It was now late, drizzly rain falling, when the booming of the pinnace’s heavy gun showed that Horton had come in contact with the pirates. This was responded to by one of those simultaneous war-yells, apparently from every part of the country. I jumped into my gig, taking my pet bugler, John Eager, who was placed in the bow. Our arms were in readiness; we proceeded to join the combatants. Tide had just turned against us, and as we advanced up the river, trees hung over many parts, nearly meeting across. At the same time, the occasional firing that was kept up assured me that the enemy were on the alert, and with all the advantages of local knowledge, as well as darkness, on their side. From the winding of the stream, too, the yells appeared to come from every direction--sometimes ahead, sometimes astern. We had pulled, feeling our way for nearly two hours, when a sudden quick discharge of musketry on my left intimated that we were approaching the scene of action. At the same time we passed several large war-boats hauled up on the bank. I felt convinced that our party was surrounded, and that we should have to fight our way to each other. Strongly impressed with this idea, I approached with caution. In the distance I could dimly discern a crowd that I knew I must pass to get to our people. I prepared the crew to do their best--pull for their lives, and told John Eager to strike up “Rory O’More.” When abreast, emptied both barrels into the thick of them. Conceive my horror, fair reader, when I heard Horton’s voice, “Don’t fire, sir; we are here.” My first exclamation was, “How could you allow anything to approach without hailing?” No one was killed. One bullet, after striking the bow of the pinnace, hit the breastplate of a Royal Marine and knocked him into the water. The other went through both cheeks of one of our native followers without breaking a tooth. Horton’s explanation was that they were keeping out of sight of a superior force of pirates, who were near enough to throw spears among them, and they believed themselves surrounded. I believe “Rory O’More” had dispersed the enemy. [Sidenote: June 12.] Daylight brought a flag of truce. Brooke sent an unarmed Malay to meet them; after a little palaver they came to our boats. The message was, they were ready to abide by any terms we might dictate. I promised that hostilities should cease for two hours, but that we could treat only with the chiefs, whose persons should be protected, and invited them to a conference at 1 P.M.