As the governor approached, the pirates hoisted their flags, played on their instruments, and fired their guns, so that the smoke rose in clouds, and then bent sail to meet him.  On this the dense population that were ranged thousands after thousands along the shore, to witness the important reconciliation, became sorely alarmed, and the Governor-general seems to have had a strong inclination to run away.  But in brief space of time, the long dreaded widow of Ching-yih, supported by her Lieutenant Paou, and followed by three other of her principal commanders, mounted the side of the governor’s ship, and rushed through the smoke to the spot where his excellency was stationed; where they fell on their hands and knees, shed tears, knocked their heads on the deck before him, and received his gracious pardon, and promised for future kind treatment.  They then withdrew satisfied, having promised to give in a list of their ships, and of all else they possessed, within three days.

But the sudden apparition of some large Portuguese ships, and some Government war-junks, made the pirates suspect treachery.  They immediately set sail, and the negociations were interrupted for several days.

They were at last concluded by the boldness of their female leader.  “If the Governor-general,” said this heroine, “a man of the highest rank, could come to us quite alone, why should not I, a mean woman, go to the officers of Government?  If there be danger in it, I take it all on myself; no person among you need trouble himself about me—­my mind is made up, and I will go to Canton!”

Paou said—­“If the widow of Ching-yih goes, we must fix a time for her return.  If this pass without our obtaining any information, we must collect all our forces, and go before Canton:  this is my opinion as to what ought to be done; comrades, let me hear yours!”

The pirates, then, struck with the intrepidity of their chieftainess, and loving her more than ever, answered, “Friend Paou, we have heard thy opinion, but we think it better to wait for the news here, on the water, than to send the wife of Ching-yih alone to be killed.”  Nor would they allow her to leave the fleet.

Matters were in this state of indecision, when the two inferior Mandarins who had before visited the pirates, ventured out to repeat their visit.  These officers protested no treachery had been intended, and pledged themselves, that if the widow of Ching-yih would repair to the Governor, she would be kindly received, and every thing settled to their hearts’ satisfaction.

With this, in the language of our old ballads, upspoke Mrs. Ching.  “You say well, gentlemen! and I will go myself to Canton with some other of our ladies, accompanied by you!” And accordingly, she and a number of the pirates’ wives with their children, went fearlessly to Canton, arranged every thing, and found they had not been deceived.  The fleet soon followed.  On its arrival every