A few Chinamen only attempted to oppose them.
These were speedily overcome, and the British had now time to look round, and saw that six junks crowded with men had issued from the side creek and were making towards them.
"Let the boats tow astern," the lieutenant ordered.

"We should have to run the gantlet of that battery on shore if we were to attack them, and might lose another boat before we reached their side.

We will fight them here." The junks approached, those on board firing their guns, yelling and shouting, while the drums and gongs were furiously beaten.
"They will find themselves mistaken, Percy, if they think they are going to frighten us with all that row," Fothergill said.

"You young rascal, how did you get on board the boat without being seen?
The captain will be sure to suspect I had a hand in concealing you." The tars were now at work firing the gingals attached to the bulwarks and the matchlocks with which the deck was strewn, at the approaching junks.

As they took steady aim, leaning their pieces on the bulwarks, they did considerable execution among the Chinamen crowded on board the junks, while the shot of the Chinese, for the most part, whistled far overhead; but the guns of the shore battery, which had now slewed round to bear upon them, opened with a better aim, and several shots came crashing into the sides of the two captured junks.
"Get ready to board, lads!" Lieutenant Oliphant shouted.