"Come along, then," said Rand, "and we will rout him out if he is anywhere about."
Starting out under the leadership of Rand the boys explored the woods in every direction for some distance from the camp without seeing any signs of any one being in the neighborhood.
"Going back to the flag," said the colonel, when the boys had returned, "while we are waiting for the dinner to be done, can any of you tell the history of the flag? Of its origin and how it came into being?"
"The first American flag was made in Philadelphia by Betsy Ross, in 1775, was it not?"
"According to tradition," replied the colonel, "but history doesn't bear it out. The earliest flag to be used by the colonies was the Liberty Flag, which was presented to the Council of Safety of Charleston, by Colonel Moultrie, in September, 1775."
"What was it like?" asked Rand.
"It was adapted from the Boston Liberty Tree, and was a blue flag with crescent in the dexter corner and the word 'Liberty' running lengthwise."
"There were other flags, too, weren't there?" asked Jack.
"Yes, there was the Rattlesnake Flag."
"The Rattlesnake Flag!" cried Pepper. "What was that like?"