"Wouldn't if we were girls," was Gerald's retort, which Betty didn't seem to hear. She often had deaf spells.
"Now, Billy dear," she went on, "you see there are eighteen of the signal-flags. They are marked B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, and W. Besides these are two little pointed flags that mean 'Yes' and 'No.' The 'Yes' flag is white with a round red spot, and the flag that means 'No' is blue with a round white spot on it."
"Oh, now I know," exclaimed Billy. "If your boat wants to tell another boat 'No,' then it puts up the pointed blue flag."
"Yes, Billy, that's it."
"How do they use the other flags?" inquired Gerald. "You can't spell things without a's and o's."
"Don't you see, Gerald, each flag means something. Look on the back of the chart and you will see how they use the flags. The first signal is 'H—B.' When those two flags are displayed,—'display' is the right word to use, mister, so don't make eyes. When the 'H' flag and the 'B' flag are displayed together, with the 'H' above the 'B,' that's a signal that means 'Want immediate assistance.'
"Oh, boys, now I'll tell you what let's play. Every ship, you know, should carry a set of these signal-flags, so let's play we're all boats. I'll be a yacht, I guess, because yachts are beautiful."
"I'm a steam-tug—choo—choo—choo!—and my name's the tug Billy. Choo—choo choo—"
"Good, Bill!" exclaimed Gerald. "You're built just right for a tug. I guess I'll be the schooner Gerald of the White Star Line. Lumber's my cargo."
"Dear me, I can't be just a yacht, sailing around for the fun of it," remarked Betty. "I must be part of the merchant marine myself."