Stránka:roll 1931.djvu/209

Handicrafts 193 while a similar blaze on another tree near by means that the stake is on a line between. Stone Signs These signs done into stone-talk would be as in the top line of the cut. These are much used in the Rockies where the trail goes over stony places or along stretches of slide-rock. Grass and Twig Signs _ In grass or sedge the top of the tuft is made to show the direction to be followed ; if it is a point of great importance three tufts are tied, their tops straight if the trail goes straight on; otherwise the tops are turned in the direction toward which the course turns. The Ojibways and other woodland tribes use twigs for a great many of these signs. (See second row.) The hanging broken twig like the simple blaze means “This is the trail.” The twig clean broken off and laid on the ground across the line of march means, “Here break from your straight course and go in the line of the butt end,” and when an especial warning is meant, the butt is pointed toward the one follow- ing the trail and raised somewhat, in a forked twig. If the butt of 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 eleva- tion 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 off. These are the principal signs of the trail used by Wood- crafters, 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 Signals There is in addition a useful kind of sign—that is, the Smoke Signal. These were used chiefly by the Plains In- dians, but the Ojibways seem to have employed them at times. :