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r H E Wilds '

TIIF. WEST COAST

- J. M A C n O N A L D O X L E Y

Atithor of "•Diamond Rock,"' " Up Amotip: the he-Floe!:''
" llie IVrccka-s of Sable IslatuV

^C CrY

Vif-^Ae''

-"^SgrsF*-

{

THOMAS NELSON AND SONS

London, F.iiinhnq/i, rfittf Xfw ]'orA-

I'ajic 170.

IS95

261454 .

■)i

CONTENTS.

-♦♦-

TIIK FOUNDIKO OP FORT VICTORIA,

IN PERILS OL' WATKRS,

ON LAND AND SEA,

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY,

RACK TO FORT CAMOSUN,

THE ATTACK ON Till-: FORT,

DIFFICULT PLAYMATKS,

AFLOAT AGAIN,

A WHALE AND A WHIRLPOOL, ....

RASPHERUIE.S AND OULACHAN, ....
\l. TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS,
(L IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS,
U. SAVAGE LIFE,

WITH THE WAR-PARTY,

TAKEN BY THE MASSETS,

RE.SCUED BY THE RUSSIANS,

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES,

EXCITING TIMES AT F«)RT WRANGEL,

I'HE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL, ....

THE WAYS AND MANNERS OP THE SEAL,

THE SEA-OTTER HUNT,
tll. REUNION AND REJOICING.S,

24
42

58
75
•»0
lOG
122
13n
15G
170
196
217
238
258
279
208
319
335
353
372
380

^v.

U81

ist o

ift, h

It she

5m ed

let, u
fenino

Her

k a(
ibut.

mgen

IN THE
iVILDS OF THE WEST COAST.

-♦♦-

CHAPTER I.

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

UST fifty years ago a small steamer, by name tlie Beaver,

set fortli from the inlaml port of Nisqually on the west

ust of North America. She was an ugly-looking Llack

ift, hardly to be compared with a modern harbour tug ;

^t she was bent upon a mission, of whose importance she

jmed to have some knowledge — she pufl'ed her way so

^isily northward, through Puget Sound and Admiralty

^let, until Port Townsend was reached about dusk of the

ening.

Here a stay was made for the night, of which the seamen

k advantage to catch a plentiful supply r>£ cod and

Jibut. The following morning, after a brief call at New

ngeness, the Beaver steered boldly across the Juan de

ca Strait, heading for the southern extremity of tlie great

and of Vancouver, and, having carefully crept around

TflE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA

Slioal Point, came to anchor before sundown in a beautifii
harbour tlien bearing the name of Camosun Buy.

On tlie vessel's deck stood a group of men, who gazcd
eagerly at the scene before them, and pointed this way ami
that as the difterent features of the landscape attracted their
attention, exchanging quick connnents tliereon with ai.
earnestness tlir.t evinced no ordinary interest. Tliey were
not mere cliance visitors — tliat was clear. Their coming ha<i
a definite purpose beyond a doubt, and they were eager t*
see all they could before darkness shut the shores from their
vision.

The central figure of the group was a man in the prime of
life, whose appearance would have connuanded attention tlit
world over. Six feet and more in height, as erect in hi-
carriage and measured in his movements as an army veteran
yet natural and graceful withal, his stalwart frame and
bronzed countenance told of a life of activity and exposure
From his massive shoulders rose a splendid head, with high
broad brow, deep gray eyes, and strong yet kindly moutli.
Every tone of his voice and turn of his body bespoke energy
and resolution. He was a manifest leader of men, and now,
as he replied to the questions of those around him, or madt
some remark himself, his words were listened to with a
deference that showed him to be a person of no mean
importance.

" I like it well," said he, with a sweep of his right arm
that took in the whole landscape before him. " There will
be little trouble in finding a grand position for our fort. If
it were not so near nightfall I would land at once. But it

rilE rOUXDING OF FORT VICTORIA

beautifii

ho gaz(M;

way aiKJ
ited tlieii

with ai.
liey wen
ining had
; eager t(
rom their

prime of
ntion till
ct in hi-
' veteran
anie and
3xposure.
ith hioli

moutli.
e enerjjy
intl now,
or madt

with a
10 mean

fjht arm
lere will
Fort. If
But it

1|^1 Ijc wiser to wait until nioming, and then we can proceed
Hiiour leisure."

i Some of tlie others would evidently liave liked to venture
ai^ore late as it was, but tliey knew there was no reversing
their leader's decision, so the group broke up, and presently
tlie steward's sunnnons to the evening meal gave another
l^n to their thoughts.

h All but one disappeared below. Tlie remaining member
of the group, instea»l of following the others, sprang upon
tlie top of the cabin skyliglit in order to get a better view
of an object which had attracted Ins attention. His quick
ejlfe had caught sight of a canoe half hidden in the shadow
et|Bt by the trees on the farther sliore, and he was curious to
Siie whether it would approach the steamer. It was certain
t(%contain Indians, for no white man stood on the island at
ti|»it time, and he wanted to be the first to get a glimpse of
i^e natives.

4 But the canoe kept timidly in the shadow, and presently
ftijBtrong voice called up from the cabin, —

% " What's keeping you, Rae ? Why don't you come to
y&ur supper ? "

■| "All right. I'm coming," was the cheery response, and
H^th one last look at the lingering canoe he too vanished
^"^^■n the companion-way.

S As he slipped into his seat at the closely-set table in the
airrow cabin, the man at the head said in a tone of kindly
limter,—

I "Your hunger can't be so keen as usual this eveninrr, Rae ;
Ot was it that your curiosity for the time got the better of it?"

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORhL

" I was watcliin^i,' a canoe I saw close inshore, sir," an-
swered Ilae. " I tliouglit it might come out to us."

" Did any one else notice that canoe ? " asked tlic first
speaker, glancing around tlie table.

No one claiming to have done so, he turned again t«i
Rae, and with a smile of warm approval, such as rarely
lighted up his rugged features, said, —

"You've got sharp eyes, my boy, and you know rigli'
well how to use them. Here now you havj seen somethin;.'
that all of us old folks missed, and it was something of
importance too."

Rae blushed to the roots of the hair with pleasure at
these words of praise, as well he might, for the speaker was
no other than James Douglas, chief factor of tho Hudson
Bay Company, and by far the most important and influential
personage on tlie north-west coast of the continent.

For a mere boy to engage the interest of such a man was
no common privilege, and brought up as lie had been in tlie
atmosphere of the great company's life, Rae was fully alive
to his good fortune. In his eyes Mr. Douglas was a veritable
demigod, and to win his commendation was to achieve the
highest honour the world afforded.

Rae, however, was no ordinary boy. If he had been,
this story perchance would not have been worth the telling,
Into his life already there had come more of strange ex-
perience and exciting adventure than is likely to fall to the
lot of many of those who may read these pages.

He was the son of an officer in the Hudson Bay Company
who had taken advantage of a trip to San Francisco to

Wanaire

llinix

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA. 13

been,
belling,
nrc ex-

to the

lupany
3CO to

fcriiF' back with him a bride, whose love for her husband
■teeled her heart against the vieissitiules and deprivations
of life in one of the company's forts. When Itut six years
of ai^'e Kae had lost his mother, and thenceforth his father
had made him his constant companion, findin^: in his bright
presence the only assuaging of the grief that ' " 1 else been
Inconsolable.

,;* The result of this bringing up was to r. ike 'ittle "R te
Irise ami manly beyond his years. ]>eing continu' My ni the
Wciety of his seniors, he soon got to see tlnn:;. from their
Boint 01 view. Not that he had by any means bcome that
|»itiful parody of boyhood called a " pi'ig." Far from it. He
was as hearty and natural a youngster as could be desired,
thoroughly fond of play, and no less prone to indulge in
nierry pranks than any other boy of his age. Where the
i^flerence between hiin and his playmates showed itself was
hik his fondness in imitating the men, and the astonishing
#3dress with which he carried it out. To paddle a canoe, to
H^anagc a ritle, to order about the Indians, were the con-
Ifolling ambitions of his young heart, and he would not
teiow a contented mind until he had become proficient in
ill of them.

When the Bcdvcr appeared in Camosun Ba}', Rac Finlay-
aon had just passed his fifteenth birthday, although his
appearance w^ould have given the impression that he was
full two years older. He stood over five feet in his stock-
ings, yet was not thin or lanky, his frame l)eing admiralty
'oportioncd, and his muscles already well developed by a
e of almost continual out-door activity. His features

THE FOUNPIYG OF FORT VICTORIA.

were regular, his skin clear, his eyes large and full of fire.
and altogether one would have been inclined to call him a
handsome boy, particularly when the smile that came so
readily to his bright face disclosed a set of flashing white
teeth that were competent to crack nuts with any squirrel
in the forest.

After Mr. Douglas had spoken so warmly, Rae's father
questioned him about the canoe, and whether he could make
out how many occupants it had. But this Rae could not
tell him, the shadow in which it hid being so deep ; so the
talk v;ent off to other things, and when they rose from tlie
table it was too dark to see beyond a step's length from tlie
vessel.

The following morning the first one to set foot upon the
deck was Rae, and to his vast delight he found the steamer
fairly surrounded by canoes filled with the natives of the
island, who had come out to gaze in wonder at the monster
of the deep whose strange black form had broken in upon
the solitude of their beautiful bay

The eager, curious looks of these people Rae returned
with a gravity equal to their own. Having passed his whole
life in the midst of Indians, and in the company of men who
knew perfectly how to deal with these children of the forest,
there M'as nothing startling to him in their appearance in
sufficient numbers to overwhelm those on board the Beaver
had they in mind the capture of the steamer.

Instead of being in any wise alarmed, indeed, he forth-
with began to ask questions of the nearest ones ; but, master
as he was of more than one dialect, he entirely failed to

inake 1

lie ^vas

jknowh

Jfrhen ^

- ' H(

itiirt o

Jbe conti

natives

bopc th(

get on t

I must t

Uoin

bis stroi

•pok(?sii),

Hiiostion,

fhat sho

Tills timi

jfetlicr fo

having ii

(ind (lopo

i With

% dint

irhicli tl;

■i

tea mors

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

jiivned
whole
n who
[forest,
ice in
kaver

Iforth-
master
lied to

giake liimself understood, and, provoked at his non-success,
Ibe was about to go in quest of his father, vrho had some
>lcnowk'dge of nearly all the Indian languages on the coast,
ijiehen 31 r. Douglas appeared on deck.

•'Hollo, Rae, my boy ! ' he exclaimed, "you've got the
gtiirt of us all this morning. Hey ! what have we here ? '"
lie continued, as his eye fell on the encircling canoes. " The
liatives have come out to make a morning call. "Well, I
%()pe they are in an amiable frame of mind, for we want to
get on the right side of them at the start and keep there.
If must tiy if I can make them understand me."
':l CJoini^ to the side of the steamer, he hailed the Indians in
liis strong commanding voice and inquired wlio was their
Ipokesman. At first they did not appear to understand his
l|ucstion, so he repeated it with an accompaniment of gesture
^at showed what an adept he was at the sign language.
;iriiis time they caught his meaning, and after consulting to-
'Jethcr for a moment one canoe pushed out from the others,
Aaviiig in its bow a splendid-looking Indian who.se dre.ss
||n(l deportment indicated that he was one of their chiefs.
With liim Mr. Douglas managed to hold quite a dialogue
dint of an unsparing use of signs, as the outcome of
hich the chief somewhat hesitatingly advanced to the
oanior's .side, and then, although in considerable trepidation,
as persuaded to come on board.
]jy this time the rest of the party had assembled on deck,
1 they gazed with great interest upon their visitor, who,
assured by the manifest kindliness of their countenances,
came more at his ease, and looked about him as though he

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

would like to ask a good many questions if he only knew
how to make himself understood.

Rae regarded him with feelings of mingled curiosity and
admiration. This no doubt was the chief of the Songhies,
the tribe that occupied this part of the island, and whose
good graces it was eminently desirable to cultivate, for he
and his people had it in their power to render the Beavev\
mission a success or a failure according to the way they
took it.

Now Rae was exceedingly anxious that it should be a
success. There was a novelty about it that delighted his
adventurous young spirit, as the purpose of the steamer's
cominij was nothJnn; less than the establishment of a ne^Y
station of the Hudson Bay Company. It had been decided
that the great island of Vancouver should be no loncjer left
unoccupied (for, of course, its aboriginal inhabitants did not
count), and Camofiun Bay had been selected as the most
advantageous site for the new fort.

No sooner had Rae's father heard of the design than he
volunteered to be one of the garrison of the fort. He wanted
to get away from Fort Vancouver, and here was an oppor-
tunity after his own heart. Mr. Douglas not only granted
his request at once, but put him in command of the party
of occupation. He had therefore come to Camosun Bay ir
better spirits than he had known for many a day.

"We shall have a fine time of it over on the island, shan't
we, Rae ? " he had said to his son on the way up. " There
must be bettor hunting there than anywhere near Fort
Vancouver, and they say the Indians aren't a bit dangerous." |

(478)

#ey
Hid el
ibeir c

exclaii
«|an(
l|eartie
U fast

. "DJ

rinci

inward
felt so t
f Wli(
fildiau (

m big s

%iiiy, ■

U^ the ]

I The
Indian li
th the
tlioii
<|en tolci
ftit just
and saw
oiiitei
'0 I;
nip on
irse."

(478)

TiIE FOUXDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

knew

ity and
inghies,
whose
, for he
Seavevii
^y they

Id be a
itecl his
teamer's
I a new
decided
£jer left
did not
10 most

han he
wanted
oppor-
ranted
party
Bay in

, shan't

I" There

ir Fort

rerous.'

rr'

>rtainly they looked innocent enough this morning as
ihey hung about the steamer, pusliing their canoes closer
ind closer as the presence of their chief on board increased
flieir courage,

" They seem to be quite ghad to see us, father, don't they ? "
exclaimed Rae, liaving succeeded in tempting the occupants
of a near canoe into a broad grin by smiling at tliem in his
Iseartiest fasliion. " I'm going to make friends with them
as fast as I can."

" Do so by all means, my boy," said Mr. Douglas, over-
hearing the remark. " We want them to be as well disposed
toward us as possible, not only for the safety of the fort,
but so that tliey will bring us plenty of furs."

When the lionours of the ship had been done to the
Bttdian chief, and his heart made glad by the presentation of
a big silver medal for himself and some trinkets for his
family, Mr. Douglas announced that he would go on shore
for the purpose of choosing the site of the new fort.

The gig was accordingly brought alongside, and, the
Indian having returned to his canoe, the whv^ie party got in
with the exception of Rae, who stood at the gangway watch-
ll|g them wistfully as they took their seats, lie had not

jn told to join chem, and he did not know if he was wanted,
it just as the boat was shoving oft' Mr, Douglas looked up,
and saw his eoger face already beginning to take on a dis-
appointed expression.

T^ " laddie!" ho cried, "we were near forgetting you.
Jump on the bow there, quick ! You shall come with us, of
u-se."

(478) 2

•^HBm

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

!il

Witli radiant countenance Rae sprang into the boat, and,
the sailors bending to their oars, the well-filled gig moved
off shoreward, convoyed by a cloud of canoes that found it
easy work keeping pace with the heavier craft.

Seated in the bow of the gig Rae felt as though he were
taking part in some sort of a procession, and he enjoyed it
immensely. In fact he was strongly tempted to indulge in
a whoop or two, but the presence of Mr, Douglas restrained
him ; so he contented himself with springing ashore with a
shout the moment the boat touched the beach, thus gaining
the honour of being the first to land.

A more attractive and advantageous :3ite for a station
could hardly have been conceived. The country arc.md tlu
bay '.i^as so like a beautiful park that one might wel!
hesitate to believe it was all the work of unaided nature,
Through the fertile vales, shady groves, and grassy slopes
of the rolling plateau ran serpentine streams of glistcnini;
water, which found their way over a rim of smooth roo1<!
that seemed as if placed by human hands in the bosom o;
the bay whose crystal-clear waves gently lapped the boulder
strewn beach.

The eastern side of the harbour was entirely unoccupied
the Songhies having built their fortified camp at the westorr
side on a point about a mile from the entrance. Mr. Dougla-
therefore looked to the east for tiie site of his fort, and then
were so many tempting spots available that ho had sonit
difficulty in coming to a decision. Finally a location by tli
shore at a place where the rocks made a natural whar:
against which vessels could lie to land goods was decidoi:

f#;

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

lat, and,

moved

bund it

he were
joyed it
dulge in
istrained
e with a
gaining

a station
c:ind the
fdit well
i nature.
?y slopes
istenins:
;h rccls^
30som 0:
boulder

occupied

3 westorr.
Dougla-

md theii
ad SOW'
n by til

^l whar:
deciJo'

Open, and with characteristic energy the expedition's leader
tet about the building of the fort.

His own men wore put to work squaring timber and
digging a well, wiiile tlic Indians, who liad gatlievcd about
in large numbers, having lieard witli much approval that
ttieir wliite brothers had come to bring tliem arms and
iBlplements, clothing and trinkets, in exchange for skins,
were given employment in getting out big pickets for the
stockade, tlieir wages being at the rate of one l)lanket for
forty pickets. As tliese pickets were each twenty-two feet
long, and a yard in circumference, the wages were none too
Mgh. But the unsopldsticated natives were quite content,
aad toiled away cheerfully with the aid of axes lent by ]\lr.
I)onglas.

■ His father's attention beincf encfrossed with the buildins:
of the fort, Rae was thrown upon his own resources, and for

ick of other companions he tried to get into the good
ices of the Indian boys who liung bashfully about watcli-
the progress of the work,

I But they would have nothing to do with him. He was
t|p first white lioy they liad ever seen, and it seemed as if
iley (lid not know what to make of him. As Rao could
li|fc speak a word of their dialect, and had not yet learned
ti|make himself understood by signs, the chances of scraping
[uainiance appeared small, so, feeling rather irritated at
little redskins' unsociability, he strolled off along the
b^ch, saying to liimself that when lie came to a nice bit of
air 'y bottom he would g:o in for a swim.

si It was a perfect morning, the sun shinincf bricfht and

,''M

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

I .1

warm from a cloudless sky, not a breath of wind stirring,
and Camosun Bay gleaming like a mirror from shore to
shore. Rae soon forgot the bad manners of the Indian boys
in his enjoyment of the scene.

" I'm so glad we've come here," he soliloquized. " It's
a far finer place than old Fort Vancouver, and once I'm
good friends with the boys here we'll have fine times
canoeing and swimming in the harbour, and there must be
lots of things to shoot in these woods too. I'll have plenty
of chances to try the dear little rifle father got for me b( ^ore
we came away. I wish I had it here now. I'd like to try
a shot at that gull flying about out there."

But the new rifle was on board the Beaver, so Rae was
fain to content himself with shying a stone at the white
sea-bird when one of its graceful circles brought it near.
But the stone did no more harm than to send a series of
concentric ripples over the glassy surface of the harbour,
and the thrower of it presently reaching a bewitching little
cove fit for the bower of a menxiaid, once more bethouglit
himself of a bathe.

He could swim like a young seal, his father havintj
begun to give him lessons when he was six years old ; and
the water being at just the right temperature, he was tempted
to go out a hundred yards or more from shore, sporting and
splashing about as though the water was his natural element

While thus enjoying himself he chanced to glance on
shore at the cove where he had left his clothes, and was
horrified to see that a number of the native children had
taken possession not only of his dressing-room, but of his

garnicn
interest

everal :
pal togc till
-"Sleavinrr
I fin until :
i;oinnian(
" Wil

"Iquitc lo.si
jiously, —

" Lot
Icoundi'e^

k that, r:

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

Igllt

garments also, and were inspecting the latter witli lively
interest, passing them from hand to hand, and exchanging
expressions of wonder at their construction.

Now, had these unexpected intruders upon the privacy
of his hath been only hoys, Rae's immediate action would
have been to swim ashore at the top of his speed and order
hem out of the cove.

But to his profound dismay he made out that there were
everal girls in the party, and his sense of propriety was
Itoixether too strong' for him to entertain the notion of
caving the water while they were present. So, swimming
n until his feet touched bottom, he called out in a polite yet
jcommanding tone of voice, —

" Will you please leave my clothes alone and go aw.iy ?
"I'm comino; in to dress now."

The impertinent young Indians heard him right enough,
although of course they could not understand what he said.
But they showed not the slightest intention of heeding him.
On the contrary, having completed the examination of his
clothing to their own satisfaction, they now began to try it
^n ; one boy taking the coat and another the trousers, while
two of the girls endeavoured between them to solve the
mystery of the shirt.

/ This was altogether too much for Rao's patience, and
jquite losing his temper, he started to shout at them fero-
iDiouslv, —

" Let my clothes alone, w^ill you, you miserable little
coundrels ! If you don't drop them at once, and clear out
f that, ni— "

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

Just what dire penalty lie would have threatened to
inflict they never heard, for at that moment his feet slipped
off the seaweed-covered stone upon which he stood the Letter
to express his feelings, and in his effort to steady himself he
took an involuntary header that put a stop for the moment
to his angry speech.

He hud just recovered his balance and was clearing his
eyes of water when he caught sight of his father hurrying
along the beach at a rate that betokened some anxiety.

" Father, father ! Oh, quick ! " cried Bae at the top of
his voice. " Drive those rascals away ! They won't let me
dress."

Mr. Finlayson came up on the full run, and the instant
the little Indians heard his heavy step they dropped the
clothes, and scuttled ofi^ like squirrels, vanishing among the
rocks as com[)lctely i^.s if they had been phantoms.

" Why, Rae," panted Mr. Finlayson, " what have you been
doing ? I missed you a little while ago, and not seeing you
anywhere began to feel anxious. Then somebody said they
had seen you going off in this direction, and so I came after
you. What's the matter ? What's happened ? "

The timely appearance of his father having banished
Rae's alarn he now felt rather ashamed of having got .^o
excited.

" Oh, nothing's happened, father," he replied as he picked
up his clothes, and started to put them on ; " but if you
hadn't come along just when you did there might have
been some trouble. You see I thought I'd have a swim,
and while I was in the water a lot of young Indians came

THE FOUNDING OF FORT VICTORIA.

alon^f, and began to make free with my clothes I woultln't

-have minded if they'd just been boys, but" — and here a

rosy blush reddened his cheeks — "there were some girls

itoo, and I couldn't come out of the water before them."

fi Mr. Finlayson laid back his head and laughed long and

|loud. He had been apprehensive of some mishaj), instead

jjof which he had lighted upon a ludicrous situation that

-#would make a capital story for his companions.

3 '* You were in a funny fix, certainly, my boy," said he

Jwlien his laughter had ceased. " But," he added with a

!;|graver countenance, " you must be more careful, llae. We

'ijdon't know these Indians well yet, and you must keep

f closer until we do. Let us ^0 back to the steamer now.
t's nearly time for diimer."

CHAPTER II.

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

THE construction of tlic fort proceeded rapidly under
Mr. Douglas's vigorous superintendence, and ere long
was sufficiently advanced for liini to feel free to leave a
number of men to complete it, wliile he steamed off north-
ward to the other forts, two of which were to be abandoned,
and their men and stores transferred to the new station,

As Rae had never been on board a steamer before, und
hail keenly enjoyed the trip np from Nisqually, his father
proposed that he should remain on board if Mr. Douglas
would liave him. He would then enjoy a good long voyage,
besides beinij out of the way while the buildinfj was
goincf on.

Rae jumped at the suggestion, and Mr. Douglas promptly
acquiescing, the way was clear for him to go. He had not
taken thought of the miseries of sea-sickness, for which the
smooth voyage up from Nisqually was no preparation, and
the idea of beinsr out on the bii; ocean filled him with
delight.

It was a fine morning in Juno when the clumsy little
Beaver got up steam again, and puffing like a fire-engine,

ly PERILS OF WATERS.

•^s

• under
sre long
leave a
' nortli-
ndoned,
on,

)re, and

1 father

ouglas

royage,

lior was

[omptly
kd not
iich the
)n, and
m with

little

lengine,

moved out tlirougli tlio narrows into Juan de Fuca Strait,
and tlience into the Pacitic Ocean. Standing at the stern,
Eac waved his hat in farewell to his father as long as he
could make him out upon the short It was tlie first time
he had ever gone away from his fjtt'lier, although of course
liis father had often been obliged to leave him for months
at a time while he went far inland on the business of the
COh'pany. Naturally, therefore, Rae felt the separation, and
he had to wink very hard indeed to keep the tears from
showing themselves on his cheeks.

The ttu-n of the channel had just caused the half-finished
foit to disa])pear from sight when Mr. Douglas came up,
and laying his hand kindly on the boy's shoulder, said, —

" Well, Rae, what sort of a sailor are you ? Were you
iver out in a storm ? "

" No, sir," answered Hae, his air of dejection vanishing in
an instant, for he entertained feelings of profound admira-
tion for the chief factor, and was always glad at being
noticed by him. " I've never been on the water in a storm.
You know, sir, this is the first time I've ever been on board
a steamer."

" Indeed," responded Mr. Douglas. " So it's a new ex-
j^rience for you. Well, for your sake, I hope we'll have
fine weather all the trip. But there's no telling; a storm
liiay spring up any day, and if it does the little Beaver is a
l^onder to roll, so you may expect to have a taste of sea-
iekness."

'' Is it very dreadful, sir ? ' asked Rae, anxiously.

Mr, Douglas smiled. A good many years had passed

IN PERILS OF IVATERS.

since he liad first suffered sea-sickness while, as a mere boy,
making the voyage from Jamaica, the place of his Lirth, to
Scotland, where he was educated ; still he had a sufficiently
distinct recollection of that experience to cause him tu
answer, —

" You'll probably feel as if the greatest favour one couM
do you would be to pitch you overboard, and so put an end
to your wretchedness. But you mustn't mind that. You'll
soon get your sea-legs, and then you'll enjoy yourself all
the more."

Rae shook his head ruefully. Like all healthy boys, he
hated the very notion of being sick on land or sea, and lie
was determined to make a brave fight of it, and see if ho
could not hold out even if a storm did spring up.

It was not long before his resolution was put to the test
As soon as the Beaver passed out of Juan de Fuca Strait
she began to rise and dip in the long waves of the Pacific
Ocean, that rolled in unbroken phalanxes from the far cast
As Mr. Douglas had said, she was a wonder to roll, and had
not got beyond Barclay Sound before the novel motion
proved too much for poor little Rae, and he dragged himstdf
into his berth, where for the next twenty -four hours he felt so
miserably ill that he thought surely he must be going to die,

He missed his father sorely. Not even Mr. Douglas's
hearty sympathy availed to comfort him. Oh, how intenscl}'
he wished himself back on land ! The combination of home-
sickness and sea-sickness was really almost overwhelming^
and he seemed in so wretched a plight that Mr. Douglas for
a time regretted having brought him.

is Mr,

/.V rERlLS OF WATERS

«7

2 could

an eml

You'll

self all

)oys, lie
and lie
e if lie

he test,
Strait
Pacific
ar cast.
id haii
motion
Uinnsolf
felt so
to die,
Ducjla-s's
ten.scly
home-
elming,
las for

But it',s a long lane that has no turniog, and soon matters

an to mend. Rao's internal economy showed si«^ns of
ri'tmninL,' reason, and, in proportion as his di.scomfort miti-
gatotl, his wonted hiijh .spirits reas.serted them.selves, until
by tlie end of the third day out he was as lirni on his feet
as Mr. Dou^das himself, and ready to enjoy the voyage.

For such a keen-eyed, quick-witted lad there was a great
deal to be obsc ^ .J and understood. The steamer did not
fenture far from the land, and her pa,ssengers had a steady
guccossion of views — some grand and inspiring, and others
loNL'ly and enchanting — as .she made her way northward
ifiong the coast of the great island of Vancouver.

r>ut it was not the still life of the land that attracted Rao
80 much as the active life of the water. The region through
which they were passing was simply a paradise for fi.sher-
mon. The .sea fairly swarmed with unnumbered varieties
of tish that sprang to the hook as if they had been waiting
for it all their lives, and were delighted that their oppor-
tunity had come at last.

Not only so, but different kinds of seals dotted the waves
with their sleek black heads, and gazed at the puffing
monster which had intruded upon their domain with their
Wg brown eyes full of gentle wonder.

luie thought them so pretty, that when Mr. Douglas sug-
gested he should try his skill as a marksman on them, he
shrank from the idea, saying apologetically, —

" Oh no, sir ; I wouldn't like to do that. They don't do
a^y harm to anybody, do they ? "

Mr. Douglas laujorhed.

JN lERILS OF WATERS.

" Harm any body ! " he exclaimed ; " bless me, no. They're
the most harmless creatures in the world. But people like
to shoot them all the same. I confess, however, I think tlie
more of you, my boy, for not wanting to do it. After all
what's the sense of killing a thing just for the sake of
killing it ? "

It was the following day that Rae, who had already got
to feel so much at home that he had chosen the cross-treo>
of the stubby foremast as his favourite eyrie whence to hjok
out upon the waste of waters, came tumbling down in a
state of great excitement, and running up to Mr. Douglas a^
he was enjoying a pipe at the stern, dragged him to the side
of the steamer.

" Look, sir, look ! "' he cried, pointing a quivering finger
to the westward. " What's that ? Is it another steamer, or
what is it ? "

Followinfj the direction of Rac's finder, Mr. Dou2:las madt
out a black mass moving in a course that would take it
across the Beaver s bows, and sending up at frequent inter-
vals a spout of foam not unlike a column of smoke, such a?
might come from a steamer's furnace.

"A steamer?" he exclaimed. "No, but a whale; and a
monster too ! I wonder if I could secure him. It's wortli
trying, at all events."

Whereupon orders were sent to the engineer to give tlic
Beaver all the steam the boilers could stand, and presently
the sturdy vessel was ploughing through the water at lier
topmost speed. The wind was blowing away from tin
whale and towards the steamer, so that there was no fear of

She la
Mr. D
try a
,tlic Ijo
the stc
jBaiik.

Int
Ihc ne
iN'liale
in the
of the 1
iiotice t
fog up

i To :

|o the
%atchc(
nfo wer
Ihought
fecfii th
|he nior
% On y
fvey, an
% came
iiod at
|lide tin
: "No
>Ve m\
■ Ye5
l^liall I

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

tidy got
fSS-treo>
to look
vn in a
iio'las as
the sidtj

rj finf'ci'

Hiey've ^^he hitter's noise reaching the great creature ; and it was
)le like ^pJi'- Douglas's design to run up as near as possible, and then
ink the ^^^y ^ '^li^^ ^^'^^ ^^^'^ small six-pounder which was carried in
'ter all. Sphe bow. A lucky shot might reach a vital part, and then
iake of ^PJ<" steamer could rush up and make fast the body before it
:Jiank.

Intense was the excitement on board the Beaver during

|ihe next few minutes. When first sighted l)y Rae the

iR'liale was about a mile and a half away, going at half-speed

in the direction of the mainland, probably chasing a school

ipf the tiny fish which formed its food. It evidently did not

otice tlie r.pproach of the steamer, for it kept right on, send-

g up spout after spout as though for the fun of the thing.

To cfct a cfood view of the chase Rae had hastened back

to tlio fore-top, and there, trembling with excitement,

watcliod every movement of the monster as though his very

life were at stake. It was his first sight of a whale, and he

thought it a very wonderful olnject. Furthermore, having

be<n the first on board the vessel to observe it, he felt all

the more eager for the capture.

On went the steamer, drawing nearer and nearer to its

prey, and still the latter did not take warning. Presently

it came to a stop, perhaps to enjoy a good mouthful of food,

•nd at once the Beaver's engines stopped also, letting her

glide through tlie water with the impetus already received.

" Now's our chance," said Mr. Dounflas in an undertone.

kVe nuist fire before she starts again. Is the gun ready ? "

" Yes, sir," replied the mate in whose charge it \vas.

hall I fire?"

imer, or

as made
take it
} inter-
uch a>

and ;i
s worth

Ive-i

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

" Take good aim, and let her have it," was the response.

All on board held their breath as the mate sighted alon;^
the l)rcech of the little cannon, and Tiac nearly fell oiF his
lofty perch in his anxiety to see him do it. Unconscious of
the danger so imminent, the whale lay like a log amid the
wav^cs that lapped its black sides. There was a moment of
thrilling suspense, and then came a report that stunned the
ears of all, while the gun kicked clear off its carriage, and
rolled down into the Icc-scuppers, the mate just mannging to
dodge out of the way.

At the same instant the whale, throwincf its huo-o body
almost clear out of the water in a spasm of mortal agony,
dived into the depths, leaving upon the surface a trail of
V)lood that showed the ball had found its way to a vital
part. A cheer went up from those on board the steamer,
and ]\Ir. Douglas, forgetting his wonted reserve in the ex-
citement of the moment, clapped the mate warmly upon the
back, exclaiming, —

"Well aimed, Ross; a capital shot! She's badly hit
wnthout a doubt."

]?ae gave a lusty cheer at the success of the shot, and
would have liked to wave his cap also, but he needed botli
hands to hold on. Every eye now eagerly scanned the
surface of the water, watchinjx for the first siofn of the
wounded monster's reappearance. They had not long to
wait. Scarce three minutes had passed when, with a rush
like that of a locomotive, it shot out of the water only a few
lengths away from the steamer. For some moments it
thrashed around, beating the waves into foam with thunder-

[l.

it, and
botli
Ml the
)f tlic
Uvj, to
vusli
la few
iits it
Imdor-

'CiiiMHi; Its st>/ij;x'us, It t\>>i- iiou'ii on tiic ititiiucr at /ii.'i ./■ini.'

I'liJI! 33.

:«l

incT stro
witli fa
g<ntly ii
civature
iiijiny i;
fitriigglet
Ujtoji ]iei

'• Bac
engineer.

The

•jcliiinsy a

IS a nia(I(
Iho collisi
1 tl lose
it'Ui'Iy kn
Scrambled
'•' 81)00
lembers (
.^liile Mr.

fcplaec till
ii'cd from
Hut it
irtlier liai
ly almost
rater in g
pitifully
" Stand
m" 'ip a c
•ork. TI).

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

iiTj; strokes of its tremendous tail. Then its eye, inflamed
witli fury, fell upon tlie Llack hull of the Beaver rocking
rrtiitlv in the waves awaiting the end. At once the suffering
creature connected the presence of this intruder wiih the
injury inflicted, and determined on revenge. . Ceasing its
strucvdes it headed towards the steamer, and bore down
jpon her at full speed.

'■ Back her ! back her ! " shouted Mr. Douglas to the

jngnieer.

The order was promptly obeyed ; but how could so
^hnnsy a craft as the Beaver hope to evade such a pursuer
is a maddened whale ? Hardly had she got way on when
^ho collision came with appalling force, hurling to the deck
jlII tliDsG who had not something to hold on In', and so
icarly knocking Rac off his lofty perch that he instantly
icranibled down for fear of further danger.

" Shoot her ! Harpoon her ! Lance her ! " cried different
lembers of tlie crew, in dread of a repetition of the charge;
diilo Mr. Douglas, with the aid of the mate, strove to
kplacc the gun on its carriage, that another shot might be
^it'd from it.

I'ut it was not necessary; the whale was incapable of

itii'tlier harm. With its huge head wofully battered, it now

[ay almost motionless, its life-blood spreading out over the

f^'ater in great crimson patches. One more flurry, and that

pitifully weak one, and it was all over.

"Stand by to secure her!" shouted Mr. Douglas, snatch-
iL( up a coil of rope as though he himself would do the
ork. There was on board, however, a seaman who liad

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

been on more than one whaling cruise, and he knew exactly
what had to be done.

The steamer moved up alongside the inert body, and Iv
a dexterous twist the ex-whaler got a purchase around tlie
flukes of its tail. The rope was then hauled tight, aiv]
another havinix been fjot round the head, the whale was
safely fastened fore and aft to await further attention.

Great was the rejoicing on board at this successful
ending of the hunt, for the prize was certainly one of the
largest of its kind, and could not fail to yield a big supply
of whalebone.

But iust when the conofratulations were at their heioht
the engineer appeared with a grave countenance, and beck-
oned Mr. Douglas to one side.

" The hteanier's leaking badly," said he in a low tone
" There's two feet of water in the well alreadj^, and it's
gaining rapidly. We must man the pumps, and make for
shore as fast as we can."

Mr. Douijlas's face clouded over at this startlinfj com
munication.

" Are you quite sure ? " he asked. " I'll go and see for
myself."

Ho hurried below ; while Rae, who had been standing
. < , and overheard all the engineer said, looked after him
;- '..usly.

Presently he came up on deck again, and one glance at
his face was sufficient to show that the engineer's report wa^
only too correct. Not a moment did the chief factor hesi-
tate. It was very trying to lose the prize so cleverly won

Ibelpless i
^ao move

jy PERILS OF WATERS.

com-

)ut luiman life was far more precious, and it was now in
serious peril.

" Cut loose the whale immediately," he commanded.

The mate, who already had been reckoning up his share
of tlie proceeds of the whalebone, turned round with an
expression of mingled amazement and protest upon his
honest features.

I " Cut loose the whale, sir ? " he exclaimed in a tone of
incredulous inf^uiry. " Do you mean it, sir ? "

" I do mean it, Ross," replied Mr, Douglas ; " and there's
not a moment to lose. We've got to make a safe harbour
inside of an hour or go to the bottom."

Realizing that the chief factor was indeed in earnest, the
niato, without stopping to ask further questions, seized a
hatchet, and in as little time as it takes to tell it severed the
iropcs that bound the whale to the steamer. As the huge
helpless mass rolled away from the Beaver the latter began
to move through the water, and soon was making lier way
jit full speed towards the mainland.

Nootka Sound was the nearest haven, and for this Mr.
|)ouglas steered, while the men toiled at the pumps with a
lriu;our that sent the water nfushin<]f in 2;reat streams throuf^h
|he scuppers. Rae, filled with fears that prevented his
peeping still, oscillated between the engine-room, where
lere was apprehension lest the water should rise sufficiently

put out the furnaces, and the deck, where those who
rcre not at the pumps hung over the bulwarks anxiously
joting the steamer's progress shoreward.

Although the Beaver was really doing her best, it seemed

(478)

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

to the anxious men as though she were only crawling through
the water, and more than once Mr. Douglas called down to
the engineer, —

" Can't you give her more steam, Mackenzie ? she seems
to be going very slow."

Only to be answered, —

" I daren't give her another pound, sir. The boiler
wouldn't stand it."

Thoroughly alive to their danger, Rae kept close by j\Ir.
Douglas. In the absence of his father he looked to him for
protection. Nor did he do so in vain. As he returned to
the wheel after one of his visits to the engine-room, the chief
factor laid his hand kindly on the boy's shoulder, and looking
into his face said in a cheering tone, —

" Don't be too much frightened, Rae. If the worst comes,
I'll look after you, and get you safe ashore somehow. But
I think we'll make it all right."

In spite of the incessant toil at the pumps, which, to tell
the truth, were far from being as efficient as they ought to
have been, the water gained steadily in the hold until a rise
of only eighteen inches more would bring it up to the
furnace fires, and once these were quenched tliere Vv^ould he
no hope of saving the steamer from foundering.

In the meantime Nootka Sound was opening out, and
the increasin^c nearness of its entrance sustained the courage
of the Beavers passengers. Mv. Douglas had never explored
it before, although he had gone past it several times, nor
was any one else on board competent to act as pilot. But
he had entire faith in himself, and trusted to his acquaintance

rwith ol
was to
sandy
iiuiitil til
Oil
)eril of
jained
the nio
raves,
ions,
-^ - thug
tooni.
tor launc
i'or the 1
their ffui
Three
feached
the most
ih]y four

[r. Douii
'hero wa
phe point
re^'eal itsi
Now J
)etakcn li
punce, nc
lim, scan
leeded.
In thi

ly PERILS OF WATERS.

}, and
(iirage
)lore(i
5, nor
But
Itance

with other parts of the coast to guide him now. His hope

was to find within the sound some sheltered cove with a

Bandy bcacli upon which the steamer could be safely run

until the leak could be repaired.

On pressed the little steamer, panting as though the

poril of the situation was fully realized. Steadily the water

gained in the hold, in spite of the most strenuous efforts of

'the men at the pumps, and the vessel sank lower in the

,Avaves. Jklr. Douglas stood at the wheel, Ids face set and

^ ions, not a w^ord passing his lips save an occasional word

• . the engineer which Rae hastened to carry to the engine-

ooni. The other men were busy getting ready the boats

or launching, and putting in provisions to last for a week.

Fur the rest they would, if necessary, have to depend upon

•Jheir guns.

- Three-quarters of the hour had passed when the steamer

tcached the entrance to the sound. In fifteen minutes at

^tho niost the steamer must be beached, or she would inevit-

mhly founder. Yet, keenly as he glanced to right and left,

,%Ir. Douglas could discover no place suited to his purpose.

Tliero was no alternative but to keep on, hoping that when

-the point on the right w^as rounded a sandy cove would

-^fevcal itself.

< Now Rae, finding the strain of anxiety hard to bear, had

etakcn himself to his favourite post high up the mast, and

hence, not less intently than Mr. Douglas was doing below

|iini, scanned the shore for the safe harbour so urgently

lieeded.

i ,

I in this way he had the good fortune to be the first to

■P

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

espy what was sought, and when the Beaver turned the
point at the entrance to the Tinpananing Canal, as the long
narrow inlets of the sea arc called on Vancouver Island, his
voice was heard shouting eagerly, —

" There's the place ! See, there ! there 1 "

Every eye was turned in the direction indicated, and,
sure enough, just around the corner as it were, a beautiful
little bay came into view that fullilled every object sought.
It was perfectly sheltered from the prevailing winds, its
waters were consequently smooth and clear, and at its
farthest curve was a white sandy beach shining in the sun.

" Thank God ! " exclaimed Mr. Douglas devoutly, while a
cheer went up from the steamer's crew. Keeping her head
straight for the beach, he gave orders for the engines to be
slowed, and in a few minutes more, with so gentle a shock
as to be hardly perceptible, the Beaver slid up on her soft
bed, and all danger of foundering was over.

" Stand by to lower the boat ! " called the chief factor,
looking immensely relieved as he let go the wheel, and
hastened forward just as Rae dropped upon the deck from
the riGf<T:in<x.

" Good for you, my boy ! " he exclaimed, catching Rae by
the shoulders, and lifting him clear off his feet ; " your eyes
will make y-our fortune yet. This is just the sort of place I
wanted. Come along with me in the boat, and we'll see if
wo can find out what's the matter."

A careful examination both outside and inside the
steamer's bow revealed the fact that the blow of the maddened
whale had been sufficient, not to actually stave in any of

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

the timbers, but to strain them apart in such a way as to
cause the leak which had been so threatening. The damage
(lone was happily not beyond the skill of the carpenter to
lepair, and a couple of days' work at the most would suffice
for the job.

Immense was the relief of all on this being made known,
and as sundown was not far off, the crew at once set about
iiialving the vessel secure in her position. Anchors were
accordingly set out astern, and the cables hauled taut, so
that in event of the wind changing there would be no chance
of the stern swinging round ; and then, there being nothing
further to do for the present, the evening meal next claimed
attention.

The following morning, after a further inspection of the
leak, and the giving of full directions to the carpenter, Mr.
Ijouglas announced that he would make a visit ashore and
• sec what the country was like. A party of six was quickly
made up, comprising, besides himself, the engineer, the mate,
a couple of the seamen, and Rae.

There was at first some doubt about Rae being taken ;
-. but although he said nothing, he looked so imploringly that
'] the chief factor had not the heart to refuse him.

