Paul Jones sent some men up the masts and into the rigging to throw hand-grenades, or bombs, among the enemy. One of these set fire to some cartridges on the deck of the _Serapis_. This caused a terrible explosion, disabling all the men at the guns in that part of the ship. Twenty of them were killed outright. By this time so much water had leaked into the _Richard_ that she was settling. A sailor, seeing this, set up the cry: "Quarter! quarter! Our ship is sinking!" Captain Pearson, hearing the cry, sent his men to board the _Richard_. Paul Jones, with a pike in his hand, headed a party of his men similarly armed, and drove the English back. Some of the _Richard's_ men ran below and set the prisoners free. There were more than a hundred of them. One of these prisoners climbed through the port holes into the _Serapis_. He told Captain Pearson that if he would hold out a little longer, the _Richard_ would either sink or strike. Poor Paul Jones was now in a hard place. His ship was sinking. More than a hundred prisoners were running about the decks, and they, with the crew, were shouting for quarter. His own ship, the _Alliance_, was hurling shots at him from the other side. Everywhere was confusion. But he, alone, was undismayed. He shouted to the prisoners to go below to the pumps or they would be quickly drowned. He ordered the crew to their places. He himself never left the three guns that could still be fired. At half-past ten o'clock, the _Serapis_ surrendered. [Illustration: THE SERAPIS AND THE BON HOMME RICHARD.] When Captain Pearson gave his sword to Paul Jones, he said it was very hard to surrender to a man who had fought "with a halter around his neck." Paul Jones replied, "Sir! You have fought like a hero. I hope your king will reward you." This battle had lasted for three hours and a half. It has since been known in history as one of the greatest victories ever won upon the seas. The _Serapis_ and the _Countess_ were both new ships, one of forty guns and the other of twenty. The crews were well-drilled Englishmen. Everything was against the _Richard_, and the victory was due alone to the great courage and will of its commander. When the fight was over, Paul Jones separated the ships and set the sails of the _Richard_. All night every sailor was busy fighting the fire which raged on both ships. When daylight showed to Captain Pearson the wreck of the _Richard_, he was sorry he had surrendered. Her rudder was gone and her rotten timbers were split into pieces. Some of the shots had passed entirely through her. Paul Jones wished to take her into port to show how desperately he had fought, but this was out of the question. By nine o'clock the sailors abandoned her, and at ten she suddenly went down. Repairing the _Serapis_ as best he could, Paul Jones took her and the _Countess of Scarborough_, with his unfaithful fleet, to Holland. XI.--HONOR TO THE HERO.