Deprived of his 18-pound guns by reason of the accident mentioned, Jones was forced to rely upon his 12-pounders.

They were worked for all that was in them, but the whole fourteen were silenced in little more than half an hour and seven of the quarter deck and forecastle guns were dismounted.

She was left with three 9-pounders, which, being loaded and aimed under the eye of Jones himself, did frightful execution on the deck of the enemy.
An hour had passed and the men were fighting furiously, when the full moon appeared above the horizon and lit up the fearful scene.

The _Serapis_ attempted to cross the bow of the _Bonhomme Richard_, but miscalculated and the _Bonhomme Richard_ shoved her bowsprit over the other's stern.

In the lull that followed, when each expected his antagonist to board, Captain Pearson called out: "Have you struck ?" "Struck!" shouted back Jones; "I am just beginning to fight!" The _Serapis_ made another effort to get into position to rake the American, but in the blinding smoke she ran her jibboom afoul of the starboard mizzen shrouds of the _Bonhomme Richard_.