CHAPTER XII.
Jacob Jones--The _Wasp_ and the _Frolic_--James Biddle--The _Hornet_ and the _Penguin_--A Narrow Escape.
I must now tell you something about another gallant young officer who entered the American navy at the close of the century, when he was hardly thirty years old.

He was Jacob Jones, who lived until 1850.

He was a lieutenant on the _Philadelphia_ for two years, and was with that frigate when she ran on the rocks in the harbor of Tripoli.

He was given command of the 18-gun sloop of war _Wasp_, which sailed from the Delaware in October, 1812, and headed eastward, with the intention of intercepting some of the enemy's merchantmen plying between Great Britain and the West Indies.
About a week after sailing he sighted five merchantmen, several of which were well armed, while all were convoyed by a brig of war.

Jones stood toward them, when the brig signalled to her companions to make all sail before the wind, while she dropped back to attend to the stranger.