More sail was made upon the ship when she was brought into her new course; in the mouth of the Lough she beat to and fro until night, then she ran into the harbor.
The Drake lay well up in the harbor, and it was Captain Jones’ intention to lay the Ranger alongside her and board.
“When I give the word,” said he to the boatswain, who was in charge of a group of men on the forecastle deck, “let go the bow anchors.”
Cutlasses, boarding-pikes and pistols were distributed, and the crew stood ready. With a magnificent display of seamanship John Paul Jones brought the Ranger up and laid her athwart the Drake.
“Let go the anchor,” he commanded in a low voice.
There was a scuffling and stumbling among the seamen in the bow; the anchor-chain rattled, then stopped; the American sloop-of-war drifted down past the lee quarter of the Englishman; at this point the anchor fell with a loud plunge, and the Ranger lay directly under the broadside of the Drake.
There was a stir among the watch upon the British ship’s deck.
“Ahoy, there, you blundering lubber!” yelled a voice. “What are you about?”
“No harm done,” answered Captain Jones, promptly. “Anchor-chain fouled.” Then in a low tone he added: “Cut that cable and let the anchor go.”
Ethan Carlyle seized an axe from the rack, and with a deft, sure blow severed the thick line; the Ranger drifted slowly out of her dangerous position; as another attempt of the same sort could not be risked, sail was clapped upon her and she raced out of the Lough like a hunted hare.