-dub of Jean Bart's guns went drumming against her
starboard side. Crash! Crash! Crash! Her boards were split, her
mizzen-mast was swaying, and her rigging was near cut in two. Men were
falling fast and two of her guns had blown up and were rendered
useless.

"Surrender!" came a sharp hail from the lusty throat of Jean Bart,
and, as he spoke, a perfect hail of grape came from his French ally,
now creeping up to port for a chance to grapple and board.

"What can I do?" sighed the stout, Dutch commander, turning to one of
his lieutenants. "Boy, haul down our flag!"

So down came the emblem of the States General amidst ringing cheers
from the throats of the followers of Jean Bart. They had won a notable
victory.

When the _Esperance_ was towed and half-sailed into Dunkirk harbor,
old Antoine Sauret was there.

"Ah, my friends," said he, "I always told you that my boy, Jean Bart,
would make a great name for himself. Three times three for the great
privateer of Dunkirk!"

And all the bystanders joined in right willingly.

Not long after this event, our hero's ship was lying in the harbor of
Bergen in Sweden. The captain of an English vessel met him on shore,
and, after having a chat with him, remarked:

"I hear that you have quite a reputation for fighting your ship. I,
too, am a sea warrior and would like to have a little affair with you.
My own vessel is of about the same tonnage as yours, so that we could
meet upon even terms. Will you join me?"

"I would be delighted," answered the war-like Jean Bart. "If you wait
two days I will be ready for you and will fight you three miles off
the coast. Meanwhile I must lie here and take on some stores which are
much needed by both men and guns."

The Englishman smiled.

"You are a man after my own heart," said he. "Good-by until we meet in
battle."

Three days after this, Jean Bart sent a boy to the English vessel with
a note for the captain. It ran:

"I am ready to fight you to-morrow. Meet me three miles
beyond the breakwater and may the best man win. Until
then--good luck.

"Yours for battle,

"JEAN BART."

The boy came back bearing a return missive from the Englishman, who
wrote:

"MONSIEUR BART: I am delighted to learn that you want to
fight me, and will do so. You are indeed a brave man.
But--before we go for each other's throats--pray let us
breakfast together. Will you therefore take your morning