The sentry at the prison presented his musket at Staveley, upon which the corporal of marines wounded him in the arm, causing him to drop his musket. This proved to be superfluous, as the musket was found to be unloaded. The jailer dropping his bunch of keys, and the guard having vanished, the liberation of Mr. Summers was the work of a few seconds. I am sorry, however, to add that this object was not effected without one serious casualty: a Portuguese soldier was killed by a musket-shot, whether from the weapon of his countrymen we could not determine; the victim was said to have been unarmed. Captain Staveley in his official report stated that some shots were exchanged between our men and the Portuguese, the latter firing into the Square from the windows of the barracks, in which way they probably killed their own comrade; but the point is not worth discussing, as it could neither lessen nor increase my responsibility. For this I was reprimanded by the Admiralty, and thanked by Lord Palmerston. [Illustration: _A Spanish Galleon_] CHAPTER XLII IN EASTERN SEAS [Sidenote: 1849. Macao, June 9.] We left the scene of this “untoward event” on the morning of June 9. On the 21st anchored in Manila Bay. Respecting either the Bay or the City, it would be difficult to write anything new, having so recently described the visit of the _Dido_ to this hospitable place. [Sidenote: June 21.] We were interested in the remains of an old Spanish galleon, at anchor off Cavite Point; the same class so greedily sought by our cruisers in days gone by. [Sidenote: July 2.] Sailed from Manila, July 2. [Sidenote: Balabec, July 16.] In these intricate seas it took most of the day for the master and myself to study the charts and sailing directions, as supplied by the Admiralty. We so arranged that the master should keep the middle, while I took charge of the morning watch. [Sidenote: July 17.] It was on the 17th that I relieved the master; he assuring me that we were now past, as far as the Admiralty charts and directions were concerned, all dangers, and that I might wash decks or make sail as I liked. Decided on making sail, standing to the westward in open sea; nothing in sight. This done, we were in the act of coiling up ropes for washing decks, while on the starboard-hammock netting I felt that unpleasant sensation of the ship scraping the bottom, just as the headsman sang out, “nine fathoms.” She would not answer her helm, but stuck fast. As the sails came down and hands turned up, boatswain piped “Out boats,” the other watch rushed to their stations, as good men will, without inquiring the cause. We had taken the ground at the top of high-water; boats went away to sound. Booms and spars over the side to support her, as the tide left; guns slung, buoyed, and cast overboard. Pinnace, Lieutenant Comber, sent to Labuan for assistance. The launch laid out best bower-anchor in the direction in which we came. [Sidenote: July 18.]