326 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



anchored in Bridlington Bay. He recalled the pilot-boat 

 and made the signal for a general chase. When the fleet 

 discovered Jones's squadron bearing down, all the mer- 

 chantmen crowded sail towards the shore. At the same 

 time the two warships which were convoying the fleet 

 steered from the land and prepared for battle. "In 

 approaching the enemy," wrote Jones, " I crowded every 

 possible sail, and made the signal for the line of battle, to 

 which the Alliance showed no attention. Earnest as I 

 was for action, I could not reach the commodore's ship 

 until seven in the evening, being then within pistol-shot, 

 when he hailed the Bon Homme Richard. We answered 

 him by firing a whole broadside." 



The principal interest of the battle centres in the 

 struggle between the two chief ships the Richard and 

 the Serapis. There was a subsidiary conflict that of 

 the Pallas and the Countess of Scarborough ; but it has 

 become insignificant by being overshadowed. After two 

 hours' hard fighting the Countess of Scarborough, which 

 was much inferior in armament to her opponent, was taken 

 by the Pallas. 



Once the fight began it was continued with fierce 

 resolution on both sides, and rarely has a more moving 

 spectacle been witnessed from the shore, although there 

 have been more terrible struggles very near the land 

 amongst them the Nile, Camperdown, Algiers, and 

 Navarino. 



Evening had fallen, the full moon was rising in the 

 placid sky, and there were the twinkling lamps and candles 

 in the cottages and houses ashore. Fisherfolk and tillers 

 of the soil were abroad, husbands and wives were out 

 with their children, and many a fine young fellow and 



