All the boys carried flags. They kept step like little soldiers.
"Oh, doesn't Taro look beautiful?" said Take. She climbed up on the gate-post. She waved a little flag with all her might, but Taro never looked round. He just marched straight along.
Just then "rub-a-dub-dub" came the sound of another drum. Around the next corner came another army of little boys.
They carried flags, too. They marched straight toward Taro's army.
"Now the war is coming! Now the war is coming!" shouted Take.
All at once Taro's soldiers began to run. The other soldiers ran, too. They ran straight toward each other and tried to get each others' flags.
Take saw Taro wave his sword. "On, soldiers, on!" he shouted.
Then there was a great mix-up of boys and flags. It seemed like a bundle of waving arms and legs and banners. Every boy was shouting at the top of his voice.
Take climbed right on top of the gate-post, she was so excited.
She stood up on it and waved her arms!
"Look at that child," cried the Mother. "She'll fall."