" Very well then, come along," he said good-humouredly,
Ml in answer to the boy's unspoken petition. " But be sure and
keep close to me, and don't attempt to do any exploring on
your own account."

" I'll promise, sir, with all my heart," shouted Rae,
I rushing off to get his rifle and ammunition.

The woods clothed the country right down to the shore,

IN PERILS OF WATERS.

so, instead of landing beside the steamer, IVIr. Douglas liad
the boat take thcni some distance up the inlet to a spot
where tlic forest was not so dense, and then he sent it back
to the steamer with directions to return an hour before
sunset.

Before entering the w^oods the chief factor reviewed
his little company to make sure that every gun was loade<l,
that every one had his hatchet and hunting-knife at belt,
and that both he and the engineer had their pocket com-
passes to guide them in case of getting astray in the forest.

" Come now," said he, having satisfied himself on these
points, "let us be off. I'll take the lead, and you, Ross,"
pointing to the mate, " bring up the rear. Rae, you fol-
low me."

Thus they set off in Indian file through an opening in
the forest that [)romised an easy way into the interior.

Imposing as the trees had appeared when seen en mam:
from the deck of the Beaver, they proved on close acquaint-
ance to be for the most part lia-.re crooked stunted scrubs
full of knotty excrescences. T) loy were principally firs, with
here and there a cedar or a cypress, although wherever there
was any open prairie land oaks showed themselves in fair
proportion, while in the low lands the white maple gre^v
abundantly.

Near the shore the country was rough and rocky, and
the walking difficult, so that, not only for Rae's sake, but
for his own, Mr. Douglas made frequent halts. Signs of!
bird life abounded. Coveys of grouse and partridge, startled
at the approach of the white intruders, went whirring away

brforc

pli'iitifi

; they w

i Douglas

I that til.:

the Noo

'the dav;

" Wi

! party of

" nevertl

they not

Iiii anx

mvAit w,

In tl

;' for the ]

) lief ore it

'1 watched

' iinpossibl

', only by a

' throiudi t

"The^

" Look to

-.1

jy PERILS OF WATERS,

before them, v/liilo woof.lpcckers and buUlinches seemed

plentiful.

No attempt was made to bag any of them, however, as
tliey were not yet worth the ammunition ; and, moreover, ]\[r.
Dou«''las wanted to make as little noise as possible in order
that the attention of the natives mi^i,Oit not be attracted, for
I the Nootka Indians had borne an evil reputation ever since
I the days of the early Spanish explorers.

" With our six rifles we are more than a match for any
party of Indians we are at all likely to encounter," said he ;
" nevertheless I'd prefer that we saw nothing of them, and
they nothing of us. It's their country, not themselves, that
I'm anxious to become acquainted with. The company
might want to put up a fort here some day."

In this desire, however, he was fated to disappointment,
for the party had not advanced more than a mile inland
hefore it became evident that their movements were beinff
watclicd by a band of Indians, the size of which it was
impossible to judge since their presence was made known
only by an occasional glimpse of them as they slipped silently
throiii^h the trees to rio^ht and left.

" They're all around us," said Mr. Douglas in a low tone.
" Look to your rifles, my men."

CHAPTER III.

ON LAND AND SEA.

iiil

THE action of their leader more than his words caused i
the little party to quickly close up ranks until all its |
members were in touch of each other. Then, with their
forefingers upon the triggers of their guns, they moved
steadily forward, keeping as sharp a look-out as possible.

An ambuscade so far from reinforcements might prove
a serious matter ; and, anyway, it was Mr. Douglas's desire
to establish a friendly footing with the natives, and he was
determined to avoid to the last anything approaching a
collision.

The thick of the forest was not just the place in which
to open 1 M gotiations with the people whose ancestral domain
was being invaded ; and the chief factor, therefore, pushed
on in the hope of coming to an open glade or bit of meadow
land, wIku'c he might hold audience with them if they could
be persuaded to show themselves.

For some time the Nootkas made no further demonstra-
tion than an occasional hoot, which was evidently a signal
from those on one side of the white men to those on the |
other. But presently, as if taking courage from the lattcr's

ON LAND AND SEA.

iistra-

n the
otter's

ilence, they began to let fly arrows, some of wliicli whistled
hreateningly near.

" Keep cool now, men," commanded Mr. Douglas. " Don't
re until I give the order."
" Very good, sir," was the prompt response.
Now Rae had not the slightest idea of disobeying the
hief factor, but, as luck would have it, a minute or two
ater his foot caught in a hidden tree-root, and in the attempt
save himself from pitching forward he dropped his rifle,
?whicli was set oflf by the fall.

Seeing the tension of nerves they were under it was no
wonder that the unexpected report made them all, including
iRae, jump as if they had been shot; and Mr. Douglas,
Isvhceling about, demanded sharply, —

'• Who fired that shot ? What's the meaning of it ? "
Rao, having just picked up both himself and his rifle,
urned an appealing face up to the irate leader.

" It was my gun, sir," he murmured ; " but indeed I
uldn't help it. I tripped over a root, and it fell out of
y hand."

On seeing how matters stood Mr. Douglas's indignation
0(lcratc(l.
" You must be more careful, my boy," said he. " That
4hot inav have done us a ffood deal of harm."

Iiinnediatcly following the report there had been a lively
-istling among the trees, which sounded like men rushing
antically through them in a state of panic. The engineer
poticcd it, and so did the mate.

" I tliink it did us more good than harm, sir," said the

ON LAND AND SEA.

latter, " for it scared the Indians out of their wits, if I'm not
much mistaken."

Mr. Douglas looked keenly about him, while something
closely approaching a smile played over his firm mouth.

"The Nootkas have not had much experience of fire-
arms," said he, " and they no doubt thought Rae was aiming
at them. I hope, however, they're not frightened away
altogether, for I want to have a talk with them if they'll
give me the chance. Let us push on ; I think I see an
opening ahead."

Continuing their march a hundred yards further, they I
came to the break in the forest of which Mr. Douglas's well-
trained eye had caught a glimpse, and then a halt was
called, and they gathered in a group in the centre of a lovely j
glade that seemed just meant for a meeting-place.

They all knew perfectly well that the woods around |
them hid scores of dusky forms, and that every movement
was watched by flashing eyes full of hostile intent ; but they I
maintained as calm a front as though they were merely out %
hunting, and had stopped for a brief rest.

Rae, already beginning to feel weary from the tramp,
threw himself down in the deep grass, and watched with |
intense interest Mr. Douglas's efibrts to get the Indians to
show themselves.

Leaving aside his rifle and hunting-knife, and picking up |
a wi. p of grass in lieu of a flag of truce, the chief factor
advanced about half-way between his party and the edge
of the forest, calling out in a dialect that he hoped would be
at least partly intelligible : " We are friends ; we mean no

ON LAND AND SEA.

harm; we want to give our red brothers presents — see!"
and he held up some gaudy brass trinkets that glittered in
the sunshine.

Whether his words were intelligible or not, his actions
were clear enough, and presently, as he stood there, his
whole attitude and expression bespeaking good-will, first
one, then a second, and a third Indian emerged cautiously
from the protection of the trees, holding tightly on to their
Lows and arrows and clubs, as if afraid to be without them.

Noting their manifest trepidation, Mr. Douglas called
for Kae, and when he came up placed him in front of him,
saying, —

" We've not come to fight, but to be friends. See, this
is my son. He is no warrior. He will speak peace to you."

Then handing Rae the trinkets, he bade him go forwards
and ofll-r them to the Indians.

At the sight of the unarmed boy approaching them with
the glittering presents the Indians got more bold, and,
dropping their weapons, began to advance towards him,
moving at first in a hesitating way, but quickening their
pace as the desire for the proffered presents overcame their
apprehensions, until at length anxiety to be the first to
reach them banished all other feelings, and, each one deter-
mining not to be outstripped by the others, all three broke
into a run.

On they came with eager, outstretched hands, so close
together that had it been a foot-race the judges would
certainly have been obliged to declare a dead heat. Rae
valiantly stood his ground, and as not one of the runners

'W:

ON LAND AND SEA.

slackened his pace in the slightest, the result was a collision
that sent the boy rolling over on his back and scattered the
trinkets in all directions.

Paying no heed to the prostrate lad, the three Indians
bumped heads in a frantic scramble for the prizes they
sought, and Mr. Douglas, who had run up in some ahirm
lest Rae had been injured, felt strongly tempted to admin-
ister a good kick apiece by way of teaching them better
manners.

He contented himself, however, with calling them clumsy
swine ; and as Tiae the next moment jumped up witli a
broad smile on his face, evidently none the worse for his
upsetting, his anger vanished at once, and he burst out
laughing instead.

"Bless my heart, Rae," he exclaimed, "if that wasn't
one of the funniest things I ever saw. Why on earth didn't
you dodge those fellows when you saw them bearing down
on you like that ? "

" I thought they'd go to one side of me, sir," replied Rae,
" I never dreamed of their knocking me over."

" You went down like a nine-pin, my lad. Are you sure
you're not hurt ? "

" Not a bit, sir. I just tumbled over on the grass as easy
as possible."

By this time the Indians had found all the trinkets
among thom, and were absorbed in rapt admiration of the
trumpery things, which meant more to them than a new
diamond necklace to a duchess.

"Just look at them, Rae," said Mr. Douglas; "they'iel

ON LAND AND SEA.

nothing but children, are they ? But I must make the most
of this chance to have a talk with them."

B}' tlint of a vigorous use of the sign code he was able
to eke out his scanty knowledge of the Nootka dialect, and
make liimsclf tolerably well understood, with the result that
the Indians, seeming to be perfectly satisfied as to the good
intention of the visitors, promised to meet him at the sea-
shore the following morning, and to bring with them a lot
of furs for barter.

They then disappeared in the depths of the forest, and,
feeling very well pleased with what he had accomplished,
Mr. Douglas suggested that search should be made for water,
and after they had despatched their lunch they should
return to the place of meeting with the boat.

A .spring of delicious water was found after but little
search, and in high good humour tlie party sat down to
"1 iliscuss the contents of their knapsacks. The steamer's cook
liad dune his duty nobly, and there was enough and to spare
f'tr all, hearty though their appetites were.

While the men were having a pipe after their meal, Rae,
tVeling thoroughly rested and refreshed, strolled off on his
"wn account, for his was a very active and enterprising
-piiit, and in spite of oft-repcatcd parental injunctions he
would take ventures that were certainly beyond his years.

He had his rifle in hand, and in his heart was the hope
"f getting a shot at a fox or a squirrel just for the fun of the
thing. He was quite an accurate marksman already, and
flit fully equal to disposing of a bear should he happen to
meet one. He was not anxious to do so, however, having

'ki,^ii!iiii*nM^_

ON LAND AND SEA.

sufficient common-sense to realize that for the present he
might be content with the conviction that he was a match
for any oixlinary Bruin without running the risk of having
the conviction readily disturbed.

The spring which had supplied water for lunch grew
into a little brook farther on, and Rae followed its course,
thus having a sure guide back to his friends. In one place
the brook raa close to the edge of the forest, and as Rae
sauntered along his «.|'uck ear caught the sound of a rustling
in the underbriJ?^ on the other side.

At once he dropped to the ground, and, with forefinger
on trigger, peered eagerly in the direction from which the
noise proceeded. For a moment there was perfect silence.
Then the rustling recommenced, and in greater volume.
Evidently some large animal was making its way to the
water, and would soon become visible.

Rae's heart almost stopped beating in the intensity of
liis excitement. Here was a chance for him to distinguish
himself by bagging some big game while the men were
taking it easy. Not a hint for help would he give until he
had done his best alone. Another moment's suspense, and
then just across the narrow brook, and right in front of
hiin, the head of a great elk broke through the thicket.

As if scenting some danger, and yet not feeling suffi-
ciently sure of its presence to dash away with his thirst
unquenched, the .superb animal stood like a statue, only its
palpitating nostrils moving as it snuffed the air. This was
the time for Rae to fire, and he had just got his rifle to the
shoulder, and in another instant would have planted a bullet

ON LAND AND SEA.

in the elk's broad breast, when its splendid brown eyes were
turned full upon him, and he thought he read in them so
moving an appeal for mercy that, yielding to an impulse of
tt'iulerness, he dropped his rifle and sprang to his feet, ex-
claiming as if in reply to a spoken question, —

" No ; I won't shoot you. It would be a cruel shame to
kill such a beauty as you are. So clear out before the men
see you."

The elk did not need to be told twice. With a snort of
sudden affright it wheeled about, and galloped off at a
fnuitie pace that soon carried it out of hearing.

Just at that moment Mr. Douglas came up with a look of
inquiry on his face. ^

"Well, Rae, what have you been doing? Whom were
you speaking to ? "

Looking the picture of confusion, Rae hung his head,
and hesitated to answer. He had a very sensitive spirit,
and shrank from ridicule, however good-natured. He felt
sure Mr. Douc^las would lauo'h at him when he told what
liail occurred.

"Come, my boy, speak out," urged the chief factor.
■ There's nothing to be ashamed of, I trust."

"Oh no, sir," responded Rae; "but" — and the blush
Icopened on his brown cheek — "I'm afraid you'll laugh at
1110 when I tell you." And then without more ado he pro-
e< edcd to tell about his letting the elk go unharmed.

Instead of laughing at him, Mr. Douglas, when he had
tinished, gave liim a hearty clap on the back in token of
warm approval.

ON ZAND AND SEA.

" Indeed I won't laugh at you, Rae," said he, in his most
cordial tone. " You did the right thing, and I'm proud of
you for it. The elk wouldn't have been fit to eat if you
had killed it, and so its death would have done us no good,
We kill too many creatures just for the sake of killing
them."

Feeling immensely relieved at this unexpected commen-
dation, Rac picked up his rifle again, and went back with
Mr. Douglas to the others, for it was now time to retrace
their steps in order to meet the boat at the appointed ren-
dezvous.

They found the boat awaiting them, and made good
speed back to the steamer, where they were met with the
cheering news that the carpenter had ascertained the full
extent of the damage, and would have it all repaired by the
end of the following day.

The next morning Rae was up with the dawn, and out
on deck to see if there were any signs of the Indians. Sure
enough there they were, a whole tribe of them apparently,
squatted at the edge of the forest, waiting patiently for the
white men to give them their attention.

He waved his cap, and shouted a hearty good morning
to them ; upon which their chief stood up, and made signals
in reply that Rae construed to moan something like "The
top of the morning to you, my boy." Whereupon Rae felt
strongly tempted to jump into the boat and paddle ashore,
so as to be the first to sec what the Indians had brought
with them for barter.

But on second thoughts it seemed better for him to wait

ON LAND AND SEA.

until Mr. Douglas landed, which, of course, would not be
until after breakfast ; so he called out, " I can't go in-shore
just now, but will in a little while," and then ran below to
see if the others were up yet.

He met Mr. Douglas just coming out of his cabin, and
told him the Indians had come.

"Good!" said the chief factor; "I'm very glad of it.
We'll go ashore as soon as we have had breakfast, and see
what we can do with them."

Rae was greatly pleased at Mr. Douglas saying " we " in
the way he did. It seemed to put him on the same plane
as himself, and, although it was little more than a chance
expression on the hitter's part, it seemed to feed the boy's
sense of self-importance to an extent that Mr. Douglas
never contemplated. The liability to over-estimate himself
was the weak side of Rae's character, and it would take
some sharp experiences to teach him the wisdom he needed.
That these did not fail to come will duly appear.

Immediately after breakfast Mr, Douglas went ashore,
attended by as many men as could be spared from the work,
for he wanted to make a deep impression upon the Nootkas.
The Indians received him with considerable dignity, and
seemed to feel entirely at their ease, although their visitors
carried their rifles as a precaution against any attempt at a
surprise.

They were a tall and well-formed people, with counte-
nances betokening a fair degree of intelligence in spite of the
extraordinary effect produced by the flattening of the liead,
which is done in infancy wdiile the skull is soft. Their

(47ii)

ON LAND AND SEA.

hair, which was either black or dark brown, being never
cut, liiing in long thick locks over the shoulders, and for
many of them was their sole head-gear in all weathers.
Their eyes were dark hazel, and their skin the tint of a dirty
copper kettle. Their features were for the most part those
which generally mark the North American Indians — name]}-,
long nose, high cheek-bones, and largo, ugly mouth; but
owing to the flattening of the head already mentioned, their
foreheads were villanously low. Upon the whole, they
could scarcely be called prepossessing, although they were
not absolutely repulsive.

Rae, looking at them in a critical spirit not entirely free
from contempt, found himself feeling thankful that he had
not been created after that fashion ; for, even though the
men were somewhat fine-looking, the w^omen had very ugly
flat noses, and were extremely dirty, wdiile the children ran
about as naked as the day they were born. Now in Rae
the love of beauty and the sense of decency were naturally
very keen, as they had been in his mother, and if a little
dulled by constant contact with what was shocking to both,
still they never became torpid as they were in many of those
around him ; consequently to the end of his days the natives
remained objects of repugnance to the extent that they were
either dirty or indecent.

Mr. Douglas, however, did not bother himself on these
points. His chief concern was whether they had furs in
plenty, and if this were satisfied, he was w^ell content. In
the present case he had not much cause for satisfaction.
The Nootkas were better fishermen than trappers, and spent

ON LAND AND SEA.

far more time in their canoes than in the forest. They had
some good skins nevertheless, and at the end of the day's
bartering he had acquired, at the cost of a lot of trumpery
trinkets, and a couple of dozen hatchets and hunting-knives,
with a few kettles thrown in, an assortment of furs worth
many scores of pounds in London.

There were some superb otter skins from both the land
and sea animal ; several bear skins, both the black and
brown ; a lot of wolf skins, black and white ; and a large
niiiiiber of minx and squirrel skins, the latter being hardly
of any \alue.

"It wouldn't pay to establish a post here," said Mr.
Douglas, reviewing the day's work. " These skins probably
fuviii the pick of the tribe's stock, and there wouldn't be
another such lot for a year. I think I'll have the Beaver
call here every spring, though. I'll promise these fellows
some guns and powder the next time I come if they'll have
a good lot of skins ready. That'll make them take more
interest in trapping."

The natives showed great delight on hearing this. They
liad seen muskets in the hands of some of the tribes t* '/■;e
south with whom they were at war, which gave the others
a great advantage, and the prospect of being put on even
terms filled them with joy, so that they readily promised to
have plenty of skins ready against the Beavers return.

Rae had among his possessions a pretty little mirror set
in brass that he valued a good deal ; but seeing the barter
going on, the spirit of business took hold of him, and he got
out his treasure to see what he could do with it. The

ON LAND AND SEA.

moment it was shown an eagerness to have it was manifested
by several of the Indians who had furs to give in exchange.
But Rae was in no hurry to sstrike a bargain. Holding \
mirror up so that it flashed in the sun, he walked slowly
around inviting bidders.

Some very good bear skins and a pile of uiinx skins
were offered him, but he shook his head until finally a
stalwart young brave, taking him to one side, carefully
unrolled a sea-otter skin the like of which Rae had neve*
seen before. It was a beauty indeed, full five feet long, an
in perfect condition, the fur being as smooth and even a
velvet.

Rae did not hesitate a minute. Handing over the mi' .
he took up the skin, and made haste on board the Be y""'
for fear the Indian might change his mind. When Mr.
Douglas saw his ac(|uisition, and learned the cost of it, he
exclaimed, —

" Well, laddie, you've outdone us all. This skin is worth
three of any of the others we've got. It's fit for a prince.
You must take good care of it, and it will buy you something
fine in London when we send the furs over in the autumn."

" I know just what I want too, sir," said Rae, looking up
archly.

" And what may that be, my son ? " asked the chief
factor.

" Why, a Manton rifle with silver all over the stock, like
the one that efentleman had who was at Fort Vancouver
last summer." answered Rae.

Mr. Douglas laid back his head and laughed heartily.

ON LAND AND SEA.

" Upon my word," he cried, " you are aiiiLitioiis beyond
a douU. Nothing else will satisfy you but as fine a ritle as
Governor Simpson's. Well, well, what are we coming to?
The younger generation must needs go far ahead of their
fathers. Look here now, Rae ; wouldn't something more
modest suit you equally as well ? "

Qiiite taken aback by this outburst, which was entirely
unexpected, for, having cherished the notion in his heart
for a whole year, Rac had come to look upon it as something
quite natural and proper on his part, he had nothing to say
in liis own defence, and the tears began to gather in his
eyes, he being very sensitive to ridicule.

Noticing this, Mr. Douglas checked a bantering remark
that was just upon his lips, and instead said in a soothing

'~r\ryr\ ,

" Never x^.^nd, Kae ; there's no harm in flying high, is
there ? If you can't get just what you want in this world,
it's at least some compensation that }ou tried for it ; and you
certainly aren't likely to fail for lack of trying."

This turn to the subject materially relieved Rae's feelings,
and it was not long before he was whistling merrily as he
watched the crew getting ready to float the steamer off her
sandy bed into deep water again ; for the leak had been
successfully mended, and the little Beaver was ready to
resume her voyage northward.

The getting off proved a matter of some difficulty. Both
anchors were carried out as far astern as possible, and while
all on board except the engineer and his assistant heaved
on the cables lustily, the engines were working full speed

ON LAND AND SEA.

astern. For some minutes their joint efforts were of no
avail. The steamer remained fast, and concern lest she
should prove a fixture began to be felt.

But Mr. Douglas did not share it. Ordering a rest to be
taken, he spoke words of encouragement ; and then calling
upon the men to put forth their mightiest efforts, he himself
lending his own enormous strength, there was a long pull,
and a pull all together, with the result that, amid a burst of
cheers, the Beaver slid slowly but steadily from off the sand-
bank into deep water, while Rae clapped his hands and
danced a jig of joy on the poop.

They did not attempt to leave Nootka Sound until the
following moining ; and then, with every prospect pleasing,
and all tlie signs promising, the steamer headed northward
for Fort Simpson. The voyage thither was marked by no
special incident, yet was full of enjoyment to Rae. The
weather being favourable all the way, he spent his time on
deck or in the cross-trees, keeping a keen look-out for any-
thing noteworthy.

He was always hoping to sight another whale ; but al-
though he saw plenty of seals and porpoises, no whales came
into view. Even if they had, it was not likely that Mr.
Douglas would have sanctioned another hunt, if for no other
reason than that too much time had been already lost, and
no farther delay could be risked.

Tlie Beaver made only a short stay at Fort Simpson, and
Rae had no time for a run ashore, which he rather regretted,
as he had by that time been at sea long enough to hanker
for a touch of the solid earth. But for this he had to wait

ON LAND AND SEA.

until, having turned south once more, the steamer dropped
down to Fort M'Laughlin on Milbank Sound.

As this fort was to be abandoned in favour of the new
cstaltlishment at Camosun Bay, a stay of some days was
necessary while the garrison with their belongings, and the
stoves and stock of furs, were being got on board. Rae not
being required to help was free to do what he pleased, and
having in the course of tlic first day struck up an acquaint-
ance with a bright young lialf-breed several years his senior
who could speak English fluently, he was persuaded by him
to venture on an expedition for which he omitted to ask Mr.
Douglas's permission, and which came very near having
serious consequences for himself.

CHAPTER IV.

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

RAE'S new companion bore the unusual name of
" Saucy Alec," for which he was indebted to his pert
way of speaking. This habit had brought him into deep
disfavour with his seniors and superiors. Indeed, but for
his being the son of one of the most useful men at the fort,
and having himself a more than ordinary share of skill as
a hunter and fisherman, he would not have been allowed
about Fort M'Laughlin at all. As it was, his presence was
simply tolerated by the factor ; and he lived a kind of out-
cast life that caused him to hail with delight the advent of
a visitor who, knowing nothing of his dubious reputation,
might be won over to companionship for a time at least.

]\Ir. Douglas being very much engrossed in the task of
transferring on board the Beaver all that was worth taking
away, had no time for Rac, and, having cautioned him to
keep out of mischief, and not go far from the fort, left him
to his own resources. lor the first few hours the boy
wandered about wondering what h*^ should do with him-
self, and feeling much like a butterfly among a lot of busy
bees. To him came Saucy Alec, smiling his sweetest, and

7A' DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

to
lin

holdiiif'' out a branch of the Indian pear-tree well laden
with the reddish-black luscious fruit which the natives
prize so highly.

" Are these for me ? " asked Rae, his mouth watering at
the sight of the berries, for they were the first he had seen
that year.

" Yes, if you like them," responded the half-breed.

" Oh, I do like them ! " cried Rae. " I think they're the
best berries on the coast ; don't you ? " and taking the
branch, he picked half-a-dozen of the tiny pears, and
crainiiied them into his mouth.

Well pleased at the favour with which his offering was
received, Alec stood smiling, while Rae gave himself up to
the enjoyment of this unexpected treat too fully to resume
tlie conversation until the branch was stripped bare. Then
holding it in his hand, and regretting it did not have twice
as many berries upon it, he smacked his lips and said, —

" I'm very much obliged to you; and — what's your name?"

The half-breed's face clouded over n little as he answered, —

" They all call me Saucy Alec ; but it isn't fair. I'm no
worse than the others, though they do say I am. They
treat me very badly, they do."

Now there is no chord in a boy's heart so readily touched
as that of sympathy wnth those who complain of not getting
fair play. The instinct of championsliip is at once aroused,
and a side is taken without the faintest thought of looking
into the real facts to ascertain just who is in the wrong.

Rae had never before seen the boy who now sought his
friendship ; but he impulsively assumed that he was a

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

much-injured individual, and was ready not only to take
the truth of his story for granted, but to listen to anything
he might suggest.

" Well, I won't call you Saucy Alec, any way," said he,
his countenance beaming with good-fellowship. " I like you
too much already to call you such a name ; I'll just call you
Alec — that will be all right, won't it ? " And as the other
nodded assent, he added, " My name is Rae — Rae Finlayson.
My father is to be factor of the new fort at Camosun
Bay ; and I'm here with Mr. Douglas, who is the chief factor
of the company, you know."

The half-breed's eye opened at this. He had not imagined
the new-comer was a person of such importance, and this
increased his anxiety to establish a good footing with him,
He was silent for a few moments as he racked his brain
trying to think of something that would prove of special
interest to llae. Then his face lit up, and he asked
eagerly,—

" Wouldn't you like to see my otter ? "

Rae's eyes danced at the question.

" Oh, yes ! " he exclaimed. " Where is it ? Can you show
it to me right away ? "

Alec nodded expressively, and then, drawing near to Rcie,
said in a meaning whisper, —

" But you mustn't let anybody know ; it's my secret."

The fact of its existence beimr a secret of course served
to intensify Rae's curiosity, and he asked, —

" Is it near here ? When will you take me to see it ? "

" This afternoon," responded Alec. " You see that point

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY,

over there ? " indicating with his linger a rocky projection
on the shore about two hundred j'ards from where they
stood. " You meet me there as soon as you get your dinner.
Mv canoe is hidden there. And say," he added, " have you
(fot a gur of your own ? "

" Of course," answered Rac ; " a line little rillc."

" Good ! " said Alec ; " bring it with you. You may get
a shot at something."

Arrangements being thus perfected, the boys parted to
meet an hour later at the appointed rendezvous, Rae promis-
ing to keep the matter a secret.

On his way back to the Beaver, the first flush of excite-
ment at meeting with Saucy Alec having passed off, Rae
bcc!-an to feel some twino^es of conscience because of this
promise. In the bottom of his heart he knew that he
ought to ask permission of Mr. Douglas, whose charge he
was, but — and here came the rub — he knew equally well
that this permission would not be granted, and that he
would be bidden to stay by tlie steamer.

Accordingly he had quite an argument with himself,
whicli was not decided cither way when the call came to
dinner. As it chanced, ]\Ir. Douglas was not in the cabin,
nor did he appear until Rae had about finished, and then ho
seemed in such a hurry and so much preoccupied that the
boy ha<l no opportunity to address him, which made it
easier for him to decide in favour of keeping silence, even
although he was not altogether happy at the decision.

When dinner was over the men all returned to tlieir
work ; and the coast thus being clear, no one questioned

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

Rae wlicn, taking his rifle, he set off for the place where he
would meet the half-breed.

Alec was there awaiting him, and his tawny face lit up
at his approach.

" You've kept your word," said he, smiling until he
showed a double row of teeth white and ejleamino:. "I
was afraid perhaps you couldn't come ; and you've brouglit
your gun. Let me see it, won't you I "

Rae proudly handed him the rifle, and as his hand closed
upon it there came into his countenance a look of wild
desire that would have led a more observant person than
Rae to be somewhat concerned as to its safety. But Rae
had no suspicions. In the company of the half-breed he
had also forgotten all his compunctions, and was resolved
to enjoy himself to the best of his ability.

" Where is your canoe ? " he asked by way of a hint, for
Alec seemed disposed to spend a good deal of time over tlie
rifle, fondling it much as a young girl might a new doll.

"Oh, just near here!" was the reply, uttered in atone
of indifference. Then, recollecting himself, Alec added more
politely, " I hide it in a sort of cave, so that the other boys
won't meddle with it."

" Come along, then, and let us get it," said Rae, who was
impatient to be on the way to the otter.

With an expressive sigh, Alec handed back the rifle, and
started off around the point, leaving Rae to follow as he
might.

A cleft in the rock that Rae w^ould have passed without
noticing proved, on closer inspection, to be the opening into

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

the cave in which Alec kept his canoe. This was a small
but very stanch craft, cleverly fashioned out of a single
lo"'' of wliite cedar, the gunwales inclining outwards so as to
throw off the waves, and the bow and stern richly decorated
with grotcs({ue figures of men and animals.

How such a boy as Saucy Alec came into possession of so
fine a canoe was a question that he might have found it
troubhsome to answer, but Rae never thought of asking it.
His mind was wholly occupied ^vith the novelty of the
situation and the prospect of having some kind of an
adventure before the day ended.

" Where are we going ? " he inquired when they had
taken their places in the canoe and begun paddling.

" Over to that island," answered Alec, pointing in a
nortli-westerly direction to an island that rose above the
waters of Milbank Sound, about two miles distant.

'■ What, so far as that ? " exclaimed Rae in a tone of
dismay. " Why, that's such a long way off."

An ugly look showed itself on the half-breed's face.

' You're not afraid to go, are you ? " he said sneeringly.

" No, I'm not afraid," he returned ; " and I don't want
you to hint that I am. But it's a long way to go in this
little canoe, all the same."

The fact of the matter was, Rae did not at all fear going
out in the canoe, but he did fear being so lato getting back
that Mr. Douglas would want to know where he had been,
and then the whole story would have to come out.

Realizing from the tone of Rae's reply that lie had gone
too far, the half-breed sought to make answer by saying, —

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

" Oh, the canoe can stand anything, and you paddle so
well we'll get along very fast."

This ingenious bit of flattery was well aimed ; and his
good-humour being thereby thoroughly restored, Rae plied
his paddle vigorously without further question.

The canoe rode the waves like a sea-gull, and propelled
by the two paddles, glided onward at a rate of speed that
brought it to its destination within an hour from the time
of setting out.

The island was a wild, desolate-looking place, with a rocky
shore and a scrubby twisted crown of trees. No human
being, red or white, ever made his home there. Indeed, few
others than the half-breed had visited it at any time, and this
was the very reason he had chosen it for the purpose of keep-
ing in secrecy one of the strangest pets that ever a boy had.

The moment he set foot on shore, Rae asked, —

" Where's your otter ? Let me see him right off, won t
you ?

Again a frown came over Alec's face. His companion's
impatience irritated him. This was the first time he had
revealed the existence of his pet, and he naturally wanted
to make the most of it, whereas Rae sought to rush the
business through in a way that would dei)rive it of much of
its importance.

" Don't be in such a hurry," he replied rather gruffly.
" I'll show him to you in a minute."

Fcelinof the rebuff, Rae said nothinix more, but turned to
look back towards the fort, and as he did there came o^er
him a feeling of uneasiness that was due to his suddenly

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

realizing what a distance separated him from his friends,
and how completely he was in the hands of a young half-
breed, of whom he knew nothing save what the lad had
himself told him.

Immediately he wished himself back at the fort, and
re^Tctted that he had ever come away. Saucy Alec was a
strange sort of a chap, and not at all a comfortable com-
panion. He would certainly do his best to get back as
quickly as possible.

While these thoughts were passing through his mind the
luilf-breed had drawn the canoe up on the beach, and then,
picking up Rae's rifle quite as if it had been his own, said
pleasantly enough, —

" Come along, now ; I'll show you my otter."

His curiosity reasserting itself, Rae dismissed his appre-
hensions and followed Alec up the rocky beach, and into the
mass of trees which covered the upper part of the island.
He wondered as he walked up if Alec kept his pet among the
tiees, for that would be an odd place for a sea-otter ; but he
'lid not like to say so after the manner in which his first
questions had been received. Plunging into the thick
growth. Alec pursued a tortuous course, turning this way
and that way for no apparent reason ; the real truth, how-
ever, being that his purpose was to so confuse his companion
that he could not possibly again find the way unassisted,
hi this he was so completely successful, that when, at the
ond of ten minutes, he came out on the beach not two hun-
dred yards from where they had landed, Rae felt quite sure
they were not less than a mile distant.

■i i

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

" Where on earth are we now ? " lie asked, looking
blankly about him.

" Still on \}\Q island," answered Alec with a sardonic
grin.

" You needn't tell me that," responded Rae petulantly.
" I mean, how far from where we left the canoe."

" Oh, never mind about that," said Alec. " Come, I'll
show you the otter." So saying he pulled aside some bushes
which masked the mouth of a cave, and pointing to the
narrow entrance, said, —

" Creep in there. I'll come right after you."

Rae did as directed, and found himself in a good-sized
cave, well lit through a fissure in its roof, and having at the
bottom a shining pool of sea-water, into which there had
evidently just sprung an animal of some kind. It was a
very romantic place, fit for the secret bower of a mermaid,
and there came to Rae a fcelino- of exultation at beinc
admitted to its recesses.

While he stood just inside the entrance watching the
pool, the half-breed, who certainly had not followed as
promptly as he promised, pulled himself in, and at once
asked, —

" W^hat do you think of my cave ? "

" I think it's just splendid," replied Rae ; " but," looking
all around, " where's the otter ? I don't see it about."

" Then you don't know how to use your eyes," s^aid Alec,
"whose manners certainly had much need of mending.

As he spoke he climbed down to the edge of the pool,
and gave a carious kind of cry resembling that of a sea-bird.

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY,

At once tlie still .surface of the water was broken into
rippU''^, ill the midst of which appeared the head of the
otter as the creature made its way to him from the other
side of the pool.

" J)()n't move a step," called out Alec, noticing that Rao
was ah(jut to approach him. " Kahlan can't hear strangers.
\m\\ frighten liim."

liae, who felt for the time completely in subjection to
lii.s companion, at once became motionless, and then had the
pleasure of seeing what no wlute boy had ever seen before
—a full-grown sea-otter in captivity, and at least partially
tamed.

The animal swam up close to where the half-breed stood,
and, the latter retreating a few steps and holding out a
bii: sea-urchin, in its earxerness to jxc't the echinoderm it left
the water altogether, thus giving Ilae the op)portunity of
getting a perfect view of it.

It was a splendid specimen of its kind, the fur being in
tine condition, and of a most lustrous softness, and ebony shim-
laoring, and from the blunt, bewhiskered nose to the root of
the short, stumpy tail the creature measured full four feet.

Xo\v, young as he was, Rae had heard enough about the
sea-otter, the most precious prize in the whole held of fur-
hunting, to fully appreciate what he now said ; and as the
creature pounced eagerly upon the sea-urchin, ami crunched
it between his strong, fiat molars, he exclaimed, with a sigh
of admiration, —

" My, what a beauty ! I wish he was mine. How did
you catch him ? "

(1T>) 5

AV DOUBTFUL COMTANY,

Evidently well satisfied at the cntliusiasrn of his com-
panion, Alec explained that one da\^ ho had chanced to espy
this otter darting,' into the cave through an opening on the
beach. At once he had set to work to Llock up the opening
M'itli boulders, and had then succeedetl in making the animal
a prisoner. This was in the early spring, and ever since he
had been visiting it regularly, and keeping it supplied witli
clams, crabs, mnsscls, and sea-urchins, so that it had grown
sleek in confinement. His idea was to keep it until tlie
autunni, and then kill it, and sell its skin to the Hudson
}3ay Company.

" Oh, but must you kill it ? " Rae exclaimed ; and then
remeniboriiig the otter-skin he had on board the steamer,
he added, " But, of course, you must ; that's the only way
you can get anything for it."

Alec nodded by way of reply. He had been in a kind
of brown study for a moment or two, from which he sml-
denly awoke with the question, —

" Look here, Rae, will you give mo your rific for the
otter ? "

Rae started, and the colour came into his ^aco TIk
half-breed looked so eager, and had alren .cted so

strangely, that he shrank from saying "no." ^et h' liad
no itlea of assenting He already possesse<l one ottc '^kin,
and if ho let his rifle 2^0 it might be months before it could
be replaced. There certainly w^as not another like it to he
had north of San Francisco.

" That wouldn't be a fair exchange," he began diplomat-
ically. " Your otter is worth half -n -dozen rifles like mine.'

" Xe^

coming i

want tli(

W(jrtli, tl

" Wei

ingly; "1

My fatlie

an'l ho ^

with it."

AVliilo

fjrowinir

only incre

his own \

that Rae :

h(jttom of

narrow op

Alec's

bound iic !

" No, y

" You're n(

I want."

Tliorou
though to

" ^\ 31
not L :ng t

'' J]ut I

11 sinkini; int

lial). reed's

" I don'

IN DOUBTFUL CO Mr ANY.

"Never yoii rniiul that," retimed Alec, a hard look
comiiiL;" into his face that increased Kae's uneasiness. " I
want the rifle; and if I'm willin^i,^ to give more tlian its
worth, that's my Lusiness and not yours."

" Well, I'm sorry I can't oblige you," said Rue, liesitat-
ingly; " but, really, I mustn't swop my ritle for anything.
My father gave it to me as a present on my last biruiday,
and he would be very cross with me if I were to part
with it."

While he was speaking the half-breed's face had been
growing darker and more determined. Rae's opposition
only increased instead of diminishing his resolution to have
his own way, and he took on so forbidding an expression
tliat Rae moved tow^ards the cave's mouth, wishing to the
bottom of his lieart that he was on the other side of the
narrow opening.

Alec's keen eyes observed the movement, and with a
bound he sprang up between Rae and the exit.

" No, you don't," he snapped through his clenched teeth.
"You're not going to get away from here until you do what
I want."

Thoroughly alarmed, he threw up his right arm as
though to ward off a blow.

" Oh, you needn't be so frightened," sneered Alec. " I'm
not ,L ing to strike you, but I am going to have your gun."

" But I don't want your otter," pleaded Ilao, his voice
sinkini;- into a sob as he saw how completely he was at the
halt reed's mercy.

" I don't care anything about that. You needn't take

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

liiiii it' you don't want liim," broke in Alec roughly — "and
now that I come to think of it, I won't let you have it
anyway ; but I'll take your riHe, all the same."

Kae leaned back against the wall of the cave, while a
sense of helplessness came over him so strongly that only
by the utmost effort could he restrain the tears that filled
his eyes. He could not l)ring himself to surrender his be-
loved rille. If Alec took it he would liavc to do it by force,
not with his consent.

The half-breed evidently realized this, for, as if wnvxy of
the argument, and determined to put an end to it, he gave
liae a look that was little short of nuirderous in its menace.

" 8t;)y here now until I give you the word to come out.
If you dare to move I'll stick this into 3'ou," he declared,
drawing from his belt a long, keen Innitingdvuife. Then,
with a sudden si)ring, ho divetl throuLrh the mouth of the
cave, leaving Eae white, and trendjling with apprehension,

" Stay where you are ! " he sliouted again as, snatching
up the rille, he plunged into thick undei'growth, and van-
ished.

Fur some minutes after he had disappeared Iiae re-
mained inside the cave. Then, takinii' couraij'e from tlie
siU^nce without, he cautiously climl)ed into i\\o open ;iir, and
looked anxiously around him. There Avas no trace of the
half-breed, and,o\ving to the ingeniously twistt'd a.nd doubled
way in which he had led Ivae to the cave, the latter was
entirely at a loss as to his present position.

He could see nothing of the fort. He nnist therefore be
on the other side of the island from that where thev hfi'l

"With a iuMiii ^/>ring Sw Ui-cd through ti'ie mouth of the c<ii't'.

I'agi! ;o.

laiii.led,

to make

the caiK

out to cL

as lie si

Iiad to 11

lie (larec

without

being iii,

anything

"Oh

and in ji

here witl,

do fur tli(

canoe aiK

This 1

gather st;

if he weri

island ? '

taken, his

iu his Ijelt

he a jiautl

of Wolves

Terrific

toilsome in

spmng fro

■'^pniiued a

the end of

^lirectioii \

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

iani.le<J, and tlie first thing for him to do was undoubtedly
to make his way with as little loss of time as possible to
the canoe. Unhappily, in his bewilderment, when setting
out to do this he turned to the right instead of to the left
us lie should have done, and the consequence was that he
liai] to make the circuit of the greater part of the island,
lie dared not trust himself to find a path through the trees
witliout Alec's aid, so he stuck close to the shore, and this
being made up of sli2")pery boulders, prevented his moving
anything like speedily.

" Oh dear ! " he groaned as he toiled over his diilicult
and in ])laces dangerous road. " I do wish I hadn't come
here with that wild fellow. There's no knowinq; what he'll
do for the sake of getting my rifle. He may go off in the
canoe and leave me here alone."

This last thought was so appalling that Rae stopped to
gather strength to bear up against it. What would ho do
if he were really deserted by the half-breed on the lonely
island? What indeed could he do I His rifle havino- been
taken, his only -weapon Avas the hunting-knife which hung
in his belt. Ho had seen no wild animals, yet there might
be a panther lurking in the depths of the wood, or a pack
of Wolves only waiting for the darkness to spring upon him.

Terrified as never before in his life, llae resumed his
toilsoine march, more than once getting a nasty fall as he
sprang from boulder to boulder, and narrowly escaping a
sprained aidvlc. At last, weary and breathless, he reached
the end of the island nearest the fort. One glance in that
ilirection was suflicient to tell the story. Already a full

IN DOUBTFUL COMPANY.

half mile from shore, and dancing swiftly over the waves at
the bidding of Alec's vigorous paddle, was the canoe, every
moment increasing the distance that separated it from him.
The half-breed had fulfilled his sinister threat in tlie
way Rae most dreaded, and the poor boy was alone on tlie
island, with the evening shadows already beginning to
darken about him.

CHAPTER V.

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

IT would be very unjust to Rao to deem liim unmanly
because, when he fully realized his situation, lie sat
down upon a boulder and burst into tears. Looked at in
any pos,sil)le light, his position was an extremely trying one.
Even tliou<di he and the otter were the only livino- creatures
on tlio island, so that he had nothing to fear in the way of
attack, he was utterly without food and shelter for the
night, while there was no certainty of relief on the morrow.

Search would, of course, be made for liim by Mr. Douglas
as soon as he was missed ; but who woidd put the searchers
on the right track ? His setting forth with the half-breed
luul perhaps been observed by no one, and "Saucy Alec"
would assuredly take good care not to let it be known, if
indeed he showed himself in the vicinity of the fort again
until the steamer had gone.

\\ liile these thoughts were chasiniic ouii another through
the boy's distracted brain, the darkness was coming on
apace, and presently its soft folds silently enveloped him as,
having dried his unavailing tears, he peered eagerly in the

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

direction of tlie fort in the faint hope tliat even yet succour
niiglit come to him.

Tlic top of the hard boulder made a poor couch upon
which to spend tlie night, so he cautiously crept up into the
fringe of the trees, then throwing himself down with his
back against a smooth trunk, and his face toward the fort,
prepared to pass the long hours of darkness as best he might.

Meanwhile what were they doing on board the Beaver I
Wlien supper time came without bringing Rae, who was
usual!}'' so prompt at meals, his appetite having an unfaihiig
vigour, Mr. Douglas naturally began to ask as to his where-
abouts. Getting no satisfaction from those around him, lie
promptly despatched a couple of the men to the fort to
make inquiry there.

They fulfilled their commission faithfully enough, hut
they returned without any delinite information ; whereupon
Mr. Douglas, becoming quite concerned, set off himself, de-
termined to sift the matter to the bottoui. His persistent
inquiries at first, however, met with no better result, and he
was about to return to the steamer in considerable anxiety
of mind, when an old woman came up to him and said, in a
hesitating Avay, —

" IVlay you be looking for the white boy, sir ? "

" That's just what I'm doing," responded ]\Ir. Douglas.
"Do 3'ou know anything about him ?"

" I'm thinking 1 saw him go off in a canoe with Saucy
Alec," said the old woman with a look that implied more
than Mr, Douglas understood, and caused him to ask in his
most imperious way, —

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

" And who is Saucy Alec, pray ? I never heard of the
ffeMtlcinan before."

Tlui'c were many answers vouchsafed to this question
by those standing around, from which Mr. Doughis gathered
tli.at Rae's choice of a companion had not shown much dis-
ciL'tiuii, and tliat it woukl be well for him to inquire very
closely into what had become of the two lads.

It was too late to accomplish anything beyond inquiry
tliat night, but by dint of persistent questioning Mr.
Dou"las did elicit the facts that Rae and the half-breed
had been seen in a canoe paddling up the sound, and had
not been known to return.

Mr. Douglas accordingly went back to the steamer, de-
termined to institute a thorough search for the missing boy
tlic iirst thing in the morning, and, when he found him, as
lie felt perfectly confident he would do, to give him such a
lecture as would teach him to take better care of himself
for the future.

And now to return to Rae, compelled to pass a lonely
vigil on the desolate island, which, for aught ho knew,
miglit number among its denizens a hungry panther, or
pei'cliaiice a fierce catamount.

"Oh, if I were only back on board the Beaver!" ho
cried as he gazed longingly seawards. " What a fool I was
to trust that rascal of a half-breed ! It just serves me right,
it docs. I had no business to go off without asking Mr.
Douglas's leave." At this he paused for a moment, and then
Went on, "If I had asked him he wouldn't have let me go

BACA' TO FORT CAMOSUN.

— tliat's certain! and so I wouldn't have got into this trouble.
Oh dear ! If I ever get safe back I'll never, never do it again."

Poor Rae ! he was receiving a sharp lesson on the truth
that good resolutions are of little use in mending matters
after the harm has been done. The time they are of service
is before the temptation has carried the day.

In his desperate loneliness the boy's tlioughts now
turned heavenwards. He was wont to say his prayers wiUi
tolerable regularity, the good habit having been begun be-
fore his mother's death, and continued in obedience to his
father's wishes. But it was in a very mechanical way,
being little more than the repetition of a number of phrases
learned by rote, and murmured over without much attention
to meaning.

Never before had Rae really felt the need of prayer ; but
it came upon him now, and falling on his knees at tlio foot
of the tree he prayed for protection and deliverance with all
his heart.

He was easier in his mind after this, and in a little while
managed to fall asleep, the night air being free from chill.

He had been asleep some hours when suddenly an ciiv-
piercing cry rang through the .shadowy stillness, and caused
him to .spring to his feet trembling with terror. Were Lis
worst fears well founded ? Did panthers have their lair
upon the island? and had they discovered his presence?
In his first frio-ht he made a frantic effort to climb the
tree at whose base he had been sleeping; but there were
no limbs within reach of his hands, and the trunk was far
too big for him to clasp his arms around it.

where 1

Presi
but inste

"W
but an
v;oultln'

He
au'ain, so
long hou
\vere one
of (lawn
all thuug'

Faint
watch fo
coniinof t
cover liis
to aiiswei

The e
appeared
liis heart
eytj caugl
he (lescrii
of tlie SOI

" The;
liat, altli
from the
after me.

BACK TO FORT CAiMOSUN.

He could not run away, for it was too dark to see a
yard ah^ad. He liud no other alternative than to stay
where he was, and hope for the best.

Presently the cry rang out again, this time nearer at hand,
but instead of being still more terrified, Rae broke into a laugh.

" Well, if I'm not a goose," he said aloud ; " it's nothing
but an old screech-owl after all. If I hadn't been asleej), it
v.'oultln't have frightened me like that, I'm sure."

He was now too thoroughly awake to get to sleep
again, so he made shift as best he could to while away the
long hours, until at last, just as in very weariness his eyes
^Yere once more beginning to grow heavy, the first streaks
of dawn showed themselves along the eastern horizon, and
all tliought of further sleep was banished.

Faint with hunger, but full of hope, he set himself to
watch for the boat which he confidently counted npon
coming to his relief, although how Mr. Douglas would dis-
cover his whereabouts was a question he had not attempted
to answer to himself.

Tlie sun had risen hiu-h in the heavens before there
appeared any indication of his faith being justified ; and
his heart was growing sick with deferred hope when his
eye caught the flash of oars in the sunlight, and to his joy
he descried a boat makinir its wav alono: the southern shore
of the sound.

" There it is ! " he cried, dancing about and waving his
hat, although there was no possii)ility of his being seen
from the boat. " That's Mr. Douglas. I knew he'd come
after me. Olr I wish I could make him see me 1 "

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

Going out to the end of tlie point he shouted and swunrf
his hat, and tried in every way possible to attract tlie atten-
tion of those on board the boat. But all in vain. Thev
were over a mile distant ; and, moreover, by jMr. DouglasV
directions, they were closely scanning the southern shoro of
the sound, as his purpose w^as to go along that side ful-
some distance, and then cross to the northern shore, and
examine it for traces of the missing boy.

Rae's heart sank as the boat went on past him.

" Oh dear, oh dear!" he groaned. " They didn't see mo,
and they couldn't see me, and they'll go back to the steamer
without findinof me."

Yet he kept his eyes fixed upon the boat, until it liiul
almost vanished in the distance, and then a ray of hope
came from seeinsjf it chano-e its course to the nortliern shore
of the sound.

'• Perhaps it'll come nearer on its way back," he said,
taking comfort from the idea ; and hastening to the otlier
side of the island, he chose a projecting point, upon which
he stationed himself, with his coat in his hands ready for
use as a fhiix of distress when the rii>-ht moment came.

After what seemed a painfully long wait, the boat re-
appeared creeping down the nortli shore, and the instant it
was within range Rae resumed his efforts to attract tlie
attention of its occupants — shouting with all the strcngtli
of his lungs, and waving the coat to and fro in a frantic
fashion.

This time, happily, his efforts were crowned with success.
Mr. Douglas, happening to turn his keen glance from the

BACK TO FORT C AMOS UN.

shore out over the sound, Cciuii^ht siglit of the little figure
(lancing about on the top of a big boulder.

"Hey! — what's that?" he exclaimed, shading his eyes
witli his light hand so as to g'et a better look. " Tliero's
Kae, for sure, signalling to us with all his might. Give
way, men! He's out on the island yonder. Who'd ever
liave thought of finding him there ? "

Kae's dance of anxiety changed to one of joy as he saw
tlie boat turn and come straight toward him.

" Hurrah ! " he shouted. " They've seen me at last. H's
all riu-ht. Hurrah ! hurrah ! "

III a few minutes the boat was at the breach, and Mr.
Douglas, springing ashore, took hold of Rae with both
lianils, not to embrace him, although that was really what
he felt in his heart like doing, but to give him a good
sliaking in well-assumed anger.

" You young scapegrace ! " he exclaimed, " is this where
I find you ? HoAv came you here, and what liave you got
to say for yourself going ofi:' without my leave, and having
to be hunted up like this ? "

l\ae was too glad and grateful for being hunted up to
attempt to make any excuse for himself.

" I've nothing to say for myself, sir," he replied. " I did
wrong in going off with Saucy Alec. But please forgive
nie, won't you, I\rr. Douglas ? I won't do such a thing
a-'ain ; indeed I won't."

There could be no doubt as to the spirit of sincere
penitence in which he spoke, and Mr. Douglas's tone was
nuicli less severe as he said, —

BACK TO FORT C A MO SUN

" Oh ! of course you're sorry enough now, antl wish you
hadn't clone it. But you know the best time to get sorry is
before you get into mischief, and the most of times you won't
get into it at all."

" I'm sure I wish I hadn't got into it this timcj" said Rae,
with a rueful countenance, " for it's cost me my beautiful

gun.

"Cost you your T)eautiful gun!" echoed Mr. Douglas in
a tone of surprise. "What do you moan ? Tell me about it'

As Rac told his story the chief factor's indignation
blazed \\'vA\.

" The scoundrel ! " he cried hotly. " The dirty thiovinij
half-breed rascal ! I'll make him sweat for this if it takes
me a week to catch him. Jump into the boat, and we'll get
back to the fort as quickly as possible."

Rae was just about to obey when he thought of the
otter in the cave.

" Oh ! but the otter," he exclaimed. " We won't leave
the otter, will we ? It's mine now, you know."

Mr. Douo'las hesitated for a moment. " Is it worth
waitinq* to o-ot ? " he asked.

" Indeed it is, sir," responded Rao. " Just come and see
him.

With some reluctance, for he was impatient to bo off,
Mr. Douglas called a couple of the men, and they followed
Rae to the curious cave, where they found the creature dis-
porting itself in the central pool.

It M'as with considerable difficulty that they were
enabled to catch it unhurt and get it to the boat, but they

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

tlniilly succeedeil ; and once tlii.s was aecornplislied, the
cliicf factor gave orders to return to the furt with all

SpCL'il.

On reaching there he at once suninionod the veteran
lunitcrs and trappers, Indians and half-breeds, and offered a
reward that made their eyes gleam fiercely for the capture
of Saucy Alec and the recovery of Rae's gun. Ke was not
to lie injured in any way, but to be brought to him for
piini.slnnent. The hunters and trappers at once set out with
H vigour that boded ill for the half-breed in spite of his
head-start. They knew he would not go far inland, but
v;ould remain somewhere in hiding until the departure of
the steamer, and then come forth to Haunt his ill-gotten
liooty with impunity, as the Beaver might never revisit
Milbank Sound.

Two days passed before anything was lieard of the
fugitive, and then the most expert of the hunters returned
liearing Rae's rifle uninjured, but without the half-breed.
Ho ex[)lained that he had got upon Saucy Alec's trail, and
run him down the previou.s evening just as he was preparing
his supper. lie came upon him so suddenly as to get pos-
session of the gun, which had been placed against a tree,
before the half-breed discovered his presence, and then, re-
alizing his powerlessness, he had dashed off into the depths
of the forest without attempting to show fight. The hunter
had followed him until it was too dark to proceed, and then
made his way back to the fort, content with having accom-
plished at least one-half his mission.

Mr. Douglas was so pleased at the recovery of the riile

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

that he gave the successful hunter the full reward, much to
the delight of the veteran, who had not expected sucli
liberal compensation.

" Tliere now, Rae," said the chief factor, handing the litle
back to its owner, who fondled it as a girl would her
favourite doll, " you have your beautiful rifle again, and I
hope you'll take better care of it henceforth. You've come
out of this scrape pretty well, I think, for now you've got
tlie otter too, whose pelt wdll be worth a good deal if yuu
can manage to keep him alive until next winter. It's worth
your trying, at all events."

" I'll do my best, sir," answered Rae, " to take care of
both my ritle and the otter, and I hope I'll never give yoii
so much trouble aixain."

The Beaver having by this time completed taking on
board all that was to be removed from Fort M'LauL-liliii.
Mr. Douglas yielded to the request of some of the younger
members of his party that a bonfire might be made of the
dismantled buildings. As soon as nijj'ht came the torch was
applied in different places, and soon stockade, storehouse,
and dwelling were in flames, presenting a fine picture to
those on board the steamer.

Rae watched the conflagration with intense interest.
Every boy dearly loves a blaze, and this was the finest he
had ever seen in his life ; and jTt all the time he was enjoy-
ing it he felt certain qualms of regret that such strong, solicl
buildino-s should o;o ui) in smoke.

" Oh dear ! " he sighed, speaking to himself, " it does
seem a pity for those houses to be burned up like that.

BACK TO FORT CLUOSUAT.

They ]nii;lit have been given to the Indians who are going
to stay here all the time."

}[['. Douglas, wlio was standing near by, overheard tliis
speech, and said in reply to it, —

" And what do vou think the Indians woidd do with the
buildings if we did let thuni have them V

"Live in them, I suppose, sir," responded Rae, feeling a
little abashed at being overheard.

" Not a bit of it, Ixae," returned the chief factor. " They
very much prefer their own tents. What they'd do would
he to use the buildings as wood- piles in M'inter, and they'd
not bo bothered cutting a tree down for firewood until the
huildings were burned down to the last stick."

His mind made easier by this explanation, Puie gave his
whole attention to the brilliant spectacle before liim; and
presently he saw in silhouette against the glowing back-
ground a form that he at once felt sure could be none other
than that of the rascally half-breed.

lb' innnediately called Mr. Douglas's attention to it.

"That's Saucy Alec," he said, "I'm sure of it; and see
he's danciiiiJ!: about and shakiuLr his ilst at us. He's mad
hecause we've got his otter arid he hasn't got my gun."

"He'll 1)0 madder still if T can lay my hands upon him,"
said Mr. Douo-las, beckoning' to some of his men to come to
liiin. "Til nfive him a taste of the cat-o'-nine-tails that ho
won't forgot in a hurry."

A few moments later a boat shot quietly out fiom
behind the Bmver, and rowed rapidly shoreward. At first
the half-l)i'ccd did not seem to notice it, and lie continued liis

BACK TO FORT C A MO SUN.

insolent gestures of defiance ; but just as the boat touelietl
the beacli, his eye fell upon it. Instantly he stopped his
dance, and drew liiniself together in readiness for a sprinn-.
Then as the men sent after him made a dash to seize him
he darted away lilce a startled hare, and went bounding oif
into the darkness with a defiant laugh that could be hoard
above the roar and crackle of the flames, and that was the
last Rae saw of Saucy Alec.

The following morning the Baiver steamed out of ,Mi!-
bank Sound, and turned southward on the way back to
Camosun Bay. The business for which he had made tlio
trip having been completed, Mr. Douglas's thouglits now
l)egan to be exercised concerning the new fort in process of
erection.

" I wonder how fast they've got on since wo left," lie
said to Rae. " Your father'll do his best to hurry them up,
I know ; but he hasn't many men to help him, an<l those
Indians didn't seem to take kindly to work."

" IndecMl they didn't, sir," answered Rae ; " and tlicy
seemed kind of sulky, some of them, as if they weren't any
too well pleased at the fort being built."

"Did they?" impiired ]\[r. Douglas in a toiK^ of kion
interest. "I didn't notice anything of the kind myself,
Tell me what makes you think that."

Kae in response told of some things he had seen, which
caused Mr. Douglas to look grave, and to shake his \\vm,
saying, "I don't cjuite like the look of that." After a mo-
ment's silence, he gave Rae one of his (juick penetratini,'
glances, an<l added, "You've a sharp pair of eyes, my hoy

BACK TO I'ORT CAMOSUN.

and you use them to good purpose. Wluit 3'ou've told me
is very important ; and I want you when we get ])ack to just
be on the look-out for anytliing of the same kind, and to
let mo know of it at once. We may have some trouble
Avitli the Indians before we get our fort thoroughly estab-
lished. I'd much prefer not to have a quarrel with them ;
I lilt if we do, I'm bound to give them a lesson tlu^y'U bo
in no hurry to forget."

No special incident marked the return voyage, the
weather being prosperous, and the sturdy little Bcavcv
psiiitiiip: and pulFmg steadily through the glistening waves
uhli' lie rounded the cape into Juan de Fuca Strait, and
pressed on for Camosun Bay, where she arrived in the
afternoon just in time to fire off lier gun as a salute to the
settincj sun.

Almost before the anchor dropped, INlr. Finlayson was
alongside in a canoe, and springing on board caught Kae in
his arms to give him a parental hug that fairly squeezed the
breath out of tlie bo v.

"Safe and sound !" lu; cried exultantly. "^Tr. Douglas
has taken good care of my laddie. Oh, but Tm glad to
have vou back aLraiu !"

liae was no less glad than his father at their reunion,
aiiil wanted to begin at once to tell him of his adventures;
but Mr. Douglas now claimeil the attention of his chief
subordinate, and l\ae had to content himself with the
promise of his father's society so soon as the chief factor
could spare him.

Considerable progress in the construction ot' the foit had

,«i

BACK TO FORT CAMOSUN.

been made during the Beavers absence ; but a great deal yet
remained to be done, and Mr. Douglas ordered all hands to
lielp to the utmost of tlieir ability, that no time might be
lost in rendering the place thoroughly defensible.

There was a good reason for this, as from the country
round about, and the contiguous mainland, the natives were
floclving in to see wliat was going on, and were encarnpiiirj
on every side as though they meant to stay. They all
seemed well-armed, but had not brouu'ht their wives or
children with them, which circumstance the fort-buildurs
regarded with suspicion.

Tlie latter now numbered fiftv men in all, armed to tlie
teeth, and constantly on guard against surprise, so that tlie
Indians, even if thus disposed, would not be in a hurry to
venture an attack.

They did, liowever, seize every opportunity for pilfering
any article that came within their reach, and it was not safe
for one of the workers to lay aside a tool for an instant.
Axes, hatchets, saws, and hammers acquired a most pro-
voking habit of disappearing, and at times Mr. Douglas gut
so irritated by this petty thieving that it required all his
powers of self-control to keep him from calling the TiKhans
to summary account.

This, however, would have been the worst possible policy
to pursue, as not only for the sake of the safety of the fort,
but in the interests of trade, it was most necessary to main-
tain as friendly relations as possible with the natives; and
so the stalwart chief factor bottled up liis wrath towards
tliem, relieving himself by mvintj vent to it when with

capable
Afc
left bell
her \\o\>
bcastion ^
succcssic
to say g(
would b
lie was 1
stavino'

Vancouv

BACK TO FORI' CAMOSUN,

Mr. Fiiilayson he smoked his evening pipe on tlie declv of
I he Bt'dver.

Yet, in spite of these difficulties, under his vigorous
direction the work went steadily on, until at last, three
months after the return of the Beaver from lier nortliern
trip, the stockade, with bastions at the angles and dwellings
;uid storediouses inside, was completed ; and in the month
of October, Mr. Douglas pronounced the new establishment
capable of taking care of itself.

A few days later, amid long and lusty cheers from those
left behind, the Beaver with the chief factor on board took
her noisy departiu'e, Rae standing on the top of the highest
bastion of the fort, and sending off blank charges in quick
succession from Ids rille in token of farewell. He was sorry
to say good-bye to the steamer. He felt somehow as if they
would be safer at the fort with lier in the harbour. But
he was not one to borrow trouble, and he nuich preferred
staviiiii' at the new establishment to returning to Fort
Vancouver,

CHAPTEll VI.

THE ATTACK ON THE FORT.

FORT CAMOSUN wlieii complctcl was a decidedly
imposing structure. It stood on the east side of the
inlet, directly opposite the chief village of the Songhies,
which was distant some four hundred yards. It was in the
form of a square, each side measuring one hundred and lifty
yards, and being composed of cedar pickets twenty feet in
height ; while at the north-east and soutli-west angles roise
octagonal bastions to a height of thirty feet, from whose
parapets half-a-dozen cannon pointed menacingly. Inside
the s(|uare were the stores, five in number, the blacksmith's
shop, the dining-hall, and chapel. Then there were the
powaler-magazino, the men's barracks, and the residence of
Mr. Finlayson, which had a corner all to itself.

A remarkable thinof about the construction of the fort
was that, extensive and impregnalde.. at least to Indians, as
it ai)peared, not a single iron nail had been used. Houses,
bastions, and palisades alike were put together simply with
wooden pegs, and the many years that tliey stood intaot
bear testimony to the tlioroughness of the work at the
beginning^.

THE ATTACK OA THE LORT

When, on the completion of the fort, the Beaver steainec)
awav to Fort iNi.squally, it was for the purpose of making
one more trip, and this time lier cargo consisted mainly of
cattle, so that the new settlers might not lack for milk and
butter. These cattle were of Mexican origin, and so wild
and luimanageablc that the saying, "As wild as a steer,"
might have arisen from the way they behaved.

As soon as they got their hoofs on shore they In'oke away
from their guardians, and with heads and tails erect darted
hither and thither, scaring the Indians, wlio had never seen
any creatures of the kind before, and knockinr;' down half-a-
duzcn women and children before plunging into the thicket,
where they vanished from sight.

This happened late in the afternoon, so no effort was
made to u'o after them then, but the following mornino- Mr.
Finlayson gave orders for a " round-up " of the runaways.
(Jreat was Rae's glee at the announcement. Here would be
tine fun indeed. There were no deer in the nei2:hbourhood
of the fort to hunt, but the cattle would for the time pro-
viilt3 a tolerable substitute; and although they could not bo
shot, yet they had to be caught and driven back to the fort,
and there would be lots of excitement doino- that.

In this expectation he was not disappointed. Bi'ight and
early the recovering party set out. When Mr. Fiidayson
saw Rae making preparations to join it he was at first in-
clinid to demur; not that he had any fear of harm from the
cattle, but rather from the Indians, in whom he had not yet
come to place nmch confidence.

" Are you going too, llae ? " he asked, as lie saw his son

THE ATTACK ON THE FORT.

biickliii;;' on his belt in wliicli liiin^' his luintin;^"-kiiife, and
tlii'ONvino- Ills powder-Hiisk over his shoulder.

To be sure I am, fatlicr," responded Rao, " if you'v

■e no

objections. 0_L!,'den says he'll be j^'lad to have my help, and

I tliink it will be <j!;reat I'un."

The father coo-itated for a moment,
for Rac made him reluctant to have tl

, His intense afiection
le boy out of his si^i;'lit
any more than lie could help. Yet he realized that to yield
to this feeling" would be very unfair to his son, who would
ere loni;" have to fiujht his own battles unaidecb and who
coukl learn to take proper care of himself only by bein;^-
given proper freedom of action.

" Did Oij;'den say lie wanted you, Rac ? " ho asked, more
for the sake of delaying his consent than for any other
reason.

" Yes, indeed ho did," replied Rae eagerly. " He said I'd
be as good as a man to help to corral the cattle."

" Well, then," said I\lr. Finlayson, *' will you stick close
by Ogden, so that if anything happens ho can look after

you

" Certainly, father, if you want mo to," was the prompt
answer.

" Very well then, my boy, you can go," said the ftither ,
•' but remember keep Ogden in sight, and don't let one of
these crazy creatures get its horns into you, and keep a keen
eye for the Indians. They might try some mischief."

Ogden was the next in authority to Mr. Finlayson-— a
great stalwart Englishman, devoted to the interests of the
Hudson Bay Company, and on the sure road to a factorship

at no dist;
Finlayson
in his owi
sidei' in t
was his
lie had 1
the little

The rd
men in tin
dozen. Tl
the tii'st p
uneven th
second pla
\Yitli the re

They al
they might
sions to la
started. Tl
the fort, ai
prove mere

The en
the task of

Rac str
Ogden, whi
of his joy.

"JustM
and the big
you. Did ;
yesterday ?

THE ATTACK ON THE EORT.

;it no distant day. ITo took a jj,Toat interest in Rao, and Mr.
Fiiilayson knew that the boy was as safe under liis care as
ill his own. Neverthck'ss liad lie had only himself to con-
sider in the matter he would have kept Rac back, for ho
was his only son, and ni)on him ho concentrated the love
ho had borne for tlie wife and mother whoso o-rave lay in
the little burying-ground at Fort Vancouver.

The rounding-up party comprised ten of the smartest
men in the garrison, and Mr. Ogden and Rae made up the
dozen. They set forth on foot for two good reasons. In
the tirst place, the forest was so dense and the ground so
uneven that horses would have been useless ; and, in the
second place, the only horses they possessed had stampeded
with the rest of the cattle, and were roaming wild with them.

They all carried their guns and hunting-knives, and, lest
they might have to remain out over night, sufficient provi-
sions to last over the next da3^ A merrier party never
started. They had been toiling hard for months constructing
the fort, and this was their first holiday. That it would
pi'ove mere pastime they never doubted.

The errant animals would not have gone very far, and
the task of driving them back could hardly be a difficult one.

Rae strode along at the head of the party beside ]\[r.
Ogden, whistling gaily, and skipping about in the fulness
of his joy.

"Just wait till I sight tliat red steer with the white face
and the big horns," he said ; " I'll make him jump, I promiso
you. Did you see the way he knocked that little girl over
yesterday ? He wants to be taught good manners."

THE ATTACK ON THE FORT

*' Pcilifips yon won't find tlie critters so easy to nianafje
as yon tliinlv, llae," said Mr. C)^'den with a smile. " They
may tnrn Tartar on ns, and «^ivc ns lots of trouble."

" Oh I I guess we'll be a match for tlieni if they Jo,"
responded Kae, wlio had no lack of self-confidence.

Chattiny; to";ether and banterinf^ one another, the men
puslied furtlior and further into the forest, wliich was pretty
dense, although the trees did not rise to a great height.
They found traces of the objects of their search, but fur a
long time got no glimpse of tlie cattle themselves. In fact,
it was close on mid-day before the foremost of the party, a
bright young trapper who had the sharpest eyes in the band,
stopped suddenly, and pointing to the right, said in an
undertone, —

" There they are; Lut let us go easy, or we'll scare them."

Mr. Ogden at once divided his men into two sections, one
to go to the right and the otlier to the left, so as to surround
the herd from the rear ; and creeping forward as silently as
possible, they thus drew near the unsuspecting cattle.

The arrangement seemed to succeed admirably^ and Mr.
Ogden was just about to give the signal to close in upon the
animals, and get them herded together, when the very steer
of wliich Rae had spoken, lifting its head in a startled way,
gave a loud bellow and bounded off, steering straight for
where Hae stood.

Now had it not been for his boast about teaching this
creature better manners, Rae would ha\'e been disposed to
let him ha\e a wide berth ; but in view of his speech he felt
bound to oppose his passing as best he could, so standing his

THE ATTACK ON THE TORT

t-idund bravely, he swung Ills ritle and shouted at the top
uf liis voice.

Hut tlie ivd steer, who really seemed possessed of a devil
of some kind, neither stopped nor swerved in its course.
With horns lowered and tail uplifted on it came, in spite of
Jiaes frantic efforts. The rest of the party -were too Lusy
looking' after the other cattle to observe the boy's danger,
and before any of them had a chance to interfere the .steer
had caught him on his horns.

'Oil! he'll be killed," cried Mr. Ogden, fully expecting
to see him to.s.scd in the air.

Ihit such was not the case. Instead of beinn' fluni; into
space, Eae w^as seen to be holding on tight to the creature'.s
head, and to be thus borne along as it continued its mad
career.

"Head him off! stop liini ! stop him!" shouted Mr.
Ogdcn, thoroughly alarmed at the boy's perilous plight, and
(lashing after him himself at a rate that was most creditable
for a man of his age, while the other men who were witiiin
sight followed his example.

Of course, the more they shouted and the faster they ran
the more terrified the steer became, and considerini,^ the
handicap Rae's weight upon his head must liave been, it was
certainly surprising what speed he developed. In this ex-
citing fashion the chase continued for full a hundred yards,
and as Rae held on like grim death, and the steer's strength
showed no signs of slackening, there was no telling how much
longer it would have been kept up had not the intervention
of a deep narrow gully brought it to a sudden termination.

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(716) 872-4S03

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THE ATTACK ON THE EORT.

PTano-in;^ on in tlic way he was, Rac's body blinded the
eyes of Ins straii^^e steed, so tliat tlie creature could have no
notion of what was ahead. Conse([uently, when lie came to
the ^'ully, instead of swervin<jj aside, lie plun<;-e(l plump ju
with such terrible force as to nearly break his neck, aiul
to completely break one of his fore-le<;s, while his unwilling-
jockey was sent tlyin<jj ao-ainst the opposite bank so violently
as to deprive him of both breath ond senses.

When j\lr. O^-den rushed up luantini;', and trembling- with
apprehension, he foinid th.e steer ^tru;j;<^lino; in helpless a;;"ony
in the bottom of the <;'ully ; and a few yards above, on a
kind of ledj^e, lay Rae, to all appearance dead.

" God help us ! " he exclaimed, " the boy's done for, I
believe."

Leaping recklessly into the .i;"ully, he scrambled up be-
side Rae, and lifted his head with his left hand, plaeiiii;'
the rii^-ht over his heart. Innncdiately his cotmtenancc
briii'litened.

" He's not dead,"' he ci'ied in a tone of vast relief, "he's
only winded, maybe. (^h ! I hope there are no bones
broken."

By this time a couple of the other men had come up, an<l
with their aid Rae was tenderly lifted out of the gully, and
placed at the foot of a ti-ee on a bank of moss while one
hurried oil' to a spring near by for water.

When this was dasheil in his face Rao revived, and
opening liis eyes looked around in a dazed way.

" What's liappened ?" lie asked faintly, and then with a
groan of pain, " Uh, my head ! " As he made to put his hand

up tr) It

with iir

The]

TIFE ATTACK ON THE FORT.

up to it lu' i^^ivc .iiiother <;-i'Oiin, " My ai-m ! \vli<it's tlie matter
with my arm ? It hurts dreadfully."

Then lie lost consciousness a;;-ain, and looked as if W,
rrally was all over with liim.

" Poor little cliap!" said Mr. Oi;'den feelino-ly, "he's had
.1 bad shakini^ up. lUit I y'uess it's not much worse. Well,
well have to leave those cattle alone for to-day, and '^yX the
hoy hack to the foi't as quickly as possible. J lis father
knows a pjod deal about doctoring, and hell fix him up."

So with their hnntin;i;-knives they cut down a lot of
Im.uhIis, and lashing them together made quite a comfort-
ahlo struLcher, on Mhicli Tlae was placed, and borne ott' care-
fully. Thry had not gone far before his senses came back
to him: but Ills head ached so fiercely and his whole body
was so full uf pain that he felt no disposition to talk,
hut lay (juietly on the stretcher tloing his best to stifle
the gi'oans that would well up to his lips, foi- his suflerings
wiic ivnllv severe.

Mr. Finlayson, who had been standing on the top of one
of the bastions, looking out for the return of the cattle,
c.iUL'iit si^ht of the little procession as soon as it emeriivd
from the forost, an<l at once hastened down to meet it, his
f;iiv full of concern.

"What's hapjH'Ued, Ogden :* " he demanded on getting
within earshot. ''Where's Kae ? Whom have you got

II 're

-> /

"lis llae, sii-," replie(l Afr. Ogden; but don't ho
aLiiined. He's oidy been shaken up hy a full. He'll be all
Ji^ht presently."

THE ATTACK OX THE EORT

Wlien Mac !icar<l liis fatlier'.s voice, lie raised liimsclf
with ^reat (liflieulty, and turning; a pale face in that
direction, maiia^^ed to murinur, " You iiuistii't Lo fii;;lit-
cnod, father; I'm luut a good deal, Imfc I'll get over it

soon.

:'(>

Going up to the stretcher, Mr. Finlayson took Ra(.''s fac
between his hands, and pressed a fervent kiss upon his fniv-
head, saying soothingly, —

" You'll tell me all ahout it after a while, Rae : come alttiv
now, and we'll try to find out how badly 3'ou'ro damago<l."

He did not want the others to see how much he uas
disturbed by the manner of his son's return, and takini;'
comfort from the cheering tone of his voice, put a luavo
face on the matter for the present.

On Kae beinix carefully examined, it was found that liis
right ai'iu had been badly strained, and there were a nuiii1"i'
of painful contusions on ditlerent parts of his body, I'Ut
otherwise he. had escaped injury save from the effects of tlio
shock, which might linger for a while.

]\[r, Finlayson was immensely relieve(l on there bciii^-
no more serious conseipiences.

"You've come off remarkably well, my boy," ho sai«l,
" consi<lerin<x the circumstances. I must have that brute of
a steer \)()ke<l after at once, or the Indians will do it for mo.
You'll have the satisfaction of dining off him, Rae, in reveii;^^
for the scurvy way he treated you. r>ut look here, Rae, what
am I to do with you I So sure as you get out of my siiiht
you have an adventure of some kind ; and although yur
good luck has carried you through thus far, who knows

when i
of wha

"you ^

nothin;
vou kii-

can't bt

as thou
it go.
take vo!

"Of

what I A
'^oiii"' t»
live to 1
firt soir
Fiiih'iyso
factor's 1
'• riori

l'« i'Velltl\
l[lli|s(ill

lining th

brui.s

stiiutioii
wivk he
iit'xt adv
111 th
up, auil .v
I'ftter, a;

TflE ATTACK ON THE FORT.

wlion it will f.iil yon, and tlion — well, I don't like to think
of Avliat that wonld mean."

" i5ut, father," replied Rao witli a qnizzical sort of smile,
"von wouldn't have me to stay round all the time, and do
notliinLj, would you ? I've <;ot to learn to look after myself,
VI )U know, and the sooner I do it the better, I suppose."

"Tliat's so, my hoy, that's so," assented Mr. Rao. "I
can't ho with you always." Tluni throwing' up his head
as tlioui;]! to <lismiss the suhjcct, he added, "Oh! well, let
it jj,o. It's no use bori'owini^ trouble. You'll just have to
take your ehances as I did at your a<^e."

"Of course I will, father," returne<l Kae, "and that's just
what I want to do. At the same time, T promise you I'm not
L^oiuL;' to run any more risks than I can help. I want to
live to he an old man, and perhaps I'll be the factor of a
f irt sumo day, as you arc now, father," and he «;*avo ^Mr.
riiilayson a lo(»k of fond pride that went straight to the
factor's heart.

"Clod o-iMMt you may, my boy," exclaimed Mr. Finlayson
tVivmily. 'Thei-e are many lots in life far worsen than a
iliiilsdii llay factoi", and I would like to think of you
li'ilini;' that post in due time."

I'-ruised and battered as lu; had been, Ihie's supei'b con-
stitution (juiekly threw oil' the ellects, and at tlu- end of a
wrtk he was out a;;'ain as lively as ever, and ready for the
iH'xt adventure.

In the meantime, the stray cattle had all bi'cn hunted
\\\\ and securely corralled until they should learn to behavo
''(•tttr, aiid prove more M'orthy of bein;j; ti-uste(l. Then

lOO

THE ATTACK ON THE EORT.

i)e<(an tlic task ol l»i-cakiii^- in tlic oxen for uso as (lr.ui;^li(-
animals, a process tlie Indians watcliod uitli profound
surprise and interest, not altoo-ctlior free from contempt.

" Wliat new species of game was tliis tliat tlic wliite men
had bronglit to the island," they asked one another, 'ami
wliieh, instead of hein^- killed and eaten, was hein^- carefullv
tamed to do the women's work ?"

Here, certainly, was a wondei' in its way, and rath.i- a
disturljinc,' one too, for not only was the ^^ame heinji^ diverte'l
from its pi'oper purpose, but it was depreciating" the Avortli
of wives, since, if the work that riii'htfulK' ouL-ht to he doiiu
by the women was done by these bii;" animals, why then, nf
course, the formei' would so fall in value that the j^ossessur
of six oi- ten wonld find himself a poorer man than In'
imni;ined.

Arguini^ from these premises, the Indians were not loni,^
in coming to the conclusion that the white intruders n<«'l 1
to be taught that their innovation was not welcomed b\' tlu^
original inhabitants. Kow, among those encamped in tin'
vicinitv of the fort was a band of Cowichans, whose eliirf
was Tsoughilam, and who had come down from the nnith
on a pluiulering expedition. The cattle of the fort-buildcis
offere(l 'i magnific<'nt ]^rey fo)' these brigands, particularly
the work animals, which were tlner, fatter, and more easily
approaclied than the others, it being the practice to turn all
the cattle out to graze in the daytime and to corral tlioiii
at nii>ht.

As it chanced, one afternoon that Ilae was strolling ahdiit
on the edm^ of the forest looking for a shot at some bird, ho

cauglit
a coU[i
ward t

Su
ilistaiic
tlifU 1:
lie ha^
having
wliru h
and as
tlicir ri

rnptuiv
for \vlii(
• if a [)r(
respect 1

slauL-'htc
< ailing

the slaii
tempted

"Wh
animals
yuurs til
nature ;
asking n

" Xo^
swored ?
'■ These I

(ITS)

THE ATTACK OX THE TORT

101

cau;;"1it sii^^lit of a party of Cuwiclians cautiously sepai-atin<^
ii ci)U[)lo of fat oxen from the herd, and (Iriviii*;- tlieiu to-
ward tlieir own camp.

Suspcctini;' .some mischief, he followed them at a safe
distance until he felt (piite sure what their purpose was;
tlifii lie hurried luick to tlie fort at tlie top of his speed,
lie had some dilliculty in findin;^' liis father, ^Ir. Fiida3'sun
liaviii<r i^one off alouij; sliore to a considerahle distance ; hut
whru he heard his son's report lie made all haste to return,
aiirl as soon as he arrived called a score of the men to take
tlieir ritles ami accomr)any him to the Cowichan camp.

It was alto;;vther against his polizy to liave any open
n'.jiture with the Indians, as that would defeat the main ohject
for which Fort Camosun was huilt — to wit, the cstahlishini;'
nf a [)rotitable trade in peltry; yet they nuist ho taught to
rL.spect the ri;j;hts of property, and to leave the cattle alone.

ily the time the camp was reached, the cattle had been
slaughtered, and the Indians were having a glorious feast.
( 'ailing for the chief, W\\ Finlayson demanded payment for
the slain animals. Instead of complying, Tsoughilam at-
tL'ni[)tufl lu argue the matter.

'"What!" he exclaimed, with well-fi'igned surprise, '"these
animals yours! Did you make them? Are these liclds
yours that fatten them ? I thought them the property of
nature; and whatever nature sends me, that I slay and eat,
asking no question and paying no damages."

" Now, Tsoughilam, you know better than that," an-
swered ^. , . Finlayson, keeping himself well under conti-ol.
Tlu'so cattle were bi'ought from beyond the great sea.

li 'PI

(l;^)

102

THE ATTACK OX THE EORT.

Tlit-y lt('lon!4X'(l to tliose ^v!l() l,jroni;'lit tlitiii ; aii'l unless you
make pi'opcr ivstitution, the gates ot" tlie lurt will be cIuslmI
against you."

"Close your gates if you liUe," cried the chieftain, his
tone changing to one of anger, "and I will batter th<iii
down. Close your gates, indeeil ! 'i'hink }'oii we did not
live before the white men came :* and think you we wuuM
die wcrt.i thoy swept from our shores ? "

Seeing that argument was useless, and that threats would
be wasted in the then temper of the savage, Mr. Finlayson,
having once more sternly dcmandcil re[)aration, withdnw
to the fort to consider what was the best coui'se to pursue.

As soon as he had gone Tsoughilam despatched messengers
to the chiefs of tin; other camps to summon them to a
council meeting. They ]))'omptly came, and ha\ing regaled
them with fresh beef, the wily Cowichan addressed them in
fiery langnage.

'■ Reptiles have crept Inther!"' lie exclaimed; "reptiles
with strange stings, whom it were well to crush upon the
spot, lest they should soon overspread the whole i.'-huid.
The reward for such an undertaking may lie found behind
the palisades of the fort. Let us go and possess it."

Then arose 'Tsilalthach, chief of the Songhies, and )-[\v\.
"We and our forefathers have lived in happiness upon this
island for many years before the existence of these strancrers
was known. We have eaten the frnits of the earth, have
bathed in the waters and in the sunshine, have hunted our
forests unquestioned of any, ;ind have fought our enemies
manfully. Js all now to be taken from us T'

'A,

an ilic <i.i.M ;/./'/i(/ ni'jat^tS rose uf<.

Tlicn,

THE ATTACK ON THE FORT.

105

The instinct of bloodshed was aroused. As one man tlie
asscniMcd savai,a^s rose up and cried for the wijiin;^^ out of
the unwelcome intruders and tlie lootini^^ of tlie fort. In
the clear evening air their shouts were easily heard at the
fort.

"They mean mischief," said Mr. Finlayson, sliaking his
head regretfully. " It's too Lad. I didn't want to figlit with
them, and yet they must be taught to respect the comi)any's
property. I wonder how soon they will attack us ? "

" Right away, father, to judge by their actions," responded
llae, who was standing beside Mr. Finlayson on the bastion,
and looking over toward the encampment.
'J "No, no, Rae ; you don't know them as well as I do.

They won't attack for a Avhile yet. They've got to work
themselves up to it first."

And so it proved. At the fort unremitting watch was
kept night and day, but the Indians spent the time in sing-
ing and shouting and feasting until two full days had elapsed.
Then, having assembled all their forces, they summoned
courage to commence operations.

Midst savage yells and tei'rifying antics, calculated in
tlieir opinion to put to flight the bravest, they advanced as
near to the palisade as they dared, and then, taking advan-
tage of every natural means of concealment, sent in showers
of niusket-balls that riddled the stockade and came pattering
upon the roofs of the houses. The siege of the fort had
begun in earnest, and with many hundred savages as assail-
ants it was no joking matter, despite the strength of the
1( n't ill cations and the thorough equipment of the garrison.

CHAPTER VII.

DIFFICULT FLAYMATES.

THE liail of bullets against the stout stockade and sub-
stantial roofs of the fort was ke])t up for some time
with great vigour, but without inilicting any loss whatever
upon the garrison.

Nor did it elicit any response. Much as the men would
liave liked to give the Indians some proofs of their marks-
manship that they would not be in a hurry to forget, Mr.
Einlayson would not permit a single ritle to be discharged.

" No, my good fellows, no," he replied to his subordinates,
eager for the fray. " I don't want a drop of blood to be
shed if it can possibly be helped. If we have to light,
wliy, fight we will, and I've no fears as to the result;
but I still have hopes of settling this thing without one
life beinii lost."

After a while the savages grew weary of wasting their
precious annnunition to no purpose, and their fire slackcnotl,
until finally it ceased. Then Mr. Finlayson seized the oppor-
tunity of carrying out a scheme that had been evolved in
his busy brain.

Appearing upon one of the bastions, he called to Tsougbi-

DIFFICULT PLAYMATES.

lo:

lain to como -Nvitliin parleying distance, assniing" liini tliut
IK) liai-iii ^volll(l 1)0 (lone him.

In a vc'iy licsitating fashion Tsoiigliilani drew near,
taking care to liave at IkukI a good big trce-stunip heliind
vliich lie niiglit dodge if tlierc shouM he any sign of
ti-eacliery on the part of the white nu-n. When )\e was
ntar enough, Mr. Finlayson ad<lrossed him thus: —

"What wouM you do:* What evil would you bring
upon yourselves? What folly to think of breaking do ii
uur strong Avails with 3'our i:)Oor guns ! Know you not that
with one motion of my Imger I could blow you all into
pieces ? And I will do it too," he cried, raising his voice, as
if in growing anger. " Look at your camp now ! "

As ho brought out the last word at tlie top of his voico
there was a tremendous report from the bastion beside him,
and a nine-pounder belched forth a double charge of grape-
shot, which, striking into the midst of the frail cedar lodges,
smashed them into splinters.

With a terror-stricken howl, Tsoughilam dived behind
his stump so recklessly that he tripped and tiMaied a com-
plete somersault, landing on the broad of his back, in which
position ho lay for a minute, iiardly knowing whether some
of the cannon's contents had found a mark in him or not;
while from the throats of his tribesmen went up woful wails,
I'ecausc they felt sure many of their women and children
must have fallen victims to the terrible thunder-machine.

And so, indeed, the}'' might have done, but for the
humane precaution of Mr. Finlayson, who, before he l)egan
the parley, had sent his interpreter secretly out of the back

io8

DIFFICULT PLAYMATES.

gate of the fort to warn the inmates of the lodges selected
as a target of their approaching danger, which warniii;^-
being duly heeded, no further liarm was done Ly the grape-
shot than the converting into kindling-wood of some cheaply-
made lodges.

When the l)adly-scared savages had recovered their
senses, and ascertained that tluTc had been no fatal iujniy
done to their dear ones, they consulted together, with t1ie
result that a deputation of chiefs came slowly towards tliu
fort and asked for a parley.

j\[r. Finlayson invited them within the stockade, oflcring
two of his men as hostages for their safety. The offer was
accepted, and the deputation entered the fort.

" Now, my friends," said the factor, assuming his gravest
and most dignified demeanoui-, while Rae watched him willi
profound admiration, he seemed so superior in every way to
the squalid savages, " I want to show you, that although I
did not make any return to your fire, how easy it would
be for me to utterly destroy you and all the rest of the men,
and all your women and children, if I wanted to do so."

Then he showed them all his men drawn up in lino
ready to fight, and armed with rifles, i^istols, and hunting-
knives. He also took them upon the bastion, and let tluiu
see the cannon with the cartridges and balls at their side.

Having done this, lie led them back into the centre of
the enclosure, and ordering the garrison to form a circle
round them, he said quietly but firmly, —

"You see, my brothers, that I speak only the truth.
But I do not want to destroy. I want that we should bo

DIFFICULT PLAYMATES.

1C9

friends. Therefore, I say let tlio.se who killed the cattle he
L;iveii up for puiii.shinent, or let the cattle be paid for in furs
at tlu'ir full value."

The Indians listened attentively, pronii.sed to report all
that tliL'V had seen and heard to their tribes, and withdrew
ill manifest perturbation of spirit. Th.e factor's word.s and
silent ari^unients liad evidently produced a deep eil'ect.

"Unless I'm nuich mistaken, my boy, they'll do ouv?
thiuLi: or the other before the sun n'oes down," said Wx. Fin-
liivson in a sanuuine tone, his countenance slhjwini'" how
ivliived he felt at the prospect of an honourable and satis-
factory solution of the situation.

Sun.set .saw tlie fullilmcnt of his prediction. Another
and a larL;'er deputation came from the encampment, thi.s
lii.ic beariui^- bundles of furs, which they deposited in front
uf the main gate. j\lr. Fiidaj'son ordered the i;"ate to be
thrown open, the bearers of the indemnity liled solenuily in,
and were received with all duo ceremony. 'J'Ik* skins were
countrd and appraised. Their value was pronounced sufli-
cient, and then the ])ipe of peace was pi'oduced, and vows of
friendship formally made.

Lefore they departed the ln<lians bcLi'^ed 3Ir. Finlayson
to li't them have another exhibition of the jtowers of the
wondt-rful gun, and he williiiu^ly assented. So next morning
an old canoe was moored out in the harbour about midway
httwcen the fort and the cncam})mcnt. Then taking careful
aim he sent a ball clear through the canoe, and ricochetting
across the smooth water to tlu.' opposite shore.

The Indians were entirely satisiied. If the white in-

DIFFICULT PLAYMATFS,

ti'iulurs li.'id sncli foarful weapons as that, tlicrc was Lut one
tliini,^ to do — namely, to be as friendly as possible with tlicm,
wldcli liencefortli they took good care to he, and Fort
Caniosun never was again attacked by any of these baiuls,
nlthoug'li they di<l not by any means give over their thieving
propensities, but seized every chance of picking np any
"unconsidered trifles" belomxin^j: to their white brothers
which fell in their way.

The atmosphere of peace wliich now brooded over tlio
fort was ver}' favourable to the carrying on of the out-duor
operations, which were the factor's next concern.

The garrison could not al\va3's be dependent upon Fort
Vancouver for food supplies. They must create them f«»r
themselves as soon as possible. Accordingly all hands were
set to work to clear the land surrounding the fort, and pre-
pare it for the reception of seed, while a large lot was fenced
in for pasture, so that a visitor to Camosun Bay might have
taken tlie establishment to be chiefly of an agricultural
character instead of being a fur-trading depot.

Kae soon found these proceedings decidedly lacking in
interest. He had not suilicient strenu'th or skill to guide a
plough. He soon got tired of splitting rails for the fences.
There never was a boy born who took kindly to the hoe or
spade, and as his father did not insist upon his lending a
liand, leaving him to follow his own sweet will in the matter,
lie presently came to feel very much like a butterfly among
a lot of bees. Everybody but Idmself was busy, and so busy
that they liad no time to give to him. Naturally enough
therefore he looked about him for companions who would

DIFFICULT PLAYMATES.

1 1 1

not l>c so engrossed, and qiiito as naturally liis eyes straj'ed
across the bay to where tlic Indian camps were clustered on
tlic fartlicr shore.

His father had never forl)i<klon his makiiiLi' friends with
the Indians, although he had warned him against trusting
them to any extent, Ijecause he believed them to be treach-
erous at heart, however friendly they might seem on the
surface. But as the da3's went by in peace and quietness
tliis feeling of insecurity disappeared, and so when one day
Kac asked his father if he might go over to the Indian
encampment, Mr. Finlayson made no objection, contenting
himself with a warning not to get into any kind of a dispute
with the lads there.

llae owned a light swift canoe which his father had pro-
cmvd for him, and in the management of Mdiicli ho had
become quite skilful. In this he paddled across the bay,
and jumping ashore made his way to the encampment with
as easy an air as if ho were a long-ostal>lishcd visitor.

None of the men were visible, they being all away fishing
or hunting, but a number of children could be seen peeping
out i)f the doorways of the lodges or from behind them in a
timid way, as though afraid to meet the wliite bo}-.

Anxious to establish himself on a friendly footing, Rac;
tailed to them, and made sii}"ns intended to indicate his
desire for a closer acquaintance, in response to which they
presently began to emerge one by one,, and to gather about
him with eyes full of curiosity.

They were quite a lot of gO(xl-lo(^king youngsters, and
Rue thought they promised well as playfellows, so he put

IT2

DIFFICULl^ PLAYMATES.

forth his most gracious manner, and made vigorous efforts
to explain to tliem tliat he liad come over to be their friend,
and wanted tliem to feel at tlieir case witli liim.

He was such a handsome boy, and had sucli a winuiii;;-
way, that altliougli lie could use only a few phrases of tlu-ir
lan<;-na<;"e, he quickly won the confidence of the youn;;'
savages, and ere long they crowded round him to examine
his clothing, and admire tlie hunting-knife and pistol lie
wore in his belt.

They had bright, intelligent faces, and seemed (piite well-
behaved and kindly disposed, so that Rao soon felt at home
amongst them, and spent the whole morning in thuir
company.

On his return to the fort at dinner time, he reported to
his father how well he had got on, and then gave Mr. Fiii-
layson an idea that had not occurred to him before. It was
of the first importance that as friendly relations as possible
should exist between the fort and the encampment. Now
what was there to prevent Rac being the connecting link to
unite the two together ? He could go freely to the cneaiiip-
ment, and from time to time invite the Indian l)oys to come
over to the fort for a little feast or somethinix of that kind.
In tliis way the hearts of their parents would be won, and
a neighbourl}^ feeling established that could not fail to be
mutually beneficial.

" I'm very glad you've been over there," said he, wdien ho
had thought this all out. "I was a little doubtful about
your going, I confess, although 1 didn't say so, but now I
believe you couldn't have done a better thing. I api)oint

DIFFICULT PLAYMATES.

113

yuii my aiultassador to the Son^liies, and yoii must make as
many fiiends amono- them as you can. It will Ije a ^'ood
tiling- all round."

JIae did not understand precisely what it meant to Itc an
ambassador, huu he grasped clearly cnouf^h the idea that he
was to act as liis father's re'n'esentative, and this tickled
him innnensely. A little while afterwards he came to his
father with a request that made the factor burst out
laii^bing.

'• Father," said he, with a blush that betrayed his con-
sciousness of what he was about to ask being likely to
expose him to some ridicule, " if I'm going to be what yow
call your ambassador to the Indians, oughtn't I to wear a
uniform ? "

^\'lu'n Mr, Finlayson had done laughing, he told Rae to
stand up straight in front of him, and looking him over with
a critical eye, as though he were taking his measure, he said,
still smiling, —

"A uniform, Rae; what kind of a uniform would you
like ? Ked coat, blue trousers, gold lace, and cocked hat
with feathers ? "

Rae looked down to the ground, and the blush deepened
on his cheek as he replied in a tone that had a hint of
petulance in it, —

''No, father, you know well enough 1 didn't mean all
that; but I do think I might have some kind of a uniform.
The Indian boys would think all the more of me."

Seeing how much in earnest his son w^as, Mr. Finlayson
stopped his bantering, and said (piite seriously, —

114

DIFFICULT PLAYMATES.

" Yoii'ro not far wrong, my boy, and I'll see if we can't
fix up something for you."

At this Rao's face became radiant. ' father, will 3'ou?"
he exclaimed eagerly. " What a dear good father you are !
and will you see about it right away ? "

" Why, yes," responded the factor ; " I'll have a talk with
Tailor Jim aboiit it."

" Tailor Jim " was a member of the garrison who had
learned the trade of tailorin*]!; before his adventurous, rovin"-
spirit caused him to throw aside the goose and shears for
the gun and hunting-knife, and after drifting about tlie
west coast he had finally found his way into the employ
of the Hudson Bay Company, whore his knowledge of the
needle rendered him a most useful acquisition to any of the
establisliments.

Without loss of time Tailor Jim was consulted. He
entered heartily into the spirit of the thing, and after the
matter had been discussed at some lenii'th, it was settled
that out of the cloth in the stores he should make Rae a red
tunic, and blue trousers with a red stripe, which, with a blue
cap and a white belt, certainly could not fail to give him a
thoroughly martial appearance.

In fact, when the uniform was completed, and Rae, feel-
ing as proud as a peacock with a perfect tail, strutted np
and down the centre of the enclosure in order that all the
garrison might admire his fine feathers, the military idea at
once entered his mind and took complete possession of it.

" father," said he, his face glowing with excitement,
'I'm going to be a soldier, and I'll get up a regiment

DIFFICULT FLAYMA2ES,

among the IiKliau boys, and I'll drill tlicni. Won't that
he fine ? "

3Ir. Finlayson smiled indulgently.

'A line notion no doubt, my boy, but you'll have a hard
jnb to carry it out. Those liarum-scarum brats \\'\\\ never
do what you tell them. You're welcome to tr^-, of course —
it'll lo no harm ; but you mustn't be disappointed if you
can't make anything of it."

'• Oh, never fear," replied Rae confidently; "I'll manngc
tlitnn all right. 1 know how to do it."

The factor shook his head doubtingly. " You're young,
my son, you're young, and things seem easier now than they
will when you're twice your age. But never mind; the best
way to learn is by trying, and you'll have the experience
thouLi-li you o'i^in nothinii' else."

Full of energy for his new scheme, Rae had the carpenter
make him half-a-dozen wooden swords and a score of wooden
muskets. For himself, as connnander of the force, he secured
a small cutlass that happened to be in the armoury of the
fort, and with this hung at his belt he felt quite eipial to
anvtliini:'. His knowlediiv of drilliuL-' was very slight, but
he had some idea of marching in step and so forth. This,
liowe . er, did not trouble him. What he lacked in knowledge
lie made up in enthusiasm, and he ^A'as determined to have a
good time anyway.

But when he came to put his brilliant idea into execu-
tion, he found the goiu''- fiU' from beiniz- as smooth as he had
fondly hoped.

In the first place, the young Indians seemed to think it

ii6

DTFPICUT/r PLAYMATES

was some kind ot* hidden desio-n to entrap tlicm into tlio
Ijonda^G of the company, and it took a lot of cuaxing and a
good many presents of sugar lumps and brass buttons, for
which au Indian boy will venture almost anything, to over-
come this objection.

Then, in the second place, the Indians' keen sense uf
humour made them fully alive to the ridiculous side of the
matter. They certainly did look about as much unlike what
they purported to be as it is possible to imagine, and the
ludicrousness of their appearance was not lost upon tliein.
Now above all thinu's an Indian cannot endure beini; laui-hei]
at, so that liae had no easy task to convince them that it
wasn't all a big joke, but was really a very interesting play.
And iinally, when at last he did succeed after infinite trouble
in getting some twenty of the boys into line, they ditlered
so astonishingly in their conception of what he wanted them
to do that it would certainly have sorely tried the staidest
of Quakers' control over both his temper and his laughter to
see them perform.

They twisted and turned, and tripped over one another's
toes, and jaunned their wooden muskets into each other's
backs, and threatened one another's eyes with the points of
their wooden swords. In fact, moved in part by bewikler-
ment and in part by miscuief, they made confusion worse
confounded, until at last in sheer despair Rae threw hiiiiself
on the ground, hardly knowing whether to laugh or to cry.

" Oh dear," lie groaned, " they'll never learn to be soldiers,
and we might have such good times if they only would."'

Seeing his evident concern, the Indian boys crowiled

DIFFICULr PLAYMATES.

1 1

round liiin. loukin;i* as contrite as tliev knew liow, and after
some expo.stulation witli them, llao felt encoura^^cd to make
another essay. This time they certainly did better, altlioui^h
thrir attemi)t to '* fonn fours" would have sent an ordinary
(hill-ser;;'eant into convulsions of cither wrath or lau«;hter,
according- to the way he took it.

"All! now that's a o'ood deal better," said Tlae, with a
pleased smile. " You'll learn it all right in a little while, if
viv.i'll oid\' stiek at it,"

But it was just there the chief dilTicultv lav. They did
not want to stiek at it. Their volatile natures soon wearied
of till' new amusement, and Rae f<jund his rciriment fast
falling- to pieces for lack of interest.

In the emergency a new idea came to him. Instead of
trying to drill the boys into a regular regiment, as had been
his lirst plan, he divided them into two bands, and giving
the Icail of one division to the son of Tsilalthach, the Songhies'
chief, he took the command of the other himself.

llis scheme was to have some of that mimic warfare
which is so dear to the heart of every boy ; and now lie found
Ills savage playmates as full of interest as he could wish.
To phi}' at fighting was quite according to their taste, and a
plan of campaign was speedily settled upon.

Not far from the rear of the camp rose a little hill, whoso
sti'cp sides were almost bare of trees and shrubbery, while
tlie top was levelled off as thoui!-^!! by hand. It suited Rae's
purpose admirably. They would play defending the citadel,
taking turns in being garrison and assailants.

VNishing to be nuignanimous at the start, Rae gave Tasga,

ITS

Dll'I'ICUf/r PLAYMATES.

the cliii'ftaiii's son, tlic first defence of the liill, wliile he
undertook the attack. As it was easier to defend tlian to
attack, Rae thouirht it onlv I'air tliat lie should have tlie
majority of the boys on his side, so it was a;;-reed that there
should he eleven in his })arty to only nine of their o[){)onent.s.

The itreliminaries heiuij,' thus satisfact(jril v arrani-ed, tlio
pr()C(;e<linLi;s opened by 'J'asL^a and his hand takini^ up their
position on the sumniit of the hill, where they awaited the
onset of Ilae and his supporters.

Creepin<4' cautiously up the slope, the latter had almost
reached the sunnnit before the others made anv si-ni of
resistance. Tiien suddeidy they spi-ang upon their oppo-
nents, and haviiiL;- been well instructed by Taso-n, who had
the niakinii's of a famous war-chief in him, seized th.em by
the elbows, turned them round, and sent them tumbliiiu,-
down the hill before they had time to recover from the
unexpected inL;'enuity of the onset.

Kae went with the rest. He had not been looking for
this kind of a reception, and was as much caught ofl' guard
as they were ; but when he had picked himself up after his
undignilled descent, he vowed he would make a better
showing the next attempt.

Accordiu^'ly, altliou^-h aecordinii' to tlie understandinL-' at
the start he and Tasga should have changed [)laces, he
shouted to him to stay where he was, as he would try again
to dislodu'c him. This suited the buddino- chieftain all right,
and Rae proceede(l to harangue his little band in vigorous
style after the manner of counnanders upon the eve of battle.

" We must get them down out of tluit this time," he said.

DltflCi 'L T rr.A ] \ V. 1 7'ES.

119

, .!

'110 iiiattcT wliat it costs. They ,i;-<)t tlu; start of us last
tiuu', l)iit tluy Nvuii't do it anaiii. 1 know a trii-k that is
worth two ot" tlioirs." And tluju he hastened to exphiiii to
theiii what lie meant.

Ili^ hi»ys heartily approved of his plan, te>tif}'iv.;^- their
tuthiisiasni hy wild whoops pro}»hetic of victory; and when
hf flit that he had worked them up to the ri^'ht J)itch, lie
ltd them forth to a second essa}'.

This time Tas;j;a and his force came part of the way down
to meet them, the ease with which the first overthrow was
accomplished having made them over-conhdent. Kae re-
joiced at this, for it rendered more certain the success of his
plan oi' campaign.

With every facidiy attent, and every nerve and muscle
n.a<lv for instant action, the two hands of hovs drew near to
eicli other. When tlny^ were almost within touching dis-
tance there was a pause. Tasga's boys knew well enough
they cotUd not repeat the manieuvre wdiicli had proved so
biilliaut a success before, wdiile llae's boys were waiting the
signal to do what had been enjoined upon them.

This came in the single word " Now," which Kae sud-
denly shouted, at the same moment throwing himself for-
ward as thouo'h to bow at Taso-a's feet. Ihit instead of
making obeisance to him, he grasped him by the aidvles,
anil putting all his strength into one mighty effort, threw
iiim over his back in such a way that he landed licad first
behind him.

The same stratagem being successfully carried out by
liis supporters, the result was that almost in the twiidvling

(trsi

120

DIFFTCVLT PLAY}rATE^.

of an eye the positions of tlio two pnrtios •wore complcttlv
reversed, liae's occupying;- the crest of tlie hill, Avliile Tas-rji's
were on tln^ slope below tlu'iii.

Now wlien llae liad been routed lie took liis disconilituro
quite o-ood-humouredly. .and tlie same spirit was shown h\-
his companions; but on 'Pa^^-a tlie clever ovoi'throw ha^l an
entirely dillerent olFect. For a moment he lay still as if
stunned, an(l liae, who had lK';j;un to cIkmi- triumphantly,
cheekcil himself throut-'h fear that Tasj>-a had been hurt.

The next instant, however, he was ei'uelly undeceive'l,
for th(! wilv Tiulian, whose savai-'e teiiii)er had been ar()U>r(l,
leaped to his fcH't and hurled himselt' at Rac with the
li;j;htning'dike spring- of a wild cat.

Nor was his rapidity of action the only point rif rosem-
blance. Not content with gripping* Ptae around the waist,
as thouo-h he would fain break his back, he sank his wliito
teeth deep into his left shoulder, causing him to shriek witli
pain and alarm.

The extreme suddenness and startlinu- fen-ocitv of Taso-a"s
attack almost paralyzed the white boy for an instant, l-iit
it was only for an instant. He had a temper as well as
Tasf^a, and it at once rose to blood heat.

"You young brute!" he cried, "will you dare to bite
mo that way ?" And taking a fresh grip of the Indian he
bore upon him with all his strength, forcing him steadily
backward, until by a clever clip of the heel he knocked his
left foot from under him, and so threw him violently back-
ward, falling with him to the ground.

In the fall Tasira's teeth were shaken from their vicious

DirrrcuLT playmates.

I 2 I

iiite
lio

llily
his

lioM, M\(\ before lie coull close them a^'.iiii in the same way
Iwic, whoso wrath was now fully aroused, ha'.l both hands at
his throat.

l''p to this time Tas^a's supporters had looked on in
.•iiiiaz^'inent at the turn allairs had taken, hut when they
saw the pli^^ht of their leader they were moved to action.
( iiviu^' v<iit to fierce cries, they f;'athered round the stru<^-
oliui;' pair with looks that boded ill for Kae. They knew
little of and cared less for ti • principle of Ih-itish fail- play,
ami ^•(jod-humoured as their sport had been up to the
mninent of their leader losini;- his temper, they were quite
ready to turn it into a savage tight without any n-gard to
the immense disparity of odds, for Rae could hardly count
upDU nnich assistance from the Indian boys who had made
up his party.

ous

CHAPTER YIII.

AFLOAT A G A I X.

RAE way decidedly getting tlie Letter of tlie -struggle
with Tasga, and would soon have had hiui at his
mercy, when several of the hitter's companions tlung them-
selves into the struggle, and tore the two combatants p'lart,
not indeed with the idea of putting an end to the contest
of stren^i'th, but rather of j^'iving Tasga an unfair advantage
by lending him their aid.

It was at this juncture, and just when Ilae's position
was positixely critical — for the Indians were in the mood for
any kind of mischief — that most timely and welcome relief
came from an unexpected quarter. •

It seemed that Tasga's mother, the chief's favourite wife,
ana some of the other women of the camp had been unob-
served spectators of the game of defending the citadel which
Ilae had introduced, an<l thoy had thought it very good
sport indeed up to this point. But now their (juick instinct
told them that the fun was champed to earnest, and that thov
had better interfere, so, shouting shrill commands addressed
to their respective sons, they hurried up the hill to where
the ring of excitcl boys had closed ominously around Kae.

AFLOAT AGAIN.

licli

|)Oil

net
lioy

leve

Tliey did not stop to in(|nire into tlie merits of tlio
matter. They simply laid hands upon the boys, and pidled
them away, until at last Rae was left standing alone, a trifle
dazed and out of brcatli, but as full of spirit as ever, while

Tas<'-a, strui^^irlin'j' vain

ilv to

escape irom his

otl

lers smew

frasp, glared at him with the eyes of an enraged panther.

Now llae's perceptions were as keen as could be at all
expected in a boy of his age, and lie did not need to look
around twice to take in the fact that the more quickly ho
made himself scarce in that particular locality the greater
practical wisdom he would show.

It might seem more dignified to stand his ground, and
demand an explanation uf Tasga's inexcusable outljreak, but
it certainly was not expedient; so relieving his mind by
calling out jauntily, " Well, good-bye till you learn how to
behave better," he dived through the circle of boys and
women, and making no pretence to stand upon the order
of his going, set otl' at full speed for the beach, and, launch-
ing his canoe, had got a hundred yards out into the bay
hffore the Indian boys could break away from the women's
hands to follow him.

Mr. Finlayson enjoyed a hearty laugh at Kae's vivacious
recital of his exciting experience, even though lie regretted
the turn atlliirs had taken.

'■ It's too bad, Rae, these young rascals didn't Ijchave
better. I was hoping j'ou'd be able to make friends with
them. Ihit they're all a bad lot, I'm afraid, and we'll just
have to give up the idea of trying to be sociable. They're
Hut to be trusted, any of them, old or young, and I'm glad

124

AFLOAT AGAIN

we've found it out before they liad the chance to do us any
harm. You'll have to stick pretty close by the fort after
this, and not go out of sight uidess you are with the men."

llae could not dispute the propriety of this injunction, and
yet it certaiidy was hard for an active, enterprising boy like
himself to be confined to the enclosure of the fort, unk'S.s
some of the men lia})pened to be going into the woods or
out upon the bay. Of course they did this nearly every
day, and were always glad of his company.

But even then llae often found the time hang heavy
upon his hands, and accordingly Avhcn one of the company's
schooners came up from Fort Vancouver with some supplies
for Fort Camosun, and he learned that she was to continue
lier voyage as far as Fort Simpson, the thought at once
came into his mind of going with her.

At iirst i\Ir. Finlayson strongly objected. He was not
only very loath to part with llae — for the boy was the very
apple of his eye — but he did not altogether think it a safe
expedition. The schooner, to Ije sure, could follow the
iimer course, and not go out into the ocean. Still there were
dangers even in these land-locked straits and inlets ; and,
moreover, llae was undoubtedly inclined to be rash, ho\Y-
ever seriously he might purpose to be cautious.

Yet Rae pressed his petition so Avarndy, supporting it
with such promises of being careful, and the captain of the
Plover seemed so willing to take the boj', that in the end
Mr. Finlayson's resolution weakened, and he gave a mani-
festly reluctant consent.

* It's foolish, of course, for me to pay attention to it,"' he

AFLOAT AGAIN.

said, " but somehow or other I've the feeling that you'd
bctUT not ,!^-(), Kae."

'• Well, I'atlier/' responded H;ie, making a heroic eflort to
compose himselt", '" if you really don't want me to go, I won't
ii-lc you any more. Uut'' — and here there came into his
countenance a pathetic look that somehow brought out with
special emphasis his resemblance to his dead mother — "you
kuow there's not much fun for me here, and I do so love to
lie at sea."

It was now the father's turn to be lieroic. Laying a
lirm band upon his own feelings, he let a pleasant smile take
tlie place of the grave look his face had worn, and giving
iuie a little push, from him, said in a jocular tone, —

"Oh! all right then, have your own way. You don't
want to be tied to your father's coat-tails, that's plain
enough, and I suppose it's no more than natural. You
didn't get your fondness for the water fiom me, that's
certain. I'm (piite content with dry land, and you make
nie feel a good deal like the old hen that hatched a
duel-; ling."

In high o'lee at havino' oained his father's consent, llae,
al'ter thanking him warndy, rushed oil" to tell Captain
Ihuisoii, and to make arrangements for the trip.

The Plover had a neat little cal»in in Mliich there was a
spare berth that Rao could have, and the boy found huge
dcli;iht in <:'('ttiuL!" his various belonL''ini''s aboai'<l, and stow-
ini,' them awav in the lockers beneath his berth.

He had only one day in which to do this, s(j that tho
l;ours were full of bustle; but, thanks to his father's

126

AFLOAT AGAIN.

afreetionate care, notliinn- was oniittod tliat lie could possibly
need. Indeed, no lad ever went upon a similar expedition
more completely equipped. Leside a chest full of clothing,
lie liad another containini;- amnuniition, medicines, trinkets
for barter with the sava^'es, knives, hatchets, pistols, and
some carefully-packed dainties to vary the monotony of the
fare on shi[)board. Thus with his fine riile and handsome
]unitin<j;- knife he lacked positively nothing', nnd it was
Avith no small dei^rec of pride that he exhibited his outfit
to Captain ITanson, who showed himself duly impressed
thereby.

The Floirr sailed on a beautiful mornino- in late sininu',
and the last that Rae saw of the fort as the vessel rounded
the point, was his father standing upon the southern bastion
waving his hat in farewell. Little did the boy imagine how-
many days would pass, and what strange adventures he
would have, ere his eyes once more fell upon that famili;ir
figure. Happily for him the future seemed as bright as the
day itself, and he took no anxious thought for the morrow.

(iliding out into the broad Strait of Juan do Fuca, the
Plover cauti'ht in her white sails the full strenp'th of the
breeze blowing in from the Pacilic, and thrashed merrily
through the white caps that flecked the blue brine, line
roniped about the deck in great spirits. He had nothing to
fear from sickness this time, and the more the trim little
vessel heeled over at the Viidding of the breeze the better it
suited him, even though ho had to hold on tight bv the
main shrouds to save himself from rolling ignominiously
into the lee-scuppers.

AFLOAT AGAIN.

12'

If lie had known tliat fanions old f^onu', —

A \vct slici't and a fl

owiusr sea,

A \\ ind that fcillows fast,
And lills the wliiti' and rustling sail,
And bends the gaUant mast,"

lie certainly would liave been sinn'ing- it with the full force
of his lung's ; Ijut, lacking this knowledge, he had to content
liimsL'lf with successive exclamations of delight as the
schooner ploughed her way swiftly noi'thward, steering for
the Western shore of San Juan Island.

iler course lay close to that island and through TTaro
Strait, and the strong fresh westerly hreeze Leing all that
could he desired, making but little tacking necessary, Captain
H.'uison at the tiller did not re(|uire to give his mIujIo
attention to it, and was ready to answer the questions Ivae
showered upon him, and to tell what he knew of tlie dif-
ferent places coming into view.

" ])o we stop anywhere on the way to Fort Simpson ? "
lie asked, wondering if the country on either side of the
strait had other inhabitants than wild animals, and perhaps
a few Indians.

"Why, yes," replied the captain; "we'll put in at
Xanaiiiio for a couple of days, an<l we must call at Port
Iviipert. Why do you ask, ]\ae ? Do you think you'll be
gi'tting tired of the schooner ? "

" (^h, no," responded Eae, " not that at all ; but you see
I'vi' a lot of ti'inkets and thinc:s to buv furs with if I get
a chance, and I'm glad you do stop somewhere, for I suppose
tlioro'll lie some Indians around, and I can do a little trade
on luv own account."

--»•*—

I2S

AFLOAT AGAIN.

"Just listen to llie lad!" Lauglied the captain. "Wliv.
you don't look old enough to be done playing, and yet lien.'
you are planning how to make your fortune at trading..
You evidently believe in begliniing young, Kae."

" I do that," returned Eae promptly. " I want to make
my ^Yay in the world, and the sooner I begin the better.
I don't want my father to be doing everything fur iik\
althouii'h ' — and here he ijave a lauu'h that was half a sio-h at
the thought of his father left lonely at the fort — "I am sure
he'd rather do it than have mo go away from him ; but a
fellow must strike out for Inmself some time, mustn't lie,
captain ? " and he turned an appealing look upon the master
of the schooner, being anxious that he should justify liis
course of action in coming away.

" To be sure, to be sure." asserted the mariner as cordially
as llae could desire. " Not that I blame your father at all,
you know," he liastened to add. " If I had a bov like von, '
and he gave Rae a glance of fraidv approval, " I'd see it his
way, no doubt. Now there's poor little Freckles there, if liis
father had lived to give him a fair start he'd perhaps have
come to something ; but you see he died when Freckles was
nothing but a baby, and the mother soon followed him, aii'l
the little fellow ' ;^s knocked about there at Vancouver, the
Indians •, u li;^ • ^ be kinder to him than the M'hitc folks
most of I. 'J ;';)^' f-i'il he came to be not nuich better than
a half-brced cub, uiL..ough there's not a drop of Indian bluod
in his veins."

" Poor Freckles ! " said Puie in a tone of deep sympathy :
"is that what makes him so queer? I didn't like him a bit

Til

^W^^s^^

AFLOAT AGAIN.

129

until now, but I feel so sorry for liim I'm just going to be
fi'iencls witli liini."

"Co aliead by all means, my boy," salil the captain.
"Tluj poor lad seems frightened of me, although 1 haven't
meant to be hard on him, and I just took him on board to
get him away from the fort, they were all so down on him
there."

Freckles was a boy aljout Rae's own ago that filled the
same position on board the schooner that the little servant
girl does in a London boarding-house. Ho was cabin boy,
cook's help, and sailor's drndge combined.

However pathetic his history, his personal appearance
was anything but attractive ; indeed it would not be easy
to picture a boy more lacking in elements of interest. He
was lanky and loose-strung of iigure. His features seemed
iiiou1<1(m1 each after a different pattern, his nose being as long
and as thick as his lips were contracted and thin, while his
eves were out of harmon}' with both. His otherwise colour-
less complexion was thickly dotted over with freckles of
plnnomenal size and depth of tint, hence the nickname
Avhich had practically supplanted liis proper designation.
As for his expression, lie always seemed to be suggesting, if
not actually saying, " You may kick me if yon want to, but
I'K'ase don't!"

Vet, Freckles, whose right name by the way was Kory
M('alhun, had honest Scotch l)lood in his veins, and it was
only the hardships of his lot working upon a naturally shy,
sensitive nature which had made him what lie was. But
little kindness had he ever known, though more than his

130

AFLOAT AGAIN.

share ol -.uHs lia<l fallen to liiiii, and lie presented a startlino-
contrast to llac, \vlio bad always lived in an atniospliere of
love and prosperity.

The idea of cultivatini^^ Frcckles's acquaintance in order
to be kind to him having entered Eae's mind, it was not his
way to tarry loni:^ aljout putting it into execution, and so, as
soon as he saw the boy alone, leaning over the bulwark in
a disconsolate fashion watchin2j the waves dashing auainst
+^^0 scliooner's side, he went up to him, saying cheerily, —

" She's going fine, isn't she, Freckles ? ])on't you love
sailing along like this ? "

Tliere was such unmistakalile good-fellowship in the tone
no less than in the words themselves that Freckles fairly
gasped with astonishment. He had not been addressed in
that fashion for many a day, and there were tears in his
pale blue eyes as lie turned them upon llac.

"Yes, sir," ho murmured almost inaudibly, "the Phu'ev
is a good sailer, and ( aptain J bauson knows how to make
her go her best."

Rae laughed merrily at the first part of Freckles's
response.

"Look here,"' he said e'ood-humouredlv, "you mustn't
say 'sir' to me. Freckles. Fm no older than you are, nnd

• ' sirs' for tlie

I'm not y

lastc

nywny

-P T

cnptain, and just call me Eae. Do you understand ? "

"Yes, sir — Rae, I mean," stammered Freckles, who still,
it was clear, felt ill at ease, despite Eae's anxiety for him to
come upon an even footing with himself.

c'ouph

lere vou <

ro au'ain, Freckles," lauii-hed Rae. "You're

AFLOAT Jl;J/.V

13'

pcitVc'tly ridiculous, and you must get over it ri»^lit away if

voii wai

it to be tVicuds.

'['lure was souR'tliin^' so sincere an<l frank in "Rae's ad-
vances that even timid, duubtino- Freckles ljeL;iin to feel his
licart expand in response to them, and there came a new
li'dit into his eve and an unaccustomed Hush to his clieek
as he said shviv, —

"I'd like to ])e friends ^vith you if you'll let me. I've
Ht'ver had a friend. ]']verybud3''s been hard on me except
Captain lin'"" on,"

" Of CO' i I'll let you, Freckles," responded Rae heartily ;
■■ that's Just what I've been trying to i;'et into your head.

uu see

I'm o'oini!' to be on board the iV

orer

for tl

le next

couple of months, and we can have <:;ood times toi^-ethei-,
call t we r

Freckles's reply was a nod of unusual vi(;"our for him,
and he was just about to say somethini^, when a sharp call

if '■ Freckles, Freckles ! wdiere are v

ou, you

lubl

ler

rom

the li'allev made him start as if he had been struck, and
he scuttled off to obty the cook's beliests, wdiatever they
lni^'ht be.

"Poor Freckles I" soliloquized Pvae, following- the sliam-

e s

had a hard

blino; fio-ure with a look of sympathy. "II

time of it, that's certain ; but I'll do what I can to make

un^s ("asier

for 1

nm.

All that day the Plover kept steadily on throuo-h the
beautiful straits that divided the islands which made a
rei,nilar archipelaf^^o of the sea intervenine- between Van-
couver Island and the mainland. A more enchantiuij: sail

132

AFL0A2' AGAIX.

couM hardly 1)C iina<4'ine<l. Tlio breeze was steady and
stroi);^'; tlie sun sliono witli unclouded laillianey ; the shores
on either han<l were clothed to the very water's ed;;v with
the richest verdure ; the white and L!;ray <;'ulls fluate<l liii;h
in the air in great circles, or swam gracefully upon the
wave-tops; but no sio*n of human habitation could be dis-
cerned. The speedy schooner seemed to be voyaf;ing into
an earthly paradise whose utter loneliness required some
explanation; for what fairer spot could men wish to
inhabit ?

This was the inquiry which rose in llae's mind after ho
had been a long time scanning the landscape in the hope of
detecting some sign of the presence of man, and he went to
Captain Ifanson with it.

"Do any people live on the land there ?" answered the
captain ; " well, not many, I shouhl say — leastwise, I've never
seen them. But then I've only Iteen through here a cou})le
of times before, and I've never landed except at Nanaimo."

" I'm sure it nuist be a fine country for Indians," saiil
Rao, "and I wonder you haven't landed to see if there
weren't some of them about."

The captain turned round so as to look straight into
Rao's face.

"You sly fellow ! don't I know what you're driving at!
You want me to put in at some likel}' place on the chance
of finding Indians for you to work off some of your trinkets.
Isn't that it ? "

Rae blushed as he nodded assent, adding, —

" \Vell, that's all right, captain, isn't it ? I want very

AFLOAT AGAIN

niucli t(j lirliig lioiiK? sonic fjjood skins to niaki^ a present to
ftitlK'i' for bcini,' so good as to let nie j^^o witli you."

" Ili_i;ht enoni,^li, my V)oy," rcsponiled the captain; "an<l
rd lie ulai.l enough to ohlige you if I could only spare the
time, hut I've got to push on as fast as I can, for they'll be
waiting for nie at Fort Simpson."

That Captain Hanson was sincere in his reason for not
delaying was evident from the way ho seized every oppor-
tunity to get all the speed he could out of the Plovei', and
the sturdy little schooner fairly tore through the Avater
iiii(U'r tlie pressure of a full cloud of canvas.

Skiitino: the eastern shore of Galliano and Gahriola
islands, there lay on their right the glorious Gulf of Georgia,
whose waters in the day-time were the playground of schools
dt" hlaek whales that adbrded Kac, constant amusement l>y
tlirir antics, and at night glowed with lirilliaut phosphor-
escence beyond tlic power of words to describe.

Xanaimo was reached in good time, and Rae had leave
tVoiu Captain Hanson to spend the whole day ashore, as the
schooner would not start airtiin initil the following morning.

He at once asked that Freckles be allowed to accompany
liiin ; and his request being granted, he proceeded to fit out
the delighted boy for hunting, as ho intended to get somo-
'lody from the fort to act as cifuide and take him into the

forest.

Finding that Freckles knew nothincj about the use of a
ville, he gavo him a pistol with instructions not to fire it
unless he was very near what he wanted to shoot, and also
<i liatchet and huntinu-knife to hann; in his belt.

* I

T34

ir/.OAT j(;j//v.

'J'luis equipped, ami witli a whole day's respite from
work before liiiii, Freckles l)ecaine almost radiant. He luiil
never l)et'ore in his life felt so elated. Kae's chainpionship
and society were already bei^-inning to work a change in him
for the better.

At the fort Uae hail no ditliculty in seciirini;' the services
of a half-breed as i^uide, and then set forth into the forest
sanLiiiine of returnini;' with a cjood bai,^

The half-breed knew the country round about thor-
ou<^hly well, and Rae having promised him a silver half-
(k)lhir if they had a good day's sliootijig, ho was determined
to earn the reward.

It was not long before they came upon grouse in plenty,
and Ivae used his riile with such good ellect that presently
as many birds were secured as they cared to carry. Freckles,
stimulated by his companion's example, tried his luck witli
the pistol, and, as much to his surprise as delight, actually
succeeded in wiiminii' a youiiix bird, that, after an excitimj-
chase, he was able to finish with a blow from a stick

Thus they journeyed on, enjoying themselves tlioroughl}",
and o-ettino- deeper into tlic forest, until by noon Kae thouLfht
they ]vdd gone far enough. So they halted for lunch beside
a small stream of cool, clear water, it being decided to re-
trace their steps as soon as they had eaten and rested.

The half-breed bore a capacious knapsack well filled with
biscuits and cold meat, and the three were having a good
time disposing of them in the shade of a big tree, when a
strange, wild scream rang through the forest that sent a
thrill throuirh their hearts, and caused the half-breed dogs.

as th
aii'l

was
liiin.
to se(
whusd

AFLOAT AGAIN.

^Ih

two ui:,']}' curs of the kiu'l always scon al»ont an Tixliaii
villaL;e, to set up a furious harkin;^'.

"A panther I" cxclanne<l tlie hall'-hreod iniih-r liis breath,
as tliough afraid of tlie animal hcariiiL;- liini. " lie's seen us,
nii'l he's ang-ry."

At the mention of the word "panther," Rae's first feeling
was one of alarm, and the impulse to fly came strongly over
liim. Dut for very shame's sake he resisted it, and striving
to seem quite unconcerned, asked the half-breed in a voice
whose steadiness surprised himself, —

" Do you see him ? Is he near us ? "

The half-breed, gazing intently in the direction whence
the cry had come, was silent for a few minutes; and then,
pointing to where the shade was deepest, he wdiispered, —

" There he is ! see his eyes ! "

Rao bent his eyes thither, and after a moment caught
the gleam of the creature's lliiy orbs, as, crouching upon the
lower limb of a huge birch, it seemed ready to spring to the
attack on the slightest provocation.

Freckles at the lirst alarm had taken up his position
Uliind Tlae, his right hand holding the pistol tremblingly,
while his left fumbled with the hatchet that hung in hia
lielt. He was thoroughly frightened, but preferred staying
M'ith the others to running away alone.

When the first spasm of fright had passed with Rao
another feeling took its place — to wit, the ambition to kill
the fierce brute that had introduced itself so rudely, and to
I'ving its skin and head back to his father as a trophy of his
prowess.

136

AFLOAT AGAIN.

" I'd like to kill that panther," said he in a low tone to
the half-breed. ' Will you help me ?"

Now the half-breed would have very much preferred
beating a retreat, and leaving the panther in possession of
the field ; but when Rae had the daring to propose that they
should stay and fight it out, he felt ashamed to refuse, so in
a very reluctant way he said, —

" All right ; but we've got to look mighty sharp,"

Conscious of tremors that he could not control, yet despis-
ing himself for having them, Rae looked carefully to his rifle
to make sure that it was properly capped, then felt for his
hunting-knife, and o-athered himself toijether for the strutralo.

" Aren't you going to run for it ? " came in a hoarse
whisper from behind, where Freckles stood, wondering why
flight was delayed an instant.

" No, I'm not," answered Rae without turning his head ;
" but you may if you want to."

Freckles half turned as thouo-h to make a start, then
jerked himself back, looking very shamefaced.

" I won't run," ho muttered, " since he won't."

Truly the latent lorccs of the poor bo^^'s nature were
being brought out with astonishing rapidity in the new
atmosphere ho was now breathing.

The panther, seeing that they intended to stand theh'
ground, seemed to lose some of" the eagerness for the prey it
had first shown, and Rae, not'.ng this, began to fear lest it
should turn tail and vanish into the depths of the forest.

" I'm going to try a shot at him ; you fire too," said ho to
the half-breed, who stood on hia left.

AFLOAT AGAIN.

■11

The latter gTunted assent, and, levelling the old flint-lock
that he carried, pulled the trigger at the same instant with
Rae. But only a single report rang out. The flint-lock had
missed lire, as it was apt to do only too often, earning many
a malediction from its disgusted owner.

Rac liad taken careful aim for the space between those
flaming eyes, and that his bullet had sped straight and true
was evident from the panther tumbling in a yellow heap at
the foot of the tree, to be pounced upon by the snarling
doci's.

With a shout of exultation Rae rushed forward, in spite
of tlie warning of the half-breed, who knew well how mar-
vellously tenacious of life such creatures are. Nor was
the warniiiG: without o'ood reason.

The panther had been " only scotched, not killed," by the
Itullet, and a minute sufficed for it to recover itself sufficiently
to meet Rae with a roar, and a display of gleaming fangs
that brought his charge to a sudden stop.

"Take care! "cried the half-breed, who had kept some
distance in the rear, althougli Freckles had followed close
upmi Ills friends heels.

Ihit there was neither time nor space to take care.
Switcliing its tall violently from side to side the pantlier for
fin instant glared at Rae with eyes appalling in tlieir baleful
iutousity, and then launched its tawny form full at him !

Whence came the inspiration Rae assuredly could not
tell, but in that awful moment Avhen the infuriated creature
was manifestly gathering itself for the spring the thought
{lashud into the boy's mind : " If I stand still, J. cannot escape

138

AFLOAT AGATX,

it. If I try to run, it ^Yill bo upon my back. But if T dart
towards it at the same moment that it springs, won't it leap
clear over me ? "

Arguing thus, he threw himself forward as though he
were diving, falling headlong full ten feet from the spot
upon which he had been standing when the panther sprang
at him.

The scheme succeeded admirably. Instead of being
struck down by those dreadful claws he escaped untouched,
the brute landing a yard beyond him.

But was it only a temporary respite ? Before ho could
do anything in self-defence the panther would be on him
again unless instantly checked, and who was to do this?
The half-breed's gun was empty, and he himself stood twenty
feet away, seeming afraid to render assistance.

Could any aid be hoped from Freckles ?

CHAPTEll IX.

A WHALE AND A WIIIKLPOOL.

I'^O the end of his days Freckles was never able to
explain how he came to do it, although he was fond
of telling the story, because he always considered his action
then the greatest achievement of his life.

This was what occurred. The spring of the panther,
wliicli had carried it beyond Ilae, brought it almost at
Freckles's feet, and instead of quailing before the furious
hnite, the boy, inspired by a passionate anxiety for lUio
ratlier tlian by any concern for his own safety, thrust his
pistol right into the animal's gaping mouth, and pulled the
trigger.

It could not have been l)etter done. The bullet crashed
into the creature's brain, and with a frightful contortion it
lulled over between the two boys, this time dead beyond a
doubt.

Springing to his feet Rae rushed at Freckles, and throw-
ing his arms about his neck hugged him afl'ectionately, at
tlie same time waltzing him round on the sward, while lio
shouted joyously, —

"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! we're the boys for the pan-

140

A WHALE AND A WHIRLPOOL

tilers ! Aren't M'e, Freckles ? I hit liiin first, and you
finished him off. That's tlic way to do it." And round and
round he went, until, getting completely out of breath, he let
go of Freckles, and threw himself down on the grass to rest.

To have a demonstration like tl.ds made over him was
such a novelty to Freckles that he had no idea how to re-
spond to it, so he just quietly submitted, but his happy face
showed how he enjoyed it all. As for the half-breed, when
he had recovered from his astonishment at both the boys
escaping unhurt, he cautiously approached the panther, and
after touching it with his foot to try if it was mKpiestion-
ably dead, cut the creature's throat so as to make assurance
doultly sure.

" Hailn't you better skin him while you're about it?"
suggested Rae. " I want his fur, and his head too, to take
home to my father."

NothinL>' loath, the half-breed went to work in a wav
that showed him to be an experienced hunter, and it was
not long before he had the panther stripped of his yellow
coat and neatly decapitated.

This accomplished, the next business was to get back to
Nanaimo with all speed, for the afternoon shadows were
already lengthening.

Thanks to the half-breed's intimate acquaintance witli
the country, they were able to take a shorter route than
that by which they had come, and it was not yet dark wlun
they reached the fort, where Captain Hanson Avas awaiting
them with rising impatience.

'■ What's ke[)t you so long ? " he demanded. " I was just

''Freckles thrust his Jiistoi right into the aninuil's t,^<'/>ittg mouth.'

''••«>-■ «5>

A WHALE AND A IVIIIRLPOOL.

143

al)Out tliinking of sending out a couple of tlic Indians to
hunt you up."

"That's what kept us, captain," replied Rae, pointing to
the tawiiy bundle tliat the half-hrced bore. "Open it out
and show him what it is," he added in a tone of triumph to
the dusky porter.

Tlie half-breed threw the bundle down, and spread out
tlie skin so that it seemed to belong to a larger animal than
was really the case.

" I'here now ! " Rac cried proudly. " What do you think
of that ? "

Captain Hanson's eyes opened wide with wonder.
" Hollo ! " he exclaimed, " that was a nasty brute. How did
vou kill him ?" and he looked at the half-breed as though

t o

he took it for oranted the credit would beloniij to him.

" No, no," said Ilae energetically, rightly interpreting the
captain's glance. " He had nothing to do with it. We did
it all ourselves, didn't we, Freckles ? "

" You did ? " queried the captain ; " and liow did Freckles
help ? "

Thereupon Rac related the whole story, Freckles listen-
ing with as much interest as though it were all new to him.

When he had finished, Captain Hanson gave them each
a hearty clap on the back, saying, —

"Good for you, boys ! You're regular heroes. Won't your
father be proud of you, Rae ? And as for you. Freckles, Fve
got quite a different notion of you. I'd no idea there was
such good stuff' in you."

Freckles blushed violently, and looked as if he'd like to

144

A WHALE AND A WHIRirOOL.

run away from .siicli unaccustomed praise. As for making
any reply, that was quite beyond his powers.

The men at tlie fort pronounced the panther's skin a
very good specimen indeed, and an old Indian who had skill
in that business undertook to prepare it carefully, and have
it all ready for Piae when the schooner called on her way
back from Fort Simpson.

At dayliglit the following morning the P/oi'crbade good-
bye to Nanaimo, and resumed the voyage northward. The
prosperous weather continued, and the sail up the broad
Gulf of Georo'ia was alto^'ether delii-ditful. At Rae's inter-
cession, Captain Hanson relieved Freckles of his duties as
cook's assistant and sailor's fag, directing him simply to act
as cabin boy, keeping the cabin in order, and being ready to
do anything for him that might be required.

This change of work gave him a good deal more leisure,
and this w^as just what Rae wanted, as the boys -were then
able to be a o-ood deal to£!'ether, and Rae found Freckles to
be by no means the poor company he seemed at first. The
boy had a good deal of ingenuity, and was quite clever with
his fingers, wdiile his brain could work actively enough
under favourable circumstances.

The small black wdiales that romped about in the Ijlue
water interested the boys greatly, and one morning, when
the schooner was lying becalmed, Rae asked Captain Hanson
to allow him to go off in the boat with a couple of llie
sailors, and see if they could not harpoon a wdiale just for
the fun of the thing.

As there seemed no prospect of a breeze for a couple of

A WHALE AND A ll'If/RirOOL.

145

hours at least, the captain consented, on condition tliat tlie
boat should not go more than half-a-mile from the schooner ;
so off they started, Rae, Freckles, and the two youngest
sailors — an enterprising quartette indeed.

As their object was amusement, not business, Rac under-
took the harpooning, while the sailors had the oars, and
Freckles held the tiller.

The surface of the bay was glassy smooth, except where
broken into ripples by the gambols of the whales. It was
not easy to get near enough to any of the big fish, altliough
they did not seem to be keeping any sort of a look-out, but
iust havinic a good time amonrj themselves. Airain and
auain the boat was sent after one of them in vain, and the
sailors were beginning to get tired of the work and to sug-
gest returning to the schooner, when, in the nick of time,
they got \Yithin striking distance of a tine big fellow, and,
with a tremendous effort, Rae hurled the heavy liarpoon so
tliat it sank deep into the black shiny body just below the
fore-fin.

The instant it felt the iron the whale rushed forward
a little way, and then dived, taking out the line at a
tremendous rate, until the whole length of it (which was
only a couple of hundred yards, for it was not a regular
whaling line) had been exhauste»l.

In his eagerness to follow its course, Rae had continued
standing in the bow of the boat, and Freckles for the same
reason had jumped up on the stern thwarts, where he stood
craning his long thin neck as he watched the outrunning
line.

146

A WHALE AND A WHIRLPOOL.

Now Rac liad fastcnud the boat end of the line to the
bow seat, and wlien tlie last foot had run out the whale,
of course, did not stop to consider the consequence of tlie
sudden strain that must come, but kept rii^ht on, the efl'cet
beino- to ^^ivc a tremendous jerk that sent Rac sideways
overboard, threw Freckles backward into the water, and
tumbled both the sailors in the bottom of the boat as
though they had simultaneously "caught a crab."

Captain Hanson, who saw the whole thing from the
schooner, where he was lounging upon the pooj:), burst into
a roar of laughter that caused the cook to thrust his head
out of the galley with a look of inquiry on his countenance.

" Look there ! " cried the captain, hardly able to speak
for laughing, pointing to the boat which lay motionless on
the water, for the sudden jerk had torn the harpoon from
its hold, and the whale's task of towing- was over. " Oli
if you only could have seen them turn somersaults, and
tumble into the water. I never saw anything funnier in
my life."

" But, captain, won't they be drownded ? " asked the cook
anxiously, as he caught sight of the two boys' heads bobbing
about in the water some yards astern of the lioat.

"Not a bit of it, cookie," laughed the captain. "They
can both swim like seals, I know. See, they are making fur
the boat now. Tliey're all right.*'

Sure enough the boys were already swimming towards
the boat, wdierc the sailors awaited them with outstretched
arms, and in another minute they were both on board, save
for the wetting no worse for the mishap.

A IVIIALE AND A WHIRLPOOL.

147

They at once made tlioir way ))ack to the schooner, for
there was no more whale hunting to be done that day.
Fiae seemed a g'ood deal chagrined at the ludicrous termina-
tion of his enterprise. He hated being laughed at, and
Captain Hanson thought the affair altogether too good a
joke to be passed by in silence, so he indulged himself in
a "'ood deal of banter, until, seeing that I\ae's self-control
liad about reached an end, he wound up with, "Oh, well,
better fortune next time, I\ae. You made a fine throw of
the harpoon any way, and that whale won't forget you in a
hurry."

" No, nor I won't forget him," responded Rae ruefully.
" I never liad such a toss before, and I'm not anxious ever
to have another, I can tell you."

Freckles said nothino; at all. He had feared a scoldini:j
from the captain, although he was in no wdse to blame ; but
there being no sign of this he held his peace, in spite of the
efforts of the men on board to draw him out.

By noon the much-desired breeze appeared in full force,
and Captain Hanson, eager to make up for lost time, clapped
on all sail, and steered a straight course for Discovery
Passage. His hope had been to reach there early in the
afternoon, so as to have plenty of time to pass through
before dark, for it was a difficult piece of navigation. But
the long morning's calm had upset his calculations, and it
was not far from sundown wdien the Plover made the
entrance to the passage.

Having been that w^ay only once before, and then when
the tide was at the full, and the getting through an easy

148

A WHALE AXD A IVniRLPOOL.

matter, lie liad no knowledge save from the stories of the
Indians, wliicli he but bait' lielieved, of the daiif!;er.s of the
Yaculta llapids in the middle of the passage. According t<j
the Indians, these rapids were the home of an evil spirit
that ahode in these depths, and delighted to la}' violent
hands upon canoes, and to drag their occupants down to
death. As a matter of fact, they were the centre of action
of a maelstrom far more to be feared than the famous one of
Norway. When the tide from the Gulf of Georgia ebhed
out in full rush, the whole gorge would be white with
foam and filled with waves rising and breakinij- madly,
while deep, black, funnel-shaped holes boring down into the
water, and fountains boiling up like geysers, boded ill foi'
the fate of any vessel, great or small, that might be so
unfortunate as to bo caught in this mig'hty whirlpool.

Borne on by the breeze, the little Plover, all unwitting
of the perils ahead, kept her course steadily, and Captain
Hanson was just about congratulating himself upon the
progress made, and beginning to look around for a con-
venient cove wherein to anchor for the night, when the
schooner rounding a bend in the passage came right up^ii
the maelstrom, already working with menacing vigour.

At once the command was given to " about ship,"' ami
every efibrt was put forth to save the vessel from the grasp
of the dread whirlpool, Lut it was too late. Alrea<ly
Yaculta, as the Indians called the supposed evil spirit, had
hjld of her keel, and, instead of moving away from the
dauiier, the schooner drew swit'tlv nearer to it.

Realizing the futility of escape. Captain Hanson ordered

A WHALE A.\D A WHIRLPOOL,

149

down all the sails, and biddinp^ every one lay hold of some-
thin'; tliat might serve to tluat them if the schooner sank,

lie .0(1, —

•' Wo've in a had fix, and God knows how we'll set out
of it. You must be ready for the worst. The Plovers a
stanch little craft, but she's o^ot a hard iiL-'ht before her.
We ^an only hope for the best. If she does _l;-o down, per-
haps vve'll be able to scrandde ashore somehow."

T'le prospect of accomplishing this seemed very frail
iiidei 1 ; and as Rae gazed in growing tciTor at the leaping
\vav( i and boiling swirls, into the midst of which they M'ere
hel' 'ly speeding, he felt a pang of regret that he had
ev / 1^0. t Fort Camosun at all.

^ it it was too late to do anything else than regret it
now. They v>v.i' ; m within clic power of Yaculta, and
could do nothing save pray i'v^r deliverance.

The schooner presently began to take on a circular
motion, and the wisdom of the captain in ordering down
the sails now manifested itself, for the violent swaying to
and fro of the vessel threatened to tear the masts from their
sockets ; and if the sails had still been set, they assuredly
wouli] have gone by the board.

The Plover and her crew were in a perilous plight
indeed. The violence of the whirl evidently increased
instead of lessened. On every side great funneldike pits
opened in the water, any one of which seemed large enough
to engulf the schooner ; and, to crown all, darkness was
rapidly drawing near.

Possessed by a common fear, all the members of the

15°

A WHALE AND A WHIRLPOOL.

vessel's company gcatliered about Captain Hanson at the
stern, all distinction of rank being forgotten in the face of
the awful danger tlicy shared.

Rao grasped the captain's arm with one hand, and with
the other took hold of Freckles. No one spoke. There was
a strange fascination in the whirling, seething waters chat
paralyzed speech, if not thought itself.

Round and round the schooner spun, the circle of her
orbit cfrowins: ever smaller, until it seemed as thouo'h there
could be only one more turn and then she must plunge bow
Strst into the glossy chasm yawning to receive her. But
before this happened the whirlpool suddenly filled up, and
she came to rest for a moment in a space of comparatively
smooth water.

" Thank God ! " ejaculated the captain ; " I thought wo
must go down,"

Yet the danwr was not over. Another whirl formed
almost iunnediately, that in its turn caught the unresisting
schooner in its perilous embrace, and once more the terrify-
ing; motion was beo-un.

Never could Rae forget that experience. On cither side
of the passage the tree-clad shores were silently darkening
as night came on ; beyond the spliere of the whirlpool the
water lay still and smooth as glass ; in the soft warm air the
night hawks were already swooping this way and tliat,
uttering their jarring notes ; all was quiet antl peaceful save
where the sturdy little schooner struggled bravc^ly with the
fell might of the maelstrom, which strove with seeming
diabolic zeal to drag her down into its fr'^-d depths.

A WHALE AND A IVHIRLPOOL.

i5t

»g

.he

In its erratic course, as she was flung from one whirl to
anotlier, the Plover worked over towards the eastern side
of the passage, until she approached so near that Captain
Hanson thought he saw a chance of escape. Against eitlier
bulwark were lashed two great long sweeps, for use in even-t
(;f it being necessary to move a short distance during a
cahii. In them now lay his hope of salvation for liimself
and his companions.

" Stand by to pull out the sweeps!" he cried. " Quick
now, every one of you."

Tlie three sailors and the cook each sprang for a sweep,
cut the lashings with their knives, and in a trice had the
lieavy things in the water and ready for use, with the fore
and main stays doing duty as thole-pins.

"(live \vay now, my men, with all your might! Give
way, I tell you ! " was the next order. And keeping their
balance as best they could on the rocking deck, the men
bent to the oars, while the captain jammed the tiller hard-a-
port, and the two boys held their breath in anxiety for the
result.

For some minutes the whirlpool seemed to laugh at
their efforts, but presently the schooner showed some signs
of responding to the double appeal of oars and rudder,
noting which Captain Hanson cricil with the ring of grow-
ino- confidence in his tone, " She feels 3'ou ; she's moving
right! Pull away, pull away! Give it to lierl"

Thoy did pull away, putting every ounce of nmscle in
their bodies into each stroke ; and Rae and Freckles joined
their boyish strength to that of the two men nearest the stern.

152

A WHALE AND A WHIRLPOOL.

" Keep ifc up ! " roared the captain, pressing hard on the
tiller that seemed to be fio-htino- with him for its freedom ;
" we're gaining headway."

Sure enougli so they were. The sweeps had been put
in at a fortunate moment, and their influence slowly hut
steadily made itself felt. Little l:)y little the schooner
moved towards the outer ring of the whirl, until presently
she was held by that circle alone.

Then shouting, " Back water, port ! Pull hard, star-
board ! " he swunn; the tiller round to the other side, and,
responding to the pressure, the gallant little Plover edged
herself clear out of the cruel wliirlpool into the kindly
placid water of a welcoming cove just before the last ray of
light faded from the western sky and darkness fell upon all.

Exhausted by their tremendous eflbrts, the sailors barely
had strength to let go the anchor before they flung them-
selves down on the deck, panting like hounds after a long
chase.

Rae rushed up to the captain, and taking his big brown
liairy right hand between both of his, fairly hugged it in
the energy of his joy.

" Oh, sir ! " he exclaimed, " but that was a close shave,
wasn't it ? 1 was sure that awful whirlpool was going
to get us."

"And I don't min<l allowing that I was somewhat of
the same opinion myself, Rae," responded Captain Hanson.
" But a miss is as good as a mile ; and now we've gjt out of
it, we'll take good care to stay out, I can tell you."

Remaining in the cove all night, the Plover awaited the

A WHALE AND A WHIRLrOOL.

153

hour next clay when the tide had reached its full height,
obliterating all the treacherous whirls, and then taking ad-
vantage of a strong breeze blowing straight up the passage,
she spread her white wings and sped swiftly out of the
Yiiculta's realm, bearing away a remembrance of one awful
lionr there that would endure as long as memory lasted.

Working her way through Johnstone Strait into Queen
Charlotte Sound, she safely threaded the intricacies of the
Broughton Archipelago, and so came out into the open
stretch at the head of Vancouver Island, where the good
hick which had hitherto attended her course deserted her
for a while, and she hail to struggle against baffling head
winds and throuo-li bewilderiu!:'' mists and foe-' that do-
iiianded all the seamanship and watchfulness of captain and
crew to reckon with.

Rae found this part of the trip desperately dull. The
drenching mists made staj'ing on deck most uncomfortable,
evt'U though there had been anything to see or do there, and
the small cabin felt very close and stufly. His chief re-
source lay in his books, of which he had brought a box
containing " Robinson Crusoe," "Arabian Nights," "Captain
Cook's Voyages," and also the works of Shakespeare, Scott,
and Milton ; for his father, like most Scotsmen, possessed a
tine literary taste, and had taken pains to cultivate Rae's
interest in the great masters of literature, so that the boy
Iiad already learned to appreciate, in no small degree, the
•'eanty and sublimity of their work.

Whenever Freckles hail an hour to spare, Rae would read

to him ; and it was wonderful, in view of the small chance the
Ure) 10

154

A WHALE AND A WHIRLPOOL.

boy had hitherto had of developing his intellect, how much
he understood and enjoyed of the treasures in prose and
poetry thus revealed to him for the first time.

He would listen to Rae with open mouth, eyes alight
with intelligence, and heart throLLing with vivid interest ;
and whenever the reader paused — for his innate courtesy
kept him from interrupting — he would have questions to
ask that Rae was often sore put to to answer aright. In-
deed, sometimes he couldn't answer them to his own satis-
faction, and would have recourse to Captain Hanson, who
had a pretty well-stored mind ; and in this way the man
and the two boys were brought closer to one another, and
their friendship made rapid progress.

Rae found no small pleasure in acting as Freckles's
teacher. Under his father's directions, and with his con-
stant encouragement and aid, ho had himself been educatctl
in a way that, if it was not altogether in accordance witli
the usual scholastic methods, at least gave him the command
of an amount of practical knowledge that many boys
brought up in cities might well have envied.

The three R's he had lono- ao-o mastered, while in
history, geography, and English literature he had made
good progress. The best feature of his training was this—
he had not merely learned enough to take rank with tlie
ordinary schoolboy of his age. but he had ind»ibed the
spiiit of learning. He was always eager to know more
about thincfs. He had a strons; ambition for intellectual as
well as ph3^'^ical prowess.

In Freckles he found as earnest a scholar as teacher

A JVIIALE AND A WHIRLPOOL.

T55

111

could desire, albeit the poor boy's utter lack of oppor-
tunity in the past made him surprisingly ignorant of many
tilings that Rae thought he ought to know. Of course Kae
could not always bear this in mind, and sometimes his
patience would be overtried by Freckles's foolish answers or
stupid questions.

But when he would say something sharp and stinging,
instead of attempting to retort, Freckles would put both his
hands to his face, after a fashion he had, as though he were
trying to hide behind them, and murmur piteously, —

" Forgive Freckles ; Freckles did not know better."

Whereupon Rae's warm heart would swell with sym-
pathy, and he'd pull the boy's hands down, saying sooth-
ingly,—

" Oh, don't mind me, I'm such a spitfire. Try again,
now."

So Freckles would make another attempt ; and thus the
teaching proceeded, with considerable benefit to Freckles
lit least.

\\\

love
a-5

Ricv

CHAPTER X.

RASPBERRIES AND OULACIIAN.

AS the Plover kept on her way to Milbank Sound, and
the mists continued to hang about her, Captain
Hanson often liad recourse to a method of piloting that
could hardly have been relied upon elsewhere.

The shores rose steep and rocky from the sea, and gave
back a quick, clear echo to the voice, taking advantage of
which the juariner, trusting to his acute senses, felt his course
along by the way the sound of his hail was flung back to
him. It was, to be sure, a rather dangerous method, to be
attempted only by expert pilots ; but Captain Hanson had
faith in himself, and only once did his skill seem to fail him.

The fog had been particularly thick, and the breeze
light and baffling, so that his patience had been tried to the
utmost, and he had come as near to feeling reckless as
was possible in one of his cautious nature. He was very
anxious to reach Milbank Sound before nightfall, and so
kept on one tack rather longer than was just wnse.

Rao, in default of other amusement, had gone up to the
bow to watch the waves curling away from the schooner's
cutwater; then tiring of this, he had crawled out on the

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

157

bowsprit as far as he could, and strove to pierce the ob-
scurity of the enfolding fog.

His position gave hiui the first glimpse of the danger
ahead; and he had just time to turn and shout with all his
might, " Captain Hanson, look out ! we're running into
something- !" when right in front of the schooner there sud-
(Iriily loomed out of the mist a great dark body that might
liavc been the side of a mountain.

Instantly the captain put the hehn hard-a-port, at the
same moment roaring to the sailors to let go the main-
sheet. The obedient schooner swung round as though on
a pivot, until her sails flapped idly in the wind ; and it was
not a moment too soon, for there, so close that its shiny
face might be touched from the deck with a long boat-hook,
was a pinnacle of rock rising sharp and stern from the sea,
one touch of which would have smashed the schooner's prow
into kindling-wood.

Captain Hanson drew a deep breath as the full sense of
the deadly peril in which he and his companions had been
came upon him.

" God bless your sharp eyes, my boy 1"' he exclaimed,
turning to Rae. " I ought to have kept on hailing ; but 1
tliought we were clear in the middle of the entrance to the
suund, and that I'd be only wasting my breath. That was
a close shave ! — I know you, you scoundrel," he cried,
" You're one of those villanous needles that some old witch
must have stuck here to wreck good ships on. But
yuu\e not got us this time, and we'll give you a wide
berth next time, I can tell you."

158

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

He had hardly spoken before, as if in obedience to the
touch of a fairy's wand, tlic fog vanished to right and left,
and i\lilbank Sound opened up bright and smiling on the
port-bow, inviting immediate entrance, and oflering im-
munity from the dangers and difficulties which had been
besetting the schooner.

During the passage up the sound and through Graham
Reach, which divided Princess Royal Island from the main-
land. Captain Hanson told Rae many stories of the Bella
Bella Indians, who inhabited that part of the coast, and
bore the reputation of being a most treacherous; blood-
thirsty, and turbulent tribe.

" There's nothing too mean or too cruel for these vermin,"
said the captain, who hated anything underhand, and had
no respect for one who didn't fight fair. " They'll lie the
hide off their tongues. They'd cheat a blind baby out of
its rattle ; and wlienever they're in a big majority, they're
ready to kill us white men on sight for nothing more than
the tobacco in our pockets."

All this, of course, made Rae very curious to see some
specimens of the Bella Bellas, provided no risk be run in
doing so, and he was therefore well pleased when, as the
schooner was lying becalmed one morning about half-a-milc
olF shore, a canoe was seen to emerge from a shadowy tionl,
and make towards the vessel in a cautious, tentative way,
as though its occupants were not at all sure of the reception
they might have.

When the canoe drew near, Rae could not help admiring
its fine lines and the curious carving's with which its bow

iMHft

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

159

was enriched. It had evidently been cut out of a single
white cedar trunk, and was about twenty feet in length by
two in breadth, with the gunwales spread outwards so as to
cast off the surge in rough water. Six men kneeled along
the bottom two by two, and with strong strokes of their
paddles sent the buoyant craft skinnning through the water,
while a seventh Indian sat in the stern steering skilfully.

"It's perfectly amazing wdiat the fellows will do in one
of these canoes," said the captain. " Xo storm scares them
if they want to be afloat, and they'll face a sea that I
wouldn't in the best ship's boat I've ever seen. I wonder
what they're after this time. If they've any good furs I'll
not object to trying a little trade with them, so long as no
more than three come aboard at once."

The canoe having come within hailing distance, Captain
Hanson mounted tlie poop, taking care to let his ritle, whieh
he held in his hand, be plainly in sight, and shouted out a
salutation he had learned on a previous voyage. The steers-
man of the canoe seemed surprised at the familiar words,
liiifc answered promptly, at the same time holding up a big
heaver skin in token of his desire to trade.

The captain's eyes glistened at this, and he beckoned
the canoe alongside, saying to the steersman, —

"You come aboard alone. Let the others stay in the
canoe."

But the steersman did not like this idea. lie apparently
feared treachery, and kept his seat, thougli still exhil)iting the
beaver skin and pointing to a pile of others in front of him.

"The rascal's a good deal more afraid of us than we are

i6o

RASPBERRIES AND OU LAC HAN.

of liim/' laughed the captain. " Suppose you go on board
tlie canoe, Eao, and act as go-between, I don't "want any
of them up on deck if I can help it. '

Nothing loath, Rae clambered over the bulwark and
dropped into the canoe, rather to the astonishment of all its
occupants, none of whom had expected this move. But
their natural imperturbability was soon regained, and with
expectant eyes, but silent lips, they awaited the next pro-
ceeding.

Captain Hanson now^ lianded Rae down a couple of
knives, and some of the trinkets w hich deliu'ht savaire souls,
and asked the Indian to lay beside them on the thwart the
skins he was willing to give for them. At onc(i the Bella
Bella showed himself a good bargainer, for his offer was mani-
festly below the market rates along the coast; and Captain
Hanson, not wanting to spend much time over the business,
as the wind might spring up at any minute,said impatiently, —

"Come now, none of 3'our nonsense, just double that
quick, or there'll be no trading to-day."

The Indian looked up for a moment with a fierce, re-
sentful gleam in his eyes, then quietly put as many more
skins on the pile.

"That's more like it,"' said the captain. "Now keep it
up on that basis."

So the trading went on until the stock of skins had
passed from the hands of the Indians to the white men ; and
Rae was about to climb back on the schooner, wdien a sharp
cry came from Freckles, —

" Look out for your knifo, Rae 1"

RASPBERRIES AND OULACIIAN.

i6i

In imitation of the sailors, Rac wore at his side a slicath-
knife of wliich he was very proud, and wliieh he ahvays
kept as keen as a razor. All the time he was in the canoe
one of the paddlers had been e^'ing this knife with longing;
and when Rae turned his back to climb up the schooner's
side, he thought his chance had come.

But Frt'cklfs, whose fears had been excited by what
Captain IJanson had said concerning the evil character of
the Bella Bellas, and who in consequence had watched Rac
uith some concern while the trading was going on, divined
the savage's predatory purpose ere he had time to execute
it, and uttered the cry of warning.

Kae did not wait to look around. He knew at once
what Freckles meant, and lashing out vigorously with his
right foot, caught the would-be thief so cleverly under the
cliin as to tumble him over backwards across the canoe,
which he infallibly would have upset had not the steersman
instinctively thrown his weight to the other side, and thus
niiuntained the balance.

Not pausing to take in the effect of his kick, Piac threw
himself over the bulwark ; and it was well he acted so
promptly, for the Indian he had thus capsized, while still
lying on his back, hurled his hatchet at him with nmrderous
fury, and it stuck quivering in the very spot where an
instant before he had been balancing- himself.

"Ah, 3'ou would, would you ?" cried the captain fiercely
at this wicked though futile effort, and pointing his rifle
straight at the steersman, he roared, " Now get off with you
as quick as you can ! Do you hear me ? "

l62

RASPBERRIES A. YD OULACHAN.

He was both heard and understood. With faces full of
sullen fury the Indians plied their paddles, and the swii't
canoe shot away from the schooner's side.

"A f,food riddance of bad rulildsh," said the captain ; and
then pointing at the nice little pile of prime beaver skins on
the poop, " IJut we've lost nothing by their accjuaiiitancu,
that's sure ; and you, Rac, shall have the best skin in the
pack to rcmcndjer the Bella Bellas by, seeing you've come
off with a whole skin yourself."

Keeping steadily on, the P/o re r passed through Grenville
Channel into Chatham Sound, and at last, one beautiful
afternoon, reached the end of her trip at Fort Simpson,
which occupied a couuuanding position on the north shore
of the Tsimshian Peninsula.

The schooner arrived just as the great spring fishery of
the oulachau, that remarkable little fish which is so highly
esteemed by the Indians of this district, was drawing to a
close, and Bac was astcmished at the niultitudc of canoes
which blackened the beach and the number of lodges that
surrounded the stockade. Ho had never seen so many
Indians together in his life before, and their numbers some-
what appalled him.

" What a tremendous lot of them there is ! " he said to
Captain Hanson, when the riovcr, having safely avoided
the many rocks and ledges which complicated the passage,
had got to the wharf, and the Indians Hocked down full of
curiosity. " Do they always keej^ quiet, and never give any
trouble ? "

" Indeed that they don't," laughed the captain. " Why,

RASPBERRIES AXD OV LAC HAN.

163

tlioy'vc attacked the fort half-a-dozen times, , ,nd tried to
liurn it down more than once; but they've always got the
worst of it, and they're learning more sense. All the same,
I wouldn't trust any of them any further than I could see
tlioiu. Tliey're a poor lot at best."

When Rae heard this he made up in his mind that he
would never go ashore without his pistol and knife in his
belt, and that he'd take good care not to get out of sight of
the fort unless he was with a party. His previous experi-
ence had taught him caution in this respect.

The scene around Fort Simpson was certainly a remark-
able one. Fully ten thousand Indians were camped together
within a mile radius, the principal tribe being the Tsim-
•sliians, to whom the whole peninsula belonged, although a
score of other tribes were represented. What had brought
them was the oulachan fishery, now nearly at an end ; and
the catch having been somewhat better than usual, they
were all in high gooddiumour, and unstinted feasting and
revelry was the order of the day.

As soon as the schooner had been properly berthed, Cap-
tain Hanson went up to the fort taking Rae with him.
Tliey fou <1 the gate tightly closed, and sentinels with loaded
rifles looking down upon them from the top of the tall
stuckade ; for so lono- as the Indians were about, the gar-
risen acted as if ,1 state of siege prevailed, and nobody
was allowed to enter the gate until he had passed their
inspection.

Of course CapL.iin Hanson was admitted at once, and he
and Hae received a warm welcome from the factor and his

164

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

stafl', who were exceedingly glad to have visitors from the
south with tlie latest news.

While his elders talked business, Rae amused himself
roaming about the enclosure, and comparing Fort Simpscn
with Fort Camosun, his conclusion being that although the
former was certainly a very strong and well-built establish-
ment, still his father's charge was upon the whole the best,
and he would a m'eat deal rather have his home there than
amoncjst the Tsimshians.

Thus meditating, he came to a fence enclosing a primitive
kind of garden whose principal product seemed to be rasp-
berry bushes, of which there was quite a thicket under the
lee of the lofty stockade.

The garden gate being open Rae ventured to enter, and
on approacliing the bushes was delighted to lind them laden
with berries the like of which he had never seen before.

He was both hungry and thirsty, and his mouth watiTcd
for the tempting fruit. " I must have some of those berries,"
lie said to himself. " I wonder whose they are." He glanced
around to see if there \vas anybody to ask, but besides the
sentinels away over at the gate no one was in siglit.

" There's sucli a lot of them," he went on, " they'll never
grudge me a few mouthfuls, so here goes;" and without
more ado he began to pick.

Oh how delicious they were ! Inch-long globes of crim-
son sweetness that had never known witherinnj heat or
nij^ping cold, for the climate of the place is moist and warm
like that of a greenhouse.

Rae's hrst idea had been to eat only a few^ — -just enough

RASPBERRIES AXD OULACILhV.

16:

■ver
hout

lugh

to cool Lis mouth and satisfy liis sense of taste — Liit the
very first berry that melted in his mouth banished tliat
notion, and he attacked the bushes \\\i\\ a vigour tliat
betokened a determination to make the utmost use of his
opportunity.

He had about got well started, and, with both right and
left hand going busily, was managing to keep his mouth
luxuriously full, when sud<lenly there fell upon his ear in a
harsh voice, with a decided Scotch accent, the demand, —

" Hi there, ma young callant ! wha telt ye ye mielit bo
takin' ma berries the noo ? "

Rae gave a jump as though a bullet had hit him in the
back, and turning round faced his questioner with a coun-
tenance whose Ijurning blushes betrayed his confusion. It
would have been utterly futile to feign innocence of berry-
picking, even had he been disposed to do so, which, however,
ho was not; for wliatever other faults Rae had, there never
could be any ground f(jr doubting his veracity. With
fnigers and. lips stained so deeply that they outvied Ids fiery
cheeks, he stood silent. Ife had been caught reddianded,
auil ho was not o'oing to aggravate the offence by proflerino-
trumpery excuses.

The old Scotchman seemed somewdiat taken aback at
finiling the despoiler of his garden to be an entire stranger ;
liut immediately recovering himself, he approaclied Rao with
so threatening a mien that the boy instinctively shrank
lack, and looked around an /lously for some way of escape.

Only one avenue was open. He must dart across tlio
garden diagonally and leap the fence at the point farthest

i66

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

away from tlio old man, who was now within a few yards
of him. To see his chance was to seize it. Witli the lioiind
of a startled deer he sprang away, and ])efore the gardener
could turn to pursue him he had reached the fence. It was
not a high one, and touching his hands upon its upper bar
he vaulted over it easily, and was about to continue his
flio-ht in the direction of the buildino; where he had left
Cai)tain Hanson, when another man came round the corner
of a storehouse near by, and the irate gardener shouted to
him, —

" Hand that fellow, wull ye, Jock, till I come up wi' ye ?"

Whereupon the man with a quick rush caught Kae by
the tail of his coat, and held him fast until the old Scotcli-
man made his way around by the garden gate and hurried
up to them, looking the very picture of wrath.

But what he would have said or done to Hae must
remain only matter for conjecture, as just at this moment
the factor of the fort, accompanied by Captain Hanson,
appeared upon the scene, and at once inquired what all the
fuss was about. On being told by the gardener, who con-
fidently counted upon the despoiling of his raspberry bushes
being adequately avenged, instead of looking grave, he burst
out laughing, and, Injdng his hand kindly on llae's shoulder,
said in a conciliatory tone to the indignant informer, —

" Why, Tammas, if you knew who this is you wouldn't
be so wrathy. This is the son of your good friend, "Mr.
Finlayson, now factor at Fort Camosun. Surely you
w^ouldn't deny him a helping of your tine berries."

The chauixe that came over the old man's fjrizzled coun-

RASPBERRIES AXD OULACHAN.

167

10s

'I',

n't
\x.
on

\\-

tcnance at this information was like the sun breaking
throuuli a dark Lank of clouds on a chill autr.nm day.

" And sac ye'ro Rod Finlayson's bairn ! " ho exclaimed,
taking hold of Rae's hands, and looking into his face as if to
try and trace a paternal likeness there. " Wcel, weel, had I
but kenned it, you shoidd have been fu' ^Yelcome to ilka
berry in the bit garden. Yer faither was a guid frien' to me
lang syne, and I'm verra sorry I spak sae uncouthly tae
ye. But ye'll no be mindin' an auld man, and ye'll hac yer
till 0' berries forbye."

And so saying, Tammas drew Rae back towards the
garden ; and the boy, only too glad to finish his feast, went
willingly along, without troubling himself to inipiire why
the old man held so high an opinion of his father.

It was not till ho was returning to the schooner with
Captain Hanson that he learned the particulars. It seemed
tliat Tannnas Saunders, who was one of the oldest employees
in the Hudson Bay Company's service . the coast, was also
one of the most difficult to manaQ-e, beinof o-iven to occasional
over-indulgence in drink, and not at all amenable to dis-
cipline at any time.

Of the ditferent oflicials under whom he had served from
time to time none had shown so much patience and for-
bearance as i\rr. Finlayson, and finally, when dismissal by
chief factor Douglas seemed inevitable, he had secured for
liim a commutation of the sentence to banishment to Fort
Simpson, where emplo3'ment as gardener was given him, and
he behaved tolerably well.

For this reason he looked upon W\\ Finlayson as tho

i68

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

best friend he had in the world, and in token of his regret
for the rough treatment he had shown his son Lefore being
made aware of Ids identity, he appeared on the Plover early
the next morning with a hirge pannikin heaped full of
luscious berries.

" For the laddie's breakfast," he explained to Freckles ;
and when Rae came on deck, and accepted the offering m ith
hearty thanks, the old man grew radiant, and said in an
appealing way, "Ye'll be tellin' yer faither that Tanniias
Saunders wishes him weel, an;.l was unco glad to see his
bonnie bairn." Which, of course, Rae rendily promised to do.

As soon as breakfast, including old Tannnas's timely and
most acceptable contribution, had been despatched, prepara-
tions were made for taking part in the oulachan fishery,
which had strongly enlisted Eae's interest.

Captain Hanson and his men were all too busy unloading
the schooner to attend to anything else, but Freckles was at
liberty ; so the two boys went off together in the dingey,
which they were perfectly competent to manage.

Rae had often seen oulachan oil, but not the fish itself,
and he was very glad of the opportunity to make its ac-
quaintance. It is a curious little fish about the same size
as the Atlantic capelan, and having the same silvery appear-
ance; but it has a distinctive delicate flavour when freshly
caught, and it contains more oil than any other known fish.
It melts like a lump of butter in the frying-pan; and often,
when dried, threaded with a spruce wick, and stuck in a
bottle, makes an excellent substitute for a candle. Hence
its name of "candle-fish." Their nund)ers arc enormous

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN,

[69

d slioals of them comi

fr.

jjeyond all computation,
tlie sea will fill the mouth of the Nassc River from hank to
hank. The natives rake, shovel, dip, and sieve them by
canoe loads, and either dry and string them, or press out
their oil and store it away for winter use. Tliis was the
fish that Iiac was anxious to catch, and as the harhour fairly
swarmed with them he ran no risk of disappointment.

As a fishing implement Eae had secured a strong scoop-
net whicli Captain Hanson happened to have, while Freckles,
ill default of anything better, had brought a longdiandled
dipper which ho had slyly abstracted from the galley with-
out the knowledge of the cook. Between the seats of the
dingey was a large tub, that the boys felt sanguine of filling
before they returned. So oflf they started in high spirits,
each taking an oar.

All over the harbour were the Indian canoes, their occu-
panis busy gathering in the harvest of animated silver. It
was a scene of intense activity and interest. The canoes,
propelled by sinewy paddlers, darted hither and thither
in keen pursuit of the shoals of fish that in diflerent
tlirections gave the blue water the appearance of molten
■silver.

Xor was everything going as smoothly as might be
desired. With their wonted greed and childish im])atience
the Indians were constantlv comini'- into collision, and the
Estill niornini!: air resounded with shouts of aiiL'-er and defiance
as they squabbled over their quarry, although in good sooth
tliere was enough and to spare for all.

" We'd better not get into the thick of it, Freckles, had

(47^)

lyo

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

we ? " saiti Rae, eying the turmoil with some concern.
"We'll just keep outside the crowd, and pick up what flsli
we can."

They accordingly rowed quietly along at some distance
from the canoes, and contented themselves with picking up
some of the fish that had broken away from tlie main body,
and were darting about on their own account. They were
having fairly good luck, but the tub was tilling slowly, and
as Rae could not regard with equanimity the prospect of
returning to the schooner with it less than full, he koi'fc
moving the dingey nearer to the centre of activity, until
presently they were right into the main body of the li^li,
and able to scoop them up freely.

This occupation was so absorbing that neither he nor
Freckles took note of what was G;oing on around them, so
tliat they never could tell whether it was done accidentallv
or with riiaUce prepense. At all events, just when they were
both stooping, Tlac to empty liis scoop-net into the tub, and
Freckles to get another dipperful of fish, a big canoe struck
their boat heavily amidships, with the eflect of causing botli
boys to take a sudden header, the one into the tub, the other
into the water.

To a disinterested spectator the sight must have boon
extremely comical ; for Eae got his shoulders wedged in in
such a way that for a minute or two he could not extricate
liimself, ill spite of his frantic struggles, but stuck there with
his lecfs wavino- in the air like danirer sij-'nals; M'hile Freckles
was so surprised at being precipitated right into the slippery
shiny multitude of fish that, forgetting he could swim well

■

I^ASPBERRIES AXD OULACHAX.

171

ten

ill

ktc

ics

rell

enough, he thrashod round wildly and shouted for help at
the top of lii.s voice.

Even the unusually staid savages, and particularly those
on board the canoe Avhicli had been guilty of the collision,
were moved to laughter, and suspended their fishing opera-
ti'^ns for a time to watch the fun.

Happily there \vas no fear of any serious consequences ;
i'or Rae, beyond a couple of slight bruises on his shoulders,
and a liberal coat of lish scales and slime on his iace, was
none, the worse for his wallowing in the tub, while Freckles
quickly regained his self-control and scrambled back into
tlic boat aci'ain.

But oh ! how furious Kae felt. To submit to such an
affront in silence was something of which his fiery nature
was not capable, and the moment he regained his balance in
the stern-sheets he proceeded to scold the Indians in right
good fashion.

" You great stupid loons ! " lie cried, " what did you
mean by doing that ? We weren't interfering with you in
any way. You think you're very clever, no doubt, to play
such a trick upon a couple of boys. You wouldn't (hire do
it if we were men, ' and so forth, until his wrath had some-
wliat spent itself ; and then seeing that he might as well
have been addrcssino- the winds, so little effect did his tirade
produce, he brought it to a rath(>r lame conclusion by
stopping ill the midst of a sentence and bidding Freckles
pnll away, as they would go back to the schooner and leave
the oulachan and the Indians to themselves.

Rae returned to the Plover in a reirular fit of the sulks.

172

RASPBERRIES AND OU LAC HAN.

for he felt that his dignity liad received \:ji\ unmerited
downfall, and that too in the sight of Freckles, wliich
greatly aggravated the matter.

It was no mitigation of the affair that Freckles had
shared in the unpleasant experience. lie had no dignity
to lose ; hut with Rae, who liked to be looked up to hy
the other as a sort of hero, it was altogether different; for a
hero with his head in a tub of fish, and his legs frantically
kicking in mid-air, could hardly command the respect np-
propriatc to the character.

It was therefore some little time before Rae got haelc
his wonted serenity, and meanwhile he wandered oil' alone
along the shore with a heart full of longing to invent soiuo
way of getting even with the Indians.

But that evening, when, after dinner with the factor, he
learned from his lips some of the thrilling experiences the
crarrison had been tluTjUgh since the establishment of the
fort in its present position, he came to the very wise con-
clusion that it was a case of discretion being the better part
of valour.

Among all the stations estal)lished by the Hudson Baj'
Company on that far western coast, none had had so large a
share of danger as Fort Simpson. Again and again during
the season of the oulachan fishing, when they were gathered
in ahnost overwhelming numbers, the Indians had attacked
it fiercely, more than once being nearly successful in burn-
ing it down.

Fortunatel3^ however, owing to their utter lack of con-
certed action, and their wretched ec^uipment of weapons of

RASPBERRIES AM) OULACHAN.

173

11-
n-

uar, every attcmjit liad been frustrated ; and now tliey
scL'rned to have learned wisdom, and to be willing to let the
f(»rt alone.

During tlie remainder of the stay of the Plover, Ixac
auiiiscd himself as best ho could ; and although the time
hung rather heavily upon his hands, yet he made no further
attempt at catching oulachan. The one experience he had
liad of that was sufficient to satisfy him for some time to
come.

By the end of the week all the stores the schooner
carried for the fort had been transferred to the warehouses,
and their place taken by bales of furs to be brought down
to Fort Vancouver. Then there M'as a farewell dinner at
which the culinary resources of the establishment were
taxed to their uttermost, and the following morning the
Plover shook out her white wings, and with a favouring
breeze began her homeward voyage.

Not until now did Captain Hanson mention to Rae a
project that ho had been nursing for some time past.

" I've been thinking, Rae," he said, as the tw^o sat to-
gether in the stern, while the schooner, with every inch of
canvas drawing to the full, cut her way through the Avhite
caps, " that it might be a fine thing to run over to the Queen
Charlotte Islands and do a bit of trading with the Ilaidas.
You see there's no particular hiu'ry aliout our getting back,
ami the weather's sure to be fine yet for a month anyway,
and We've got a lot of things still on hand yet that the
Indians would like very much to have ; and so taking it
altogether, it's pretty clear to my mind that it wouhl be a

174

RASPBERRIES AND OULACHAN.

good notion to sec if those Haidas haven't got some pelts
that would pay for the trouljlc of [;"oing after them. If
there have been no Russian vessels down to them lateh',
they'll be pretty sure to have some, Isow what do you
say, my boy ? Are j'ou beginning to feel homesick, or would
you like to see something of the Haidas ? "

Rae did not keep the captain waiting long for his
answer. Eager as he was to see his father again, the
prospect of seeing the Haidas, those famous freebooters of
the coast, of whoso warlike exploits he had heard many
stirring tales from his father and others, was altogether too
attractive to his adventurous spirit not to reconcile him to a
slight postponement of his return to Fort Camosun.

" Why, captain," he said promptly, " I say go to the
Queen Charlotte Islands by all means. I've heard lots of
stories about the Haidas, and I'm longing to see some of
them. Oh, I hope you'll go over there. It won't take very
long, will it ? "

" Oh, no, it won't take us more than a week out of our
course at the most," answered the captain ; " and if the
luck's with us, and we get a good otter skin or two, well
think well of ourselves for making the trial."

So the diversion to the Queen Charlotte Islands was
quickly decided, and the Plovers course changed to a more
westerly one accordingly.

\s was always the case when full of some new idea, Eae
could talk of nothing else but the Haidas, and he fairly
showered questions upon Captain Hanson, who, to tell the
truth, had not much information to give, having never

h
ii
c

P
tl

BASPBERRIES AXD OULACITAN,

175

visited tlic islands before, althon.i;-li the tbou:j,-]it of doing so
had entered his mind on previons voya<;vs. Little did Rae
imagine as they drew near the home of the Ifaidas how
eventful this visit would turn out to he, and how it would
postpone his return to Fort Camosun for more months than
the days of the captain's calculation.

CTTATTEU XI

TO THE (^UEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

TO reach the Queen Charlotte Iskind.s from Fort Simpson
tlie Plover had to make her way out of Chatham
Sound, i^assing' between Dundas and Stephen Islands into
the brOad expanse of 1 lecate Strait, and then strike abnost
directly across for Skidegatc Iidet, which affords the best
entrance to both Craham Island on the north and i\Ioresl>y
Island on the south.

Such line weather had fallen to the schooner's lot hitherto
tliat those on board her took it for ij-ranted the same o'ood
fortune would attend them in their detour; but in this
expectation they were to be grievously disappointed. They
had not long left the protection of the arcliipelago through
which they had been pursuing their course for so many
weeks before the north wind, as though it had been only
waiting for its opportunity, fell upon them fiercely.

The sea rose to a hei^'ht it coidd never attain in the
sheltered straits, and the sturdy little vessel, with only a
triple-reefed jib and foresail set, leaped gallantly from billow
to billow, ao-ain and ao-ain burvino- her nose in the foaming
mass, and being saved from a smothering only by the

TO THE QUEEN CJIARI.OTIE ISLANDS. 177

lie

|\v

lie

splendid soain.insliip of ( ^iptaiii llanson, wlio tnid*^'! the
wliucl liinisL'lf, and never ttjok Ids eyes oil" tlie bow.

A wildtT storm Rae had never expeiicnced, and liis
liciU't sank as the sehooner staLi-^'ercd on through the
seethinii: waters, the Utile canvas she carried threateninjj
every minute to tear the groaning mast from its socket,
or to be blown away from its own gronnnets like a pud'
(if smoke.

Freckles, who was not by any means born for a sailor,
tried to keep on deck for a while, as all the others were
there ; but soon his courage failed him, and he crawled
below, where he could not see the tumult of the waters,
however much he might feel it.

Creeping carefully up besi<.le the captain, Ilae ventured
to suggest, —

'"Hadn't we better turn back, captain, and not try to
get over to the islands ? "

Without moving his ej^es from the bow. Captain llanson
answered in a voice of unusual griiflhess, —

"Turn back is it? and how do you tliink we're to
manage that when it takes all I know of sailing to keep the
schooner on her keel as it is ? "

Kac didn't understand why the Plover couldn't keep) ^ai
her keel just as well if she were beating back to Chatham
Sound as if she continued on to the Queen Charlotte Islands;
but, as the tone of the captain's answer implied that he
ought to be able to see for himself why the former course
was impracticable, he deemed it better to say nothing more
in the matter, and laying hold with both hands of a friendly

■rji

178 TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

bclaying-pin, lie strove to keep liis footing on the deck
despite the pitching and rolling of the schooner.

Rvnininiv straij-ht before the wind, as she was doinc--, the
Ploicr was threatened with a double danger. The wind,
whose violence showed no signs of abating, threatened to
carry away one or both of her masts ; and the huge billows,
witli which she seemed to be running;: a mad race, were eaacr
to spring upon her from astern.

Captain Hanson thoroughly understood the situation,
and certainly no man could have shown more skill and
promptness of action in avoiding both dangers. Indeed,
after a while, when he had again and again by a quick turn
of the wheel evaded an on-rushino- sea or saved the hard-
pressed mast, he began to grow more confident of his powers,
and to find a kind of fierce pleasure in this struggle with
the elements that seemed so bent upon overwhelming him
and his companions.

''1\\Q, Plover will weather it riu'ht enough," ho said to
Rae, an exultant expression relaxing the hitherto stern
fixedness of his face. " She's a saucy craft, and in my
hands a match for any gale."

That moment Rae happened to glance astei'ii, and what
he saw caused l.\is eyes to start from his head with fright.

"Look, captain, look! quick!" lie cried in the shrill
accents of terror.

The captain turned his head, and beheld a huge billow-
that seemed to tower half-way to the top of the mainmast
rearing its snowy, seething crest right behind, and ready to
topple over upon them.

1'^
a-

TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 179

hat
ii'iU

low

luist
V to

'■' Heaven lielp us ! " he exclaimed, throwing himself upon
ilic Avhcel with all his strength, and spinning it round in his
liands.

But he was just a moment too late. With an awful roar
the great wave broke upon them, flooding the schooner's
dock from stern to stem, and sweeping away everything
that was not lashed fast.

Both he and Bac wore smitten to the deck by the irre-
sistible onset of the billow. Happily, however, they kept
their places, the one holding on to the wheel and the other
to a coil of rope that hung to the belaying-pin, and the
instant the deluge had passed over them Captain Hanson
Mas on his feet again issuing orders to the half-drowned
sailors that they hastened to obey as best they could.

The saucy little Ploi'cr had been "pooped" — that worst
of nil disasters that can befall a vessel — and whether the
relentless billows would prove her deathblow or not would
soon be manifest. The coJjin had been filled with water, as
was inevitable, driving poor Freckles out on deck again,
where ho lay almost flat on his breast, lifting a pitiful face
up to the captain, as though to say, —

"0 captain, is it all over with us ? Will we never see
land aci:ain ? "

If the hold was as full as (Ik? cabin, the schooner must
iouurlor, for she couhl never hold her own against the gale
ill that condition. Tlie sailors were ordered to try the
pninps. They did so vigorously, and to their vast relief
ascertained that there was hardly any water in tlu^ hold at
'^h; upon which cheering inforuuition being comuumicated

i8o TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLAiYDS.

to Captain Hanson, he gave a hoarse chuckle, and a new
light cainc into his face.

" Hurrah ! the Plovers days are not ov^er yet. Let out a
reef in that foresail. There'll be no more pooping if I crai
help it."

The reef being let out, the schooner at once responded
to the pressure of the additional canvas ; and although the
mast seemed as if it would break oti' short, it held notwith-
standing, while the vessel, in spite of her added burden of
water, bounded over the waves triumphantly.

That tremendous billov. seemed to have been the storm's
supreme effort, for, soon after, its violence began to abate,
and ere evening fell the worst had passed, and there was
nothing more to be feared from that quarter.

Captain Hanson thought it wase to lie -to during tlie
night, as he did not know how far out of his course the gale
mio-ht have blown him ; and when he took his reckoniuL;-
next morning he found his wisdom proved by the discovery
that he was a long way south of Ski dogate Inlet, and would
have to beat back acjainst a head wind.

This would have been sufficient to cause a less deter-
mined man to change his plans, and keep on his way hoiiie
instead of proceeding to the islands. But the captain had
a good spice of obstinacy in him, and was not to be tururd
aside from his purpose by an ordinary gale, even though it
had included a very narrow escape from being " pooped."

So the schooner was put about, and all that day thrashed
throuo-h the waves, makinof somewhat slow but steady pro-
gross towards Skidegate. As they stood off and on from

MMk

TO THE QUEEN C HARLOT I^E ISLANDS. iSi

rale

mg'

itcr-
omc
luul

lU'il

1 it

the coast, which they made about mid-day, Rao was busy
witli his glass sweeping the shore in hopes of discovering
some signs of liuman life. But nothing of the kind was
visible, and at last, feeling much disappointed, he asked
Captain Hanson if the islands were really inhabited.

" I can't for the life of me make out anything that looks
like people being on the land. Surely therc'd be camps or
something, wonl .n't there?" he said, in an impatient cone.

"Ah, Rae," said the captain laughing, "3''ou're too eager
altogether, Do you expect the Haidas to be waiting for us
in their U!!t".'S when they've no idea we're coming. Faith,
you'll not have to look long for camps or canoes either once
we get into Skidegate Inlet."

And, sure enough, no sooner had they made the entrance
and passed a little way up than on either side groups of
Indian habitations came into view, and a number of canoes
were paddled rapidly towards them.

" There now, Rae," said the captain, " will that satisfy
vou {

"Indeed it will," said Rae. "Why, what a lot of them
there are ! "

Hy the time the schooner had come to anchor she was
surrounded by a cl()U<l of canoes containing men, women,
and ehihlven full of curiosity with regard to the new-
comers, and Rae, from the vantage-point of the bulwarks,
had a fine opportunity to study them in return.

lie was at once struck by their marked superiority in
general ap|)earancc to any Indians that he had over met
before. Their skin, instead of being dark and dirty, was of

t82 to the queen charlotte islands.

a clear olive tint, and their features were finer in their lines,
while their bodies were tall and well formed. Their hair
was black and coarse, and it was noticeable tliat the faces
of the men were as smooth as those of the women, owing to
the practice of pulling out tlie moustache and beard as soon
as the}'' began to show themselves.

The canoes, too, in which they had come out were finer
than ordinary, being fashioned out of single logs of red
cedar, with pointed bows and flaring gunwales, and richly
carved and coloured. Some were capable of carrying forty
persons, while others were light and small, for the use of
only two paddlers. Nearly every canoe liad a full load, and
the chattering of their occupants as they commented upon
their visitors was like that of a multitude of parrots.

That the savaixes had not entire confidence in their white
brothers was manifest from the fact that they evidenced no
desire to be allowed on board. On the contrary, they kept
off at a slight distance, as though perchance they feared tlio
crew of the PJover might attempt to jump into their canoes.

At the outset Captain Hanson found himself faced by
the ]-)rob]em of holding communication with the Haidas.
The dialect they spoke had little in common with any of
those on the mainland with which he was familial', and none
of las men had ever seen a Uaida before.

Tb' must needs fall back upon the sign language there-
fore, and this he at once put into vigorous use. At fir.s! the
Indians seemed puzzled, but after a while they showed mnrt-
intelligence, and ventured to reply in their own fashion with
the result that some soi't of an mider.standiug was readied.

tlio

3GS.

:IS.
of

110

?ro-
ilio

-itli

TO TlfE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 1S3

The captain made clcav liis desire to trade, whereupon
a Haida wliose dress and appearance betokened superior
laiik invited him to go on shore, and he accepted tlie in-
vitation, taking Rac with him and also two of the sailors;
tlie other two, with the cook and Freckles, being left in
eliarg'o of the schooner, with instructions to allow no Indians
to come on board on any account.

All four of those o'oinc'' on shore were armed to the teeth,
not so much because Captain Hanson antieii)ated having
recourse to the weapons, but rather that their ajipearance
might induce respect and let the natives see that their
visitors were not to be trifled with or imposed upon.

As Rae looked about him upon landing, his attention
was at once claimed by what is th.e most characteristic
feature of all Haida villacjes — namely, the wonderful and
liiysterious carved posts which stood in front of every
dwelling. No other aboriginal people have anything like
these posts. In Skidegate village each house — for the Tn-
iliaus live in regular houses, not in tents — had at least tvro
such ert'ctions in front, and they were all dillerenl as to size,
lit'inkt, and carvinu's.

''AVliy, captain," exclain\ed Rae, as his eye wrndered
from one to the other of these posts down the long line that
ran from end to end of the village, "what are those things,
and what do they mean ? I never saw anything like them
Lffuro."'

"No more did T," responded the captain, "and to toll
M'liat they're for is beyond me. Pt'ihaps the people worship
them when they've got mjthing else to do."

1 84 TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

Rae's curiosity was so stirred tliat this intlofinite reply
did not content liim ; so he turned to a young llaida, and,
pointing to a particularly tierce-looking post wliich Lore on
its head two gigantic grotes(|ue heads adorned with huge
liorns, shouted in liis ear as if he were deaf, —

" What is tliat for ? Can you tell me ? "

Tlio Indian started at the question, and an ngly look
came into Ids face, as though he suspected Tiac of making
fun of either him or the post. He shook his head very
decidedly, and moved away in evident ill-humour.

"I guess you'd Letter not press that question, Rae," said
Captain Hanson, whose (piick eyes seemed to miss nothing
that transpired. " Perhaps ho doesn't understand you.
Anyway, they are a suspicious lot, and ready enough to
take oiTence, so don't ask many questions."

Kae fully concurred in the wisdom of the captain's
counsel, 3'et as they passed one after another of these strange
posts with their carved faces and elaLorate decorations he
did long to ask some one wdiat they all meant.

Next to the posts, what impressed him most was the
size nnd solidity of the Ilaida houses. They all stood in a
lonii' row with their gaLlc ends to the Leach, which indeed
served as the street of the village, and were constructed of
great slaLs of cedar lai<l upon stout posts driven deep into
the earth. Some of them were more than fifty feet in
Lreatlth at the front, and ran Lack as far, while the roof
ridge rose nearly twenty feet aLovc the tloor.

But, as Rae soon learned^ so largo a house was the aljode
of more than one fanuly. In fact, four or five families

TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISI.AXPS. 185

tlic
in a
lecd
1 of
into
in

Iroo

|)0(ie
lies

would slmro its nccoiiiniO(lation,l)cing all ivlated, and liaving
as the liead of the liouseliold the oldest male ineiiiber of the
group.

Following their guide, the four ^vhite vi.sitors were
1)rr>U'dit to a house that occupied a conmiandino; site in the
crutre of the villaii'e. Before it stood the two larirest carved
posts of all, quite startling affairs, Leing huge human faces
crowned with gigantic hats of a kind that no London hatter
ever put upon the market.

This was evidently the palace of the chieftain, and they
were now- to have audience with him, their guide striving
to impress upon them as best he could by means of signs
that the chief was a most important personage, and that
tilt y nuist not fail to do him appropriate honour.

llae did not take tliis in, and Captain Hanson had not
time to explain what was meant before they all found them-
selves in the great man's presence. The room being imper-
fectly lighted by a hole in the roof, it took the visitors some
fuw minutes to get their bearinijs.

When their eyes had become accustomed to the gloom,
they saw before them, squatting upon a raised platform at
the farther end of the spacious chamlicr, an ohl man, who
pivsi'iitly rose to his feet and extended his arms w ith the
palms turned up, evidently in token of greeting.

<'aptain Hanson at once iniitate<l him, at the same time
hi'wing low, and the sailors followed suit; bnt Kae was so
taken up with gazing at the chief and his surroundings that
he never moved.

It must be said that there was good excuse for the boy's

07S)

1 86 TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

failure to make a proper oljeisancc, for certainly the old
chief was no ordinary being in point of appearance. His
stature was ahove the connnon, his body thin and spare, yet
his linihs were strong and muscular. His eyes M'ere largo
and goggling, seeming ready to start out of their sockets.
Flis forehead was deeply wrinkled, not merely by ago, hnt
from a continual frown; all of which characteristics, joined
to a lonjx visage, hollow cheeks, high cheek-bones, and a
decidedly ferocious expression, made him look to Rae most
uncomfortably like some sort of a bogey man.

He was clothed in a kind of cloak greatly prized among
the Haidas, which they obtained in trade from the Tsiin-
shians. It was shaped somewhat like a shawl, with a blunt
point behind, and surrounded by a thick fringe of twisted
wool. Finely shred cedar bark had been used as a warp for
this cloth, on which the wool of the mountain goat had been
worked in witli a very excellent effect. Like Joseph's coat
that got liim into so much trouble, it was made of many
colours, black, brown, yellow, and white predominating, and
each colour being a sepanite piece artfully sewn to the others,
so that no seam was visible. On his head was a turban of
shred cedar bark twisted together, stained a dull red, and
decorated with the orange-coloured bills of puffms and some
brilliant feathers. Altogether he was quite an imposing-
looking iiguro, and his attendants could hardly be blamed for
feeling incensed at Kae's neo-lect to do him reverence.

As neither the chief nor the captain knew a word *'f
each other's language, and there was no one to interpret,
conversation could not be otherwise than extremely limited;

TO THE QUEEX CHARLOTTE ISLAXDS, 1S7

11 for

jprct,
litecl ;

yet by dint of vigorous gesticulations, and much dramatic
action, they did succeed in making mutually plain the fact
that they were both eager for trade, and that Wni chief had
a lot of fine furs to barter for the captain's goods.

This being settled, the chief, assuming as genial an ex-
pression as his ferocious countenance was capable of mani-
festing, gave some orders to the women, who had all the
time been grouped about his primitive throne eying the
visitors with glances of shy curiosity, and they disappeared
at the back, returning soon with wooden pjlattcrs heaped
high with food, which was placed 1.)eforc tlieir guests.

liae glanced questioningly at Captain Hanson as though
to say, " It's queer-looking stufF; must we cat it ? "

And the captain answered his look by saying in an
undertone, " You nuist eat some of it, or they'll be mortally
offended."

The viand in question proved to be halibut, which was
the main article of food amoui;' the Haidas. It had been
roasted in strips before an open fire, and albeit somewhat
smoked and lacking in basting, still it did not taste so very
ill, and Piae, by a great effort, managed to gulp down a few
iiiuuthfuls, although not nearly enough to content the hos-
pital)le desires of the hosts.

kittle did he imagine as he then made his acquaintance
with Ilaida halibut, and to the bottom of his heart hoped
ho nu'ght never sec anything more of it, that in the days to
come he would have to make many a meal off the same
thing, and indeed, at times, be very glad to get enough of it
to satisfy his appetite.

i88 TO THE QUEEX CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

After the halibut

kind of ben

soaked

cainc some

oiilachau grease that the Indians cvi(k'nt]y reg'arde(l as
a great dainty, but witli uhich tlie Avhitc men could do
nothing ; and then the fc^ast being ended, Captain Hanson
signified his desire to withdraw.

The chief apparently wished to prolong the interview,
but the whole party were anxious to gut out into the fresh
air again, and so they took their departure, Rae this time
remembering to make liis bow with as much formality as
the captain himself.

On their way back to the boat they were attended by a
crowd of curious natives, who watched their faces keenly, as
though they would read therein the impression their village
and themselves made upon the visitors ; and it thus fell to
Rao's luck to once more give oftence by being moved to
lauci'liter at the sight of some women who were standinij'
beside two of the carved posts.

Not content with tattooing their cheeks and decorating'
their dress with shells and bits of bright metal, these tawny
belles had sought to increase their beauty by inserting their
very largest labrets in their lips, and hanging curious-looking
ornaments to their noses. The labrets, which caused the
lower lips to protrude fiir out over the chin, were hideous
enough in themselves, l»ut tlic nose appendages were alto-
gether too much, and Eae, forgetting that although their
new acquaintances could not understand his speech they
could interpret his actions with an accuracy that went far
to make up therefor, nudged Captain Hanson with his el1)OW,
and indicating the Haida ladies by a glance in their direc-

)

TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 189

rir
ing
the
ous
Ito-
loir
hoy
far

rec-

tion, .Siii<l, with a sinile of iniiiL^led aiimscinciit and iiityiiii,'
C()nteiiii)t, —

"Just look there, captain. ])i(l yon ever sec such gnj's ?
And to think that they imagine tliat makes tlieni lu'aiitifnl !
Fgli ! it makes them look more like pigs than human
hcings/'

Without thinking, Captain Hanson looked as directed,
and at once the appropriateness of liaes simile appeared to
him so strongly that he could not resist smiling at the pitiful
frights into which the poor women had been converted by
their savac-'C adornments.

Cat the next moment the sudden darkening of the faces
of the men around showed him that ])oth he and Rae had
been wanting in discretion, and grasping his companion's
arm with a vigour that caused him to look up in surprise,
he said in a tone that showed some agitation, —

" See here, my lad, you mustn't make remarks on these
people. They guess pretty sharply at what you mean, and
it riles them ; so just be careful, and M'hatever you think,
keep it to yourself until you're back on board the Plover.''

Rae rather resented being thus sat upon, so to speak,
and it made him sulky for a time, so that lie had no dis-
I'osition to indulge in further remarks; but by the time
they had got back to the schooner this little cloud had
vanished, and when Freckles met him at the bulwarks with
welcoming grin, he made up for his temporary silence by
shouting out, —

" Freckles, but they're a queer lot ! you never saw
such odd-looking folks in your life. The w- anen wear rings

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Sciences
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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY 14580

(7)6) 872-4503

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iQo TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

in their noses just like pigs, and stick saucers in their lips
to make them pretty."

Freckles was, of course, eager to learn all about it, and
Rae regaled him with a picturesque account of what he ha<l
seen, which the boy appreciated higldy, and which made
him full of eagerness to get ashore and see some of those
curious sights for himself.

He expressed tliis desire to Rae, who at once approved,
and promised to arrange the matter with Captain Hanson.

" If the captain isn't going oft' himself to-morrow, I'll ask
him for the dingey, and we'll go on our own account. We
might have some fun, you know."

" Oh, that will be fine ! " exclaimed Freckles, clapping
his hands. " Do you think the captain will let us go ? "

"Of course he will, if I ask him," said Rae, looking most
consequential ; " and we'll take some trinkets with us, and
try to do some trading."

When Captain Hanson came on deck the following
morning he found his schooner fairly besieged by a multi-
tude of canoes, many of whose occupants held up bundles of
furs the moment he appeared, and by their gesticulations
made it plain that they were anxious to barter them off for
what he minjlit have to oive in exchano-e.

<n o o

Not wishing to seem too eager to purchase, he told tlieni
to \vait, that he was not ready to attend to them just then,
and proceeded to take his breakfast in a leisurely fashion,
while the impatient savages clustered closer to the vessel,
and kept up a continuous chattering in their own tongue.

Having finished his breakfast and smoked his pipe the

TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 191

Iti-

captain was ready for work, and gave orders tliat the goods
he had to barter should be brought up on deck and spread
out on the poop. He still had a good assortiiicnt of Iiatchets,
kettles, tin pans, brass chains, glass beads, a'.id other articles
dear to the savage heart ; and these being duly set forth on
the poop, he invited two of the occupants of the nearest
canoe to come on board with their pelts, and begin business.

They showed some hesitation at hrst, evidently prefer-
ring to remain in their canoes ; but after a little persuasion
they climbed over the bulwarks, bearing bundles that made
Captain Hanson's eyes glisten when they were opened
before him, for their contents were nearly all sea-otter skins
of large size and line quality, worth a goodly sum apiece,
and if he had to give his entire stock of goods for simply
the two bundles he would make a profitable trade.

But if the furs pleased the captain, much more did his
goods delight the savages. The sight of so many articles
tliat they coveted heaped together in such profusion fdled
their souls with the desire for possession, and they were
ready to barter away everything they owned, including
their wives if need l)e, to secure the treasure before them.

Lilt of course Captain Hanson was not going to allow
tlie first pair of purchasers to corner the market ; so, having
carefully examined the skins they brought, an<l put his own
valuation upon them, he laid beside them a lot of things —
a couple of hatchets, two tin pans, an iron kettle, and so
forth — and signitied that that was what he would give for
tlie furs.

At first the savages protested vigorously, and sought

192 TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

with their own hands to add more articles to the pile. But
the captain promptly stopped that, and made it clear that
he would not increase his offer ; whereupon they grew sulky,
and pretended that they had lost all desire for trade, rolling
up their skins again to take them away.

But Captain Hanson was not the man to be fooled hy
any such shallow artifice as that, and, lighting his pipe, ho
sat himself placidly down until his customers should conic
around to his way of thinking.

They hesitated and hung about, exchanging counsel in
a low tone, and even made as though they would return to
their canoes ; but the captain continuing impassive, thoy
finally gave up the attempt to have their own way, and
throwing down the furs again, proceeded to pick up tlic
different articles offered in exchange, and to hand them
over to the other occupants of their canoe. Then they took
themselves off with frowns of disappointment still becloud-
ing their tawny faces.

As soon as they were gone two others were allowed on
board, and these went through pretty much the same pro-
cess of bargaining, without gaining any more by it than
their predecessors had done. It was while they were in the
midst of this that Rae took the opportunity to cask Captain
Hanson if he and Freckles might go ashore in the dingey ;
and the captain's attention being absorbed in the business,
he replied without clearly understanding the purport of the
question, " All right ; but don't go far, and be back soon."
Whereupon Rao ran off joyfully to make preparation for the
shore-going.

TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 193

.1.

■ss,

10
))

11.
lie

Being anxious to effect as profound an impression as
possible, Rae accoutred himself as though he were going on
some warlike expedition. His powder-flask and bullet-pouch
were hung across his shoulders, in his belt were his pistols
and hunting-knife, and in his hand his rifle, while Freckles
he provided with another rifle and the necessary ammunition.

Off went the two in high spirits, Rao answering one of
the sailors who asked him what he was going to do, —

" Oh, I'll tell you when T got back. We're going to have
some fun, anyway."

" Well, take good care of yourselves, my boys," was the
response, " and don't let the Indians keep you."

" Oh, not much fear of that," laughed Rae carelessly ;
" we'll be back in o-ood time for dinner." Then turning: to
Freckles he added, " Give way now ; let's lose no time," and
ofl' they rowed toward the shore, little dreaming what
strange and varied experiences were in store for them, and
how many days would pass before they would again have
dinner with people of their own kind.

While the boys were rowing ashore the bartering went
on busily aboard the schooner, Captain Hjinson feeling
tempted to hug himself after each batch 0/ his customers
went away at having made one more excellent bargain.
Had he taken time to be more observant he could hardly
have failed to notice a rather strange thing — to wit, tliat
the Indians, as soon as they disposed of their furs, went
straight back to the village, not to remain there, but to
return almost immediately fully armed with spears and
bows and clubs.

■ t

194 TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS.

They did not approach the PloveVy but kept together in
a group about a hundred yards away, as if biding their time
for some purpose tliey all clearly understood.

The trading took up the whole morning, and in the
meantime Rae and Freckles liad landed on the beach before
the chief's dwelling, drawn up the dingey, and started out on
their adventures. Rae greath'' enjoyed filling the post of
guide, and took care that Freckles should miss nothing of
interest as they strolled along. The wonderful carved posts,
the laro;e and substantial dwellinfrs, so different from and
superior to the ordinary Indian lodges, the curiously tattooed
faces of the men, and the hideously ornamented features of
the women — these and other things were observed and coui-
inented upon with lively interest.

Nobody addressed them, or made any overture in tluit
direction, although they in their turn were the objects of
many keen glances ; and had they been on the look-o\it
for anything of the kind they could hardly have failed to
notice that here and there the men were gathered in little
knots, talking in low tones, and casting meaning looks at
the boys.

They continued their walk to the very end of the lino
of dwellings, and then were about to retrace their steps,
when a gaily -dressed Indian boy about their own age
appeared at the doorway of the last house, and made signs
for them to enter.

Freckles took no notice and kept on, but Rae halted.

" Shall we go in ? " he asked, more as a matter of form
than otherwise, for liis own mind was already made up.

Ltle
at

line

age

TO THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS. 195

" Do you think we had better ? " inquired Freckles, who
liad begun to feel rather ill at ease where everything was
so strange, and to wish himself back on board the schooner.

" Just for a minute. I want you to see the inside of one
of their houses ; come along," was Rae's response ; and
^n;asping Freckles's arm he moved towards the lad, whose
sallow face lighted up as he saw his invitation being ac-
cepted.

Following him, the boys presently found themselves in
the midst of a number of men and women, who looked at
one another with significant smiles. They were escorted to
the platform at t)ie other end, which was the place of
honour, and were no sooner seated than several young girls
appeared bearing platters of baked halibut, boiled salmon,
and berries dipped in oulachan grease.

It was too soon after Ijreakfast for the boys to eat
anything, even for manners' sake, so they firmly refused ;
and then, there being nothing else to do, sat in silence,
ftcling very awkward, and regretting that they had come in.

Rae had just made up his mind to get away when the
report of a rifle fell on his ears.

'•' Hollo ! " he cried ; " what's up ? Let's get out and see,"
and he started for the door.

But the instant he moved, and Freckles with him, half-
a-dozen of the Indians sprang before them to bar their exit.
They were captives in the hands of the Haidas !

:orm

CHAPTER XII.

IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

THE first shock of surprise at finding his way out of
the dwelling opposed by savages, whose grim faces
showed only too plainly that what they were doing was not
by way of a joke, or of over-zealous hospitality, but in dead
earnest and with threatening intent, brought Rae to a sudden
halt, and for a moment he looked at the men before him in
silence. Then the full sense of his danger coming upon him,
he made a sudden plunge between the two just in front,
bending low and almost going upon his hands.

It was a clever trick, learned in the game of chase that
he used to play with the half-breed boys at Fort Vancouver,
and had he had only those two men to reckon with it would
have succeeded, and he would have reached the door of the
dwelling.

But behind them was an old hag, having a heavy piece of
wood in her hand, and when she saw Rae's stratagem, and
while he was still bent forward, she lifted her club and
brought it down with brutal force upon the back of his
head.

Over on his face he went, as lifeless apparently as tlic

IN THE HANDS OF THE TIAIDAS.

197

hat
:cr,

uia

tlic

of
ami
ami
his

the

bit of wood which had felled him ; while poor Freckles, who
was already held tight in the grip of a stalwart Haida, and
was making no effort to free himself, set up a piteous cry of
fright.

" Oh, you've killed him, you've killed him ! " he shrieked.
'' Oh, you wicked, wicked men, you've killed him, and he
never did you any harm ! "

Now it was by no means the policy of the Indians to
kill their prisoners. They had other purposes in view, and
wlicn the man who evidently exercised chief authority in
the dwelling saw what the old woman had done, he went up
to her and administered a tremendous box on the ear that
nearly tumbled her over in her turn. Then bending over
Rae he picked him up quite tenderly, and bore him to his
own bed, upon which he placed him gently, issuing some
orders to the women as he did so.

They at once hurried to bring water, with which the
Indian splashed Rae's face liberally, and in a few minutes
the boy's eyes opened, and he gave a look around of l)ewil-
derment and alarm, in the course of which he caught sight
of Freckles.

" What's the matter. Freckles ? " he asked anxiously,
raising himself on the bed ; " what are they doing to us ? "

Poor Freckles, with eyes brimming over and lip trem-
bling, managed to stammer out, —

" They've taken us prisoners, and I don't know what
they're going to do with us."

With a groan Rae fell back upon the bed, for his head

gave h

nn agonizing pain.

198

IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

" Oh, where's Captain Hanson ? " he murmured. " Why
didn't he come after us ? Why did we come ashore alone ? "

Had he been able to look out upon the inlet he would
have seen something calculated to make him feel even worse
than he did ; for with all sail set the Plover was speeding
away towards the open sea, chased by a swarm of canoes,
whose occupants vainly strove to stay her progress, or to
pick oft' her crew with their arrows.

This is what had happened while Kae and Freckles were
in the house which now held them as captives. As has been
already stated, each canoe when it had completed its trading-
went ashore, and its occupants, having carried their acquisi-
tions to their homes, immediately returned fully armed, and
took up their station not very far from the schooner, where
they waited silently with an evident purpose.

When all the trading was over, much whispered consul-
ts" fcion miijht have been observed amonoj the Indians; ami
presently the canoes spread out, as if to encircle the schooner.

It was this movement which first attracted Captain Han-
son's attention. At the first glance he perceived that mis-
chief was brewing, and diving down into the cabin promptly
reappeared with his rifle, bidding each of the men to get his
own iunnediatcly. They obeyed ■with alacrity, and in a
trice the four men with loaded rifles were standing together
at the stern ready for battle, if that was what the savages
meant.

When the latter saw that their evil design had been sus-
pected they were thrown into confusion, and seemed afraid
to advance, seeing which. Captain Hanson, who realized tluit

IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

'99

'Hi

lan-

liis
n a

sus-
rii

there was not a moment to be lost, having discliargod his
riHe into the air, gave orders for the anchor to be slipped
and the sails hoisted.

Both commands were executed while the Indians still
hung off irresolutely. They were all eager enough to take
possession of the vessel and plunder her of the many things
tlioy had not been able to purchase with their furs, but not
one of them was anxious to lose his precious life in the
transaction ; and they knew well enough that if they at-
tempted to board, those dreadful rifles would be sure to
make short work of at least one apiece.

So making the welkin ring with fierce cries and angry
imprecations, that would have had no effect upon the white
men even if they could have understood them, which, how-
ever, they did not in the least, they moved this way and
that way, as though trjung to evade Captain Hanson's
keen eyes.

^leantime the sails rose into place, and there being a
stronfj breeze from the east blowinix through the inlet, the
Plover began to move before it at a rate that would soon
distance the canoes.

Not until now did Captain Hanson bethink himself of
Rao. He had been so enGjrossed with the trading, and then
startled with the sinister stratacrem of the Haidas, that he
had not thought of anything else until tl.J danger from
attack was practically over.

" Where's Rae ? " he demanded L;uddenly of the cook, who
was standing nearest to him of the men ; " I haven't seen
him for some time. Is he down in the cabin ? "

200

IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

" No, sir, he's on shore," answered the cook ; " he and
Freckles went off in the dingey about an hour ago."

" God help them ! " exclaimed the captain. " I remember
now his asking my leave when I was so busy. I hardly
took in what he was saying ; and he's a prisoner now, sure's
I'm born. What is to be done ? " and he looked back at the
fast receding village as though he thought of turning about
and going to Kae's rescue. But the next moment he shook
his head despairingly.

"No," ho muttered to himself; "it's no use. We're no
match for them as we are. They'd only make prisoners of
the whole of us, if they didn't kill us. I must get down to
Fort Camosun as quick as I can, and come back here with
enough men and guns to scare those rascals out of their wits.
God grant they do the boys no harm in the meantime."

And so with heavy heart the captain kept on his way,
feeling like a coward for thus apparently leaving the boys
to the mercy of the cruel Haidas, yet realizing clearly
enough that it would be utter folly with his little handful
of men to attempt a rescue.

When Rae's senses fully returned, and he understood the
situation into which his undue enterprise hod brought him-
self and Freckles, he was the most miserable of boys ; and
when the chief took him to the door and showed him the
white sails of the Plover just vanishing at the mouth of
Skideijate Inlet his feclinGjs could be no lonojer controlled.
Throw^ing himself down upon the ground, he buried his face
in his hands, while his whole frame shook with violent sobs.
"They've deserted us," he moaned; "we're left here

AV THE IIAXDS OF THE HAIDAS.

;oi

ftp

■^ "IT

the
liin-
|an<l

the
i of

Ilea.

face
)bs.
lero

iiloiie. Oh, what will fjither do when the Plover gets hack
without me ? "

Freckles did Ids best to act as comforter, but his efforts
were all in vain until the passion of Rae's grief liad some-
what spent itself. Then the latter became more composed,
and the two had a talk together, which they felt free to do,
as none of the Indians could understanu ', word of their
language.

"We're in a bad fix, Freckles," s' 1 Rae mournfully;
"and ther;''s no knowinij when we'll get out .»f it. And it's
all my fault too. I'm always getting uitt> some kind of a
scrape. But I tell you what it is, Freckles, if we ever get
safe back to Fort Camosun, I'll take better care of myself
fur the future."

" Oh, we'll get back some time," responded Freckles
cheerfully, and to the boy's credit be it observed that he
showed a remarkable degree of fortitude in face of the
'langer that threatened. " Why," he added, his homely
countenance lighting up with sudden intelligence until it
hecame almost handsome, " they'll be sure to come back for
us, won't they ? "

In the depth of his contrition for what he now regarded
as his folly, and despair at being deserted by C?^)tain Han-
son, this thought had not come to Kae ; but the moment
Freckles voiced it, its reasonableness appealed to him at
once, and he grasped at it eagerly.

" To be sure they will," he cried, " and that's what Cap-
tain Hanson's gone away for. He'll hurry down to Fort
Camosun and get a lot of men, and then hurry back here,

(178)

202

IN THE TTANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

and iiiako these villains give us up. We've only to be
patient and it'll be all right."

llae's heart lig-litened wonderfully at this view of their
situation. Gifted as he was with the fortunate faculty of
looking at the bright side of things, and forgetting as far
as possible the dark side, he began to plan out how long it
would take the Plover to reach Fort Caniosun and o-et Itack
to Skidegate Inlet, and, after much thinking, came to the
conclusion that three weeks would be an ample allowance
of time.

For three weeks, then, he and Freckles w^ould be in tlie
hands of the Haidas, and manifestly tlieir best policy was
to give as little trouble as possible, in order that their cap-
tors might treat them kindly, and not be moved to any
further violence.

" We must try to be very good boys, Freckles," said li;;e,
with as close an appearance to a smile as he was equal to in
his heavy-hearted state. " They won't be hard on us if wc
don't give them any trouble. I suppose they'll take every-
thing we have," he went on ruefully, " and that means 111
lose my rifle and pistols, and other things. Oh dear! oli
dear ! oh dear 1 but we have made a mess of it and no
mistake."

While the boys thus talked they were watched by a
group of Plaidas, of both sexes and all ages, who stared at
them as though they were some strange kind of animals,
and exchanged comments in their guttural speech. Some
of the men would evidently have liked very well to make
o\it what Kae and Freekhvs were saying to each other, tlioy

IN THE IIAXDS OF THE HAIDAS.

203

interference

JlllV

.v(l at

lUlills,

I801110
tliev

looked at them so intently ; b
to disconcert them at all, and

Indeed, now that the Plover had disajipeared, and tlio
dii\i(ey been broken into fire -wood — for this was done
shortly after the boys' enptnre — the savages showed no
desire to restrict the movements of their captives. They
of course always kept a sharp eye on tliem, but when the
two, more for the sake of something to do than for any
other reason, set out for a stroll along the beach, no one
liindcred, and they were allowed to wander about as tliey
pleased.

By-and-by tliey began to feel very hungry, and to won-
der where they would get their next meal, and what it
would be like. But nobody seemed to thiidv of their wants,
or to have anything in the way of food to offer them.

They were getting into a very disconsolate mood when
a happy thouglit flashed into Kae's mind.

"Look here, Freckles," said he with liriuhteniniTf face,
'■ let's go back to the house where they made us prisoners
and toll them they've got to give us something to eat. It's
tl.eir business to look after us since they've kept us against
our will."

" To be sure," assented Freckles ; " they must give us
enough to eat anyway."

So the pair of them trudge<l back, and entering the
house as if they belonged there, by dint of very expressive
pantomime soon made the women understand what they
wanted.

But ])efore the women dared tlo anything they had to

204

IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

get instructions from the chief, who was not then in the
dwelling-, and the hungry boys had to wait until he could
be hunted up and his approval secured. At last, however,
this was accomplished, and then they were served with the
same fare as that which they had refused earlier in the day
— namely, ])aked halibut and boiled salmon, with berries
soaked in oulachan grease as a relish. No salt, no bread,
no knives, no forks — nothing but bare fingers and keen
appetites.

But they were very, very hungry, and the lish had a
tempting savour, even if it was untemptingly served ; so
the}' fell to with great vigour, and paused not until all sense
of emptiness amidships had disaitpeared, and they felt in
nuich better luimour.

The greasy berries they could do nothing with yet,
though they looked so good that Rao determined to find
out where they could be picked, so that he might eat them
fresh, when he felt sure they must be delicious.

Their hunger satisfied, and nobody seeming to exercise
any control over their movements, they went out again, after
courteously thanking the women who had served them, and
who evidently appreciated their smiles though they could
not understand their words.

" And now that they've got us," said Rae, " I'd like very
nuieh to know what they want to do with us. They're nut
QjoinL!: to kill us, of course."

