half-a-dozen turned and fled back for the
ridge, but only to stop and turn to their right, making for the sea.

For the ridge was lined with blue-jackets and marines, and shot after
shot was fired at the flying men, who without hesitation plunged into
the sea and swam out a few yards, while our lads pursued them, but only
to halt on the hard wet sand, where the waves now gently rippled.

There was a strange fascination in the scene, and I watched the six
shaven heads of the swimming pirates till the first threw up his hands,
battled the air for a few moments, and went down. The others turned and
slowly swam shoreward till they could wade, when they approached our men
and flung their weapons on the sand in token of surrender.

There was a triumphant shout at this, and then another--a loud and
frantic cheer. For the firing of the _Teaser_ had been going on
rapidly, and all at once the first junk was seen to heel over, and
gradually settle down, leaving the sea strewn with fragments of timber,
to which the crew were left clinging; while the gunboat raced on,
sending shell after shell rapidly at the other, till she was nearly
alongside, when there was a tremendous roar, following the crashing into
her of a shell, and the second junk flew up in fragments.

The shell had reached her little magazine of powder; and then the work
of mercy began.

I was watching the boats being lowered when I heard a shout from behind,
and, looking round, saw the second line of our blue-jackets advancing
from the ridge. To my great joy, I saw with them those whom we had
mourned as drowned, while the next minute Mr Brooke had me by the
hands, and I heard a strange gulping noise, ending in quite a howl.

I looked sharply round, and saw Ching seated on the sand, wiping his
eyes with his sleeves.

"What's the matter, Ching--hurt?" I asked.

"No, not hurt, Mis' Hellick; Ching so velly glad."

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

"HUZZA!"

By the time the _Teaser's_ boats had picked up those of the wretches who
wished to be saved, I had learned from Mr Brooke how, when the boat
struck, he and the others had clung to her and been swept along through
the channel, the fierce current carrying them round the point, and at
last into comparative shelter, where finally they reached the shore
right on the far side of the island.

Thence, after a great deal of climbing, they made their way toward the
channel to come in search of us; but they had to fly for