PAUL JONES OFF FLAMBRO 1 327 



his handsome sweetheart were on the cliff-tops gazing 

 at the battle. 



Jones was a bold and skilful sailor ; Captain Pearson, 

 who commanded the Serapis, had won a reputation as a 

 fine officer. Each man tried his hardest on that peaceful 

 evening to win an advantage, but movements were slow, 

 for there was little wind. Jones, recognising his inferior 

 strength, sought to grapple at close quarters with his 

 enemy, and tried to lay the Richard athwart the bow of 

 the Serapis. Some of his braces were, however, shot 

 away, and the manoeuvre failed. The bowsprit of the 

 Serapis went over the Richard's poop by the mizzen-mast, 

 and instantly Jones made both ships fast, the result being 

 that the stern of the Englishman was forced close to the 

 American's bow. The ships lay square alongside of 

 each other, the yards were entangled, and the muzzles of 

 the opposing guns came in contact. 



By this time it was eight o'clock and the Richard 

 was leaking badly, having received a number of eighteen- 

 pound shots below the water-line. Jones's battery of 

 twelve-pounders, on which he had placed great reliance, 

 and indeed chief hope, were completely silenced and 

 abandoned. The battery of the lower gun-deck con- 

 sisted of half a dozen old eighteen-pounders, but, beyond 

 firing eight shots in all, these weapons were useless. 

 At the very first discharge two of these guns burst and 

 killed nearly all their crews. Already the officer com- 

 manding a party of twenty soldiers on the poop Lieu- 

 tenant-Colonel de Chamillard, who was to have de- 

 livered the ultimatum to the magistrates at Leith had 

 abandoned that station owing to losses amongst his men. 



So furious and destructive had been the firing that 



