the nine-pounders, which Jones himself had worked, had gradually driven all the men off the upper deck of the Serapis. That Captain Pearson had escaped injury is a marvel, for he had with undaunted courage directed the battle from the quarter-deck. But as the smoke of the great explosion rose through his hatches, he found himself practically alone, while Jones, with a cocked pistol in hand, was rallying his men successfully to increase the fire of his upper-deck guns. As the British commander saw the fight, he was now without men, and the other Yankee frigate had but a short time before fired a broadside from which some balls entered the Serapis. Captain Pearson knew nothing of the treachery on the Alliance. He knew nothing (and this was to his discredit) of the real state of affairs on the lower decks of the Bonhomme Richard. Going to his flag that had been nailed to the mast, he tore it down with his own hands. A moment later John Paul Jones saw that the flag was down, and with such feelings of relief as can scarcely be imagined, gave the order "cease firing." CHAPTER X AFTER THE SERAPIS SURRENDERED RICHARD DALE TOO BRIGHT FOR THE BRITISH LIEUTENANT-A FAIR ESTIMATE OF CAPTAIN PEARSON OF THE SERAPIS—THE TREACHERY OF LANDAIS-REMARKABLE ESCAPE FROM TEXEL-HONORS FOR THE VICTOR—“THE FAME OF THE BRAVE OUTLIVES HIM; HIS PORTION IS IMMORTALITY." As soon as the flag was dragged down on the Serapis, John Paul Jones ordered Lieut. Richard Dale on board of her to take charge, but before he could do so the mainmast of the Serapis came crashing down, pulling the mizzentopmast with it. Then Dale jumped on the rail of his own ship, grasped the brace of the yard from which the lucky hand-grenade had been dropped, and swung himself down on the deck of the Serapis. A few of his crew followed him. It "As he made his way aft he saw a solitary person leaning on the tafferil in a melancholy posture, his face resting upon his hands. was Captain Pearson. He said to Dale, "The ship has struck.' While hurrying him on [the Bonhomme Richard] an officer came from below and observed to Captain Pearson, that the ship alongside was going down. "We have got three guns clear, sir, and they'll soon send her to the devil.' "The captain replied, "It's too late, sir. ship has struck. 66 6 Call the men off. The 'I'll go below, sir, and call them off immediately,' and he was about to descend when Dale, interfering, said, "No, sir, if you please you'll come on board with me." The above is quoted from the "British Journal" of an old date. Dale was of the opinion that, once that officer got below, he would have disregarded the surrender-that he would have used the three guns to send the Bonhomme Richard "to the devil," as he had proposed to do. That he might have done so is not doubted. And then came John Paul Jones to receive the sword of the defeated Pearson. According to the older accounts of this fight, Pearson said, as he handed his sword to his conqueror : "It is painful to deliver up my sword to a man who has fought with a halter around his neck." To this, it is said, Jones replied: Sir, you have fought like a hero; and I |