I adjusted mine directly, and saw at the first glance that there was plenty of work for Dr Price, for men were lying in the stern-sheets with rough bandages on limbs and heads, while several of those who were rowing had handkerchiefs tied round their foreheads, and others had horrible marks upon their white duck-frocks, which told tales of injury to them as well as to their enemies. The third boat was given up to men lying down or sitting up together, leaving only just room for the rowers, while the fourth and largest boat was being towed; the thwarts, that in an ordinary way would have been occupied by rowers, now holding the marines, who sat with their rifles ready, and fixed bayonets, while the stern-sheets were filled with Chinamen, seated in three groups, and all in the most uncomfortable-looking way. I could see that their hands were tied behind their backs, and it was horribly plain that several of them were wounded; but why they should have formed these three groups, and sat there with their heads laid close together, was what puzzled me. A loud cheer rose from our deck as the boats came near; and this was taken up directly by the returning party, the men rowing harder as they shouted, and the little triumphant procession reached the side. The first hail came from the captain. "Mr Brooke--where's Mr Brooke?" "Here, sir," cried that officer, standing up with a stained handkerchief about his head, and his uniform all black and scorched. "Any fatalities?" "No, sir; not one." I saw the captain's lips move, but no one heard him speak. I guessed, though, what he said, and I felt it. Then as quickly as possible the boats were run up to the davits, and the uninjured men leaped on deck. Next the wounded, such as could stir, descended from the boats, one poor fellow staggering and nearly falling as soon as he reached the deck. After which the badly wounded were carefully lifted out and carried below, to be laid in a row to wait the doctor and his assistant make their first rapid examination, to apply tourniquets and bandaged pads to the most serious injuries. "Good heavens, Mr Brooke, what a condition you are in! The doctor must take you first." "Oh no, sir," said the young lieutenant quietly. "I'm not very bad; a cut from a heavy sword through my cap. It has stopped bleeding. My hands are a little bruised." "But how was this?" "As we advanced to board, they threw quite a volley of stink-pots fizzing away into us. I burned myself a little with them." "Chucking 'em overboard, sir," cried the boatswain. "Splendid it was." "Nonsense!" cried Mr Brooke. "You threw ever so many. But it was hot work, sir." "Hot! it is horrible. How many prisoners have you there?" "Eighteen, sir; the survivors escaped." "But you shouldn't have fired the junks, man," said the captain testily. "There may have been wounded on board."