Part 4 (1/2)

Paul Jones wished to capture these. The winds were favorable, and a landing could easily have been made but for Captain Landais.

Paul Jones spent a whole night persuading this troublesome captain to help him. It was only with a promise of money that he at last succeeded.

But in the morning the winds were contrary.

That day the _Richard_ captured an English merchant s.h.i.+p. The captain promised Paul Jones that if he would allow his vessel to go free, he would pilot the squadron into the harbor.

The people, seeing the fleet piloted by the English vessel, supposed the visit to be a friendly one. So they sent a boat out to the _Richard_, asking for powder and shot to defend the town from the visit of ”Paul Jones the pirate.”

Jones sent back a barrel of powder with the message that he had no suitable shot. It was not until the vessels were nearing the harbor that the object of the visit was suspected. The people, in their fright, ran to the house of the minister. He had helped them when in trouble at other times, and could surely do something now.

The good man, with his flock following him, ran to the beach, where he made a strange prayer.

He told the Lord that the people there were very poor, and that the wind was bringing to the sh.o.r.e that ”vile pirate,” Paul Jones, who would burn their houses and take away even their clothes. ”I canna think of it! I canna think of it! I have long been a faithful servant to ye, O Lord.

But gin ye dinna turn the wind aboot and blaw the scoundrel out of our gates, I'll nae stir a foot, but will just sit here till the tide comes in.”

Just then a violent gale sprang up, and by the time it had abated the squadron had been driven so far out to sea that the plan was given up.

Long afterward, the good minister would often say, ”I prayed, but the Lord sent the wind.”

X.--THE GREAT FIGHT WITH THE SERAPIS.

Paul Jones next cruised up and down the eastern coast of England, trying to capture some merchant s.h.i.+ps that were bound for London.

About noon, on September 23, 1779, he saw not far from the sh.o.r.e an English fleet, sailing from the north. It was convoyed by two new war s.h.i.+ps, the _Serapis_ and the _Countess of Scarborough_.

Paul Jones at once signaled to his s.h.i.+ps to form in line of battle.

Captain Landais disobeyed.

The sight of the American squadron seemed to cause confusion in the English fleet. They let fly their top gallant sails and fired many signals. The _Serapis_ and the _Countess_ drew up in line of battle and waited for the enemy, while the merchant s.h.i.+ps ran into port.

It was a clear, calm afternoon. The sea was like a polished mirror, with scarcely a ripple on its surface.

The vessels approached each other so slowly that they scarcely seemed to move. The decks had all been cleared for action, and the captains were full of impatience.

Word had gone from town to town along the sh.o.r.e, that a great battle was soon to be fought. The people along the sh.o.r.e gathered on the high cliffs, eagerly hoping to see the dreaded Paul Jones crushed forever.

The sun had gone down behind the hills before the s.h.i.+ps were within speaking distance of each other. The harvest moon came up, full and clear, and shed a soft light over the dreadful battle that followed.

Captain Landais, when he disobeyed Paul Jones' order to join in line of battle, spread the sails of the _Alliance_, and went quickly toward the enemy as though to make an attack. But when very near to where the _Serapis_ lay, he changed his course, and sailed away to a place where the battle could be seen without harm.

About half-past seven in the evening, the _Richard_ rounded to on the side of the _Serapis_ within pistol-shot.

Captain Pearson of the _Serapis_ hailed, saying: ”What s.h.i.+p is that?”

The answer came: ”I can't hear what you say.”

Captain Pearson repeated: ”What s.h.i.+p is that? Answer at once or I shall fire.”

Paul Jones' reply was a shot. This was followed by a broadside from each vessel.

At this first fire, two of the guns in the lower battery of the _Richard_ burst. The explosion tore up the decks, and killed many men.