o good, while yours are to do evil. Then, too,
your nasty, insidious, cruel bayonets, which make a worse wound than a
bullet. Oh, it's too fine to call my work horrible, when I try to put
straight all your mischief."

"Here they are," cried Barkins excitedly, as a hail came from the top.

We ran aft to see the first boat come steadily along close in shore,
which was being hugged so as to avoid the full rush of the tide.

Directly after the others came in sight, and glasses were all in use
from the bridge and quarter-deck.

I adjusted mine directly, and saw at the first glance that there was
plenty of work for Dr Price, for men were lying in the stern-sheets
with rough bandages on limbs and heads, while several of those who were
rowing had handkerchiefs tied round their foreheads, and others had
horrible marks upon their white duck-frocks, which told tales of injury
to them as well as to their enemies.

The third boat was given up to men lying down or sitting up together,
leaving only just room for the rowers, while the fourth and largest boat
was being towed; the thwarts, that in an ordinary way would have been
occupied by rowers, now holding the marines, who sat with their rifles
ready, and fixed bayonets, while the stern-sheets were filled
with Chinamen, seated in three groups, and all in the most
uncomfortable-looking way. I could see that their hands were tied
behind their backs, and it was horribly plain that several of them were
wounded; but why they should have formed these three groups, and sat
there with their heads laid close together, was what puzzled me.

A loud cheer rose from our deck as the boats came near; and this was
taken up directly by the returning party, the men rowing harder as they
shouted, and the little triumphant procession reached the side.

The first hail came from the captain.

"Mr Brooke--where's Mr Brooke?"

"Here, sir," cried that officer, standing up with a stained handkerchief
about his head, and his uniform all black and scorched.

"Any fatalities?"

"No, sir; not one."

I saw the captain's lips move, but no one heard him speak. I guessed,
though, what he said, and I felt it.

Then as quickly as possible the boats were run up to the davits, and the
uninjured men leaped on deck. Next the wounded, such as could stir,
descended from the boats, one poor fellow staggering and nearly falling
as soon as he reached the deck. After which the badly wounded were
carefully l