This page helps produce the secret code used by the Amazons (Nancy and Peggy) in Swallows and Amazons and other books by Arthur Ransome.
It is based upon the semaphore alphabet, and the legs of the figures can do anything you like.
The semaphore alphabet is signalled using two flags with different positions giving different letters. It used to be used by sailors.
In Arthur Ransome's classic series of books, the Amazon pirates signal to each other using semaphore. For fun, they also invent their own semaphore code using dancing figures. The legs are irrelevant, but the arms spell out letters in semaphore.
This webpage came about after spending time writing and decoding semaphore messages to other members of my family. It certainly speeds up the creation of messages!
You are welcome to print copies of the semaphore code or link to the webpage, but please do not make copies of the code behind the webpages.
