g at full speed about a mile in rear of the
steamer. They came up, passed the steamer amid a storm of
bullets, and joined the rebel column. One of them was struck off
his horse, but the others coolly waited for him, and one of them
stopped and took him up behind him. They deserved to get off.
About three miles further on another stockade of stone was passed
at a broken bridge called Waiquaidong, and the pursuit was
carried on to about three-quarters of a mile from Soochow. It was
now getting late (6 P.M.), and we did not know if the rebels in
our rear might not have occupied the stockades, in which case we
should have had to find another route back. On our return we met
crowds of villagers, who burnt at our suggestion the houses in
the forts at Waiquaidong and Siaon Edin, and took the boats that
were in the creek.

"We met many boats that had appeared deserted on our passing up
sailing merrily towards Soochow, but which, when they saw the red
and green of the steamer and heard her whistle, were immediately
run into the bank and were deserted. Just before Siaon Edin was
reached we came on a large body of rebels, who opened a sharp
fire of rifles on us striking the gun twice. They had got under
cover of a bridge, which, however, after a short delay, we
managed to enfilade with a charge of grape and thus cleared them
out. We then steamed into the bank and took in more prisoners.
Four chiefs, one a Wang, galloped past on horseback; and although
not two yards from the steamer, they got away. The Wang got
shoved into the water and lost his pony. A party of rebels were
encamped in Siaon Edin, not dreaming of any further annoyance for
that night, and were accordingly astonished to hear the steamer's
whistle, and rushed out in amazement, to meet a shell at the
entrance, which killed two of them. The steamer now pushed on to
Ta Edin, and found it unoccupied; while waiting there to collect
some of the prisoners, about 200 rebels came so suddenly on the
steamer that we were obliged to whistle to keep them off till the
gun could be got ready.

"It was now 10.30 P.M., and the night was not very clear. At this
moment the most tremendous firing and cheering was heard from
Chunye, and hurried our progress to that place. Just before we
reached it a gunbo