"A message can be sent a long way in that manner." "I don't think it will interfere with us," said Warner.

"They're merely telling about us.

They don't intend to attack us.

They haven't the men to spare." "No, they won't attack, they know I'm here," said Pennington.
The three colonels did not stop the column, but they watched the signals as they rode.

Nobody was able to interpret them, not even Shepard, but they felt that they could ignore them.