Ten minutes later two of the boats were swinging at the davits, and our two were being towed astern, as the head of the _Teaser_ once more swung round, and we went down with the tide. We anchored off the mouth of the muddy river till morning, to which time was put off the hoisting on deck of the rest of the loot, the account of whose amount and probable value did more, they said, toward helping on the wounded than any of Dr Price's ministrations. But he had serious work with two of the wounded men, who tried very hard, as he put it, to go out of hand; but he wouldn't let them. Two of the pirates did die, though, and were cast overboard, sewn up decently in hammocks, and with shot at their heels. Seven days later we came to an anchor again off Tsin-Tsin, by which time Mr Reardon's right eye and temple were horribly discoloured, but in other respects he was quite well, and was present at what he called our second gaol delivery, for he came on deck to see the prisoners, wounded and sound, handed over to the Chinese authorities; but there was no such display of pomp as on the first occasion, one row-boat only coming alongside, with a very business-like officer, who superintended the chaining of the pirates, and bundled them down. "Just as if they had been so many sacks," Barkins said; and he was very apt in his comparison. I only said one word in allusion to the Chinese soldiery and their officers. That word was-- "Brutes!" CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. A SURPRISE. I don't think the Chinese authorities were very grateful to us of the _Teaser_,--there, you see, I say _us_, for I did do something to help in routing out and destroying two nests of pirates; but the merchants, both Chinese and English, feted us most gloriously, and if it had not been for Mr Reardon we three middies might have always been ashore at dinners and dances. "But," cried Barkins, "so sure as one gets an invitation he puts his foot down." "Yes," said Smith; "and it is such a foot." "But it's such a pity," grumbled Barkins; "for Tsin-Tsin is after all rather a jolly place. Mr Brooke says the ball at the consul's last night was glorious, no end of Chinese swells there, and the music and dancing was fine." "Don't be so jolly envious, Tanner," sneered Smith. "You couldn't have danced if you had gone." "Dance better than you could," cried Barkins hotly. "No, you couldn't. Fancy asking a young lady to waltz, and then going dot-and-go-one round the room with your game leg." "You've a deal to talk about, Smithy; why, if you asked a lady to dance you couldn't lift your right arm to put round her waist." "Couldn't I?" cried Smith. "Look here." He swung his arm round me, took three steps, and dropped on to the locker, turning quite white with pain. "Told you so," cried Barkins, springing up. "Waltz? I should just think!--oh, murder!" He sat down suddenly to hold his leg tightly with both hands, giving Smith a dismal look.