ll tried to start a mutiny and
capture the ship for his own uses. He rushed at Jones, and the latter
had to seize a belaying-pin and hit him over the head. The man fell
badly hurt and soon after reaching Jamaica died.

Jones gave himself up to the authorities and was tried for murder on the
high seas. He said to the court: "I had two brace of loaded pistols in
my belt, and could easily have shot him. I struck with a belaying-pin in
preference, because I hoped that I might subdue him without killing
him." He was acquitted, and soon after offered command of a new ship
built to trade with India.

[Illustration: PAUL JONES CAPTURING THE "SERAPIS"]

The charm of life in Virginia appealed more and more strongly to the
sailor. He liked the new country, the society of the young cities along
the Atlantic coast, and he spent less time on the high seas and more
time fishing and hunting on his own land and in Chesapeake Bay. He might
have settled quietly into such prosperous retirement had not the
minutemen of Concord startled the new world into stirring action.

John Paul Jones loved America and he loved ships. Consequently he was
one of the very first to offer his services in building a new navy.
Congress was glad to have him; he was known as a man of the greatest
courage and of supreme nautical skill.

On September 23, 1779, Paul Jones, on board the American ship _Bon Homme
Richard_, met the British frigate _Serapis_ off the English coast. A
battle of giants followed, for both ships were manned by brave crews and
commanded by extraordinarily skilful officers. The short, black-haired,
agile American commander saw his ship catch fire, stood on his
quarterdeck while the blazing spars, sails and rigging fell about him,
while his men were mowed down by the terrific broadsides of the
_Serapis_, and calmly directed the fire of shot at the enemy.

Terribly as the _Bon Homme Richard_ suffered, the _Serapis_ was in still
worse plight. Two-thirds of her men were killed or wounded when Paul
Jones gave the signal to board her. The Americans swarmed over the
enemy's bulwarks, and, armed with pistol and cutlass, cleared the deck.

The captain of the _Serapis_ fought his ship to the last, but when he
saw the Americans sweeping everything before them and already heading
for the quarterdeck, he himself seized the ensign halyards and struck
his flag. Both ships were in flames, and the smoke was so thick that it
was some minutes before men r