Polly, whose turn was next, gave up frankly and Fred asked for a few minutes in which to think.
"Maybe it is because it will wig-wag back when some one signals," he said finally. "It is polite to answer when you're spoken to."
"Everybody's wrong," Artie announced, a little triumphantly. "I'm the only one who knows the answer."
Fred laughed good-naturedly.
"Well, I should hope you'd know the answer to your own riddle," he said quickly. "Come on and let us share the secret."
Artie cleared his throat.
"A ship is always polite," said he, "because it approaches with a bow."
"And arrow?" Ward chimed in.
"No, not an arrow, silly," said Artie. "This is another kind of a bow. I mean the front part of a ship."