Fortunately, at this critical moment one of the rafts, catching the stump of a tree, broke this floating bridge, making a passage, through which my gig (propelled by paddles instead of oars)--the bugler, John Eager, in the bow--was enabled to pass. It occurred to Brooke and myself simultaneously, that by advancing in the gig we should draw the attention of the pirates towards us, so as to give time for the other boats to clear themselves. This had the desired effect. The whole force on shore turned, as if to secure what they rashly conceived to be their prize. We now advanced mid-channel, spears and stones assailing us from both banks. Brooke’s gun would not go off, so, giving him the yoke-lines, I, with the coxswain to load, had time to select the leaders from amongst the savage mass, on which I kept up a rapid fire. Allen, in the second gig, quickly coming up, opened upon them from a Congreve rocket-tube such a destructive fire as caused them to retire behind the temporary barriers where they had concealed themselves previous to the attack on Patingi Ali, and from whence they continued, for some twenty minutes, to hurl their spears and other missiles, among which were short lengths of bamboo loaded with stone at one end. The _sumpitan_ was likewise freely employed, and although several of our men were struck, no fatal results ensued. Mr. Beith, our assistant surgeon, dexterously excised the wounds, and what poison remained was sucked out by comrades of the wounded men. From this position, however, the Sekarrans retreated as our force increased, and could not again muster courage to rally. Their loss _must_ have been considerable. Ours might have been light had poor old Patingi Ali attended to orders. He was over confident. Instead of falling back, as particularly directed by me, on the first appearance of any of the enemy he made a dash, followed by his little division of boats, through the narrow pass. The enemy at once launched large rafts of bamboo and cut off his retreat. Six war-prahus bore down, three on either side, on Patingi’s devoted followers. One only of a crew of seventeen escaped to tell the tale. When last seen by our advanced boats, Mr. Steward and Patingi Ali were in the act (their own boats sinking) of boarding the enemy. They were doubtless overpowered and killed, with twenty-nine others. Our wounded in all amounted to fifty-six. A few miles further up was the capital of Karangan, which we carried without further opposition. Having achieved the object of our expedition, we dropped leisurely down the river; slept in our boats, with a strong guard on shore. [Sidenote: Aug. 20.] On the 20th we reached the steamer, where we remained all the next day attending to the wounded. [Sidenote: Aug. 22.]