MORE CRUISING AFTER PIRATES. 343 



■which ultimately I did. I then pointed out where the 

 Chinese troops had better land ; in the place I had with 

 my two boats done so months before. This, after blazing 

 away with his junks at the village for some time, he 

 did, the troops looting the village, which had been again 

 restored, and burning it for the third time. Then the 

 opposite side had to be taken; again I showed him 

 where to land and take the place on the flank. About 

 eight hundred men were told off for this, who advanced 

 helter-skelter across the fields in front of the village. 

 The pirates here, however, had concealed themselves in 

 the wooded banks and low hills just behind the houses, 

 and peppered the imperial troops as they approached. 

 These worthies blazed away in return, but in the most 

 indiscriminate manner, and as for advancing further, 

 that idea they lost sight of altogether. The General 

 now hurried off to me, and prayed for assistance. 



" Look," he said, " my troops cannot take the place." 

 " I have been watching you all the time," I answered, 

 "but this sort of thing is utterly absurd; go in at 

 them, and they will run as fast as their legs can carry 

 them." But the poor man could not, or would not credit 

 such a thing ; it was utterly beyond his comprehension. 

 " Very well," I said, " I will come with a few men 

 and help you." 



