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258 Woodcraft Manual for Boys the twig were raised and pointing to the left, it would mean Look out, camp, or ourselves, or the enemy, or the game we have killed is out that way." With some, the elevation of the butt is made to show the distance of the object; if low the object is near, if raised very high the object is a long way ofiE. These are the principal signs of the trail used by Wood- craf ters, Indians, and hunters in most parts of America. These are the standards — the ones sure to be seen by those who camp in the wilderness. Smoke Sisnals There is in addition a useful kind of sign that has been men- tioned already in these papers — that is, the Smoke Signal. These were used chiefly by the Plains Indians, but the Ojibways seem to have employed them at times. A clear hot foe was made, then covered with green stuff or rotten wood so that it sent up a solid colmnn of black smoke. By spreading and lifting a blanket over this smudge the column could be cut up into pieces long or short, and by a preconcerted code these could be made to convey tidings. But the simplest of all smoke codes and the one of chief use to the Western traveler is this: One steady smoke — "Here is camp." Two steady smokes — "I am lost, come and help me." I find two other smoke signals, namely: Three smokes in a row — "Good news." Four smokes in a row — "All are summoned to council." These latter I find not of general use, nor are they so likely to be of service as the first two given. Signal by Shots The old buffalo hunters had an established signal that is yet used by the mountain guides. If is as follows: Two shots in rapid succession, an interval of five seconds by the watch, then one shot; this means, "where are you?" The answer given at once and exactly the same means "Here I am; what do you want? " The reply to this may be one shot, which means, "All right; I only wanted to know where you were." But if the reply repeats the first it means, "I am in serious trouble; come as fast as you can."