“Captain John Pindar.”
“Any news from the rebels?” asked Lunt.
This threw the British captain off his guard, particularly as the sailor had not yet been able to get the British colors down, and they were still flying. Captain Pindar came to the rail of the Triumph and gave a long account of affairs in America, which were progressing badly for the British. After all the information possible had been obtained, most of which was highly satisfactory to the Americans, Paul Jones himself called out:
“Put out your boat and come on board, bringing your commission, so that I can see whether you are really in the British navy or not.”
At this Captain Pindar’s suspicions were excited, and it was some moments before he replied:
“You have not told me who you are, and, besides, my boat is leaky.”
Just then the British colors came down and the American ensign was hoisted.
“Look at my ensign,” cried Paul Jones, “and consider the danger of refusing.”
To this the British captain pluckily replied:
“I will answer for twenty guns on my ship, and I and every one of my people are Englishmen.”