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.