Cuar. XIT.] AFLOAT AGAIN. 233 
danger, and that it was absolutely necessary they 
should get up their anchor immediately, and 
come to our assistance. At the same time, I told 
them that they should receive twenty dollars for 
their trouble. They now held a consultation 
amongst themselves, and at last came and informed 
us that they would render the required assistance 
on the following morning. This, however, would 
not answer our purpose, and besides we knew 
enough of the Chinese to be perfectly aware that 
this “‘ to-morrow” would never come, and was only 
said to get rid of us altogether, and leave us to our 
fate. We therefore told them that this arrange- 
ment would not suit us, and again requested them 
to get up their anchor. Another consultation was 
held, and as it was quite evident to me that they 
were procrastinating, and that we might go on in 
this manner all night, I advised the master of our 
schooner to set his own men to work to heave up 
the Chinaman’s anchor, and hoist her sail. The 
sailors, who were getting rather impatient, gladly 
obeyed these orders, and when the junk’s crew saw 
what was going on, they also gave their assistance, 
so that in a few minutes we were under weigh. 
Having gone as near the schooner as we considered. 
prudent, the anchor was dropped, and a strong 
rope made fast to the two vessels in order to draw 
ours off the mud when the tide rose high enough 
to float her. This was accomplished during the 
night, and we were safely anchored in three 
fathoms of water. At daylight, however, we found 
