300 WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. XVIII. 
I then had no longer any doubts regarding her inten- 
tions. The pilot, an intelligent old man, now came up 
to me, and said that he thought resistance 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 ordered 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. 
The scene around me was a strange one. The captain, 
pilot, and one or two native passengers were taking up 
the boards of the cabin-floor, and putting their money 
and other valuables out of sight amongst the ballast. 
The common sailors, too, had their copper cash or 
"tsien" to hide; and the whole place was in a state of 
bustle and confusion. When all their more valuable 
property was hidden, they began to make some prepara- 
tions for defence. Baskets of small stones were brought 
o 
up from the hold, and emptied out on the most conve- 
nient parts of the deck, and were intended to be used 
instead of fire-arms when the pirates came to close 
quarters. This is a common mode of defence in various 
parts of China, and is effectual enough when the enemy 
has only similar weapons to bring against them ; but on 
