n the top of all.
This done, the two guns were run forward and pointed out through the two
foremost ports on the lee side of the deck.

We were now all ready for the fight, and nothing remained but to await
the critical moment with such composure as we could summon to our aid.
In one respect we were more fortunate than many other ships would have
been in the same situation, for our helmsman was sheltered in a sort of
little hurricane house built of stout planking over the wheel, and he
was therefore in some degree protected from jingal fire. Indeed I hoped
that the planking of the structure would turn out to be absolutely proof
against the missiles usually fired from such weapons, which I expected
would be the firearm used by the pirates. Thus we might hope we should
avoid being thrown into confusion at the critical moment by our helmsman
being killed or disabled.

At length we drew up within point-blank musketry range of the junk that
was endeavouring to close upon our lee bow, and I gave the word for
those armed with that weapon, while keeping carefully under cover
themselves, to open fire upon any of the pirates who might expose
themselves. Almost immediately a dozen shots rang out from our decks,
and a few splinters flew aboard the junk, but I could neither see nor
hear that any further mischief had been done.

"Watch her ports, lads, and fire through them," I ordered. "If you can
shoot down the men at her weather battery during the few minutes that we
are passing her you will have nothing more to fear."

At this moment a perfect giant of a man ascended the short poop of the
junk and stood calmly watching us, occasionally saying a word or two to
those on the deck beneath him. He had scarcely taken up his position,
however, before our men began to blaze away at him, and presently a
bullet knocked his hat off, while, as he was calmly stooping to pick it
up again, another bullet must have struck him on the right shoulder; for
I saw him suddenly clap his hand to that part and hastily retreat from
his exposed situation, without stopping to pick up the hat.

"Hurrah, lads!" I shouted. "There is first blood to us. Keep the pot
boiling; but don't shoot until you can see somebody to shoot at!"

At this moment the weather bulwark of the junk became suddenly lined
with men all armed with jingals, with which they proceeded to blaze away
at us, and some half a dozen or more missiles went whizzing past most
unpleasa