328 NORTH SEA FISHERS AND FIGHTERS 



an hour after the fight began Jones had only two nine- 

 pounders on the quarter-deck which were not silenced, 

 and during the rest of the action not one of the heavier 

 pieces of ordnance was discharged. 



The guns on the quarter-deck were commanded by 

 the purser, Mease, but he was wounded in the head, and 

 Jones took his place. Rallying a few men a hard task, 

 for discipline was lax in Jones's squadron, and there were 

 not a few cowards serving under him he shifted over 

 one of the lee-quarter-deck guns, making three of these 

 nine-pounders brought to bear against the Serapis. 



In one respect, however, Jones was fortunate. His 

 tops were well manned, and from them, especially the 

 maintop commanded by Lieutenant Stack, a killing fire 

 was directed upon the Englishman. From one of the 

 nine-pounders, too, double-headed shot were fired at the 

 mainmast of the Serapis, grape and canister being 

 scattered upon her decks. Under that cannonade the 

 decks of the Serapis were deserted, the only place of 

 refuge for the living being below. 



Jones believed that now the Englishman was on the 

 point of surrendering ; but an utterly unlooked-for thing 

 occurred. " The cowardice or treachery " of his gunner, 

 carpenter, and master-at-arms induced them to ask for 

 quarter. 



Pearson heard the cry. " Has your ship struck?" 

 he shouted. 



Jones was equal to the hail, and grasped the peril of 

 the situation. " I haven't yet begun to fight ! " he 

 shouted back. 



Instantly the battle was resumed more fiercely than 

 before. Already the lower-deck ports of the Serapis 



