teeth of the wind, the ships could
make no headway. The gale increased in violence until it rivalled in
fierceness a tornado. The sea was lashed into fury, and great waves
arose, on the crests of which the men-of-war were tossed about like
fragile shells. The coal-ship which had been captured was so racked
and torn by the heavy seas, that her seams opened, and she foundered
so speedily, that only by the most active efforts was her crew saved.
After several hours' ineffectual battling with the gale, the ships
were forced to come about and run out to sea; and Jones suffered the
mortification of witnessing the failure of his enterprise, after
having been within gunshot of the town that he had hoped to capture.
As for the good people of Kirkaldy, they were convinced that their
escape from the daring seamen was wholly due to the personal influence
of their pastor with the Deity; and the worthy parson lived long
afterward, ever held in the most mighty veneration by the people of
his flock.

CHAPTER IX.

CAREER OF PAUL JONES CONCLUDED. -- THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE
"BON HOMME RICHARD" AND THE "SERAPIS." -- TREACHERY OF
LANDAIS. -- JONES'S GREAT VICTORY. -- LANDAIS STEALS THE
"ALLIANCE." -- JONES IN COMMAND OF THE "ARIEL." -- THE
"ARIEL" IN THE STORM. -- ARRIVAL IN AMERICA.

After this adventure, the three vessels continued their cruise along
the eastern coast of Scotland. Continued good fortune, in the way of
prizes, rather soothed the somewhat chafed feelings of Capt. Jones,
and he soon recovered from the severe disappointment caused by the
failure of his attack upon Leith. He found good reason to believe that
the report of his exploits had spread far and wide in England, and
that British sea-captains were using every precaution to avoid
encountering him. British vessels manifested an extreme disinclination
to come within hailing distance of any of the cruisers, although all
three were so disguised that it seemed impossible to make out their
warlike character. One fleet of merchantmen that caught sight of the
"Bon Homme Richard" and the "Pallas" ran into the River Humber, to the
mouth of which they were pursued by the two men-of-war. Lying at
anchor outside the bar, Jones made signal for a pilot, keeping the
British flag flying at his peak. Two pilot-boats came out; and Jones,
assuming the character of a British naval officer, learned from them,
that besides the merchantmen lying at anchor in