The crows especially seemed to be a sure sign of it.

That bird is very bold, but also very sly; and had a warrior or any human being been in concealment, would never have selected his vicinity for a place of comfortable rest.

Had they not flown away as soon as he approached their roosting-place?
And yet he moved very slowly and noiselessly.
But why did the crows so persistently follow him?
What signified their restlessness, their loud and repeated cries?
It boded nothing good.

The black pursuivants either foretold or intended evil.

Were they real crows?
The Indian is so imbued with the notion of sorcery that any animal that behaves unusually appears to him either as a human being changed into an animal, or some spirit which has assumed the form for a purpose.