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." Working his way cautiously backward, he reached the land and started apparently to return to his wigwam.