"The little curls of smoke are rising still, sir." "Have the men left the decks?" "Oh no, sir! They're running here and there, and seem very busy still." "Then they have not set fire to the vessels," he cried decisively. "Pirates, without a doubt. Those are stink-pots that they have been getting ready. Go on watching, and report anything else." A noise below, familiar enough, with its rattle and splash, told me that an anchor had been dropped from the bows; and as the _Teaser_ slowly swung round from the force of the tide, I also had to turn, so as to keep the telescope fixed upon the enemy, who were as busy as ever, though what they were doing I could not make out. The flashes of light came more frequently, though, as the sun played upon their weapons; and now I had something else to report--that they had both assumed a different position, being lifted by the tide and floated upon an even keel. My first idea was, that now they would sail on beyond our reach; in fact, one moved a good deal, but the other stopped in its place, so that at last they were so close together that they seemed to touch. "Make out the boats?" came from the deck. "No, sir; they're close under the bank." Yes, I caught a glimpse of the marines' bayonets just then. "How far are they away from the junks, do you think?" "I can't tell, sir; about a quarter of a mile, I think." Mr Reardon was silent while I gazed intently at a patch of open water just beyond a curve of the bank, hoping to see the boats there, though I felt that as soon as they reached that spot, if the enemy had not seen them before, they would be certain to then, for beyond that the junks lay clearly to be seen from where I sat. "Well? See the boats?" came from the deck. "No, sir, not yet." I glanced down to answer, and could see that every one who possessed a glass was gazing anxiously aft, the only face directed up to me being the first lieutenant's. Then my eye was at the glass again. "More smoke from the junks, sir," I cried; but there was no sign of fire, and I felt that Mr Reardon must be right, for if they had set a light to the inflammable wood of the vessels, they would have blazed up directly. "Can't you see the boats yet?" cried the first lieutenant impatiently, and his voice sounded as if he were blaming me. "No, sir, but the junks are more out in the middle of the stream. I can see them quite clearly now, away from the trees. They are crowded with men, and--" "The boats--the boats?" "No, sir;--yes, hurrah! There they go, sir, all abreast, straight for the junks." "Ha!" came in one long heavy breath from below, as if all left on board had suddenly given vent to their pent-up feelings. "How far are they away from the junks?" cried Mr Reardon. "About two hundred yards, sir; you'll see them directly." "Yes, I see them now, sir," cried Barkins, who was a little way up the mizzen-shrouds, where I had not seen him before.