MORE CKUISING AFTER PIRATES. 327 



of getting under weigh, one of these same men came 

 quietly on board, and in a mysterious manner whis- 

 pered — " Better look see Puckshui." 



" The very place I am going to," I answered. 



An hour before, when surrounded by his fellow- 

 merchants, he knew nothing; evidently there was uo 

 safety in numbers to his mind. 



Next morning at daybreak I was on my ground. 

 Two islands with a shallow passage between them, 

 and an entrance at either end, situated about midway 

 between the mainland and the outer line of islands, 

 formed a remarkably good and safe retreat for lawless 

 characters. As I rounded the point, and opened the 

 channel and anchorage, no less than fifteen junks 

 appeared, drawn up in line so as to cover the centre 

 of the channel with their guns. Knowing the place 

 well, I went full speed through the soft mud on the 

 north side, and by doing so kept all the junks end on 

 instead of broadside, as they would have been if I had 

 taken the mid-channel course they expected. With 

 our guns out, and loaded, the little gim-boat rushed 

 into the middle of them. This was too much for their 

 nerves, however well they may have been strung up 

 before ; they entirely gave way at such close quarters, 

 and without a shot being fired on either side, overboard 



