SHOOTING IN CHINA. 315 



standing into the bay. I was up in a moment, and 

 after seeing there was no mistake about it, roused my 

 companions. 



" What is it ?" inquired E^. 



" I have no idea," I said ; " I never knew a trading 

 or fishing-junk come in here before." 



"Ten to one it's a pirate. What's to be done?" 

 said E — . 



" We can't run," I answered, " for he is too close to 

 us. I '11 let drive at him, which will, at any rate, bring 

 forth his intentions." 



The junk was now about forty yards off, standing 

 right for us. I fired a rifle-bullet through his sail, just 

 clear of the deck. Not a sound came back in return. 

 Another minute or two and he would be over us. 

 This silence to our very decided challenge proved him 

 beyond doubt to our minds a pirate. "Blaze away 

 the gun, the rascal means mischief!" was shouted, 

 when clear and distinct from the bows of the junk 

 came, " Gifsy, ahoy !" We all on board that renowned 

 craft looked at each other; it was our friends whom 

 we were on the very point of receiving so warmly. It 

 never occurred to us at the moment that they might 

 have shortened their run, which they did, and thus 

 reached the rendezvous long before we dreamt they 



