and became so red in the face with excitement, that we became alarmed, and were obliged to put him to bed, and bathe his head with cold water.

Shoat, as soon as he was satisfied that the enemy's vessels were in sight, signalized to that effect to the fleet, all the vessels being now within a few lengths of each other. The signal not being understood, we were obliged to interpret it by hailing, and shortly after Burrero and Dégouté-the officers commanding the French division-came on board the flag-ship, to hold a conference. This resulted in the usual and important consequence, that all disagreed on the subject of the attack. One advocated using boats only, another the practicability of taking in the vessels themselves. The native pilots were consulted, and as they did not seem to know where they were, and much less what was asked of them, their opinions were judiciously left out. There was a good deal of gallant talk on the part of the commanders, and Shoat sustained the honor of our noble flag, by touching allusions to its folds, and expressing his willingness to be wrapped up in them, accompanied by the detonation of horsepistols, etc., etc.

In the mean time we were gradually approaching; but the wind became very light, and we scarcely moved over the tranquil waters. The sun poured down his scorching rays, and we all commenced to feel less like facing the awful and dreaded stink-pots. But we were roused up by several consecutive explosions of soda bottles, and the conference having ended in irreconcilable division of opinion, came on deck to look around. In one thing they did agree, nevertheless, and that was that it would be advisable to reconnoitre the position and strength of the enemy.

Our captain called Squibb, and gave him directions to take one of the hired lorchas and go as near as was prudent and ascertain the number of the pirates, the depth of water near by, and other useful information.

Five or six armed men accompanied hin, and by the aid of sweeps and occasional favorable puffs of wind, lorcha No. 3 succeeded in getting within a couple of miles of the enemy. We could watch the proceedings of Squibb with our glasses, and he evidently was preparing for battle.

"Surely he can't mean to attack them

alone!" said Pills. But lorcha No. 3 was suddenly put about, and used as great exertions to return as she had used to go. When about half-way a sig

nal was made, but it was read differently from what Squibb had intended. There was a great fault in our impromptu code, I must say, and, indeed, I candidly think we would have done better without it. From the scarcity of flags, we were obliged to adopt the plan of making one figure of the whole number at a time, and then show the end of the signal by a particular flag. Thus, if we wanted to make No. 146, which in the book might mean "attack the enemy," it was necessary to make No. 1, then 4, then 6, and indicate the end by a particular flag. But sometimes an accident might prevent the last number from being seen, and then the signal would be No. 14, which might mean Come to anchor." In the present case the signal was read, "Return to the port from whence you came. This occasioned a little astonishment at first, but most thought it prudent to obey, and consequently went about. Fortunately, there was but little wind, and Squibb came up in lorcha No. 3, and explained. He brought intelligence that there were twenty-five junks at anchor, all full of men, and that they were evidently preparing for batttle, for large red flags were displayed on all the vessels, and there was a great bustle evident in the fleet. Yarner, who had entirely recovered, now told us, with a shudder, that the red flags meant, "war to the death!" All hands were now wrought up to the consciousness of an approaching desperate struggle, and every one prepared for the worst. The prows of the fleet were once more turned towards the Pirates' Bay and we slowly but steadily advanced.

In the mean time, the sun was fast declining, and already was but a few diameters above the western horizon. Of course, all idea of an attack that day was given up; but we determined to get close by, and rush into battle early in the morning. Just at sundown, Shoat, who had been plunged in deep thought for some time, gave the order to man his gig. We all supposed he was going on board the Noquiero to see her captain, but when he ordered the men to arm, and announced that "he was going in to take a look at the villains," we were thunderstruck with

him, and congratulate him on his safe return. He staggered into his cabin, overcome with fatigue, and barely muttered out: "seize and bind them! and carry them to the deepest dungeon

Shoat invited Brodwurst to accompany him, and the latter, in a moment of enthusiasm, accepted. They shoved off, and we bid them adieu with tears in our eyes, thinking that there was but little chance of ever beholding them again.

They pulled first to each vessel of the fleet, and Shoat, standing up, made some appropriate remarks. To the Frenchmen he spoke of Lafayette and the Marseillaise, and worked upon their feelings until they fairly screamed with enthusiasm. He then pulled away, amid the cheers of the fleet, and was soon lost to view by the approach of night.

We came to anchor shortly after, and took the precaution to have everything ready for surprise. A spring was put upon the cable, the boarding nettings were triced up, and every one lay down to rest, with a cutlass, two pistols, and a carbine by his side. Few could sleep after the excitement of the day, and from the consciousness of our proximity to the notoriously treacherous pirates, who were aware of our locality, and the purposes of our expedition. Then, too, the continued absence of our beloved captain preyed on all minds, and last, though not least, the heat was intense. Many of us paced up and down with cutlasses in hand, almost snorting with excitement and anxiety to be led to combat.

