The native despatch-runners whom we sent out to make their way through
the enemy's lines carried the letters tightly rolled up in little
balls, coated with sheet lead, such as tea is packed in.
These little balls they carried slung round their necks on a string.
The moment that they saw an enemy coming near they dropped the
balls, which then looked like so many stones, on the ground, and took
bearings of the spot so that they could find them again when the coast
was clear.
Then there were fixed points for hiding letters for other spies to
find. Here are some of the most frequently used:
[Illustration: _This little mark, scratched on the ground or on a tree
trunk or gate-post, was used by one scout for the information of
another. It means: "A letter is hidden four paces in this direction."_
[Illustration: _A sign used to warn another scout that he is following
a wrong direction. It means: "Not this way."_]
[Illustration: _This is another sign from one scout to another and
means: "I have returned home."_]
[Illustration: _The "blaze" on the tree trunk and the two stones, one
on the other, are simply to show that the scout is on the right trail._
_The other three sketches are to show the direction in which the scout
should go. The arrow is marked on the ground. The upper part of the
sapling or bush is bent over in the direction which the scout should
take, and the same is the case with the bunch of grass, which is first
of all knotted and then bent._]