“But Houston’s been in the United States army, and he’s lived with the Indians, and he’s not afraid of anything,” argued Ernest. “He can fight the way the white men fight and he can fight the way the Indians fight; and if he was commander then maybe all the Cherokees and Comanches would join us.” But Leo was unconvinced. So was Jim; and moreover, Jim didn’t seem even to favor Austin, especially, although he knew Stephen Austin well. “Austin would do toler’bly, I reckon,” agreed Jim. “But we settlers on the Colorado have a Colorado man we want. What’s the use in looking to the Brazos or clear to East Texas for a commander, when right here in camp we’ve one of the best fighters in Texas, who’s lived on the Colorado, and knows the whole country and all the men, from the Colorado to the Rio Grande?” “But if everybody wants a different man, how’s anybody to be elected?” demanded Ernest. And suddenly, interrupting himself, he sprang to his feet, pointing. “Look!” he cried. “Here’s a big bunch of more volunteers coming; a regular company! Hooray!” “Hooray!” cheered Jim and Leo; and from Gonzales and from the cornfield resounded other cheers, as men flourished their hats and rifles, welcoming the new arrivals. “They’ve got a flag! See it?” “A new tri-color――red, white and blue, with a star on it!” “It’s the Lone Star, boys! The Star of Texas and Liberty! Three cheers!” In real military order, horse and foot, the company of reinforcements marched up the road. Three riders led; and the rider at the left bore, on a lance at his saddle-bow, a square pennant divided into three sections――blue, white and red. The blue was a broad band running up and down, next to the pole; the white and the red made two bands extending the other way, from the blue to the end. In the middle of the blue band was a single large white star, five-pointed. It was a gay and beautiful flag; and the company under it marched proudly on, to report. Speedily the word spread that this was a company clear from Harrisburg on Buffalo Bayou of the Galveston Bay section. Andrew Robinson was captain; A. B. Dodson was first lieutenant; Jim Ferguson was second lieutenant. The flag had been made by Lieutenant Dodson’s bride, who had been Miss Sarah Rudolph Bradley (Leo said that he knew her), out of calico, and had been presented by her to the company. Lieutenant Ferguson was the man carrying it. He and the others explained that the three colors combined the tri-color idea of Mexico (whose flag was red, white and green) with the American red, white and blue; and that the star was Texas, rising for liberty in Mexico.