Two or three times we were startled by the blazing up of a fire on the shore near by. That detractor, Squibb, said that fishermen were there, pursuing their avocations, but all heard him with scorn, and pitied him for his ignorance. We well knew that the piratical villains were communicating horrid schemes by these night signals. At last, towards morning, worn out with fatigue and watching, most of us were beginning to slumber, when we were all aroused by the call to quarters.

A boat was heard pulling towards our vessel. We prepared for the worst, but it turned out to be, as some expected, the captain "home returning."

We rushed to the gangway to receive

gazed in mute astonishment; and then came Brodwurst, whose hair, as the light of a lantern fell on his head, we saw had turned visibly gray. Next, to our admiration and delight, came two very old and decrepit Chinamen, one with a severe cut on his forehead. They were bound hand and foot, according to directions, and securely confined, and then we crowded around Brodwurst to hear the news. He gave us a thrilling account of the expedition, stopping every now and then to wipe the perspiration from his brow. He told us how they came across a sampan with three men, who were audaciously fishing at the entrance of the bay. How they boarded and captured them without the loss of a man. How the oldest one was intimidated, by threats and occasional judicious blows, into divulging the number of pirates within the bay. How the old man ran up from two to one hundred, until they thought it advisable to stop. How they left the boat at anchor in charge of the other Chinaman, as prize master, with strict injunctions to remain there till morning. How they proceeded a little further in, and were finally chased by five large junks. How they pulled for their lives; and finally, how deuced glad he was to be back on board the old Tortoise.

Our feelings were worked up to the highest pitch by this adventure, and we waited impatiently for the break of day, to raise our anchor and proceed to the attack. At last the time came. Very little breakfast was eaten; and about nine o'clock-only a little after break of day-we hurried to our stations to get under way. The small vessels proceeded in first, and came to anchor just inside of the entrance of the harbor. We soon followed, and a light breeze and fair tide carried us in towards the enemy's anchorage. We, too, came to anchor, just abreast of our consorts, and in the middle of the passage. The pirates' fleet was in full view, and anchored in the same place where we had seen them the day before. We must have been about a mile and a half from them, and,

with our spy-glasses, could see their crews quite distinctly. The vessels were all decorated with red and black triangular flags, and there were quantities of men on board each one, and many passing to and fro in small boats. There were twenty-one junks, and they were evidently busy preparing for our reception.

The bay in which we now found ourselves was formed by the juxtaposition of three islands on the southern coast of China, and distant about forty miles from Macao. The three islands can be imagined as forming the extremities of a right-angled triangle, the base forming the entrance, and the space comprised within the perpendicular occupied by the pirate fleet.

We came to anchor, as I said, in the entrance, and if it had been a closed bay, the enemy would have been completely at our mercy, as they could never have passed us against the wind and tide. But as it was, there was a passage to the northwest, leading out to sea, and up into more intricate bays. Through this the pirates could, at any time, go, with a fair wind and tide, and elude pursuit, as the depth of water was uncertain, and supposed to be too little for our vessel.

Under the circumstances, therefore, it was extremely kind and thoughtful of us to give the enemy every opportunity to save themselves. They knew what to expect if they remained; and if they were determined not to go away, their blood must be on their own heads. They had seen us cruising in the neighborhood all the previous day; knew that we were at anchor four or more miles off during the night, and now we had anchored a little closer, so that they could carefully examine our force, and not be able to say they had rushed blindly into combat. They still had a chance of escape; for before we could lift our anchor and be after them, the wind and tide and their numerous sweeps, or long oars, would carry.t 7.them among the intricacies of shoals and bays known only to themselves, and where it would have been very imprudent for us to follow.

But the savage wretches did not budge. Some of us became very angry at their pigheadedness, and finally Shoat went on board the Noquiero to hold a consultation.

He returned in an hour or two, and, as he came over the side, he gave the

order to the first lieutenant, in a deeply impressive tone, to get under way.

We will attack them at once," he said, and we rushed to our stations with alacrity. It did not take long to heave up the anchor, and, as our bows fell off towards the enemy, we commenced to glide towards them under topsails. Topgallant sails and royals were soon set, and we neared the pirates very fast. Still they did not move.

We cleared for action. The guns were cast loose, and ammunition passed up and placed near them. Every one strapped on cutlass and pistols. Boarding-pikes were ranged in convenient places. The hatches were battened down, with the exception of small apertures for passing ammunition. Two or three went into the wardroom to fill shell. The carpenter and his gang rigged the pumps, and got their plugs, sheet-lead, etc., ready for stopping holes made by the cannon-balls of the enemy. Pills, the surgeon, came out and distributed tourniquets, and gave short and practical directions for applying them above the

severed limb.

