“Cherry Blossom plunged her hands into the bags, her thoughts far away from the game.
“Suddenly her eyes flashed. She knew how to give him the message. Why hadn’t she thought of it before! Pictures could tell most anything, and so she eagerly began.
“Immediately from her tiny fingers the varicoloured sand trickled in a thin stream.
“At first as he idly watched, he saw in her picture a bit of sea, on which presently appeared a ship with spreading sail. On the fluffy white waves, creeping up to the shore, rocked a tiny boat. On the land appeared a prison, a perfect copy of one he had seen many times. In the small boat an American was seated.
“The man watched in tense silence. The child was telling him something. He lit a cigarette with unsteady hands, but as he remembered the sentinel on guard, he began to hum a tune.
“The child’s hands never trembled as she next produced a number of Japanese gentlemen.
“Now the man disappeared from the boat, and at once was seen peering through the prison bars.
“Just here the nurse suspiciously drew near to see the picture.
“The man quickly pointed to the sky, crying gaily, ‘See the birds!’
“As the nurse gazed Skyward, one swift stroke of his hand destroyed the picture, and he said quietly:
“‘Now let me make one. You do them so well I am afraid you will think I am a bungler, but I want to try.’
“As he worked, he whistled a merry tune, and the child felt that he meant her to know he understood. She soon saw that he, too, was picturing a message, for in the twinkling of an eye he had fashioned a tree, its green branches stretching out over the white background.
“On a low branch he placed a bird. It seemed to be making an effort to free itself from a thong which held its little foot. From its beak fluttered a banner. Under his fingers this banner was soon transfigured into an American flag.
“As the man worked, the merry tune was replaced by sharp twitters and chirps as though the bird were distressed.
“The child watched fascinated, as underneath the tree she saw a Japanese child taking shape. Her fingers rested on the bird’s foot, and suddenly by a quick twirl of his hand the bird was blotted out and in an instant plainly to be seen poised on the mast of a ship, carolling a glad song of freedom.