348 MOEE CRUISING AFTER PIRATES. 



men are the most despicable cowards. This is not, how- 

 ever, exactly the case. I have seen them fight well, and 

 be cut down at their guns before attempting to move. 

 This was the case at Fatchan, and at one of our at- 

 tacks on the Pei-ho Forts, they beat us off most signally. 

 Our amount of killed on that occasion was enormous. 

 At the capture of the Bogue Forts they returned our 

 fire for two hours steadily ; and there are many other 

 instances which I could mention of their fighting well. 

 What they never did appreciate was close quarters 

 this I knew from experience, and in all my piratical 

 adventures invariably acted on it. The consequence 

 was, much bloodshed was prevented, and things were 

 done easily and quickly, generally without a shot being 

 fired on either side. A Chinaman very soon loses his 

 presence of mind, which, at the best of times, is of the 

 most meagre description. Then again he is no fool, but 

 quite capable of drawing comparisons between his own 

 wretched arms and ours, and realising the utter folly 

 of attempting to stand against them. 



I found my little pirate boy very useful ; he knew 

 his old friends at once, and could pick out a piratical 

 junk with ease and certainty. He soon understood 

 English, and became a good servant. I was often 

 offered a couple of girls in exchange for him, and one 



