e America
his home. And as he was known to be a good sailor, he was appointed
first lieutenant of the "Alfred," the flagship of our small fleet. He
had the honor to be the first man to raise a flag on an American
man-of-war, and that is something to be proud of. This took place on the
"Delaware," at Philadelphia, about Christmas, 1775.

It was an important event for the fleet was just being sent out. At a
given signal Lieutenant Jones grasped the halliards, and hauled up to
the mizzen topmast a great flag of yellow silk. As it unfurled to the
breeze cannon roared and crowds on the shore lustily cheered. In the
centre of the flag was seen the figure of a green pine tree, and under
this a rattlesnake lay coiled, with the warning motto, "Don't tread on
me!"

This was the famous rattlesnake flag. Another flag was raised on which
were thirteen stripes, in turns red and white, and in the corner the
British union jack. We then had the stripes but not the stars. They were
to come after the Declaration of Independence and the union of the
states.

In August, 1776, Congress made Paul Jones captain of the brig
"Providence," and he soon showed what kind of a man he was. He came
across a fleet of five vessels, and made up his mind to capture the
largest of them, which he thought to be a fine merchant ship. He got
pretty close up before he learned his mistake. It was the British
frigate "Solebay," strong enough to make mince-meat of his little brig.
There was nothing for it but to run, and Captain Jones made haste to
get away, followed by the "Solebay." But the Briton gained on the
American, and after a four-hours' run the frigate was less than a
hundred yards away. It might at any minute sink the daring little
"Providence" by a broadside.

But Paul Jones was not the man to be caught. Suddenly the helm of the
brig was put hard up, as sailors say, and the little craft turned and
dashed across the frigate's bow. As it did so the flag of the republic
was spread to the breeze, and a broadside from the brig's guns swept the
frigate's deck. Then, with all sail set, away dashed the "Providence"
before the breeze. As soon as the British got back their senses they
fired all their guns at the brig. But not a ball hit her, and with the
best of the wind she soon left the "Solebay" far behind.

And now I must tell the story of Paul Jones' greatest fight. In its way
it was the greatest sea-fight ever known. It was fought with a fleet in
whi