Keppel’s galley was at this time sunk, and five of his crew of six men were killed or wounded. He got on board a boat belonging to the _Calcutta_, and, finding his force gradually diminishing, was compelled to beat a retreat for the time being, and rally with what was left round the _Hong-Kong_, the nearest _point d’appui_. Noticing our retrograde movement, John Chinaman doubled his efforts, and the shot came thicker than ever. We were hulled twelve times in a short space--in fact, were being well raked. There was nothing now to do but to await reinforcements. The deeper-draught gun-boats, with their boats in tow, were coming up to join us. About this time--I should think 11.30--an unfortunate marine had both his legs taken off by a round shot; and my (white) ducks, face, and body were splashed with the poor chap’s blood. Looking over the side about this time, I noticed a launch close alongside. I actually saw the whole of one side of her oars cut away, and at the same instant two men killed on the after-thwart, one poor chap’s skull killing the man on the thwart alongside of him. Lieutenant Graham had a round shot between the calves of his legs, contusing them; but he managed to hang on to his work. The men were fearfully done up. Keppel gave the order to serve out quinine and biscuits during the time we were rallying; but I do not think a dozen men had time to swallow this frugal meal before Keppel, who was at this moment on top of our paddle-box, suddenly called out, “The beggars are making off. Man the boats! man the boats!” and, shaking his fist at them, further exclaimed, “You rascals! I’ll pay you off for this!” What a rush! Fresh boats had come up; a frantic cheer was given; and on they raced exactly like boats at a regatta, indiscriminately, straight at the junks, which now slackened their fire and appeared to be getting into position with their oars to make away. Now there was no quarter. Junk after junk was taken. Some ran on the banks and were fired immediately: Chinamen jumping overboard in all directions, and swimming for their lives. Some five or so, I believe, got away. The rest were chased for six miles up the river, towards the town of Fatshan; but our chaps were done, and, as Fatshan was fortified and full of troops, we could do no more. So ended a thundering good fight. The _Hong-Kong_ went up some distance beyond the junks that had been captured in the morning, to cover the boats; but, owing to the shoaling of the water, our progress was slow. We were scraping the mud most of the time. When the boats returned it was about 3.30 P.M.: so we had been hard at it for twelve hours. As I said before, it was simply marvellous that our casualties were so slight. Between seventy and eighty, I believe, was our butcher’s bill. I fancy that, as the boats and gun-boats were all bows-on most of the time, it must be considered that we offered small targets. Otherwise the smallness of our loss is unaccountable.