Ranger" left the harbor of Whitehaven, her captain was heavy
hearted. He felt that he had had the opportunity to strike a heavy
blow at the British shipping, but had nevertheless inflicted only a
trifling hurt. Angry with himself for not having better planned the
adventure, and discontented with his lieutenant for not having by
presence of mind prevented the fiasco, he felt that peace of mind
could only be obtained by some deed of successful daring.

He was cruising in seas familiar to him as a sailor. Along the
Scottish shores his boyhood hours had been spent. This knowledge he
sought to turn to account. From the deck of his ship, he could see the
wooded shores of St. Mary's Island, on which were the landed estates
of Lord Selkirk, a British noble, of ancient lineage and political
prominence. On the estate of this nobleman Paul Jones was born, and
there he passed the few years of his life that elapsed before he
forsook the land for his favorite element.

Leaning against the rail on the quarter-deck of the "Ranger," Jones
could see through his spy-glass the turrets and spires of Lord
Selkirk's castle. As he gazed, there occurred to him the idea, that if
he could send a landing party ashore, seize the castle, capture the
peer, and bear him off into captivity, he would not only strike terror
into the hearts of the British, but would give the Americans a
prisoner who would serve as a hostage to secure good treatment for the
hapless Americans who had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

With Jones, the conception of a plan was followed by its swift
execution. Disdaining to wait for nightfall, he chose two boats' crews
of tried and trusty men, and landed. The party started up the broad
and open highway leading to the castle. They had gone but a few rods,
however, when they encountered two countrymen, who stared a moment at
the force of armed men, and then turned in fear to escape.

"Halt!" rang out the clear voice of the leader of the blue-jackets;
and the peasants fell upon their faces in abject terror. Jones
directed that they be brought to him; and he questioned them kindly,
setting their minds at rest, and learning from them much of the castle
and its inmates. Lord Selkirk was away from home. This to Jones was
bitter news. It seemed as though some evil genius was dogging his
footsteps, bringing failure upon his most carefully planned
enterprises. But he was not a man to repine over the inevitable, and
he promptly ord