y
about him. His first impression was that the Shawnees along the banks
were throwing these pieces out into the river for the purpose of
annoying him; but, on looking toward them, he could discover nothing in
their appearance to warrant such a supposition. He turned elsewhere
for the cause. Resuming his attention to his line, he found several
other pieces passing beneath him, and he began now to feel really
provoked at this repeated annoyance. He was about to break out into
some exclamation, when the appearance of these floating objects
arrested his attention. A glance showed him there was something meant
more than mere mischief. The pieces of bark were of a peculiar
construction, roughly cut into the shape of an Indian canoe, showing
unmistakably that they were sent down the stream for the purpose of
arresting his notice.

"Dat means something," exclaimed Hans, decidedly, "and I must find out
what it is."

By simply looking up-stream, he could discern this fleet of miniature
boats coming down toward him in a straight line. In the clear sunlight
they were visible for a great distance, and it was no difficult matter
to determine their starting point. Some two hundred yards above,
another tree projected out over the water very much the same as that
upon which Hans was seated, so similar in fact that he had often used
it for the same purpose. As the line of the pieces of bark pointed
directly toward these, there was but little doubt that here they were
launched upon the water.

"It can't be dat Quanonshet and Madokawandock is dere," mused Hans
Vanderbum, "for to try to worry deir poor old fader. Dey're too big
Dutchmen to build such boats, and dey wouldn't know how to make 'em
float under me if dey did. No; dere's somebody out on dat tree, and
he's doing it to make me look up at him. I'm looking but I can't see
notting."

He shaded his eyes as he spoke, and looked long and searchingly at the
tree, but for a considerable time could discover nothing unusual about
it. At length, however, he fancied that he saw one of the limbs sway
gently backward and forward in a manner that could hardly be caused by
the wind. Gradually it began to dawn upon him that if there was any
person upon the tree, he meant that his presence should not be
suspected by the Shawnees along the bank. Accordingly Hans Vanderbum
was more circumspect in his observations.

Still watching the tree, he soon discovered something else that h