These are to do good, while yours are to do evil.

Then, too, your nasty, insidious, cruel bayonets, which make a worse wound than a bullet.

Oh, it's too fine to call my work horrible, when I try to put straight all your mischief." "Here they are," cried Barkins excitedly, as a hail came from the top.
We ran aft to see the first boat come steadily along close in shore, which was being hugged so as to avoid the full rush of the tide.
Directly after the others came in sight, and glasses were all in use from the bridge and quarter-deck.
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.