400 PIRATES DESTROYED BY THE " BITTERN." Chap. XX. 



looking at tlie number and size of their junks, 

 their heavy armament, and the position they 

 occupied, there seemed little chance for a ten-gun 

 brig. The first broadside from the junks, properly 

 directed, would have disabled or sunk her and 

 rendered all future efforts of her crew of no avail. 

 But Captain Yansittart and his brave officers and 

 crew were not alarmed by the apparent strength 

 of the enemy. With consummate skill the " Bit- 

 tern" was towed by the steamer into position, 

 and so near the junks that the shower of shot 

 with which she was received mostly passed over 

 her hull and through her rigging. The steamer 

 after performing this service was directed to fall 

 back out of range, in order to be ready for any 

 emergency which might happen. 



It was now the " Bittern's " turn, and her first 

 broadside must have astonished the pirates. Every 

 shot told upon the unfortunate fleet with fearful 

 precision ; junk after junk was disabled or sunk ; 

 the men panic-stricken rushed into the water or to 

 their boats and fled to the shore, and hundreds 

 were killed on board or drowned in an attempt to 

 escape. In a very short space of time there was 

 scarcely a junk in all the fleet — apparently so 

 powerful and confident a few hours before — but 

 what was sunk or disabled. 



Every hill and headland on the shore, from 

 which a view of the action could be had, was 

 crowded with people, who must have been sur- 

 prised with the extraordinary results which they 



