The Englishman was dumfounded by the daring manoeuvre, which brought the American within pistol shot, for he did not fire a gun until Jones was beyond reach of his grape.  The pursuit was continued hour after hour, but the brig was now at her best and finally left her pursuer hopelessly astern.  When the Providence ran into Newport in October she had captured or destroyed fifteen prizes.

Jones’s bold and skilful seamanship drew attention to him and he was now given command of the 24-gun ship Alfred, while Captain Hacker took charge of the Providence.  The two vessels started on a cruise in company and some days later the Alfred fell in with three British vessels, and, after a brisk action, captured them all.  One proved to be a transport with 150 men and a large amount of supplies for Burgoyne’s army, which was at that time organizing in Montreal for its notable campaign through New York, where it was captured by General Gates, at Saratoga.

This transport was so valuable that Jones, instead of putting a prize crew on board, determined to take her into port, and, if in danger of capture from pursuit, he meant to sink her.  It began snowing the following night and the Providence and Alfred were obliged to separate.

Jones was making for Boston when he was discovered by the frigate that he had outwitted two months before, when the Providence narrowly escaped capture.  Night was closing in and the frigate being to windward, her outlines were indistinct.  Captain Jones ordered his prizes to steer southward and to pay no attention to the signals displayed on his own vessel.  At midnight he hoisted a toplight and tacked to the west, knowing the others would continue to the southward as he had directed.  The strategem was successful, for at daylight the frigate was pressing hard after the Alfred, while the prizes had disappeared.  The Alfred eluded her enemy as before, and, upon reaching Boston, Jones found his captives awaiting him.

An idea of the effectiveness of the privateers may be gained by the statement that during the year 1777 nearly 500 vessels were captured by them.  By that time Paul Jones had proven himself to be the finest officer in the American Navy.  He had every quality to make him such.  No one could surpass him in seamanship.  He was cool and daring and was animated by the highest patriotism for his adopted country.  Such a man was sure to be heard of again, as Great Britain learned to her cost.

France had shown a strong liking for the American colonies from the first.  No doubt this liking was influenced by her hatred of England, for the nations had been bitter rivals for years.  We had sent several commissioners to Paris, and they did a good deal for our country.  The commissioners had a heavy, single-decked frigate built in Holland, which was named the South Carolinian and was intended for Paul Jones, but some difficulties occurred and he was sent to sea in the 18-gun ship Ranger, which left Portsmouth, N.H., at the beginning of November.  She was so poorly equipped that Jones complained, though he did not hesitate on that account.