| Show GUNS FOR OLD GLORY abo alten to abe american ilac the ranger ran slowly between the frowning french frigates looking as warlike as they her men swarmed like boos into the rigging and her colors ran up to salute the flag of bis most christian majesty of france and she fired one by one her salute of 13 guns says sarah orne in the atlantic there was a moment of suspense the wind was very light now the powder smoke drifted away and the flapping sails sounded loud overhead would the admiral answer back or would he treat this bold challenge like a handkerchief waved at him from a pleasure boat some of the officers on the ranger looked incredulous but paul jones still held his letter in his hand there was a puff of white smoke and the great guns of the french flagship began to shake the air one two three four five sir seven eight nine and then were still save for their echoes from the low hills about barnac carnac and the great druid mount of st michael gardner you may tell the men that this was the salute of the king of france to our republic and the first high honor to our flag said the captain proudly to his steersman but they were all now along the rangers decks that little ship whose name shall never be forgotten while her country lives the captain lifted his hat and stood looking up at the flag we hardly know what this day means gentlemen he said soberly to his officers who came about him 1 I believe we are at the christening of the greatest nation that was ever born into the world the day shall come when america republic though she may be will salute no foreign flag without receiving gun for gun |
