ting so now that a British vessel would rather encounter almost anything than Paul Jones and his bold little ship. They were growing to look upon him as a sort of hurricane always to be encountered and always dreaded. Whatever was needed for the ill-fed and poorly-clad American troops, he managed to secure out on the seas. He brought a goodly store of clothes and blankets to Gen. Washington’s soldiers, and the Continental Congress grew to regard him as a sort of property man, or master of supplies. He continued this valuable service for two years, taking prizes and stores, capturing British vessels, and getting away in a most unaccountable manner from those he could not take. He would appear and disappear as if he came out of the depths of the ocean, and no one knew what to expect.
Finally, he was ordered to go to France in a little vessel called the “Ranger,” and take possession of a large vessel that was being built for him there. The “Ranger” had eighteen guns,
