tenant ordered the gates to be
shut. This was no easy matter, with the space on either side covered
with the dead and wounded, but the seamen, hauling the bodies out of the
way, at last succeeded.

One party remained to guard the gate, the other made prisoners of many
as they could catch of those who had treacherously opened it. Tom, with
Jerry Bird and three other men, was now sent to inform Captain Rogers of
what had occurred, that he might despatch people to the other gates to
prevent the same trick being played.

"You rendered me good service just now," said Tom to Jerry Bird, "in
saving my head from the sword of that big Tae-ping. He would have cut
me down to a certainty. I shall never forget it."

"Lor' bless you, sir, I'm as well pleased as you are; I wouldn't have
had you killed, no, not to be made port admiral, and I hope, if ever
there comes another occasion, I may do the same."

"Still, you have saved my life, and I should be grateful whether it was
a pleasure to you or not," said Tom.

There was not much time for conversation, however. As they hurried on,
they had to keep a look-out, lest they might be attacked by any of the
traitors within the walls, who would have liked to have revenged
themselves on those who had defeated their treacherous object. Several
suspicious-looking characters approached, but dreading the cutlasses of
the British seamen, they retired to a respectful distance. Tom and his
party quickly made their way to the part of the walls where Captain
Rogers and his men were stationed, and Tom delivered his message. On
receiving it, Jack immediately despatched some of the midshipmen with
the information to the officers commanding in the neighbourhood of the
other gates, that they might be on their guard against any intended
treachery.

The rebels, supposing that their friends had got inside the city,
continued to make feints in all directions, to keep the garrison
employed, fully believing that the place would in a short time be
theirs. Along the whole line, as far as the eye could reach on either
side appeared a rapid series of flames of fire, both from the summits of
the walls and from below, as the defenders and their assailants
exchanged fire.

The assault continued until daylight breaking exposed the rebels more
clearly to view, and they, probably believing that they had no prospect
of success, ceased firing along their whole line, and began rapidly to
retreat. The offic