The Native Americans had a multitude of ways to communicate with other members of their tribes. The Cherokee would bend a small sapling nearly to the ground, using the now-crooked tree to indicate a direction. Some of these crooked trees can still be seen today. Other trail-marking methods included piling stones or branches to create what are known today as cairns. If a trail was devoid of natural debris, a traveler might leave a personal item along the trail to attract attention and direct those who would follow. The horseman in this scene has found the marker left by his predecessor, confirming that he is on the right track.