Take was dancing for joy.
"There they come! There they come!" she cried.
Her Father reached up and held her still. "Be quiet, grasshopper," he said.
"But Taro is coming! They beat, they beat!" cried Take.
Taro and his army were coming up the street on the run. Nearly every little boy had two flags! The other army was running away as fast as it could go. They had only two banners left.
"Beat the drum!" shouted Taro. The drummer boy began, "rat-a-tat-tat," and the whole victorious army marched down the street and right into Taro's garden!
As he passed his Father and Mother and Grannie and Bot'Chan, Taro saluted. His Father saluted Taro, and every one of the family—Grannie and all—cried "Banzai! Banzai!" That means the same as hurrah!
Then Take tumbled off the gate-post and raced up to the porch after the soldier. At the porch, the soldiers broke ranks.
The General's Mother ran into the house and brought out sweet rice-cakes and sugared beans. She fed the entire army. There were six boys in it.
"Fighting makes a soldier very hungry," Taro said.