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:
I. 1 2.
He. 1 5.
I. 4.