Any fellow might do that under stress of excitement, no matter what his knowledge of woodcraft may be.

I've been there myself, and as all my life was spent in the timber I ought to be free from such a trouble if any one might.

So, perhaps it would be wise, before we try to sally out and look for signs of our comrade, to shoot off a gun a few times, and see whether he makes any reply.

What do you say?
"Just what I was about to propose myself.

Three shots is the usual signal, but with Eli's shotgun we can only knock out two.