“What threatened to be our destruction has proved our salvation.—­Keep yonder hill crowned with wood one point open from the church tower at its base, and steer east and by north; you will run through these shoals on that course in an hour, and by so doing you will gain five leagues of your enemy, who will have to double their trail.”

14.  Every officer in the ship, after the breathless suspense of uncertainty had passed, rushed to those places where a view might be taken of their enemies.  The ninety was still steering boldly onward, and had already approached the two-and-thirty, which lay a helpless wreck, rolling on the unruly seas that were rudely tossing her on their wanton billows.  The frigate last engaged was running along the edge of the ripple, with her torn sails flying loosely in the air, her ragged spars tottering in the breeze, and everything above her hull exhibiting the confusion of a sudden and unlooked-for check to her progress.

15.  The exulting taunts and mirthful congratulations of the seamen, as they gazed at the English ships, were, however, soon forgotten in the attention that was required to their own vessel.  The drums beat the retreat, the guns were lashed, the wounded again removed, and every individual able to keep the deck was required to lend his assistance in repairing the damages to the frigate, and securing her masts.

16.  The promised hour carried the ship safely through all the dangers, which were much lessened by daylight; and by the time the sun had begun to fall over the land, Griffith, who had not quitted the deck during the day, beheld his vessel once more cleared of the confusion of the chase and battle, and ready to meet another foe.

Definitions.—­1.  Frig’ate, a war vessel, usually carrying from twenty-eight to forty-four guns, arranged in two tiers on each side.  Eq’ui-page (pro. ek’wi-paj), furniture, fitting out. 4.  Ar’ti-fice. skillful contrivance, trick.  Broad’side, a discharge of all the guns on one side of a ship, above and below, at the same time. 7.  Man’i-fest, visible to the eye, apparent. 11.  As-sur’ance (pro. a-shur’ans), full confidence, courage. 13.  Sway, control, rule.

Notes.—­2.  The Pilot, who appears in this story, under disguise, is John Paul Jones, a celebrated American naval officer during the Revolution.  He was born in Scotland, in 1747, and was apprenticed when only twelve years old as a sailor.  He was familiar with the waters about the British Islands, and during part of the war he hovered about their coasts in a daring way, capturing many vessels, often against heavy odds, and causing great terror to the enemy.

8.  The ninety, refers to a large ninety-gun ship, part of a fleet which was chasing the American vessel.

10.  The Devil’s Grip; the name of a dangerous reef in the English Channel.

13.  One point open.  Directions for steering, referring to the compass.