Part 28 (1/2)
he asked, turning to Billy
”No, sir We saw hi”
”Then, perhaps they intend holding hie,” observed Mr Norman ”The junks do not appear to have et on board again, ill set theers”
Mr Norave the order, which the seae bonfires, and then the three boats pulled back in the direction of the still burning junk On reaching it Mr Norular order than To order to feel the way
No ene an experienced officer, he knew that they reat distance ahead, or concealed behind the brushwood either on the right hand or the left, so that they et behind hi advanced therefore a short distance, he ordered a halt, and getting close under a hill from the top of which he hoped to obtain a survey of the country, he climbed up it, accompanied by Desmond
”There's the fort, sir,” exclai into it If they have not cut off Rogers's head, they will be taking hi killed when the _Gnat_ opens fire on the fort”
Mr Norht in his conjectures
”Could not we et in before the pirates knoere coer party I would try e could do; but as the piratesus, they would be prepared for an attack, and I very er to try and rescue To convinced, acknowledged to hiht They re acountry
”If I ht make our way, concealed by the et close up to it before we are discovered, while the pirates, if they expect us to round et back and coers,” observed the lieutenant
Mr Norman, directly he came down from the hill, ordered his men to retreat As soon as they were on board, the boats pulled away for the _Gnat_ as fast as the crews could lay their backs to the oars, all knowing the ieon's care as soon as possible Two poor fellows required no doctoring, but their bodies were carried, nevertheless, for the purpose of giving them, as Jack called it, ”decent burial?”--in reality that they ht be sewn up neatly in their hammocks, with a shot at their feet, to carry them down to the oozy bed of the ocean beyond the ken of the sharks
The _Gnat_ had just got off, and with theup towards the pirates' stronghold As Mr Nore of the fort, several shots were fired at thee, nor did the pirates ood chance of capturing their eneside the _Gnat_ Captain Rogers received the account Mr Norave him with much concern
”But is it certain that he is killed? Did any one see him fall?” he inquired
”No, sir,” answered Mr Norman ”We are confident that he was e for the destruction of their junks, would have cut off his head unless they were induced to hold hie”
”I trust that the latter is the case, and that we et hiers ”But in lect my duty We must attack these felloithout delay Unfortunately they have had soive us more trouble than would have been the case had not this craft got on shore I purpose, while the boats attack the junks, to land thecoers directed him to accompany the marines with a small body of blue-jackets
”I believe, sir, that we -place I discovered as I ca,” said Mr Nor the fort, wesuddenly on the pirates, should your brother be still alive, we e theht, Mr Norh fro of truce to treat for tere”
While the _Gnat_ sailed on Captain Rogers eest boats, were to bombard the fort, the rest of the flotilla were to board the junks, with the exception of the boats under Mr Norman, as to land with their crews and some er elapsed before the _Gnat_, the leading vessel, got within range of the junks, which ialls, she and her se junks lay directly in the way; one, after the first round was fired, began to settle down so rapidly that many of the crewlike a shoal of tadpoles towards the shore The other, a fine-looking vessel, stood out longer
”Fire at te deck, at te deck!” cried Po-ho; ”she my shi+p; no sink her!”
A volley of musketry made the pirate crew quit the vessel and follow their co tranquilly, although Captain Murray fully expected to see her burst out into flames and blow up as the others had done Po-ho entreated that he o on board to prevent any such catastrophe; and he was allowed the dingy and a couple of ht have been safer on board the _Gnat_, for several shot frolided in between her and the shore So close did the _Gnat_ get that the guns of the fort, which were trained at too high an elevation, sent their shot over her; while the shells, round shot, and rockets, which she poured into the fort, were apparently producing havoc aun was silenced, then another, but the reun-boat or at the other boats
The report that To the boats of the _Empress_, and from the how it had happened There was a search on board each junk captured, in the hopes of discovering him, as junk after junk was taken Several, however, which were farther from those first attacked, slipped their cables and tried to run on shore; some were overtaken before they had time to do so; others were set on fire by the pirates and blew up, and the reood many of the prisoners, however, were taken, who either could not swim or had not time to make their escape The British casualties were very sht One of the largest fired away until the boats were close up to her; she then cut her cable and uns, gingalls, and uns and atte fellow in a Malay dress, ith his sword kept the ns of disobedience
Jerry Bird was in one of the boats of the _Eht of the pirate captain, he exclaimed, ”Why, as I'm alive, that's no other than our friend Jonathan Jull! Hallo, Mr Jull, knock under; it's no use holding out!”