"
The crew at once sprang to the boats and rowed to the other junk,
which was but some thirty yards away.
The Chinese, absorbed in their contest with the crew of the pinnace,
did not perceive the newcomers until they gained the deck, and with
a shout fell furiously upon them. In their surprise and consternation
the pirates did not pause to note that they were still five to
one superior in number, but made a precipitate rush for their own
vessels. The English at once took the offensive. The first lieutenant
with his party boarded one, while the newcomers leaped on to the
deck of the other. The panic which had seized the Chinese was so
complete that they attempted no resistance whatever, but sprang
overboard in great numbers and swam to the shore, which was but
twenty yards away, and in three minutes the English were in undisputed
possession of both vessels.
"Back again, Mr. Fothergill, or you will lose the craft you captured,"
Lieutenant Oliphant said; "they have already cut her free."
The Chinese, indeed, who had been beaten below by the boarding
party, had soon perceived the sudden departure of their captors,
and gaining the deck again had cut the lashings which fastened them
to the other junk, and were proceeding to hoist their sails.
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