“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.”

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 he thought was meant to attract his eye.  The water directly beneath it flashed and sparkled as if it was disturbed by some object.  Straining his gaze, he finally discerned what appeared to be a human hand swaying backward and forward.

“Dat is enough!” thought Hans Vanderbum.  “Dere’s somebody dere dat wants to see me, and is afeard of dese oder chaps about, so I goes to him.”