had enabled him to assume the station
of a Virginia gentleman; and he had become warmly attached to American
ideas and principles, and at the outbreak of the Revolution put his
services at the command of Congress. He was first offered a captain's
commission with the command of the "Providence," mounting twelve guns
and carrying one hundred men. But with extraordinary modesty the young
sailor declined, saying that he hardly felt himself fitted to
discharge the duties of a first lieutenant. The lieutenant's
commission, however, he accepted; and it was in this station that with
his own hands he hoisted the first American flag to the masthead of
the "Alfred."

The wretched fiasco which attended the attack of the American fleet
upon the "Glasgow" was greatly deplored by Jones. However, he
refrained from any criticism upon his superiors, and sincerely
regretted the finding of the court of inquiry, by which the captain of
the "Providence" was dismissed the service, and Lieut. Paul Jones
recommended to fill the vacancy.

The duties which devolved upon Capt. Jones were manifold and arduous.
The ocean was swarming with powerful British men-of-war, which in his
little craft he must avoid, while keeping a sharp outlook for foemen
with whom he was equally matched. More than once, from the masthead of
the "Providence," the lookout could discover white sails of one or
more vessels, any one of which, with a single broadside, could have
sent the audacious Yankee to the bottom. But luckily the "Providence"
was a fast sailer, and wonderfully obedient to her helm. To her good
sailing qualities, and to his own admirable seamanship, Jones owed
more than one fortunate escape. Once, when almost overtaken by a
powerful man-of-war, he edged away until he brought his pursuer on his
weather quarter; then, putting his helm up suddenly, he stood dead
before the wind, thus doubling on his course, and running past his
adversary within pistol-shot of her guns, but in a course directly
opposite to that upon which she was standing. The heavy war-ship went
plunging ahead like a heavy hound eluded by the agile fox, and the
Yankee proceeded safely on her course.

Some days later the "Providence" was lying to on the great banks near
the Isle of Sables. It was a holiday for the crew; for no sails were
in sight, and Capt. Jones had indulgently allowed them to get out
their cod-lines and enjoy an afternoon's fishing. In the midst of
their sport, as they wer