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.