the revolt of the captives, but
to the wilful and silly insubordination of Lieut. Simpson, the flight
of the captured vessel was due. This officer, feeling himself
aggrieved by something Jones had said or done, had determined to seize
upon the "Drake," repair her in some French port, and thenceforward to
cruise as a privateer. This plan was nipped in the bud by Jones, who
put the disobedient officer in irons, and carried the "Drake" into
Brest as a prize.

All Europe now rang with the praises of Paul Jones. Looked at in the
calm light of history, his achievements do not appear so very
remarkable. But it is none the less true that they have never been
paralleled. Before the day of Paul Jones, no hostile vessel had ever
swept the English Channel and Irish Sea clear of British merchantmen.
And since the day of Paul Jones the exploit has never been repeated,
save by the little American brig "Argus" in the War of 1812. But
neither before nor since the day of Paul Jones has the spectacle of a
British ship in an English port, blazing with fire applied by the
torches of an enemy, been seen. And no other man than Paul Jones has,
for several centuries, led an invading force down the level highways,
and across the green fields, of England.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE CAREER OF PAUL JONES CONTINUED. -- HIS SEARCH FOR A
SHIP. -- GIVEN COMMAND OF THE "BON HOMME RICHARD." --
LANDAIS AND HIS CHARACTER. -- THE FRUSTRATED MUTINY. --
LANDAIS QUARRELS WITH JONES. -- EDINBURGH AND LEITH
THREATENED. -- THE DOMINIE'S PRAYER.

When Paul Jones arrived at Brest, bringing the captured Drake, he
found the situation of affairs materially altered. France had
acknowledged the independence of the American Colonies, and had openly
espoused their cause as against that of Great Britain. It was no
longer necessary to resort to cunning deceptions to buy a war-ship or
sell a prize in a French port. French vessels, manned by French crews
and commanded by French officers, were putting to sea to strike a blow
against the British. French troops were being sent to America. The
stars and stripes waved by the side of the _fleur de lys_; and
Benjamin Franklin, the American envoy, was the lion of French society,
and the idol of the Parisian mob.

Paul Jones saw in this friendship of France for the struggling
colonies his opportunity. Heretofore he had been condemned to command
only slow-going, weak ships. He had been hampered by a la