and, after firing a few shots into the
"Serapis," ranged slowly down along the "Richard," pouring a murderous
fire of grape-shot into the already shattered ship. Jones thus tells
the story of this treacherous and wanton assault:--

"I now thought that the battle was at an end. But, to my utter
astonishment, he discharged a broadside full into the stern of the
'Bon Homme Richard.' We called to him for God's sake to forbear. Yet
he passed along the off-side of the ship, and continued firing. There
was no possibility of his mistaking the enemy's ship for the 'Bon
Homme Richard,' there being the most essential difference in their
appearance and construction. Besides, it was then full moonlight; and
the sides of the 'Bon Homme Richard' were all black, and the sides of
the enemy's ship were yellow. Yet, for the greater security, I showed
the signal for our reconnoissance, by putting out three lanterns,--one
at the bow, one at the stern, and one at the middle, in a horizontal
line.

"Every one cried that he was firing into the wrong ship, but nothing
availed. He passed around, firing into the 'Bon Homme Richard,' head,
stern, and broadside, and by one of his volleys killed several of my
best men, and mortally wounded a good officer of the forecastle. My
situation was truly deplorable. The 'Bon Homme Richard' received
several shots under the water from the 'Alliance.' The leak gained on
the pumps, and the fire increased much on board both ships. Some
officers entreated me to strike, of whose courage and sense I
entertain a high opinion. I would not, however, give up the point."

Fortunately Landais did not persist in his cowardly attack upon his
friends in the almost sinking ship, but sailed off, and allowed the
"Richard" to continue her life-and-death struggle with her enemy. The
struggle was not now of long duration; for Capt. Pearson, seeing that
his ship was a perfect wreck, and that the fire was gaining head way,
hauled down his colors with his own hands, since none of his men could
be persuaded to brave the fire from the tops of the "Richard."

As the proud emblem of Great Britain fluttered down, Lieut. Richard
Dale turned to Capt. Jones, and asked permission to board the prize.
Receiving an affirmative answer, he jumped on the gunwale, seized the
mainbrace-pendant, and swung himself upon the quarter-deck of the
captured ship. Midshipman Mayrant, with a large party of sailors,
followed. So great was the confusion on