d fellow," said Paul, confidentially; "but when
our scoutmaster takes one of these slips of bark up, he'll read what
I've marked on it just as you would a letter. He and I have become
deeply interested in the old method of Indian picture writing, you see.
Signs stand for words with them. A whole story can be made in a dozen
characters or groups."

"Oh! I remember something about that I read once," remarked Jud, with a
look of deep interest; "and if you don't mind I wish you'd give me a few
pointers about that sign business, some time. I'd like to know, the
worst kind."

"Oh! no trouble about that. All you have to do is to use your head a
little, and make your signs plain enough so that they can be understood.
Now, I'm going to leave a letter for Mr. Gordon right here. Watch how I
do it," and Paul picked up a good-sized bit of clear bark he had
evidently prepared for the purpose.

"You see," he began, "I use a lead pencil because it's more convenient,
that's all. If I didn't have it, I'd just take a black brand from the
fire; or even scratch the characters on the smooth bark. And first of
all to tell him that twenty-one white soldier boys camped here."

He rapidly drew just that number of rude figures, diminutive enough to
be crowded around what was plainly a spread out luncheon. They had hats
on their heads, and a flag was to be seen in the picture. A wagon and a
horse occupied one corner.

"Now," Paul went on, "you see that I've indicated these fellows spent a
brief time here. He will understand that it was noon from the round sun
I've drawn _directly above the cluster_. To show that they are eating I
have made a coffee pot in the hand of one, though that was hardly the
truth, for we've had none this time. But I guess it's always allowable
to stretch things _just a little_ in these picture stories. They were
white because they all wear hats. Do you get it, Jud?"

"Easy as falling off a log. Why, I could read that myself, if I was lost
and happened to fall into this place," replied Jud, positively.

"Sure you could," laughed Paul. "That's the object of this picture
writing; to make it so clear that anybody would know. We're not trying
to puzzle people now. This isn't what you'd call a cryptogram; not much.
It's the primer of writing. A kid could tell what it all stood for. And
these Indians are just like kids, you see."

"Well, go on," pleaded the leader of the second patrol, "I'm dead stuck
on this thing, for