It was believed that the _Alliance_ had been captured by the enemy and had joined in the attack on the _Bonhomme Richard_, which was so injured that she began slowly to sink.

Having wrought this irreparable damage, the _Alliance_ drew off and ceased her murderous work.
Jones incited his prisoners to desperate pumping by the report that the _Serapis_ must soon go down and that the only way to save themselves from drowning was to keep the _Bonhomme_ afloat.

An officer ran to the quarter deck to haul down the colors, but they had been shot away.

He then hurried to the taffrail and shouted for quarter.

Jones, being in another part of the ship, did not hear him.