Bliggs marched with a firm step to his station (on the forecastle, in charge of No. 1 gun), dressed in a complete suit of woolen. He had on the usual weapons, and behind him marched the powder-boy of his division, carrying one double-barreled gun, one ducking gun, one Sharp's rifle, one long ditto, two spare revolvers, and a pair of dueling pistols.

The captain, very wisely, had all the sick brought up and placed on the poop. This is unusual; but when we consider how much more satisfactory it must have been for them to be able to see everything, and, in case we were sunk by the enemy, that they could have had a chance for their lives, instead of being cooped up below, we must allow that it was very thoughtful.

We were about half ready, when it was thought we were within range of the long guns. We looked astern, and saw the Noquiero following gallantly in our wake, and behind her the lorchas with the French boats. Ahead were the pirates, still at anchor; but at each mast-head there was now a dark lump which had not been there before, and indicating that the "stink-pot throwers" were in position. This unmistakable evidence of their relentless and bloody purpose banished all feelings of pity

from our hearts, and the order was given to fire. The Tortoise yawed a little, and at ten minutes past eleven, A. M., the action commenced by the deafening report of our brass howitzer as it hurled forth its burning shell towards the vessel of Whang-Chang-Aluk, the Celestial Avenger. The missile burst beautifully in the air, half-way to its intended lodging-place, and shortly after the action became general, and events followed each other in quick succession. The wind became lighter, and we drifted rapidly to leeward. The pirates got under way as if by magic, and thirteen war-junks formed in line of battle to windward of us, and opened a lively fire. They formed on the starboard tack, and headed towards the entrance of the harbor through which we had come in. Three of the vessels remained at anchor-they turned out to be captured traders-and five ran before the wind and escaped through the northwest passage. The remainder of our fleet commenced a furious cannonade, and we kept up our own with vigor. The hills reverberated the explosions, and the noise became so great as to completely deafen one of us, and oblige him to receive communications during the action in writing. When the smoke allowed us to see, we were struck with the beauty of the spectacle. About a mile and a half to windward was the pirate fleet in line of battle, belching forth their flames, and slowly creeping out of the harbor. On our side, our little squadron was huddled together, firing as fast as possible, and using every endeavor to get nearer to the enemy. Half-way between the contending fleets the water was lashed into foam by a hail-storm of balls of various calibres, and every now and then the shell would burst in mid-air, and dissolve in beautiful wreaths of white smoke.

SO

The two French launches pulled towards the pirates, with the intention of engaging closely; but they came near being sunk by the shot and shell of our brig, that they were obliged to retire.

On board of the Tortoise, all were doing their utmost. Every one was firing his gun as fast as he could, and to the best of his ability. Some were intensely occupied in trying to tack the brig. Yarner rushed around in every direction, falling down over the ropes, letting some go, and pulling on others.

Some idea can be formed of the many things necessary to do, by the following sounds which might have been heard issuing from the lips of different persons about the same time, in the exercise of their various duties.

66

Stand by!" Fire!""Let go the topsail braces!" "Load!" "I can't hear you!" "A two second fuze!" "Call away the two quarter boats!" "Let go, and haul!" Sponge!" "Two thirty-two's!" "Where the devil's the cartridge?" "Let go the anchor!" "Set the royals !" " Where's the pilot ?"" And a half four!"

In the mean time we were not getting any nearer to the enemy. At last the wind freshened, and we commenced to go ahead a little. We made the signal,

Follow my motions," which luckily none obeyed, as by doing so they would have been drawn further from the pirates, and into a dreadful snarl. At last we advanced perceptibly, and the men could not resist a shout of exultation when we fancied that we gained on the enemy. The pirates had now nearly reached the opposite side of the bay, and were ready to tack, and would have "fetched out" clear of the western point of the entrance. They stood over so close to the shore that we thought they were about to run aground, and blow up their vessels, and then escape into the hills.

We were overflowing with excitement and anxiety, and groaned for more wind. But suddenly, and at forty minutes past one, P. M., just two hours from the commencement of the action, the pirates performed a skillful manoeuvre, by which they puzzled our fleet, and finally escaped. Six of their vessels tacked in succession and stood out to sea, while the remainder of the fleet bore up together, and ran to the northeast in another outlet of the harbor. None of our squadron seemed inclined to follow the latter, and we all went about to chase the division to seaward. Shoat then made the signal, "Chase the enemy to leeward" but by an accident, the nature of which has been already explained, only the first number was read, which signified, "Surgical assistance wanted.”

Upon this, the doctor of the French division shoved off in a small boat, and came to us at the imminent hazard of his life, as, when nearly alongside, one of our shells exploded too soon, and came very near sinking the whole party.