him a welcome reception in his own wigwam. He was debating with
himself whether it would not be better to return, especially as his
pipe had been extinguished by his immersion, when a piece of bark
floated down toward him and caught against his line.

There certainly was nothing remarkable in this. After freeing it of
the obstruction, he continued fishing. But, scarcely a minute had
elapsed before a second and a third piece of bark, precisely like the
first, lodged against his line, and remained there with such
persistency that it required considerable effort upon his part to
remove them.

"Where in dunderation did dey come from?" he asked, looking inquiringly
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."