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When it was reported, “All hands up and aft!” Captain Saltonstall appeared out of the cabin. Paul Jones, having previously arranged it, called out, “Quartermaster!” and Bill Green, neat, handsome and sailorlike, stepped from the ranks of the petty officers.

From some unknown regions about his clothes Bill produced a flag, rolled up, and, following Paul Jones, stepped briskly aft to the flagstaff. He affixed the flag to the halyards, along with the broad pennant of a commodore, saw that they worked properly, and then stood by. The commodore’s boat was then at the ladder, and the commodore came over the side. Just as his foot touched the quarter-deck the flag with the pennant flew up on the staff like magic, under Paul Jones’s hands, the breeze caught it and flung it wide to the free air, and the sun, suddenly bursting out, bathed it in glory. Every officer, from the commodore down, instantly removed his cap, the drummer boys beat a double ruffle on the drums, and a tremendous cheer burst from the sailors and marines. As Paul Jones advanced, Commodore Hopkins said to him: