What signs does John receive to guide his journey to the east in "By the Waters of Babylon"?

Early in the story, readers are told that it is forbidden to go east. We are not exactly sure why traveling east is forbidden, but the rule is stressed to the point that John's desire to go east is portrayed as an ominous decision. Despite the fact that John knows that he desires to go east and has his father's blessing, John is still wary. He prays and waits for a sign, and John believes that he is given three signs that approve his eastward travels. John's first sign is an eagle that flies in an easterly direction. The second sign is a group of deer traveling east. One of the deer was a white fawn, which is a "very great sign."

Then three deer passed in the valley going east—they did not mind me or see me. There was a white fawn with them—a very great sign.

The final sign is a panther that springs to the white fawn. John shouts at the panther, fires an arrow, and kills it with a single shot. John knows what an impossible shot that was, so he is finally affirmed in his decision to go east.

It is not easy to kill a panther with one arrow but the arrow went through his eye and into his brain. He died as he tried to spring—he rolled over, tearing at the ground. Then I knew I was meant to go east—I knew that was my journey.