There was another mass about a quarter of a mile away, and I looked in vain for the third junk; but a number of her crew clinging to bamboos, sweeps, spars, and what looked to be wicker crates, showed where she had been.

The last of the four, with her great matting-sails hauled up to the fullest extent, was sailing away toward the nearest island, and on either side they had sweeps over with two or three men to each, tugging away with all their might to help their vessel along.
"The brutes!" I thought to myself, as I watched the glint of the ruddy sun upon their shiny heads and faces, with their pig tails swinging behind, as they hung back straining at the great oars.

For their sole idea seemed to be escape, and not the slightest effort was made to pick up any of their comrades struggling in the water.
It was wonderful how quickly they went, and I began to think that the junk would escape.

Three miles would be enough to place her all amongst the reefs and shoals, where the gunboat dare not follow; and I was thinking, as we glided rapidly in her wake, that the _Teaser_ would chase her swiftly for about half the distance, and then lower the boats to continue the pursuit, but I was wrong; I saw that the captain gave Mr Reardon some order, then the gong rang in the engine-room, the way of the _Teaser_ was checked, a turn of the wheel made her describe a curve, and she slowly came to a standstill broadside on to the flying junk.
The next minute the crews were piped away to the boats with their complement of marines to each; and as they were lowered down a steady fire was maintained with shell upon the junk.
I stood watching the shots, and saw the first of the broadside from one heavy and three smaller guns strike the water close to the junk's hull, fly up, dip again, and then burst over the cliffs.
The second went wide to the left, while the third also missed; and I saw the captain stamp impatiently as the fourth went right over her.
"She'll get away," I thought; and it seemed a pity for this junk to escape and form a nucleus for another strong pirate gang.
The firing continued, another broadside being directed at the flying pirates, who seemed to be certain now of escape, for the junk was end-on to us, and moving rapidly, forming a very difficult object for our marksmen; the gunboat, of course, rising and falling all the time upon the heaving sea.
In the intervals between the shots I had caught a glimpse of Barkins and Smith climbing into two of the boats, but it was only a glimpse; and then I was watching the effects of the fire again, as the boats pushed off to go to the help of the floating men.
Shot after shot had been fired most ineffectively, and I heard expostulations and angry words used to the captains of the guns; while at every ineffective shell that burst far away a derisive yell rose from the crowded junk--the shouts increasing each time.
"Another broadside, Reardon," cried the captain; "and then we must run in as far as we dare.

Pick out half-a-dozen of the best men with the rifle to place on the bows to pick off the steersman." "Ay, ay, sir," cried Mr Reardon; then directly, "All gone in the boats, sir." Just then, as I was thinking that the junk must escape, one of our big guns was fired with a crash which made the deck vibrate.