These were propelled by means of numerous oars, and the male
captives were now set to work at these oars.

Mr Hazlit and his daughter and Miss Pritty were allowed to sit idle in
the stem of one of the boats, and for a time they felt their drooping
spirits revive a little under the influence of the sweet sunshine while
they rowed along shore, but as time passed these feelings were rudely
put to flight.

The captives were various in their character and nationality, as well as
in their spirits and temperaments. These had all to be brought into
quick subjection and working order. There were far more captives than
the pirates knew what to do with. One of those who sat on the thwart
next to the Hazlits had been a policeman in one of the China ports. He
was a high-spirited young fellow. It was obvious that his soul was
seething into rebellion. The pirate in charge of the boat noted the
fact, and whispered to one of his men, who thereupon ordered the
policeman to pull harder, and accompanied his order with a cut from a
bamboo cane.

Instantly the youth sprang up, and tried to burst his bonds. He
succeeded, but before he could do anything, he was overpowered by half a
dozen men, and re-bound. Then two men sat down beside him, each with a
small stick, with which they beat the muscles of his arms and legs,
until their power was completely taken away. This done, they left him,
a living heap of impotent flesh in the bottom of the boat, and a
salutary warning to the rebellious.

But it did not end here. As soon as the poor fellow had recovered
sufficiently to move, he was again set to the oar, and forced to row as
best he could.

The voyage along the coast, and up a river into which they finally
turned, occupied several days. At first, on starting, Aileen and her
companions had looked with tender pity on the captives as they toiled at
the heavy oars, but this deepened into earnest solicitude as they saw
them, after hours of toil, gasping for want of water and apparently
faint from want of food. Next day, although they had lain down in the
bottom of the boat supperless, the rest had refreshed most of them, and
they pulled on with some degree of vigour. But noon came, and with it
culminated the heat of a burning sun. Still no water was served out, no
food distributed. Mr Hazlit and his party had biscuit and water given
them in the morning and at noon. During the latter meal Aileen observed
the native policeman re