Low exclamations came from the braves as they bent to catch the lightest sound.

Presently, above the murmur of the gentle fall of water over the stones, rose that musical note once more.

It was made by a bird, Joe thought, and yet, judged by the actions of the Indians, how potent with meaning beyond that of the simple melody of the woodland songster! He turned, half expecting to see somewhere in the tree-tops the bird which had wrought so sudden a change in his captors.

As he did so from close at hand came the same call, now louder, but identical with the one that had deceived him.

It was an answering signal, and had been given by Silvertip.
It flashed into Joe's mind that other savages were in the forest; they had run across the Shawnees' trail, and were thus communicating with them.