PAUL JONES OFF FLAMBRO 1 325 



frigate was anchored in the H umber, not far down the 

 coast, in readiness to convoy a number of merchantmen 

 bound to the north. 



Jones hesitated at nothing in the execution of his 

 plans. The pilots supposed him to be an English war- 

 ship and therefore made known to him the private signal 

 which they were required to make. By using this signal 

 Jones tried to decoy the merchantmen out of port, but 

 the wind changed and the tide was unfavourable, so that 

 " the deception had not the desired effect, and they 

 wisely put back." Finding the entrance to the Humber 

 very difficult and dangerous, and as the Pallas was not in 

 sight, Jones determined not to remain off the mouth of 

 the river and steered out again to Flamborough Head to 

 join the Pallas. In the night they saw two ships and 

 chased them until three o'clock on the following morning. 

 Jones was then very near the ships the Alliance and 

 the Pallas and made the private signal of reconnais- 

 sance, which he had given to each of his captains before 

 sailing from Groix. Only half the signal was returned. 

 Both sides lay to until daylight. 



Matters were becoming exciting and rapidly leading up 

 to the grand climax. The morning of the 23rd had come 

 and Jones pursued a brigantine, following this by chas- 

 ing at noon a large ship that was rounding Flamborough 

 Head from the north. Simultaneously he manned and 

 armed one of the pilot-boats to send after the brigantine, 

 which seemed to be the vessel he had driven ashore. 



Now it was that the fleet of merchantmen from the 

 Baltic, forty-one sail in all, appeared off Flamborough 

 Head, bearing north-north-east. Jones, on seeing the 

 fleet, immediately abandoned the single ship which was then 



