Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-06-08

some surprise, as this was unusual In
these parts where the traffic was con-
siderable and detachments of pirate
prows and junks were by no means an
uncommon sight and it made us reflect
uneasily that some more important
enemy than usual might be keeping
the lesser fry away, the same as the
presence of the shark clears out tho
shoals of smaller fish.
All night through we had to keep a
close watch, the more particularly as
there was no moon, while white fog
hung over us, allowing only our cars to
warn us of the approach of the enemy
Morning dawned misty and white,
and SO dense that we could only see d
foot OF two in front of us; one of these
chill dense fogs which come sometimes
of an carly morning in the China seas,
and betoken a change of wind. At the
present time the old breeze which had
carried us along had left us, and we
were now submerged in that fog with
hanging sails, and rolling about in
dead calm.
There were twenty-eight of us al
together, counting the captain and
mates, and every mothers son was on
deck fully armed, and frightened almost
to breathe as we listened, with our
heads stretched forward, for the sound
we dreaded-the splashing of oars, each
man praying for wind to come or the
whit. o,, t,t,, ~ ltf+ ca shat ,,,n ,,,;,,ht
know the best or the worst, for it was
horrible to have to wait In that uncef-
tainty and suspense.
We should be able, perhaps, to hear
them if they came on in force, for never
yet was there boat filled with rowers
but had some careless strokes in it; but
that would not help us much, for almost
with the sound they would be swarm
ing over the sides before we could see
them, while the unmistakable creaking
guided them to us. +
At last, after long spell of anxious
waiting, the dreaded sound came and
from different directions the soft hiss.
ing of water pushed aside by swift and
vigorous strokes, and then the pirates
were upon us in hundreds While we
were desperately fighting for our lives.
had glimpses of the yellow-faced de.
mons with their shaven heads and their
pigtails plated and twined round in
black coils, as they burst from the
mist, all but naked, and hacked at us
with their long, sharp knives while
their snalSy dark eyes CLEANED with a
sinister glitter. A silent host of re-
morseless murderers, they went about
their fell work like specters, while our
side shouted and shrieked as they took
or gave the quietus.
1t was a rapid brc furious struggle of
ferocity and numbers, against British
courage but without method, therefore
as might have been anticipated num-
bers carried the day-if we had only
| been able 10 have sent a shot or two
amongst them before they landed, we
might have kept them at bay, and yet
when had seen the leader had not
even that consolation.
was wrestling with slippery and
naked savage, after emptying my re-
volver into the crowd, when all at once
l saw gigantic figure in full armor
of chain and plate loom up through the
mist as he hewed his way along the
deck, and for one fatal instant paused,
SO fascinated at the apparition of fully
seven feet of grim and silent ferocity
towering above the hordes, with a
grotesque visor of bronze covering tho