"Oh no, they wouldn't do that surely," broke in Freckles,
giving a shudder at the very mention of the word kill.

''Certainly not," continued Kae, somewhat curtly, for ho

AV THE HAXDS OF THE HAIDAS.

I very

Dot

Ikies,
.1- ho

didn't like to liavc Freckles .showini:; so much feelini:!: when
he found it no easy task to control his own. " That vroiild
do them no good, and they want to make something out of
us. I guess they are just going to hold us for a ransom,
that's what it is ; and when father comes Lack in the
Plover, as he's sure to do, they'll make him give ever so
many things before they give us up, do you see i ''

"That's just it; you're right," responded Freckles, em-
phasizing each sentence with a confirmatory nod.

"Well, then, we've just got to wait, that's all," said Rae,
" for we certainly can't run away." 'J'hen after a pause he
added in a doleful tone, " Oh niv ! but won't we oet sick of
that everlasting fish and those horrid berries ! They seem
to have nothing else to eat here."

Freckles made no reply to this. He had been use<l to
pretty poor fare all his life, and so long as a sound skin was
left him he had no disposition to be at od<ls with fate, pro-
vided sufliicient food of some kind or other came his way
each day.

From thoughts of fare the ^I'ansition to thoughts of ac-
counuodation was very natural, and so Eae's next remark,
after an interval of thoughtful ivilection, was, —

"Where do you think they'll let us sleep, Freckles?
Tliere doesn't seem to be any room in those houses. They'n*
just swarming like ant-h(>aps already; and I couldn't bear
the idea of sleeping there anyway, tor you see the women
and the girls sleep there as well as the men, more like
animals than human beings. Ugh ' " and he gave a most
expressive grunt of disgust.

2o6

JN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

Freckles shook his head doubtfully. lie liked a com-
fortable bed as well as any other boy, and he saw little
prospect of having it in one of the dark and close-smelling
Haida dwellings.

" Do you thiidv they'd let us sleep outside, Rae ? " ho
asked. " We might fix up a kind of lodge, just for ourselves,
you know."

Rae sprang to his feet, for they had been reclining un a
bit of grass near the beach, with a beaming face, and giving
his companion a hearty slap on the back, exclaimed, —

" Good for you, Freckles ! that's a great notion. We
must go and sec about it at once, and -f they make no
objection we will have the thing put up to sleep in to-
night "

So off they went, this time straight to the chief's house
where Captain Hanson had been received ; for Rae shrewdly
arofued that in a matter of this kind his word would be law,
and if they got his consent they would have no further
difficulty.

They found the strange-looking old man at home, and
Rae beofan at once the task of fretting him to understand
what they wanted.

The scene wdiich ensued was amusinc: enouLih to have
entertained a larger and more critical gathering of spectators
than had the privilege of being present. The old chief,
whose name by the way was Hi-ling-a, signifying " thunder,"
seemed in a very gracious mood, and anxious to understand
the desires of his white captives ; but in spite of his good-
will and Rae's most ingenious pantomime, he could nut

/.y THE HANDS OF TJIE IIAWAS.

207

no
lo-
use
(llv

IVL'

ors
ief,
cr,
n.l

0(1-

iiot

iq)prelieiid the hitter's meaning, so that the chance of the
boys gaining their point seemed very faint, and tliey
were about to give up in despair, Rac fearing le>>t they
iniglit irritate the chief by persisting, wlien tliere came
forward a young M'oman, wlio but for the labret which
(hsHgured lier moutli would have been quite pretty, and
who by the richness of her dress evidently belonged to the
chief's family. She was, in fact, his favourite daughter, and
Itorc the pleasing name of Kaitza (star). She had been a
silent observer of the interview, and did not venture to take
any part in the proceedings until her quick intelligence told
lier that the boys were not making themselves understood
by the chief at all, whereas she thought she fully caught
tlieir meaning.

Gliding up to her father, she touched him on the arm
and whispered something in his ear.

lie looked up in a surprised questioning way, and seemed
to doubt the accuracy of her suggestion ; but she repeated
it at more length, and Rae's face brightened as he saw signs
uf comprehension in the old man's countenance.

But if he understood, he was not at first disposed to
assent. He shook his head in a way that was not promis-
ing; and after a little more talk with his daughter, who
Mas manifestly pleading the boys' case, a messenger was
despatched to bring somebody in to him.

With growing uneasiness Rae waited further develop-
ments, although Kaitza made efforts to encourage him by
bestowing furtive smiles upon him whenever she caught his
eye. The truth of the matter was, the tawny belle had

»o8

IN TJ/E HANDS OF THE ILIWAS.

already conceived a warm liking for the handsome white
boy, and v/as resolved to do whatever lay in her power to
mitigate the inevitable miseries of his captivity.

In the course of half-an-hoiir the messenger returned,
brinijin^:^ with him the chief man of the house in which the
boys had been captured, who came next in rank to Hi-ling-a,
and counted upon succeeding him as chief of the village.
He was called Sli-goo (the otter), and from the very first
Ivae had taken a strong dislike to him because of his cruel,
cunnimx face.

He manifested some surprise at finding Rae in the c^^ief s
abode, an<l asked a question or two about it whicii old
Hi-ling-a answered very curtly, as though to suggest that
it was no particular business of his.

The chief explained Rae's request as it had been inter-
preted to him by Kaitza, in order that Sli-goo might give
iiis opinion about it.

Sli-goo listened gravely, regarded the boys in silence for
a few minutes, assumed his very sagcst look, and then
growled out something which Rae, from the disappointed
expression in Kaitza's face, I'ightly judged to be an un-
conditional noijative.

But it's an ill wind that blows nobody good. Althongl
Hi-ling-a had sent for Sli-Gfoo to consult with him in
the matter partly because of his rank, and pai-tly because
ho had been chiefly instrumental in the boys' capture, yet
he had no love for the fellow; and taking it into his
head that Sli-goo's judgment w\is influenced by the de-
sire to have the boys entirely in his own hands, the old

IX THE IJAXDS OF THE IJAIDAS.

209

11 n-

In Li; I

111

yet
liis

cliief determined to disappoint liim as to that, M'liilc apivec-
iiig with him not to allow them to put up a lodge for their
own occupation.

He therefore told Sli-goo that he would keep the 1)oys
ill his own dwelling, and take good care of them for the
present ; whereat Sli-goo waxed very cross, and went away
looking as sulky as ever his animal namesake could look,
while ITi-ling-a smiled grimly at him, as though to say, —

" You'd like to have everything 3'our own way, no
douht ; but you won't, so long as I'm chief of the village."

He then called his daughter to him, and they talked
together for a while ; after v^'hich she came to Rae, and
with true feminine tact and cleverness managed to make
liim understand that he and Freckles might have a corner
of the house all to themselves, with which arrangement
they had no other alternative but to be content.

Having done this, her next proceeding was to bring
them each a pair of large new blankets, such as the Haidas
obtained in barter from the Tsimshians, which Kac greatly
rejoiced to see, for they meant solid comfort at night, and
he (lid not intend to be any more miserable than he could
help during the period of his captivity.

One pair of the blankets lu^ at once iixed up in such a
way as to effectually screen their corner, seeing which the
kind-hearted Kaitza, who seemed to l)e able to do pretty
much as she pleased, brought him another pair for use as
covcrini]^, smiling and noddin<:f all the time with great
vivacity, so that Rae's heart began to warm towards her,
even thouo-h she were a savaue, and ho determined in his

2IO

IN THE HANDS OF THE HAIDAS.

iniiid that when he got his freedom he would make lier
some handsome presents before goin^;* away.

Before ni^'litfall he and Freckles gathered a large
quantity of small cedar boughs that made a soft, springy,
and most fragrant mattress, and with one i)air of blankets to
sleep on and another pair to cover them, they had as com-
fortable a couch as two hearty, healthy boys could wish.

But, in spite of it all, a terrible sense of loneliness fell
upon Rae when, after they had turned in for the night ami
Freckles had fallen asleep, he was left to the company of
his own thoughts. Kindly as their treatment had been
since the first roughness attending their capture, he could
not forget that they were in the midst of a savage people,
capable of any cruelty they might feel moved to, and a
people whose habits and modes of life were in many -ways
intolei-antly repulsive.

To. describe the poor boy's state of mind as merely home-
sickness would be doing it faint justice. He was both
home -sick and heart -sick, and as he pictured Captain
Hanson bringing the news to his father, and the poignant
distress it would cause the factor, his burden of grief seemed
more than he could bear.

"Oh, why did I ever come away in the Plover?'' he
sobbed. " Doar father didn't want me to. He said he'd r.
feeling that something was going to happen to me. But I
just was bound to have my own way, and now this is what's
come of it. If I w^as the only one that had to suffer it
wouldn't matter so much, for I'm sm^e I deserve it; but
poor father doesn't, and he'll feel just as bad."

IN THE HANDS OF THE HA /DAS.

211

b'<l r.

jut 1

lliat's

•v it

but

In the course of the iiTc^niUir, excitiiii,' kind of life l\ue
liad been living of late, his good habit of praying at night
and morning had been very nuich broken into; but now he
turned to it with the conviction that he had no other re-
source, and lifted up his heart in silent yet earnest petition
to God to help him to bo bravo and patient amid all the
(litliculties and dangers that surrounded him, and to deliver
him from the hands of the Ilaidas as soon as possible.

Soon after he fell sound asleep, and dreamed that the
Plover had come back with his father and Mr. Ogden and
a number of other men, all heavily armed, and that tliey
liad marched right up to lli-ling-a's house and taken him
and Freckles off without anybody daring to interfere.

This dream made him so happy that it was a keen
reverse to be awakened in the morning by the shrill cries
of tlic children at the back of the house, and to find himself,
instead of safely back on board the schooner, still surrounded
by the squalor and strangeness of savage life.

Housing Freckles, who slept as peacefully as a baby, he
went out in search of a secluded spot for a bathe in the
invigorating brine. The day was bright and warm, and the
joy of the sunshine and the sea soon entered into his spirit,
'lispclling the gloom and helping hini to see things in a
more hopeful light.

As he looked out across the glassy surface of tlie inlet in
the direction from which the schooner would come, he said
to his companion, —

" Ah, Freckles, wouldn't it make your lieart glad to sec
the Plover'd white sails coming round that point ? "

21 3

AV TflE ffANDS OF THE JfAlDAS.

" Tliat it would," responded Freckles. " But there's r.o
such chance for a month at any late. ])o you Ihuik those
people will he f^'ood to us right along ? " he added, with some
(higree of trepidation in his tone.

Kae lauirhed carelessly. This thoui,dit did not mw him
much concern. He had quite made up his mind as to the oli-
ject of the Haidas in making them captive. They were after
a ransom, that was all, and they'd treat them well enough s(j
long as they did not attempt to escape, which he had not the
slightest intention of doing, preferring to wait quiotly until
the rescue upon which he so confidently counted should come.

PLid he fully understood the savages' purpose concerniii!;^
himself and Freckles his mind might not have been quite
so easy. lie was correct as regards the ransom idea, it is
true, hut that was not all they had in view. There was a
further reason for their conduct which he did not suspect,
lait which ere long would he made plain, and which had ho
known would have caused him much concern. But this
revelation would con\e soon enough, and in the meantime
he had quite enough to worry him.

As soon as they had finished their bathe the lioys wont
back to the chief's house, feeling more refreshed and with
appetites as keen as razors. Here Kaitza met them, smiling
expansively, and hastened to put before them platters filled
with smoking fish, to which they lost no time in p«iying
due attention.

" And now," said Eae, when they had finished breakfast,
" T wonder what thev intend to do with us ? It would ho
some satisfaction to know."

/v Tin: iiAxns of the i/.udas.

21 T,

went
with
ling
iillo.l
ayini;-

kfrist,

d 1)0

Frccklrs nodded .'iHiiinativt'lv.

"Tluy must have .some plan in their heads," lie said,
Idoking Very \vise ; "but what 1 can't make out is, how
tliey're going* to expkiin it to \i^. seeing that we don't know
a word of one anotlier's kinguage "

"Dli, I guess that girl wili make us understand," re-
sponded Ilae. "Sec how she fixed evervtliinu' for us last
iilijlit. She's a real hriglit girl, I tell vou, and wouldn't be
bad looking if it weren't for those tliinij's on her nose and
lip. It's a pity tliat she doesn't know l»etter tlian to make
such a friglit of herself. !'<! like io tell her to take tliem

out.

While they were talking the old chief appeared, attendi-i]
by a couple of lads bearing the boys' rifles, which had been
brought up from the other house. They were delighte(l to
sec them again, as they feared they M'ere lost to them for
ever.

Handing each one his own rifle, lliding-a signified by a
gesture that they should follow him, and set off toward the
other end of the villaii-c, striding alonn- at a ijacc that the
boys found it difficult to keep up with, and seemed curi-
ously at variance with the chief's a[)parent age.

IJut if he was old and ugly, he was also tough and wiry ;
and as Rae followed in liis wake, he began to feel consider-
ably more respect for him than previously. He had taken
liim to be little better than a nuunmy, and was now being
eli'ectually undeceived.

When they had passed all the houses, Hi-ling-a bade the
boys stand still, while he went ahead about a hundred yards

/X THE ILIXDS OF THE I/AIDAS.

find liunc,' his decorated head-dress upon the side f)f a Ma^tdl
tree that stood out prominently.

Retm-ninLj, ho motioned to Pvae to take aim at the mark
ho had thus set. The l)ov naturally slu-aidc from doin^r so,
find trie<l to make the old man understand that some otli'i-
mai'k would serve ecpially well ; hut he could not chani^^j
his mind, and noting" that he was beginning to he pro-
voked, he said, —

"Oh, very well, have it your own way; hut if I spc/il
your fine hat. it's your own look-out."

Loadin'^ his <i:un careful] v, he aimed with ijfrcat delihora-
tion ; for hy this time half the inhabitants of the village
had gathered, and he realized that his skill as a marksman
was on that trial, and that success was all important.

When the report rang out the children screamed, the
women started and looked very much scared, and the men's
faces filled with wonder. The Haidas were not yet gener-
ally familiar with fire-arms, and had none in tlieir own
possession.

As the smoke blew away, old Hi-ling-a hastened over to
the tree and removed his head-dress, examining it eagerlv.
At once his grizzled countenance lit up with exultation in
a way that seemed a little puzzling, in view of the fact that
a biix hole was bored throu'di and throucjli the head-gear
and some of its ornaments shattered and spoiled.

Hurrying back to Rae, he pointed this out, smiling and
nodding his head, and g'iving vent to some guttural sounds
which the successful marksman rightly interpreted to
mean, —

IX THE HAXDS OF THE JIM DAS.

pro-

spoil

bcra-

■rlv.

oil in

that

-ffcar

aiul
nnds
I t.)

"tlood, good! well done! capital sliot!"

lacing" quite satisfied as to llae's skill, and not wishiiif^
to expose his head-gear to further damage, lli-ling-a pointed
to a tree-trunk that made a good target about lifty yards
away, and Lid Freckles try his aim at that.

Freckles obeyed dutifully, and by great good luck, for
lit! had had little opportunity to become expert in shooting,
and was a poor shot, ho managed to plant a bullet fairly in
tlie centr iiaking the rotten wood send out a shower of
• lust that showed everybody he had not missed.

Au'ain the old chief smiled and nodded and irrunted.
Evidently he derived a peculiar satisfaction from the boys
being able to use their rifles so well, and had some purpose
in view concerning them which was of no small importance.

After the shooting was over he summoned to him the
lending men of the village, with whom he engaged in earnest
cunsultation, the boys once more being left to do as they
pleased.

In one way or another they managed to while away the
time, and when at mid-day they returned to the chief's
house, Rae could not fail to notice that they were the objects
of more consideration than they had hitherto been. Kaitza
was very pronounced in her attention, and l\ao thought he
ilotected in her look a certain impression of sadness which
puzzled him considerably. She had evidently something on
lier mind which jrave her keen concern. Rae would have
liked verj^ much to know what it was, but he could not ask,
and she could not perhaps have made it clear to him if he
liad asked.

2l6

IN THE HANDS OF THE IIAIDAS.

Their dinner was much improved by the substitution of
broiled trout for the halibut, and the addition of a few
potatoes baked in the ashes. The Haidas raised a small
(quantity of these, having been given the seed by the traders
some years before. They called them "skow-skit," and
although, owing to poor cultivation, they were not nmch
bigger than crab-apples, the white bo3^s hailed their appear-
ance with lively satisfaction, and ate of them heartily.

Another welcome addition to their fare was the sal-lnl
berry, which they found much to their taste, so that they
got on very well indeed at this meal, and it made them more
hopeful for the future.

That afternoon there was a gathering of the chief men
in Hi-ling-as house, and what was evidently a most im-
portant consultation held, as the result of which two runners
were despatched northward on a momentous mission.

ition of

a few

a small

traders

t iiiucli
appear-

3 sal-lal
lat they
;in more

,ief men

lost im-

runners

CHAPTER XIII.

SAVAGE LIFE.

A 8 time hung heavy upon tlicir hands, Tiac determined
-^ j^ to employ it by entering, as far as possil)le, into tlie
life and occupations of the people around liiin ; and so the
next mornino:, when the canoes were startin;:: off to tlio
halibut grounds, without saying " by your leave," he and
Freckles jumped into the largest canoe, and sat down in a
way that said plainly, —

" We're going with you, if you've got no ol>jections."

The Indians seemed surprised at the action, and did
not push olF until one of them had run up to Hi-ling-a's
liouso and asked his approval, which was promptly granted,
however, and their minds being thus set at rest they ac-
cepted the unasked addition to their crew with their usual
stolidity.

A dozen expert paddlers kneeled in the bottom, and sent
their swift craft skimming: throufjh the suKjoth water with
sinewy strokes. Sitting comfortably in the stern, the boys
I'lt like princes, and Ixae took upon himself to encourage
the paddlers by calling out, — •

" That's the way ! Give it to her ! Now you're doing

(478) 14

iilli

2l8

SAVAGE LIFE.

it!" and so forth, just as if tlioy were training for a race,
and he was their coacli.

Freckles, althoiigli a little appalled at his companion's
presumption, found it very amusing nevertheless, and it
kept him on the broad grin, to all of which the savages took
no offence, but seemed to consider it rii>-ht enoui^h.

The fishino' o-rounds were not far from the Skidecjate
Inlet, and the Indians knew well the localities where the
halibut most abounded. Having reached the spot, they
moored the canoe by means of a big stone secured to
a cedar-bark rope, and proceeded to get out their fishing
tackle.

When Rao saw their hooks he could with difficulty
restrain his laughter. They had two kinds in use, both
seeming absurdly largo and clumsy to the boy, who was
accustomed to the best Enii'lish manufacture. One kind was
of wood with a bone barb, beinc^ made from a forked branch,
or with two pieces of tough wood lashed together so as i<^
make an acute anL>l(\ the bone l)arb beinrr fastened to the
lower piece so as to project backward and insure a good
hold. The other kind of hook was fashioned out of a thin
iron rod, bent round and sharpened to a point. For lines
they had strong cord, obtained in barter from the Tsiuishiaiis.
The bait used consisted of small fish cauii'ht inshore for the
purpose.

Having never before taken part in halibut fishing, Kao
watched all the preliminaries with lively interest, and wished
very much that he had a hook and line of his own, that lie
might try his luck. But none of ihe natives olFered to IciiJ

botli
10 was

»r;incli,

as to

to tlio

a thin

ii' lines

Isliians.

or tlie

14, 1^:^^
ivislu'il

111 at lie
i() lend

SAVAGE LIFE.

him theirs, so ho was forced to bo an idle spectator while
they liauled in one fine big fellow after anotlier, and he
found this too stupid to be endured for long.

Feeling about in his pockets he found a copper coin, and
this gave him an idea. The Ilaida nearest him was a ratlier
pleasantdooking young fellow, whose luck was outdone by
]io one in the canoe. After he had cauirht several biij fish
llae thought it a good time to try him, and hokling tne coin
in one l^and he took up the line with the other, signifying
that he wislied to exeliange.

The Indian looked doubtful for a moment ; but the
attraction of the coin prevailed, and he handed over his
line, saying something which was no doubt a direction for
its proper use, but which went for nothing so far as I\ae
was concerned.

With the fisherman's instinct at its height, I\ae let out
his line, and waited eagerly for a bite. He was not kept
long in suspense. A. strong tug at the hook told him that
the bait was taken, and with a quick jerk he made sure that
the barb went duly homo. But when ho tried to pull up
his prize he found he had a very dillicult task on his hands
froni the others. With them the landing of their iish had
Iti'on an easy job, and ho was greatly surprised at the
resistance his manifested.

" Come here, Freckles," said ho, getting red in the face
from his exertion, "and lend me a hand. Ive hooked a
huge one, I believe.''

Freckles took hold of the line, which was a very stout
one, and the two boys puUeil upon it lustily, their united

220

SAVAGE LIFE.

strciir;"tli being not without result as the fisli slowly yielded
to it, ami presently beca'iie visible from the ciuioc.

By this time the Indians had become interested in Rae's
capture: and were all wateliin!:^' for its appearance. When it
did come into view, a broad yrin went from face to face
while a look of intense diso-ust came over the youna' fisher-
mans countenance ^ for his prize was not a monster halibut
as he had foiidly hoped but another of the flounder species
— to wit, a huu'c wolf-tlsh as useless as it was hideous.

Kae felt so incensed at being thus imposed upon, that,
grasping one of the paddles, he hit the ugly creature a
savage blow on the nose to stun it, and then drawing its
head aiongside tore out the hook, and with another whaek
of the paddle sent it ll3dng back to deep M'ater. no doubt
a sadder anil a wiser fish: Ho made no further attempt at
fishing that morning, l)ut vowed that some day soon he and
Freckles would go oil' by themselves, and see if they couM
not do better.

When the canoe retnrned to the village, they found the
inhabitants full of bustle and excitement. Some important
preparations wt^ro evidently in progress, but what they were
or with what object liac could not make out, curious as he
was to ascertain. No one took any notice of Freckles or
himself; even Kaitza seemed to bo engrossed with other
things. So the boys had nothing to do sa\e to look on, and
speculate as to what all the fuss was al)out.

"I believe there's fighting in the wind," said Rae, after
watching the llaidas for a while. "They're getting their
bows and arrows ready, and seeing after their spears. I

SAVAGE LIFE.

2 2 T

after

tlieiv
1

woiulcr if tlioy're g'oing' to make a raid on sonic other
villai^^e. Those savaci'es arc always np to some mischief of
that kind. It seems as if they couldn't he content to let
one another alone."

Tliat nig'ht the whole population of the villaL;-e assemhled
in the open space before the chief's housi>, and the boys,
loalizini:;' that an event of no ordinary importance was to
take place, began to feel apprehensive as to ]io\v it woidd
concern them. Tliey had been well enough treated so far,
and had certainly taken care not to give anybody any
ulFeiice ; but none the less they were captives among a
savage people, who might have very strange and blood-
thirsty rites in connection with their religion, and as a
religions ceremony of some sort was evidently about to be
engaged in, who knew but what they might be otl'ered np in
sacrifice to the Ifaidas' gods?

i\ll this passed through Rac's mind, but he strove to
keep a firm hand upon himself, and said encouragingly to
Freckles, —

" There's no telling what they'll be up to, Freckles, once
they u'et iJ'oinGf. Father told nie some dreadful stories of
what the Indians do in their dances ; but we nnistn't let on
we're afraid of anything, so don't let them see you looking
scared whatever happens."

Freckles promised to d(j his best, and, keeping close
together, the boys Avaited in much anxiety lox what might
come to pass. Once or twice Rae caught Kaitza looking at
liim in the sorrowful way he had noticed before, and he
lunged intensely to be able to ask her if she thought any

222

SAVAGE LIFE.

liarin was coiiiiiiL,^ to tlioin. But of course there was no
doin,L( tliat, so lie liad to content liiniself with lioping tliat
all would CL'o WL'll.

When the people had gathered in a great circle, leaving
an open space in the middle lighted hy two blazing fires of
pine knots, a strange silence fell upon thcni, as thongli the}'
were engaged in silent prayer. They were awaiting the
appearance of liiding-a and of the medicinc-nian, wdio
should be leaders of the exercises.

Presently there emerged from the chief's house the tall
form of the old man, looking most imposing in his extraor-
dinary costume. U}>on ids head was a sort of crown made
of the stout bristles from the whiskers of the sea-lion, set
upright in a circle, while between them feather-down was
heaped, wluch at each step he took was scattered on all
sides, falling softly like snow among the awc-struek spec-
tators. Around his shoulders he wore a very large Tsiiii-
shian blanket, made of fine cedar bark and the wool of the
mountain jxoat.

His leifs were covered with le^'ii'ino's, from which stuck
out innumeral)le pullin beaks, and his face was painted in
brilliant streaks of red and yellow that made him almost
unrecoLjnizable,

riovino" with oTcat deliberation and dignity, he made his

•■>'V io the ]>oint in the circle midway between the two

.■■■ :. and seated himself upon a broad tree-stump, while a

murmur, that probably meant applause, went round the

conLcreiration.

Glancing about till his eyes fell upon Ra*^ and Freckles,

no
liat

in:

iie^
tl

tall

■aor-

set

was

ill

IK'C-

snn-

stuck
jil in

most

k' lii^

two
le a

1 tl

icklo:

T/ii luhoi'c t'Xhit I'ciit,; little short of a/>/'aliiu^.

r.ik,'e z-2%.

savA{;e life.

225

lie solemnly Ix^ckoncMl them to him, and placed them be.sido
liiu) on cither hand. They were sony to be thns separated,
yet they Loth had a feeling of relief at thus being taken
imder the old chief's wing. ITe had been their best friend
so far, and would no doubt take care of them now.

A low murmuring noise now began to be heard, which
gradually grew in strength until it Idled the air, at which
point there suddenly dashed into the circle a ligurc ev^n
more startling in appearance than the chieftain.

It was that of a man above the usual height, the body
being naked except for a breech -clout, but painted with
brilliant colours; wliilc instead of a human head was that
of a lujrriblc monster resend)ling a fabled dragon, with great
gleaming eyes and cavernous mouth tilled with cruel teeth,
the top of the head bristling with thick coarse liair, and the
whole etlect in the flashing firelight being little short of
appalling.

On the entrance of this monster into the circle the
drumming grew fast and furious, and there was added to it
an almost ear-splitting chorus of rattles, which were sud-
denly produced by the men and frantically shaken, the
women contributing their share to the noise by breaking
into a wild wailing chant that had something strangely
pathetic in its long-drawn modulations.

Involuntarily Freckles stretched out his hand behind tlie
chief's back to Rac for comfort, and then hand in hand the
boys watched with eyes full of wonder and apprehension
tlie savage ceremony.

Having looked about him in a rpiick fierce way for a

2 26

SAV/IGE LIFE.

few iiiomeiits, tlic central liiiiirc now liocr.an t(» dance, at tirst
in tlie usual sloucliin<^ fusliion common anions; Indians,
Lendini,^ liis knees, but not liftinij: his feet f-^r from tlio
ground. This lie kept up without change for full lialf-an-
hour, the weird chorus of drums, rattles, and voices going (;n
steadily. Then he began to stamp violently on the ground,
and to give vent to deep grunts, in response to which the
music grew faster, and the voices Lecamo more piercing, and
thus the dancing and noise gathered speed and volume until
the man in the centre of the circle worked liimsclf uj) into a
kind of frenzy that was repulsive to witness.

Throwing aside his mask, he allowed his face to be seen.
It was covered with paint and perspiration. His eyes rolled
like a madman's, and foam gathered at the corners of his
mouth. Hanging up and down between the two fires that
were now blazing their brightest, he glanced this way and
that as though seeking for some object uj^on which to vent
his fury.

Rae shud<lered and shrank behind the chief. He did not
know at what moment the frenzied dancer niiuht sino-le him
out for some horrible part in the ceremony.

Presently the dancer paused, glared wildly about him,
and then began to creep down towards where the boys were,
in the manner of one stalkinix a deer. There was somethin!:j
so unearthly and appalling in his whole appearance that
Rae was rooted to the spot with terror.

Nearer and nearer with sly stealthy steps drew the
dancer, until he halted as though for a spring just in front
of Rae. The poor boy, chilled and faint with fright, cowered

SAVAGE LI IE.

^y -y *^

not
him

liiin,

vere,

liing

that

the

Iroiit

}red

nt the foot of TTi-linL;'-a, who s.it as motionless as though
carved in stone. Freckles had sunk out of sight hehind the
chief. There was a moment of thrilling silence, for the
drummers and rattlers and singers had all suddenly ceased
their noise. Then came a hideous cry, more like the howl
of a wolf than any sound from a human throat, and with a
tremendous hound the dancer threw himself — not upon Ivae,
who had involuntarily shut his eyes in sheer horror, but
upon a dog that, all unmindful of the uproar, had been curled
up quietly at the feet of Ili-ling-a.

Seizino- the strufr^dinu: creature with both hands, so that
it ^^as powerless to bite, the dancer buried his teeth in its
haunch, and tore out a gory mouthful, which he hastened
to munch with great apparent relish. Then hurling the
animal, howling with pain, beyond the circle of enthralled
spectators, he followed it himself, disappearing in the dark-
ness amid a curious but sio-nificant murmur of relief from
the circle, whose feelings had been much wrought upon
during the ceremony.

As for Rae, it seemed as if he were wakinn- from some
awful nightmare. Ho had been simply paralyzed with
terror, and the whole performance seemed so abominaVile
that he fain would have run away into the darkness, only
that he did not dare to leave the chief, whom he had come
to look upon as his guardian.

Althou<xh the dancer hud vanished, the circle remained
unbroken, and evidently awaited further proceedings.

" Oh, I hope there's not going to be any more of it,"
^\hispered Rae behind the chief's back to Freckles, who was

228

SAVAGE LIFE.

looldiiGj so pale tliat the tan spots on his face stood out like
hlotclies of colour. "That was awful, wasn't it? and tho
next thiiiLj may be worse."

Happily, however, his fears were not ful tilled. The next
thing was not worse, nor half so bad. After an interval of
silent expectation, during which performers had a chance to
give their lungs and muscles a needed rest, the music began
again, slow and subdued, and soon another figure entered
the ring.

This was the ska-ga or medicine-man of the tribe, and
the deity having been duly propitiated by the preceding
rite, he was now to give the people the prophetic message
which they were eagerly awaiting.

The ska-ga was a tall man, wofully emaciated from pro-
tracted fastincf, with hair ham^dno; over his shoulders in
tangled locks, and a garb that was tattered and frayed until
it seemed hardly able to hold together. In one hand lie
held a large rattle richly carved, in the other a hollow bone,
also carved and inlaid with pieces of haliotis shell.

Shaking the rattle gently, he walked wdth slow, hesitating
steps three times around the circle, keeping his e5^es bent
upon the ground, as though he were in profound thought.
At the third time he halted before the chief, and after re-
garding him so intently for a few minutes that the old man
was fain to drop his eyes in some confusion, the ska-ga
began to chant in a strange monotonous fashion, running the
words one into the other, so that even the chief could hardly
make them out, wdiile the others, eagerly though they
listened, evidently could not understand him at all.

SAl'ACE LIFE.

2^9

Tho chant continuerl sovoral miniitos, lli-ihig-a's wi-iiikled
countoiiaiice at tiiiK s bivakiiiy- into a snii'.c as tlic medicine-
man spoke somctliing that was mnch to liis mind.

When the ska-ca ceased lie too vanisliotl into the dark-
ness, as the dancer had done, and tlien tlio cliief, for tlie first
time rising from his seat of honour, hecfan an a(Uh'ess to l»is
[)eop]e. He spoke in a low yet distinct voice at the start,
and they all crowded close so as to hear every word; but
as he proceeded his expression and tone became more im-
jvassioned. Tho words poured like a torrent from his lips,
his e^^es flashed fire, and his gestures were fierce and
warlike. The Indians responded with vigorous grunts
of approval, and with faces whose wild looks reflected his
own.

Finally, when he reached the climax of his oration, he
took hold of Rae and Freckles with either hand, placed
them in front of him, and shouted something, upon which
the whole gathering broke into a furious chorus of whoops
and yells that made the boys' blood run cold. " God help
us \ ' murmured Rae ; " they're going to do for ns now."

And it certainly seemed as if he were right this time,
for the excited savao-es surrounded them, looking as though
they wanted to tear them in pieces.

Yet through all this commotion Ifi-ling-a, the passion
attending his speech having spent itself, continued calm and
silent, while the pleased expression of his face showed that
he cordially approved of the tumult his people were creating.

If Rae could only liave understood the true nature of
the whole proceeding, instead of being territied he might

230

SAVAGE LIFE.

have felt ]iii.';lilv flaltcvcd, for this Wcas wliat had actnallv
taken place.

The llaida.s of SkideiJ-atc Inlet were in a chronic state
of war with the tribe whose settlement was at ]\[asset Inlet
to the north, and just before the arrival of the Plover they
had been planning and preparing fur an attack upon their
enemies.

Seeiiig liow few of the wliitc men tlierc were, the bril-
liant idea had entered old IJi-liniz-a's active brain of con-
turing the schooner and crew, and compelling the latter to
join their war-party, and give them the aid of their lire-
arms, which would insure complete victory.

The attempt on the schooner having failed, he had to be
content with the two boys, wlio had innocently placed them-
selves in his hands, and the whole object of the ceremony
which had been so trying to them was to secure the ap}>ro\-al
of the deities ot' the projected expedition.

The ska-ga had signified this in a manner more than
usually distinct for so oracular and distinguished a personage,
and all the fierce yelling and M'hooping was nothing more or
less than the delight of the Indians at haviuo" two such
chaih^ ions added to their army.

As for Kaitza and her sorrowful, sympathetic looks
which had intensified Rae's concern for himself and Freckles,
they were simply due to her fear of the dangers to Avhicli
the white boys must be exposed in thus going to war for
her tribe. She had fallen violently in love with Rae, and
the thought of his going away up to jMasset, and fighting
with the fierce and warlike Indians, gave her keen concern.

SAVAGE JJJ/:.

'31

tlian

oiiagv,

ivo or

such

looks
cklcs,
•liicli
IV i'oi"
, aiul

icuvn.

■\v

It was not until some time afterwards that ]{ae under-
stood all this, l>iit in tlie meantime, \vlien the excitement liad

subsided, and the people set themselves to feastini^^ without
manifesting any desire to eat him or do him any other
liarm, his mind grew easier, and not having any stomach
for the feast he slipped away with Freckles to the chiefs
house, wliere all was rpiiet, and they were ahle to get to
sleep, heing thoroughly wearied by the events of the day.

The village slept lat(! the next morning, and the boys
had been up and taken their daily swiui before any of the
Lillians made their appearance.

As Pvae looked at the long line of canoes drawn up on
the beach, and carefully covered with thick mats to prevent
the sun from warping and splitting their cedar sides, lie
said to Freckles, —

" Oh, if we could only just take one of those canoes and
paddle down io Fort Camosun, But we couldn't, of course,
and it's no use thinkinii- about it. We've i^ut to wait here
until the Plover comes back for us."

" But suppose, Ilae, the T'lovcr doesn't eome back,"' asked
Freckles, " what will we do then ? "

" The Plover not come back ! " exclaimed llae indignantly.
" What makes you say tliat ? Do you tlunk Captain Hanson
v,i)idd be so mean as to desert us altoiix'ther ?"

"Oh, no," protested Freckles earnestly. "That isn't
what I mean. But I was thiid^ing if the Plover shouhl be
wrecked on her way down. Von k'liow W(> had some narrow
escapes coming up ; and if anything like that shoidd happen
til lier, and .she never got to Fort Camosuu, wouldu't we

2-7,2

SAVAGE LIFE.

jiave to stay lierc for tlic rest of our lives?" and tlic mere
tlionght of so lamentable a contingency made the Ijoy's eyes
grow moist and his lips quiver.

Now it was one of the sources of streno-th as well as
of weakness in Rae's nature that he was prone to take the
brightest side and most hopeful view of the future. He
was, in fact, a consistent optimist ; and while this had, at
times, the disadvantage of rendering him over-sanguine of
success, and therefore inclined to be rash in attempting
things, as we have already seen, still it also helped him to
keep np a brave heart in the face of adversity.

The idea of the Plover failino: to return had never entLrcd
his mind, and when Freckles suo-rfcstcd it he was angered.

" Look here, Freckles," he cried, with his face Hushed,
and his fists clenched as though he would strike him for
his ill-timed croaking, '"'I just wish you wouldn't talk tliat
"way. We've got enough to worry us without imagining
things that may never happen. I feel sure the riover's
comiuLi' liack for us ; and even if she doesn't, we'll find some
way of getting back to the fort. We're not going to stay
here always, you may depend upon that."

Freckles hung his head and looked very penitent.

"All right, Ivae ; I won't say anything more al)Out it,"
he said humlJy. " JJut it just came into my mind, you know."

All that day the village was filled with bustle and pre-
paration.

The expedition was to go in canoes, and these were Ix'ing
})ainted and fixed up in the most elaborate manner of which
their owners were capable. The women were busy pro-

SAVAGE LIFE.

'■Z2>

lilt it,"
[now."
^d p ve-
il M'inc;
\vhicli

I' p)'0-

paring a supply of food, so that the Avarriors would not
have to depend upon what they could secure en route; and

childi

dit th

infection of war, and were
liavini'' nriniic combats, in wliich some of them, however, cfot
such hard knocks that their wails pierced the air.

Ili-ling'-a sent for the boys, and gave them to understand
that he wanted to know how many times their ritles could
l)e fired. Uac carefully examined the contents of their
powder-Uasks and bullet-pouches, and found that they had
each sufficient for about twenty-five charges, while their
cap-boxes were practically full.

On the old chief being informed of this he looked highly
P'leascd. Evidently he counted that in his white captives
he held the trump-card in the game of war he prepared to
play with the Masset Indians. They had no fire-arms, ho
kui'W, and were not accustomed to them, so that their effect
might well be to produce a panic that would place victory
in the hands of the Skidegate tribe.

There were more dancing and feasting' that niuht, but
luae and Freckles kept aloof. lli-ling-a did not require
their presence ; and although by this time all fear of personal
harm had vanished, the whole ceremony was so distasteful
that they wanted no more of it.

Another who remained away from the gathering around
tlie lives was Kaitza, and she hung about Rae in a way that
was really pathetic, and that he could not fail to notice.
It bothered him not a little, for it seem(Ml as if she nnist bo
wanting something; but as she could nut put her wish into
Words, he did nut know how to meet it.

mmmKm

234

SAVAGE LIFE.

" Wliat can tliat girl be after, Freckles ? " Rao asked
somewhat fretfully of his companion. " She seems to have
something on her mind, and to be wanting to tell us ; Imt
how can she when we don't know a word of each other's
lanfmai-'e ? "

" Perhaps she doesn't want us to go with the others
wherever they're going," suggested Freckles, "She'd like
us to stay here and keep her company maybe."

" Tut," snorted Rae contemptuously ; " if that's her notion
she's upon the wrong tack. Catch me staying with her and
the women and children. I'm jx^ino- with the men, that's sure."

Poor Kaitza, who seemed to have some suspicion that
she was the subject of their talk, looked as if she would
give her very eyes to understand its drift ; and then slipping
away softly, she reappeared with a basketful of delicious
berries she had herself picked that day, and offered them
to the boys, her tawny face lighting up with pleasure as
she saw how heartily her gift was appreciated.

Rae thanked her warmly, and if she could not interpret
his words she ha<l no difficulty in reading the expression of
his face ; and this evidently satisfied her, for a very contented,
happy look came into hers, and she went back to her part
of the house with a light step, leaving the boys to settle
down for the night.

The following morning the warlike expedition set forth.
It was a most propitious day, bright, cool, aud free from
Aviud. One hundred and fifty braves formed the party,
IIi-lino;-a beinu: in command, and having Rae and Freckles
as his personal attendants.

SAJ'.iai-: LiFR.

forth.

from

Iparty,

lockles

It required ten of the lari:fest canoes to carry them, as they
took with tlieiii a Ixiiiiititul supply of dried lisli, hcrries,
potatoes, and oulaclian grease, k'st tlicy nii^kt not he ahle
to ohtain sutHcieiit provision on the way.

These canoes were a(h)iirahle in their way, heing made
frtjiii single trees of the red cedar, wliich is liu'ht, durahle,
and easily worked. Their lines were very line, the requisite
auinunt of heani heinir obtained by steaming- the hollow lou:"
with water and hot stones, and inserting;' thwarts, while the
bow and stern were provided with strong spurs sloping up-
ward, and scarfed to the main body of the canoe.

They were very seaworthy craft, but had one serious weak-
ness wliicli needed to be uuarded auvainst — the wood wa^' ''nt to
split parallel with the grain ; and when heavily laih'U in rough
weather the strain would sometimes prove too much, causing
a bad leak, and placing the occupants in inuninent danger.

The chief's canoe was full forty feet long, and contained
twenty men besides Hi-ling-a and the bo\'s, and a large
(juantity of stuff. All paddled save the chief and Ivae and
Freckles, timl the two latter found it very pheasant to stretch
out comfortably in the stern upon a pile of blaidvets and l)e
liadi.lled along at the rate of six miles an hour by the power-
ful Indians, from whose vocabular}- the word weariness
seemed to have been banished, as hour after hour passed
au'l their mighty strokes never slackene(l for a moment.

The route lay along the western side of the island, which
was one continuous line of surf-beaten rock, so that the
canoes had to keep well out from land ; but the Indians
did not mind that, being accustomed to make trips across

07S)

236

SAVAGE LIFE.

Hcc.atc Strait to tlie mainlaml in order to trade witli the
Tsiiiisliians and other tribes.

Beyond the birds in tlie air or the fish in the sea, there
was absohitely no sign of living creature.

" Wliat a dreary, desolate country!" said Rae to Frecldes,
pointing to tlie coast by which they were passing. " Ju^^t
imagine having to live in such a place as that. Why, I be-
lieve I'd go crazy in a month."

"So wor'd ' ' assented Freckles. ''I don't like living
in the woods anyway. I'm sick of them. I wish I could
live in a phice \ '^er* :.^.erc was a whole lot of people, and
no Indians or wild animals. That's what I'd like."

"I would too," replied lUie — "for a while anyway. I
want to see something of the rest of the world. I'm getting
tired of this part of it. I wonder if I ever will get tij
Europe, or Asia, or any of those places."

"You will, of course, Rae," said Freckles very positi\'ely,
" but I'm not likely to, unless," and he glanced shyly at his
comj^anion as though to see how he would like the suggestion,
" you take me, for nobody else is going to do it."

Rae brought down his hand with a hearty slap on
Freckles's knee, and his face lit up with resolution.

"I will do it, Freckles," he exclaimed. "Just as sure as
I go mj'self, I'll take you along. There now, I promise you."

It seemed a vain pledge to give, situated as thev then
were, captives in a Haida canoe ])Ound upon a tribal foray,
and certain to encounter many dangers on both sea and land
while in the service of their captors, with no cei'tain pros-
pect of deliverance from them at any time.

SAVAGE LIFE.

237

h tlie
, there
cckk's,

" JUf,t

, I be-
ll viiiL(

\ could

lo, and

rav. 1

gettiii.o;
get to

itivoly,

at bis

)'cstion,

sure a>;
40 you."'
^y then
1 foray,
nd hind
in pi'os-

But Freckles seemed to have perfect confidence in both
liae himself and in his future, and to believe that no matter
how unpromising the present might be, there was a good
time coming.

