CRUISING AFTEK PIRATES. 283 



SO I steamed quietly on, knowing they could not 

 escape. About a dozen other smaller junks now put 

 off, and opened fire at the two larger ones. Guns, 

 jingalls, and other explosive instruments were dis- 

 charged indiscriminately. As I ran alongside the 

 nearest of the two junks, this fusilade ceased, and I soon 

 had both junks secured. The crews I took on board the 

 gun-boat, and steamed in and anchored off the town. 

 The Mandarin, the governor of the place, at once came 

 off, when the following conversation took place between 

 us. rirst thanking me for my opportune appearance 

 and capture of the two pirate junks, with their crews 

 intact, numbering, all told, to twenty-one, he said — 



"These two junks have given me a great deal of 

 trouble for four days ; they have blockaded the place ; 

 neither a fishing or trading junk has been able to get out." 



" Do you mean to say," I answered, " that these two 

 miserable junks, with twenty-one men between them, 

 and mounting one two-pounder gun, have actually shut 

 your port up for that time ?" 



"Yes," he said. "We are, my people are, very 

 frightened of pilongs." 



" Have you no troops ?" I remarked ; " your personal 

 staff seems to consist of at least fifty." 



" Oh yes," he replied; " I have 800 soldiers on shore !" 



