When boys live some distance apart, it is pleasant to be able to
communicate with each other by means of signals. Many and ingenious have
been the methods devised by enthusiastic boys for this purpose. But it
can be brought much nearer perfection than has yet been done, by means of
a very simple system.
At the age of fourteen I had an intimate friend who lived more than a
mile away, but whose home was in plain sight from mine. As we could not
always be together when we wished, we invented a system of signalling
requiring a number of different colored flags; but we were not quite
satisfied with it, for we could send but few communications by its use.
Then, when we came to test it, we found the distance was too great to
allow of the different colors being distinguished. The white one was
plainly visible. It seemed necessary, therefore, that only white flags
should be used. We studied over the problem long and hard, with the
following result.
We each made five flags by tacking a small stick, eighteen inches long,
to both ends of a strip of white cloth,[B] two feet long by ten inches
wide. Then we nailed loops of leather to the side of our fathers' barns,
so that, when the sticks were inserted in them, the flags would be in the
following positions:
The upper left hand position was numbered 1, upper right 2, lower right
3, lower left 4, centre 5. Notice, there was no difference in the
_flags_; the _positions_ they occupied determined the communication.
Thirty combinations of these positions can be made:
1--1 2--2 4--1 2 3--1 4 5--1 2 3 5
2--1 3--2 5--1 2 4--2 3 5--1 2 4 5
3--1 4--3 4--1 2 5--2 4 5--1 3 4 5
4--1 5--3 5--1 3 4--3 4 5--2 3 4 5
5--2 3--4 5--1 3 5--1 2 3 4--1 2 3 4 5.
These combinations were written down; and opposite each was written the
question or answer for which it stood. The answers likely to be used most
we placed opposite the shortest combinations, to save time in signalling.
My old "Code" lies before me, from which I copy the following examples:
1. _Yes._
2. _No._
3. _Morning._
4. _Afternoon._
5. _Evening._
1 2. _Can you come over?_
1 3. _When?_
2 5. _Wait till I find out._
1 3 4. _Can you go a-fishing?_
2 4 5. _Are you well to-day?_
Suppose, now, that I place flags in positions 2 4 and 5. (See the above
examples.)
Harry glances down his "code" until he reaches 2 4 5 and its
signification, and perhaps answers with a flag at 1.
Then the following dialogue ensues: