By this time so much water had leaked into the Richard that she was settling. A sailor, seeing this, set up the cry: "Quarter! quarter! Our ship is sinking!"
Captain Pearson, hearing the cry, sent his men to board the Richard. Paul Jones, with a pike in his hand, headed a party of his men similarly armed, and drove the English back.
Some of the Richard's men ran below and set the prisoners free. There were more than a hundred of them.
One of these prisoners climbed through the port holes into the Serapis. He told Captain Pearson that if he would hold out a little longer, the Richard would either sink or strike.
Poor Paul Jones was now in a hard place. His ship was sinking. More than a hundred prisoners were running about the decks, and they, with the crew, were shouting for quarter. His own ship, the Alliance, was hurling shots at him from the other side. Everywhere was confusion.
But he, alone, was undismayed. He shouted to the prisoners to go below to the pumps or they would be quickly drowned. He ordered the crew to their places. He himself never left the three guns that could still be fired.
At half-past ten o'clock, the Serapis surrendered.
THE SERAPIS AND THE BON HOMME RICHARD.
When Captain Pearson gave his sword to Paul Jones, he said it was very hard to surrender to a man who had fought "with a halter around his neck." Paul Jones replied, "Sir! You have fought like a hero. I hope your king will reward you."