Cuar. XXL] PIRATES DISAPPEAR. 395 
from my firing; their junk went up into the wind 
for want of a helmsman, and was soon left some 
distance behind us. 
While I was watching this vessel, our men called 
out to me that there was another close on our lee- 
bow, which I had not observed on account of our 
main-sail. Luckily, however, it proved to be a 
Ningpo wood junk like ourselves, which the pirates 
had taken a short time before, but which, although 
manned by these rascals, could do us no harm, 
having no guns. The poor Ningpo crew, whom I 
could plainly see on board, seemed to be very much 
down-hearted and frightened. I was afterwards 
informed that, when a junk is captured, all the 
principal people, such as the captain, pilot, and 
passengers, are taken out of her, and a number of 
the pirates go on board and take her into some of 
their dens amongst the islands, and keep her there 
until a heavy ransom is paid, both for the junk and 
the people. Sometimes, when a ransom cannot be 
obtained, the masts and spars and every thing else 
which is of any value are taken out of her, and she 
is set on fire. 
Two other piratical junks which had been fol- 
lowing in our wake for some time, when they saw 
what had happened, would not venture any nearer ; 
and at last, much to my satisfaction, the whole set 
of them bore away. 
Now was the time for my heroical companions 
to come from their hiding-place, which they did 
with great alacrity, hooting and yelling as the 
