358 INCIDENTS WHICH HAPPENED 



had hardly commenced our repast when the report of a 

 gun reached us, and looking out in the direction from 

 whence it came, I saw a few junks stealing quietly out 

 from a creek which entered the river just under the 

 shadow of some low hills on which the pagoda marking 

 the second bar stood. Another shot now followed, then 

 a third, all falling short of the steamer, but in a very 

 good line. In less time than it takes to relate it, no 

 less than forty-four junks had opened out, each pulling 

 eighty or ninety oars, and armed with ten or twelve 

 guns. There was no turning back ; our only chance lay 

 in our speed, and being able to run past without the 

 machinery being damaged. The engineers sat on the 

 safety-valve, or did something equally effective. I got 

 the one 12-pounder gun, which was mounted on the 

 forecastle, trained for the thickest mass of junks. The 

 other men, except two who were on guard over the 

 Chinese passengers, opened fire from aft, and we 

 returned John Chinaman's cannonade as hard as we 

 could load our one gun. Their guns soon found our 

 range, and the little steamer was riddled. The boiler 

 was struck where two plates overlapped, and just 

 started sufficiently to let the steam and water come 

 spitting out. Three inches on either side it must have 

 broken the plate, and then, of course, it would have 



