302 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. Chap. XVIII. 
and things of that sort which were at hand, were thrown 
up to protect us from the shot ; and as we had every 
stitch of sail set, and a fair wind, we were going 
through the water at the rate of seven or eight miles an 
hour. 
The shot from the pirates fell considerably short of us, 
and I was therefore enabled to form an opinion of the 
range and power of their guns, which was of some use to 
me. Assistance from our cowardly crew was quite out 
of the question, for there was not a man amongst them 
brave enough to use the stones which had been brought 
on deck ; and which perhaps might have been of 
some little use when the pirates came nearer. The 
fair wind and all the press of sail which we had crowded 
on the junk proved of no use ; for our pursuers, who had 
much faster sailing vessels, were gaining rapidly upon 
us. Again the nearest pirate fired upon us. The shot 
this time fell just under our stem. I still remained quiet, 
as I had determined not to fire a single shot until I was 
quite certain my gun would take effect. The third shot 
which followed this came whizzing over our heads and 
through the sails, without, however, wounding either the 
men at the helm or myself 
The pirates now seemed quite sure of their prize, and 
came down upon us hooting and yelling like demons, at 
the same time loading their guns, and evidently deter- 
mined not to spare their shot. This was a moment of 
intense interest. The plan which I had formed from the 
first was now about to be put to the proof ; and if 
the pirates were not the cowards which I believed them 
to be, nothing could save us from falling into their 
