“Another arrow, with a birch-bark message, just as sure as anything,” he cried, turning a puzzled face toward Sandy.
“Let me climb up and get it!” cried the younger lad; and, with the words, he immediately started to clamber up the rough side wall of the cabin, which had been made as near bullet-proof as possible, so as to afford protection in case of an Indian attack; for the French traders were selling the savages hundreds of firearms, and even teaching the warriors how to use them in place of the more primitive bow and arrows.
Presently Sandy came back, bearing the arrow in his hand.
“It is exactly like the other, which Blue Jacket told us was surely made by the hands of a Delaware brave,” he said, holding the object up before his brother.
Bob, just as he had expected, found a small piece of thin birch bark rolled about the arrow, near the head, and secured there by means of fibres taken from some plant.
Opening this, he discovered a series of crude, but plain pictures, made after the fashion of the Indians.
“This time there are many figures, and, as they have scalplocks, they must be Indians,” Bob remarked, as he and Sandy eagerly examined the message that had come from their unknown friend.
“Yes,” the other boy went on, “and see how they are lying flat behind bushes; while this must be the river flowing along. Some have guns, and others bows. And, if you please, Bob, this must be meant for our fine flatboat, though it looks more like an old ark than anything else. What do you make of that part of the message!”
“Oh! it stands but for one thing, a warning to beware of the foes who lurk on the shore, waiting to take us by surprise. But we already have been told all about such dangers, though this kind friend may not know that.”
“But see, Bob, there is more to it this time,” Sandy continued, eagerly. “Here is our proud boat again on the river, and on the shore stands a man, holding both his hands out. He is surely a white man, because he has a hat on. And I think he must be begging us to come to the shore and take him aboard.”