Captain Paul Jones, waxing industrious, attempts to burn the shipping which crowds the tidal basin at Whitehaven. In these fire-lighting efforts he succeeds to the extent of five ships; after which he rows out to the _Ranger_. Thereupon the people and militia, who crowd the terror-smitten hills round about, come down into their town again. Captain Paul Jones crosses now to the north shore of the Solway for a morning call upon the Earl of Selkirk. He schemes to capture that patrician, and trade him back to the English for certain good American sailors whom they hold as prisoners. The plan falls through, since the noble earl is not at home. In lieu, the _Ranger_‘s crew take unto themselves the Selkirk plate, which Captain Paul Jones subsequently buys from them, paying the ransom from his own purse, and returns with his compliments gallantly expressed in a letter to the earl. From the Solway, the little _Ranger_ stands west by north across the Irish Sea. Off Carrickfergus she finds the _Drake_, an English sloop of war that is two long nines the better than the _Ranger_ in her broadsides, and thirty-one men stronger in her crew. To save trouble, the _Ranger_ is hove to off the mouth of Belfast Lough, and waits for the _Drake_ to come out. This the English ship does slowly and with difficulty, being on the wrong side of wind and tide. “The sun is no more than an hour high,” The Story of Paul Jones suggests Lieutenant Wallingford wistfully. “Shouldn’t we go to meet them, sir?” Captain Paul Jones shakes his head. “We’ve better water here,” says he. “Besides, the moon will be big; we’ll fight them by the light of the moon.” Slowly, reluctantly, the _Drake_ forges within hail. She is in doubt about the _Ranger_. “What ship is that?” cries the _Drake_. Captain Paul Jones puts his speaking-trumpet to his lips. “The American ship _Ranger_,” he replies. “Come on; we’re waiting for you.” Without further parley, broadside answers broadside and the battle is on. Both ships head north, the _Ranger_ having the weather-gage. This last gives Captain Paul Jones the nautical upperhand. In ship-fighting, the weather-gage is equivalent to an underhold in wrestling. There is a swell on, and the two ships roll heavily. They shape their course side by side, keeping within musket-reach of each other. The breeze is on the starboard quarter, and a little faster than the ships. By this good luck, the smoke of the broadsides is sent drifting ahead, and the line of sight between the ships kept free. On they crawl, broadside talking to broadside; only the Americans are smarter with their guns, and fire three to the _Drake_‘s two.