locks. Twice the crew were about to desert
their guns and attempt to leap overboard, but were restrained by a
fine-looking fellow in a Malay dress, who with his sword kept the men to
their duty, cutting down two or three who showed signs of disobedience.

Jerry Bird was in one of the boats of the _Empress_, and catching sight
of the pirate captain, he exclaimed, "Why, as I'm alive, that's no other
than our friend Jonathan Jull! Hallo, Mr Jull, knock under; it's no
use holding out!"

A fire-lock aimed at Jerry's head was the only answer made by the pirate
chief. Fortunately the bullet merely cut off one of his love-locks, and
the junk, already close to the shore, stood on. In another minute she
touched the beach, when Jull, firing the last gun, set the example of
deserting her, and leaping overboard, began to wade up the beach,
surrounded by his men, towards the fort.

The British boats followed them, but as they got to the other side of
the junk they were exposed to a hot fire from the fort. This, however,
did not stop them. On they rushed, their lieutenant leading them,
hoping to capture the pirate chief, and thus quickly put an end to the
contest. Jull, however, had a very fast pair of legs, and he and his
men were close up to the gate, when the gun-boats ceased firing and two
rockets rose together, the signal agreed on to show that the party on
shore were about to attack the fort.

In the mean time Captain Adair, with the marines, Lieutenant Norman,
Desmond, and Gordon, had landed in a little sheltered bay, which had
been discovered near the fort, and had pushed on without being perceived
by the enemy. They advanced cautiously, feeling their way, in case of
an ambush having been placed to attempt their destruction. All the time
the continuous cannonade going on sounded in their ears.

Mr Norman had told Captain Adair that he had seen a number of people
escaping from the junks, as well as others outside the fort, and that it
would, therefore, be but prudent to be prepared for a surprise.

None, however, was made. The pirates had apparently assembled in their
fort, determined to hold out to the last. They must have seen, however,
that their case was desperate, when junk after junk was taken or
destroyed, and that unless they possessed abundance of ammunition and
provisions they must very soon have to surrender