Cuar. XXI.] APPROACH OF PIRATES. 389 
captain and pilot came hurriedly down to my cabin 
and informed me that they saw anumber of Jan-dous, 
right ahead, lying in wait for us. I ridiculed the 
idea, and told them that they imagined every junk 
they saw to be a pirate; but they still maintained 
that they were so, and I therefore considered it 
prudent to be prepared for the worst. I got out of 
bed, ill and feverish as I was, and carefully ex- 
amined my fire-arms, clearing the nipples of my 
gun and pistols and putting on fresh caps. I also 
rammed down a ball upon the top of each charge 
of shot in my gun, put a pistol in each side-pocket, 
and patiently waited for the result. By the aid of 
a small pocket-telescope, I could see as the nearest 
junk approached that her deck was crowded with 
men; I then had no longer any doubts regarding 
her intentions. The pilot, an intelligent old man, 
now came up to me, and said that he thought resist- 
ance was of no use; I might manage to beat off 
one junk, or even two, but that I had no chance 
with five of them. Being at that time in no mood 
to take advice or be dictated to by any one, I or- 
dered him off to look after his own duty. I knew 
perfectly well, that if we were taken by the pirates I 
had not the slightest chance of escape ; for the first 
thing they would do would be to knock me on the 
head and throw me overboard, as they would deem 
it dangerous to themselves were I to get away. At 
the same time I must confess I had little hopes of 
being able to beat off such a number, and devoutly 
wished myself anywhere rather than where I was. 
ccs 
