“Your ladyship’s adoring enemy,

“JOHN PAUL JONES.”

How the lady received this super-ardent note, history does not relate.  But history has not omitted to record, that after the return of the Ranger to France, through the assiduous efforts of Paul in buying up the booty, piece by piece, from the clutches of those among whom it had been divided, and not without a pecuniary private loss to himself, equal to the total value of the plunder, the plate was punctually restored, even to the silver heads of two pepper-boxes; and, not only this, but the Earl, hearing all the particulars, magnanimously wrote Paul a letter, expressing thanks for his politeness.  In the opinion of the noble Earl, Paul was a man of honor.  It were rash to differ in opinion with such high-born authority.

Upon returning to the ship, she was instantly pointed over towards the Irish coast.  Next morning Carrickfergus was in sight.  Paul would have gone straight in; but Israel, reconnoitring with his glass, informed him that a large ship, probably the Drake, was just coming out.

“What think you, Israel, do they know who we are?  Let me have the glass.”

“They are dropping a boat now, sir,” replied Israel, removing the glass from his eye, and handing it to Paul.

“So they are—­so they are.  They don’t know us.  I’ll decoy that boat alongside.  Quick—­they are coming for us—­take the helm now yourself, my lion, and keep the ship’s stern steadily presented towards the advancing boat.  Don’t let them have the least peep at our broadside.”

The boat came on, an officer in its bow all the time eyeing the Ranger through a glass.  Presently the boat was within hail.

“Ship ahoy!  Who are you?”

“Oh, come alongside,” answered Paul through his trumpet, in a rapid off-hand tone, as though he were a gruff sort of friend, impatient at being suspected for a foe.

In a few moments the officer of the boat stepped into the Ranger’s gangway.  Cocking his bonnet gallantly, Paul advanced towards him, making a very polite bow, saying:  “Good morning, sir, good morning; delighted to see you.  That’s a pretty sword you have; pray, let me look at it.”

“I see,” said the officer, glancing at the ship’s armament, and turning pale, “I am your prisoner.”

“No—­my guest,” responded Paul, winningly.  “Pray, let me relieve you of your—­your—­cane.”

Thus humorously he received the officer’s delivered sword.

“Now tell me, sir, if you please,” he continued, “what brings out his Majesty’s ship Drake this fine morning?  Going a little airing?”

“She comes out in search of you, but when I left her side half an hour since she did not know that the ship off the harbor was the one she sought.”

“You had news from Whitehaven, I suppose, last night, eh?”

“Aye:  express; saying that certain incendiaries had landed there early that morning.”