342 MOKE CRUISING AFTER PIRATES. 



of pleasantry came from, and the following morning, 

 as usual, at daylight I arrived there. The place had 

 been entirely rebuilt. My three guns were loaded 

 and run out on one side, and steaming in I anchored 

 abreast the battery. But not a movement of course 

 was made. Seven or eight long snake-boats were 

 drawn up in a side creek; these I destroyed, and 

 landing with four men, the inhabitants took to their 

 heels, and once more I burnt the place to the ground. 



Not very long after this an expedition was got up 

 on a great scale. A combined Chinese and English force 

 was to proceed to utterly destroy this renowned strong- 

 hold. It consisted of fifty-three war-junks, sixteen 

 hundred Chinese troops commanded by numerous Man- 

 darins, and one very big man in charge of all. There 

 were, besides, four English vessels, three being gun- 

 boats, and a hired steamer. I was sent in command. 

 The British contingent was supposed only to support, 

 or act as moral force. We rendezvoused just off the 

 entrance between the two islands, which I have described 

 before, and I said to the gallant Chinese General — 



" Go in and win ! If need be I will come to your 

 support, but I see nothing in the way." 



This celestial warrior, however, positively refused 

 to attempt any such bold design unless I went first, 



