The Filipino pointed away to the mass of tropical blossoms shimmering in the sunlight and grinned at what he doubtless considered a very sharp reply. French, hearing the voices, looked out of the cabin and smiled at the antics the boy was making.
Frank threw his body into a vertical position and bent sharply off to the right. Then back to vertical and off to the left. Then back and to the right again.
"That's all right!" cried French from the cabin. "You appear to be a nimble little chap. What are those exercises for?"
"To bring all the muscles of the body into use!" replied Frank, winking at Jack, who was just beginning to understand the purpose of the sudden demand for exercise.
"Blessed if he ain't doing the wigwag with his body!" thought Jack. "That is the letter 'C'."
From the vertical Frank then dropped his body over to the left, then to the right and stopped.
"That's wigwag for 'O'," thought Jack. "I wonder what he means to say?"
"Well done!" shouted French, his hands full of tinned goods. "I'll get you a job in a circus when I get done with you!"
"That will be fine!" Frank replied, facing French with as innocent a face as a boy ever carried.
One to the right, two to the left, one to the right, and Jack read the letter "M" and saw what the next one would be. One to the right, one to the left, and Jack read the letter "E." Then three slow motions straight in front, then to vertical again.