About mid-day the canoes made a stop at an inlet a little
south of Cape Ball, where a river ran down to the sea, and
there was a safe landing-place.

Here fires were lighted and dinner cooked, after which
a rest of a couple of hours was announced by the chief; and
seeing the Indians stretch themselves out for a sleep, llae
with his wonted enterprise determined upon a stroll, knowing
well that the party would not set off again without him.

Accompanied by Freckles, he went inland along the
river-side, wondering if there was an3'thing worth shooting
in this part of the island. He had no desire to try conclu-
sions again with a panther, but if something smaller and less
pugnacious turned up he was in the humour for a venture.

The stream turned and twisted so that tln^ boys were
soon out of siglit of the sea, but they knew they could not
lose tlicmselves so long as they kept in sight of the river.
Chatting carelessly, they pushed on until they were about a
quarter of a mile from the landing-place, an<l then Bao,
feeling the sun very hot, threw himself down in the shade
to cool off. Freckles followed his example.

They had not been there many minutes before there was
a rustling in the bushes just beyond them, and as they gazed
intently at the spot from whence the sound came, there
emerged into the open a large black bear, tossing his head
an<l sniffing the air in an inquiring way.

CHAPTER XTV.

WITH THE WAR-PARTY.

BEARS wore not plentiful in the Queen Charlotte Islands
at that time, hut they were to he found in certain
districts ; and as it happened, the Plaidas had landed at one
of the places, and there was nothing therefore extraordinary
about the boys lightiiig" upon one.

Of course the wisest thino- under the circumstances
would have been for them to keep perfectly still until
Bruin had drunk his fill of water and taken himself off
again. So long as they left him alone he certainly would
not molest them. Bears are too fond of peace to make an
unprovoked attack on anybody.

But the sight of tlio bear stirred Rae's spirit. What a
splendid opportunity now presented itself to distinguish
himself beft)re the Indians! To make a conquest of the
bear would insure the respect of his captors, and per-
haps in some way help towards the regaining of his
freedom.

Freckles had no such ambitious thoughts aroused. With
him on all occasions of the kind discretion was the better

WITH THE WW R- r A irr\

j\'irt (if vnlour. Hr was a linn lu'liovor in ili(^ couplet wliicli

tcacliL's tliat

][o wlio fights, and runs uwivy,
Lives to fight anotlier day,"'

'sland>^

certain

at one

xlinarv

;anccs
until
If olf
would
ake an

^Vhat a
mu'uisli
of the
1 pcr-
uf lii^

With
bettor

with the modification tliat ho greatly preferred running
away Avitliout fighting at alh

Now lie phicked Rao's sleeve vigorously, an<l whispered
in a pleading anxious tone, —

"Let's run, Eae ; he hasn't seen us yet; come."

J)Ut instead of preparing to run, Kae carefully drew up his
ritle so that the movement made no noise, and levelled it at
the bear, who now presented his full front to them,

"Oh, don't, Kae, please don't," implored Freckles, and ho
put out his hand as though he would take hold of the ritle.

]')Ut ]iae, without speaking, gave him a look that caused
him to shrink back abashed. Mortallv afraid of the bear
as he felt, he was still more afraid of offending liae, whose
favour was the sunshine of his life.

Taking aim M'ith the utmost deliljeration, for he wanted
to make sure work with the first shot, Rae pulled the
trigger. The report rang out sharp an<l clear, and at tho
same instant the bear rolled over at the edge of tho stream,
writhing in mortal agony.

" TTurrah ! " shouted Rae, springing to his feet and waving
Ills hat triumphantly, " I've done for him. He'll be dead in
a minute."

Tu this case, however, he counted upon too quick and
easy a victory. Just as he showed himself the bear recov-
ered from the first shock of the wound, and, catching sight

240

iriTJI TJIE IVAR-PARTY.

of the tu'O boys, at once attribiitcMi to them liis sudden
suflei-ing.

Witli a dull voar lie rushed across the stream and char^vd
straight upon them before Rac had a chance to reloa<l.

"Now then, Freckles, run for it!" cried Rae, setting his
companion a good example, and away they went down the
bank of the stream, the bear in close pursuit, although the
great drops of blood which marked his path showed how
sorely he had b'.-en wounded.

Kae ran like a deer; but Freckles made poor speed,
slipping and stumbling awkwardly, so that he was soon in
the rear, and had to gasp out an appeal to Rao not to lea\c
him behind. lie had hardly spoken, and Rac ha<l just
turned to wait for him, when his foot caught in a tree-root,
and down he went, pitching his rifle ahead of him in his fall.

The bear was only a few yards froni him as Rac
shouted, —

" Pretend you're dead, Freckles. Don't move a muscle."

Freckles heard and obeyed. When Bruin reached him
he lay as still as a corpse, and the animal halted for a
moment to smell him over.

This gave Rae an opportunity to which he gallantly
responded. Freckles's rifle, still undischarged, lay upon the
grounel a couple of yards from where the bear stood over
the prostrate boy. Darting forward he picked it up, and
as the bear, noting his action, lifted his head with a fierce
growl, he placed the muzzle at his head, almost touchiuL;'
his ear, and flred before Bruin could move.

The bullet went clear throuLch the creatures brain, and

WITH TJJK WAK-J'AKTV

241

ukMlh

iny Ills
\sn tlic
txh tlio
.'(1 liow

■ speed,
soon ill
to leave
ad jii^t
ree-root,

his fall.

as llao

inscle."
ed liim
for a

allantly
)on tlio
od over
up, and
a fierce
oucliin^j'

without a sound lie collapsed upon Fivclslos, Ids c^rc-at
Weight fairly llatteniiig the pcjor felhjw auaiiist the hard
Ci'roiind, and s(pieezing* every atuiii of lueath out uf him.

Jhit liae promptly relieved him uf the oppre.ssive huulen
and stood him on his feet, laughing joyously as lie gazed
al>out him in a dazed, bewildered fashion as thoiiLih he did

not k

it what had h

d to h

and

Know just wnat nad Jiappeneu to nim.

Now in falling upon him the hear had rather liberally
bespattered him with his own bhjod, and this at once caught
Freckles's attention.

" Rae, I'm wounded, I'm wounded ! " he cried in a
piteous tone; "sec how I'm bleeding," and he put his hands
up to his face, Mhich certainly ]ia<l a horrifying appearance,
all gory as it was.

"Nonsense!" laughed llae, instantly surmising the true
soin'cc of the blood; "you're not hurt a bit. That's the
bear's blood on you."

" Are yoti sure ? " asked Freckles eagerly
right ? "

" Of course you're all right," replied Rae.
to the water and wash the blood ofi' yourself. There's
nothing else the matter with you."

With lightened heart Freckles did as he was l»id, and
came back looking cpiite himself again.

" Isn't he a monster, Freckles ? " said Rae, putting his
foot proudly on the bear's head. "Those llaidas will think
a good deal more of us wdieii they sec wdiat we've done, and
I guess father would be proud if he knew it too. See, there
are some of the Indians comincr alonr; now."

"Am I all
Run down

^4-

wrrir the war party.

Tt was old lli-liiii^-.'i and liall"-a-dozcn of ]iis follower?:.
The clnef liad lioard the report of the rifle, and had at once
set out to learn what it meant. When he saw the hcj
lying prostrate and lifeless he nia<le no attempt to conceal
his astonishment. The killiiiL;' of such a creature was
worthy the comljined ellorts of a dozen of his most darin<"''
'M)i'aves," but here it had Leeu performed Ijy a couple of
boys, and with little apparent dilhcultj''.

His followers evidently shared his feelings, and even
though they could not voice tlieui to him, Rae realized
clearly enough that he had gone up greatly in their estima-
tion, and would connnand their respect for the future.

At the connnand of the chief they set to work to sh
and cut up the bear, a goodly portion of the body being
brought back to the landing place, where a feast was at once
instituted, bear steak being regarded as a dainty of the first
order by the Indians.

Ixac felt in (hity bound to eat some of it himself, but did
not I'ke it particularly, very much preferring a good steak
of salmon or of halibut.

Freckles was fervently grateful for Eae's timely deliver-
ance of him from the bear's maw. He had (piitc given him-
self up as bej'ond hope when he fell right in the infuriated
animabs way, and his escape seemed to him something in
the shape of a miracle. As a result of his escape his devo-
tion to Ivae intensified, if that were possible ; and although
he had not the faculty of expressing himself in words, it
might be read easily enough in his looks, so that even the
savages were impressed by it.

WJTII Tin: U'AR-IWNTY

M.^

Anotlioi' conseqnenro of the slMyiiii;' of tlir I'car was tliat,
iiistcaJ ot" contiiiuin!J" their \u\'ai/e tliat aftrriiooii, tlio war-
]i,'iity remained oveniii^lit, heiiiLC iimvillinc,' to proceed so
V)\v^ as a morsel of tlic bear vemaiued iinconsiinied.

The next dny broke dark and loweriiiL;-. The sky was
aslien gi'ay, and the sea looked like molten lead. Ivao was
weather-wise enough already to see that a storm of no
ordinary severity threatened, and he hoped that tlie TIaidas
would recogni/e it too, and decide npon a still fiii'ther
delay.

P^at althongh they scanned the clouds and the horizon
with serious countenances, and consulted earnestly for a
time, the decision was to press forward, so, after a hastily
prepared breakfast, they all end;arked in the canoes again,
and pushed on to the north.

rt.^'ULi; sure that before long the spray would be dashing
over the sides, for the sea was rising fast, llae rolled up the
ri!les and annnunition very carefully in a thick blaid>:et, and
put them where they would be least exposed.

As the canoes presseil forv.'ard the wind steadily increased
in strength. It was blowing from the north-east, and
although they wo\d<l not feel its iwW force until they
rounded Rose Point, at the upper end of the island, still it
soon severely taxed the utmost efforts of the sinewy paddlers
to keep the canoes straight in their course, and to make any
jnogrcss worthy of the name.

llae's apprehensions of danger grew keener with tlie
waxing of the wind. Admirably atlapted for their purpose
as the canoes were, still they "sverc only canoes after all, and

244

WITH TJIE WAR-PARTY.

if t]io gale coiitiiiuGil to increase at its present rate, they
must ere lonijj prove unable to weather it.

But there was no siij'ii of turnino; towards shore. Indeed,
as Rae looked anxiously in that direction, and saw everywhere
as far as the eye could reach an interniinahle line of furious
foaininii: breakers hurliiK^ their wliite crowns aijainst an
unbroken wall of mighty boulders, he realized ckarly enouuh
that to attempt a landing there would mean certain destruc-
tion, and that the only alternative was to keep on in hope
of finding some inlet which might prove a harbour of refuge.

"We're in great dano-cr, Freckles," said Rae, taking hoM
of his companion's hand for comfort, "and unless the stoviii
stops soon, there's not much chance for us. Why couldn't
the In<lians," he added in a tone of petulant protest, "have
had the sense to see that it was ijoing to be like this, and
have stayed on shore until it got line again ? I'm sure 1
could have told them just what was coming."

"Perhaps they were afraid to stay there in case of the
other Indians iindiuij; them out," sucfo-ested Freckles. " They
seem to be talking very hard about something, and that may
be the reason."

"Humph," growled ]\ae. "They weren't sure of being
found out, but they were sure of the storm coming on, and
it would have been a u'ood deal better to have taken tluir
chances and stayed ashore, than to come out here and all bo
drowned."

Certaiidy, as the morning drew on, I\ae's view of the
situation seemed fully justilied. In spite of the strenuous
ertbrts of the paddlers, the headway made was hardly per-

WITH THE WAR-PARTY

245

/t' thev

IikIccmI,
■y where

fiuious
inst an

eiiouu'li
dcstruc-
iii liopc
I refiiQ;e.

lio' liol'l

le stovm
couLliit
t " have
liis, ami
1 suie 1

n of tllC

Thev

lat iiiav

if \m\\%
Ion, aii'l
m their
ll all be

of the
[•eiiuoiis
11 V per-

ceptible, and the point for which tlioy were ainiinL;', and on
the other side of which they hoped to find a safe landiiiL^-
placc, seemed to get no nearer.

Presently the waves began to break over the sides of the
canoes, drenchinij: all on board, and addinir discomfort to
danger; and not only so, but another peril, and a still more
serious peril, manifested itself. The amount of water that
came (jver the gunwale was inconsiderable, and could easilv
be got rid of l)y the bailers with ^^•llich each canoe was
supplied. But the leaking due to the straining of the wood
whcreljy it opened along the grain as the canoes pitched
and tossed in the heavy sea was another matter.

There was not one of the canoes that did not beLiin to
show the etl'ects of the strain upon it, the chief's canoe being
the best in this particular, yet Ly no means free from weak-
ness, and Rae noted with lively alarm that the water was
C'oniino; in faster than it went out, so seiziuLT a bailer he cried
to Freckles as ho thrust another into his hand, "I Fore, let
us bail for dear life. The canoe's iilling as fast as it can."
And then they two applied themselves to the work of
gt'tting rid of the water with their utmost energy.

Little by little tlie canoes crept nearer the point, the
Indians keeping to their paddling with an unllagging
enilurance that was really marvellous. Bred to the canoe
as the Indians of the plains to the saddUs they were capable
of maintaining the struggle against the storm for hoiu's yet,
provided the canoes did not become waterlogged and un-
manageable. Even in the midst of his anxiety l-Jae could
not help admiring the unbroken regularity of tlieir stroke,

— *'

1 4b

WIT7[ rifE WAR PARTY.

iind tlio wonderful skill with which lIi-lino--a in the stern
evaded the onset of the waA'es, and kept many a foam-
crested l)ill(3W from breakinix viiiht on hoard and swamriinij'
them heyond recovery.

At lenLL'th, \)X dint of unrcmittinci: toil and unfailincc f^kil!
in seamanship, Hose Point was reached, and the fleet of
canoes turned due east in order to circunniavigatc it. J>iit
just at this moment the storm hurst upon them with a sudden
access of fury that there was no possihility of withstandilll:,^
To face it was utterly impracticahlc ; to liy heforo it meant
to bo driven far out into Hecate Strait, and lost beyond a
peradventure.

Only one alternntive remained, and that was to make
for the sliore under the lee of the point, and attempt a
landiuii; no matter how fierce the breakers might be or
inhospitable the rocky l)each. IFi-lin^'-a promptly turned
his canoe shoreward, the others as promptly t\)llowed his
example, and, sunnnoning all their remaining strength for
one supreme effort, the paddlers bent to their work, while
the spray hissed savagely over them, and the billows sprang
at thiMr frail craft like wild oeasts furious for their prey.

It was a tremendous struofo-le, the result of which \\\\\\^
in tlui balance for manv thrillini'' mirnites. Confnied to the
position of mere spectators, yet with their own lives at
stake, tlie boys eowere(l down in the stern of their canoe
seekinu' iirotection from tlie lil(.)ws of the Avaves continuallv
breakini;' ov(T the a'nnwale. They full\' realized their
danger, but bore up bravely against it, llae feeling it to he
incumbent upon him to mainiain a manly front in tlie

WITH TTTE WAR-PARTY

247

presence of tlie Haidas, jiikI Freckles nobly imitating tlie
example thus set liim.

Little by little the shore was neared, but strive as they
iiii^lit to peer through the spume and spray, no gap in the
line of br»;akers offered a chance of a safe landing.

"We'll be dashed to pieces, Freckles, sure," said Rae,
referring more particularly, however, to the canoes than to
themselves. '"There's no good place to land. We'll just
have to go it blind, and trust to luck."

lie was right enough. Expert in every art of canoi'ing
a*^ the Haidas were, they had reached a crisis when all skill
went for nothing. They could only connnit themselves to
the boilini:; surf in the hope of .somehow surviving the
ordeal.

On they urged their canoes, rapidly becoming water-
IoL!'L''ed and unmanaii'eable. The breakers beiian to roar and
hiss about them like avenging furies ; a few yards more, and
thev would be in their midst.

As soon as the landing was decided upon, Rae had rolled
u}i the rifles and ammunition, each in a se[)aratc blanket,
and now he handed Freckles his, saying in a steady though
sad tone, —

"We'll want them if we ovt throu-di, so hold on tight to
yours."

A moment later and the crisis came. The paddlers
threw aside their paddles and .seized their s))ears ami bows.
<>ld Ili-ling-a rose to his feet, and stooil looking shonjward
with steadfast countenance, while he called out encourag-
ingly tc his men. liac and Freckles, grasping their pre-

248

WITH THE WAR-PARTY.

cious bundles tightly, prepared to leap as soon as the canoe
struck.

It was as sudden as a flasli of linfhtnin<]:. CaiKdit up on
the back of a huge breaker, the canoe poised for one thrillino-
instant upon its foaming crest, and then was flung forward
as though it were a mere shaving. With a stunning crash
it smote the pitiless rocks, and fell into irreparable wreck.

The shock hurled all its occupants forward, but instantly
they recovered themselves, and sprang into the frothing
waves that strove hard to draw them l»ack to destruction.
Freckles happily leaped clear of the undertow, and, albeit a
little bruised, scrambled out of the breakers' reach, still
retaining his hold upon the rille. But Rae was not so
fortunate. As he jumped, his foot slipped, and he fell right
into the thick of the undertow, which promptly laid hold
upon him, and would have drawn him back to death hail
not the old chief, whose keen eyes seemed to miss nothing,
no matter what the turmoil might be, observed his perilous
plight, and, stretching out his long right arm, caught him
by the collar and dragged him to land by an almost super-
human effort.

By great good luck every one of those in JCi-ling-a's
canoe made cood their landimx ; but not so fortunate were
some of the others, for Avhen all had gathered together it
was found that six were missing, including two boys about
his own au'e that Rac had noticed in one of the other canoes,
and whose lifeless bodies were presently cast up by the sea,
which had worked its cruel will upon them.

There was no time for lamentation then, however. Thnt

lio canoe

it lip on
tbi'illinf(
forward
ng crash
^vreck.
instantly
frothing
;truction.
, albeit a
ach, still
s not so
fell right
laid hold
ath hail
nothing,
perilous
o-ht him
st siiper-

i-lin^'-a's
ate were

;ether it
vs ahout

v canoes,
' the sea,

JJVTI/ TflE UWR-PARTY.

249

That

iiinst he left until the return to tlie village. The one thing
now was to consider what slioiild be done in the ditiicult
circumstances which surrounded the once imposing but now
most miserable war-party.

Nothing had been saved from the wreck save their
implements of war. liae and Freckles had each their ritle
and ammunition intact, and all the Indians had either bow
or spear, and many of them both.

The boys liad also saved their hatchets and hunting-
hnivos; but the provisions were all lost, and most of the
l)lankets.

The outlook was certainly a dreary one as the sur-
vivors, drenched and dishevelled, and most of them more
or less bruised, gathered around the chief for comfort and
consolation.

The old man bore himself with a stoical dignity that
was admirable to behold. He had no thouirht of bein!i'
l)ru.strated even l)y a disaster ap})arently so overwhelming,
but at once set himself to put heart int(j his men, and to
advise as to what should be done.

Ijv this time the storm bci-an to show si£>ns of blowini-'

*' O II (7

over. Fortunately it had not V)een accompanied with rain,
and everything being dry on shore, the Indians M'ero
presently able to produce a lire, before which the wh<;le
party could in a short time dry their dripping clothing, ami
become more comfortal)le on that score.

The next thoiiglit naturally enough was food, and for
this they must needs turn to tlie forest which stretched
dense and pathless as far as the eye could reach. Taking

250

WTTH rUE WAR-PARTY

their bows and spears, a niinil)er of the Indians \Yent ofF in
quest of j^amo. llae would have liked to accompany thein,
but Hi-lini^--a detained him. The shrewd old man knew
little of the country round about, having been accustonicil
to make all his ex})editions by water, and he did not think
it wi<(i to run any unnecessary risks. They were no doubt
still a long way from the Masset villages, yet they might
chance upon a war-party of that tribe, and in that case
it would be better foL' l\ae and Freckles to be M'ith him
rather than wanderim-' throuiih the woods after game.

llae understood something of this, and it helped to
reconcile him to remain b}' the fire, although, having assureil
liimself that his rifle and amnnuiition were not the worse for
the sliipwreck, ho was anxious to give the sawages further
proof of his skill as a shot. " It just puzzles me," said he to
Freckles, "what's going to become of us now. We nuist he
a long, long way from Skidegate, and perhaps the Indians
don't know how to get back by land. You see they <lo all
their travelling by canoe, and I don't suppose thej'dl feel like
going ahead with their war-party after being wrecked.
What do you think ? "

Freckles scratched his head and tried to look very wise,
but could contribute no eidightening suggestion. lie lui'l
been bull'eted l)y fate so long and so severely that he was
becoming a sort of fatalist, accepting each new com}tlicati()i)
in his atlairs as simply another item in a progrannnc that
had to be gone through to the bitter end whether ho
liked it or not.

In tliis respect he presented a striking contrast to Pvao,

WITfl THE WAR TARTY

251

off in

■ thein,

knew

5tonif(l

tlihik

(loulit

niiij-lit

it case

th liiiii

pod to

assured

3rse for

fui'tliev

d lie to

uist 1h'

ndians

• lo all

xd like

llTckv'd.

V ^vise,
le liad
\w ^vas
lieatitii)
that
lier lie

Ikie,

who wonld fain 1)0 the master of his own fate so far as
might be possible, and who son^-ht to reconsider everything
that liappened, and desired a say in all that was coming to
pass concerning himself.

"I just wisli I could talk their language," continued Rae,
takiu"" Fi'eckles's silence for granted. " I know what I'd
advise them to do, and that is to make for the village as far
as they know how, and get a lot of new canoes if they want
to try again."

" That's the best thing," assented Freckles. " You tell
the chief, Kae, and perhaps he'll do it."

" I'm going to try," said Rae, and forthwith he went over
to lliding-a's side, and proceeded to try to make himself
understood by him. But all his vigorous pantonume and
eloquent speech went for nothing.

The utmost the old man could make out was that llae
wanted to go back to the village, and at this he shook Ids
head most decidedly. He had other plans than this for him,
and an immediate return to Skidegate was not one of them.

In fact what the chief had decided to do was worthy of
his darinii- and determined character. Seriouslv as his ex-
[K'dition had been disorganizeel by the disaster, after carefully
reviewing the whole situation, he had come to the conclusion
that the best horn to seize of the dilennua in which he found
himself was to continue on against the Massets.

Ih' argued this way. They were twice as far from
their own village as they were from their enemies. Oidy
six out of the whole nundter had been lost, all their weapons
had been saved, and, most important of all, llae and Freckles,

M'«) 1 (I

252

WITH THE WAR-PARTY,

upon whom lie relied chiefly for victory, had conic oft' un-
scathed, and with the fire-arms uninjured.

By a sudden descent upon the JMassets from the forest,
whence tliey would never be expecting attack, an easy con-
quest might bo won ; and then once in possession of the
village they could supply themselves with canoes, and load
them with plunder and food, returning in triumph by sen.

It was a brilliant plan of campaign, worthy in evtiy
respect of its brave and sagacious projector, and he was
determined on its execution. In due time the hunting-
party returned, laden with grouse, ducks, and squirnds,
which their arrows had brought down, and which were
soon roasting before the fire, and sending out a most
appetizing odour that the hungry peo|)lc sniffed eagerly.

There was abundance for all, and after they had dined
heartily, and were feeling in good spirits again, Hi-ling-a
thought the time propitious for making known his plan.

It was not at first received with unanimous approval,
and several of the party ex2:)ressed their dissent vei;v
decidedly, which roused the old man to unusual energy of
speech, so that the discussion waxed warm.

" My goodness, I wish I knew what they're talking
about," exclaimed Ilao. " It's too bad we can't make out a
word of it, and I feel sure they're arguing about what they'll
do. If I could only talk to them I'd say to hurry back, and
I guess a good many of them think the same thing too."

He had read the faces of the opposition aright — th:y
were for an immediate return ; but the old chief was not to
bo moved from his purpose. He argued, and pleaded, and

WITH THE WAR PARTY

253

off un-

i forest,
sy con-

of tlio
id loai]
J son.
1 evti y
he ^vas
untini,'-
[iiirrels,
;h were
a most
rly.
(1 diiietl

i-1in^'-a

l;in.

)proval.

t very

cro-y ot'

I talking
:c out a
tlsey'll
[ck, auJ

)0.
)-th:7

not to
led, and

promised, and tln-eatened, until at leng-th ho carried his
point. One by one the ohjectors were overcome, until
liually the great shout which followed an especially earnest
appeal showed that he had won the day, and that all had
])ceii brought round to his .side.

" It's no use," said Rae gloomily ; " they're going ahead.
See how liercc they look. I suppose they think that since
they've got our ritles they're bound to beat anything; but
they're much mistaken if they think I'm going to .shoot
anybody just to please them. If I have to do it to save njy
hie, I will of course; but I'm certainly not going to kill
people who never did me any harm — are you, Freckles ? "

"No, sir, not a bit of it," responded Freckles, with a
dcGfree of decision most unusual for him, but Mhich was
none the less entirely sincere, for there was nothing in the
world so repugnant to him as the thought of being the
means of anybody's death. Short of being killed himself,
he would endure anything rather than take another's life.

"Look here. Freckles," Eao went on, lowering his voice
to a whisper, although no one else but the one addn^sscd
WDuld have been any the wiser had he .spoken in a shout,
" ril tell vou what we'll do. If we do attack tho.se Indians
up there, and Ili-ling-a expects ns to hre at them, we'll just
aim away over their heads so as not to liit any of them,
and then whoever's killed on their side we won't 1)C to
blame, any way."

" That's it, Rao, that's the way to do," assented Freckles,
ruliliing his hands gleefully, for the idea of being made
to take part in a battle had been bothering him sorely ;

254

WITH THE WAR-PARTY.

"and tlicn, of course, if the other Indians see tliat we're
not doing' tliem any harm, why, they won't hurt us, will
tliey ? "

" Tlicy ouihtn't to at all events," said Kae ; " but," anil
here ids face clouded with serious thought, " you know,
Freckles, if any of them do try to kill us, why, we'll just
have to lire at them, though I devoutly hope they won't,
for I don't want to be killed, nor do I want to kill anybody
else.

While they were thus talking together the old chief was
niviuLC linal directions to his followers, and soon the start
was made in Indian file, a veteran hunter, expert in wood-
craft, taking the lead, and the others following close behind,
Hi-ling-a and the two boys bringing up the rear.

The o'oing was difficult and toilsome in the extreme, the
forest being dense, and filled with underbrush that stub-
bornly opposed the war-party's advance. Although the
way was to a certain extent broken by those who were
ahead, Rae and Freckles foinid it very fatiguing, and ere
lone: began to falter and fall behind, so that the chief,
thinking that they were getting lazy, spoke sharply to
them, evidently bidtling them mend their pace.

" It's all very well for him to tell us to hurry up — for T
suppose that's what he's driving at," said Eae ir. a tone that
was almost sulkv, " but I'm doing the best I can ; and what's
more, Til bo giving out altogether pretty soon, and they'll
just have to carry me if they want to hurry along as they
are doinu*."

" And I'm tired out too," replied Freckles despondently.

it we're
us, will

ut," Jiiul
I know,
e'll just
Y won't,
mybotly

luef was
lie start
n wooil-
! behind,

eme, the
at stub-
iii'h the
lio were
and ere

chii'f,
rply to

)

for T
)ne that
.1 what's
they'll
as they

til ink

7T// THE WAR-PARTY
carry mc i

lev

f I can't walk

'5;

any

lently,

you
farther i "

" We'll just try," said Rae, his face hrinhtenini;' with a
look of mischief. " Well sit down and refuse to M^alk
another step, and see what thcyU do," and suitini;' his action
to the word he dropped wearily on the f^a'ound. Freckles at
once iuiitatiu!^' his exani])le.

The instant they did so old Illding-a swung round, and,
looking very irate, began to scold them in great style, Eao
tried to explain as best he could, but to no purpose ; and
liiiallv the old man, his indiu'uution reachinrf fever-heat,
laid hands upon the boys, and dragged them to their feet,
giving them a push forward after the others.

Rae, however, w^as not to be intimidated in this manner.
He really was worn out ; for the exposure in the storm, the
misery of the shipwreck, and the lack of opportunity to
rest and recruit had exhausted his strena'th. He felt
perfectly confident that the Indians would not go on without
hiin, nor would they venture to show any real harshness
towards him, seeing that they counted so much upon his
rifle to aid them in their undertaking.

Accordingly, having taken a few more steps, lie threw
liiniself down again, exclaiming in his most despairing
accents, —

"It's no use; I'm done out, and I can't take another
step."

The cliief bent over him, and gave him a long and
.searchincf look which he bore without blenchincc. Then
seeming satisfied with his scrutiny, he shouted out after the

256

WIJ'II TJIE WAR-PARTY,

rest of tlie party, half-a-dozcn of whom responded to tlie
.siiimnons. To tliese he said soiiiethini,^ in a lialf-persuasive,
half-coininanding tone that at first evidently did not meet
their approval, but to which they presently assented, mani-
festly t(; the old man's relief.

What it was the hoys (|uickly learned, for two of the
strongest members of the band came to them, and made
signs for them to get upon their backs. Hardly able to
contain his laughter, Rae mounted his human steed, Freckles
doing the same after his usual awkward fashion, and then
off they started again, Kae managing to tip Freckles a wink
that sent a broad smile over his homely countenance.

The progress of the burden-bearers was necessarily
much slower than before they were thus handicapped, yet it
was surprising how rapidly they did get along ; and frequent
changes being resorted to, the march was kei)t up steadily
all that day, save for a couple of hours' stoppage at noon for
dinner, if the mid-day meal of roasted grouse with no accom-
paniment might be so designated.

Of course the boys did not need to be carried con-
tinuously. They walked as much as they could, and TTi
ling-a evidently grew better pleased with them a^ lid

their best.

A good niglit's rest made the toils of the following day
easier to be borne, and towards afternoon the signs uf
growing excitement and anxiety in the party tcjld Rae that
they must be nearing the enemy's territory. The forest
had become more open, enabling the Indians to keep closer
together, and they all seemed to be sharply on the look-out

i to tlio
•.suasive,
ot meet
l1, iiiaiii-

) of tlic
id niailo
able to
Freckles
,11(1 then
3 a wink

cessarily
3d, yet it
frequent
steadily
noon for
accom-

UVT// THE WAR-PARTY.

257

for anvtliiii!^' that ininlit indicate tlie presence of their foe.
Di ^lending mainly np(»n taking' *:h(>in hy surprise — for their
approach to he detected would nu;an, most prohahly, the
niiii of their enterprise — the utmost caution was therefore
exercised as they }»ushed forward, Hi-lin:;--a himself now

lii'inu' the leader.

■ied con-
and TTi
lid

'1112: dav

signs u

lac that
10 forest
cp closer
look-out

CHArTEll XV

TAKHX BY Tin: .M ASSETS.

"^"T^HE excitement, tliongli necessarily suUliied, was all
J- the more intense as the war-party crept silently
forward, Hi-linLf-a leadini;" tlie way with the noiseless step
of a pantlicr, and the others keeping close np so as to be
ready to act tha instant tlie command came.

Yet notliini;' was to be seen of the Massets, and they
must be entirely io'norant of their danijer.

Happily for them the ITaidas were overtaken by dark-
ness before tiny reached striking distance of their village,
and astute TTi-iing-a, instead of advancing further, retreated
a little ; foi- it M'as a characteristic of the Indian natniv
not to make a niglit attack, however favouralde the
opjiortunity.

That night the ITaidas went to IhmI supperless, for no lire
could bo lighted, nor. indeed, had the}' any game to cook
had tlicy had one.

Rao grumbled greatly over this, but there was no hel[)
for it, and in very illduunour ho wrapped himself up in his
blanket, feeling that lie was a nnich-abused individual.

The Indians settled themselves down to sleep with a

TAKEX BY THE M ASSETS.

259

lio lire
cook

lidp
11 n his

11 ill a

placidity tliat would liavo Leon strange eiuMigh in \ iew of
tlifiu situation, but for the fact that (lurini;- the liours of
darkness they were in no more danger of attack from the
]\Iasscts tlian the JMassets were of an attack from them,
and so they could curl np in tlieir 1)lankets with easy minds
until the return of the sun would send them forth to victory
or defeat.

With the hreak of day tlic whole party was astir, and,
there being no breakfast to prepare, was soon on the march
again. The boys by this time were feeling decidedly faint
f(ir lack of food, and had tlie march l)een kept up at the rate
of the preceding day, they would have neede*! to be carried
as before,

ihit the advance now was maile with exceeding caution
and slowness, so that they had no dilliculty in keeping
tluir places. Hunger, exposure, excitement, and exertion
had told heavily upon their young frames, and they were
hoth in a very dejected state of mind.

liac, indeed, was growing desperate. The whole pro-
ceeding was asjviijist his inclination, and his feelinn' now w as
that the sooner it ended in some way the better.

"Oh T d.) wish it was all over," he groaned; "I'm sick
of the business,"

" So am I," chorused Freckles. " It's no fun f(jr us, that's
certain."

Whetlier or not it would prove fun fur the war-party
was now shortly to be seen. They were getting vei-y close
to the village, which, like their own, Avas luiilt along the
beach a little above InLih-water mark, with the forest cominq;

wmmmm

260

TAKEN BY THE Af ASSETS.

clown to the roar of tlic houses, and tliiis affordinijf a ij'ood
cov'criiiu" for tlic attack.

Hi-liiig-a now began to dispose his men so as to make
them most effective. He divided them into three bands,
in order tliat an onset mii>-ht be made at the middle and at
each end of the village simultaneously, thereby giving the
idea of a larger force being engaged than was actually the
ca.se, and trusting to the confusion of the moment to prevent
the mistake being discovered before victory had been gaine<l.
The old chief took char2:e of the middle detachment, havin^"
Rae and Freckles at his side.

"We're in for it now," said liae, trvincc to look cheerful ;
"and I'd like to know how we're cominix out of it."

As silently as panthers they all crept forward, until the
roofs of the houses and the tall carved posts before their
doors could be discerned through the trees. Then, signing
to the boys to have their rifles read}^ iri-ling-a prepared
himself and his men for the furious rush which was, he
hoped, to decide the matter offhand.

With bows and spears grasped tightly, and faces and
forms quivering with suppressed excitement, the Haidas
stood like statues, awaitinn- their leader's command. It
came with a suddenness that was fairly startling. At the
chief's gesture both rifles rang out sharply on the clear
morning air, a hoarse wild shout from the Indians followed,
and then all three bands plunged down upon the village.

Ihit Eao, and Freckles with him, hung Indund. The
light was not of his choosijig, and he had no special inteivst
In the result. Tb^ could not see. therefore, that it w;i - i:i

TAKEX BY THE MASSETS.

;6i

a good

:o make
3 bands,
Q and at
nwjL, tlie
lally the
prevent
11 gained.
t, having

cheerful ;

until tlie
ore their
I, signing
prepared
was, he

aces and
Haidas

and. It
At the

;lio clear

followed,

11 age.

id. The
interest
\va^ i;i

any wise inc'iniLent npon hini to risk his life needlessly,
lie would let the savages tight it out amongst themselves,
and take the l)est care of himself and Freckles that was

ibU

der th

arcunistance.s.

From their post in the rear of the village the boj^s conhl
sec something and hear more of the conflict that was raging.
Evidently the surprise liad not been so complete as lli-
ling-a hoped, and he was finding an unexpectedly sturdy
resistance.

Determined to lie low until it should be all over, the
hoys made their way to a dense clump of underbrush,
whence they could look out upon a part of the village street,
and thus watch the progre.ss of the strug^de.

At lirst the advantage undoubtedly lay with the Haidas,
and they bid fair to have matters all their own way. But
after the tirst shock of surprise, the Massets, who were in
strong force, all the men happening to be at homo, rallied
hravely, and seeing that the attacking party was not a very
large one, set upon their assailants with such vigour that
they in their turn bec;. . to waver.

Seeing this, Ili-ling-a waxed desperate, and performed
prodigies of valour, dealing deadly thru.sts with his long
spear, and doing the work of two warriors, until, unfortu-
nately, a Well-aimed arrow found its way to his Itreast, and,
stricken to the heart, the brave old chieftain threw up his
anus with an awful groan, and t'dl ])r()strate, never to iiLjlit
another battle.

His downfall sent terror into the hearts of his followers,
ilit y had already lost many of their number, and the sur-

262

TAKEN BY TJ/E MASSETS.

vivors tlotcriniiied to seek safety in ili^■llt. Witliout more
atlo tliey tnriicd their backs upon their opponents and too]<
to their heels, vanishinir into the forest, with the ^[assets in
hot pursuit.

As tlie lattc^r passed tlio spot wliere tlie bo\-s were liid-
ini>', several of tlieui cau!J-lit siMit of the stranu'ers, and at once
surrounded tlieni with tlireatening loolcs ainl ready weapons.

But Piae, haying down his rilie, hehl out his empty hands,
at tlie same time summoning up his most pleasant expres-
sion ; and Freckles doing the same, the savages saw at once
there was nothino- to bo feared from them, and that thev
would prove an easy capture.

Still keeping their spears pointed, as though they would
prevent all possibility of treachery, they motic>ned for the
boys to move towards tlie village. They promptly obevetl.
anil soon were on the beacli before the houses, where a cro\\'d
of man, women, and children surrounded them, with staring
eyes of curiosity and suspicion.

Not that the ^[assets were unaccustomed to the sight of
white men, but they did nut understand the presence of
tliese two boys with a war-jtarty of their worst enemies ; an^l
liuslicd as they were with victory, and full of the lust of
blood, there was serious danger L.'st it might go liard with
the lielpless captives, who were not able to explain how
they came thither.

The chief of the village was among the pursuers of the
lleeing Ibiidas, and until his return nothing could be done
with th(; white boys ; so they were permitted to scat them-
selves upon a log in front of one of i\w houses, while the

TAKEX /.']' T//K MASSE TS.

263

it more
i<l took
sseis in

at onco

:eapons.

y' hands,

expivs-

at once

lat tlicv

V wouM
for the
ohcycd,
a crowd

H starhig

•sight of
sence of
les ; and
lust f)l'
vd \vitli
lin how

;s of t1i.'
l»e done
it thcni-
liilc the

crowd continued to g'aze at them with a persistent directness
that was not at all easy to bear.

"What are we in for now, Freckles?" aske<l llae, with
a sardonic smile, liis crowdinii' misfortunes liavinci* cnii'endcrcd
a reckless mood. '"Do you think theyll eat us? They look
ugly enough to do it."

"0 Rae!" murmured Freckles with a shudder, drawing
nearer his companion ; " 3'ou don't mean it, do you ? Would
the\' really eat ns ?"

He looked so appalled at the notion that Kae, in the
very midst of his misery of mind, could not forbear breaking
into a laugh.

''You poor chap," said he, laying his hand soothingly
upon Freckles's shoulder, "please don't look (juite so scared.
r don't n\ean it, for I don't believe these Indians eat p(M-)ple ;
anyway, if they do, they've got enough of the Ilaidas to
last them a good while."

True enough, nearly one-half of the nnfortunate Haidas
hail met their death at the hands of the>se they had hoped
to c<in(pier so easily, and were now lying stretched upon
the shore with their life-blood dyeing the sand.

Presently a series of triumphant shouts announced the
return of the pursuing party. They <lid not come back with
empty liands either, but had so many prisoners that it
seemed as if the entire renuiinder of the Jb-udas nuist lia\(i
been captured. These prisoners of war nppeared ntteily
cast down. They had little doubt as to what theii' fate
would l)e, for in these inte)'-tribal coidlicts there was no
mercy shown to the vanquished.

264

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

"Poor fellows!" said Rae, forgetting for tlio moment his
own critical position as he looked upon these dejected pris-
oners of war. " They thought they were going to do great
things ; but they made a big mistake this time, and Tin
afraid, from the look of things, they will never have another
chance."

Just then the chief came up and inspected the boys with
undisguised interest. He was a stalwart man, with a franlc,
open countenance and a rather pleasing expression ; and as
Rae returned his scrutiny fearlessly, he ])egan to feel moi'e
hopeful of his fate. There was nothing cruel or unkind in
the savage's mien, and he might treat them as well as poor
old lli-linu'-a had done.

After a moment of rather trying silence, the clnef signed
for the boys to get up and follow him, which they gladly
did, for tluy were very weary of the attentions of the crowd.
They were led into a house much similar to the one which
had been their home at Skide^'ate, and some women havini^'
made their appearance, were presently served with a platter
of smoking fish, which, after the long fast they had endureil,
was inexpressibly welcome.

They at once fell to witli great vigour, to the manifest
satisfaction of the chief, m ho watched them emptying the
platter with an approving smile that certainly boded notli-
ing but good, and whose significance was not lost upon Rae.

"He's going to be kind to us," he said in a relieved tone
to Freckles ; " you see if he isn't. Whatever they do with
the other prisoners, they won't harm us."

"Oh, I'm so glad!" exclaimed Freckles. "But," ho

TAKEX BY THE M ASSETS.

265

lent liis
ed pris-
lo great
111(1 Ini
aiKjtlier

lys ^vitll
;i fraiilc,
; an«l as
eel iiiDi'e
iikiud ill
[ as poor

cf si^■ll(;'(l

crowd .

le ^vllich
having
platter

endured,

nanifest
ing the
1 iioth-
011 Ihie.
'cd tone
do with

\\\

t: he

added, " I'm so sorry for the others. I wisli they'd let them
olf too."

Rae shook his head with sorrowful decision.

"There's not much chance of that," he said. "Father
often told me what they do when they take prisoners this
way. I devoutly hope that we won't liave to see it. Wo
must stay inside liere, if the chief will let us."

The IMasset village was a scene of wild rejoicing and
revelry that day. The corpses of the dead Haidas were
gathered together in a pile, and the prisoners, bound hand
and foot, ranged in a circle round it. Then the whole popu-
lation, except the old women, who were hard at Avork pro-
paving the materials for a feast, amused themselves hy
heaping every conceivable indignity upon the dead and
injury upon the living, whom they thus tortured before
they added their bodies to the awful pile.

This continued M'itli little intermission throughout the
day and on into the night, when the ruddy glare of blazing
iircs lent an additional horror to the proceedings. At last,
the Massets growing weary of their cruel sport, the
wretched prisoners, many of whom were already half-dead,
were despatched M'ith brutal blows, and their bodies flung
upon the heap, while the worn-out revellers went to their
houses to recruit their energies with sleep.

To their unspeakable relief the boys were not recjuired
to be witnesses of these barbarities, and before they went
out next morning the bodies liad all vanished, they knew
not wliither, and there was nothing to show what had taken
place save some dark stains upon the sand.

266

TAKEX BY THE ALISSETS.

So far as tlicy could tell, tlioy were themselves in no
more danger of personal violence than they had heen anion^*
the Ifaidas of Skid('i:'at(\ ^VlH■ther it was because of their
youth, or because the lu'iians tliought it wouhl pay them
better to keep them safe in order to obtain a ransom hji-
them, now that the passion of the light and the sub-
sequent rejoicing were over they met with nothing l»ut
good-natured if curious looks from their new cn])tors, an(l
no restraint being placed npon their movements, they soon
felt tliemselves as much at their ease as they had done at
Skidegatc.

The young chieftain impressed Rae very favourably.
He was evidently of a bright, amiable temper, and had a
sunny sniile that was very attractive. lie seemed qniti'
anxious to make the boj's nnderstand that he was kindly
disposed towards them, and they on their part n'sponded
heartily to his advances, so that, althougn they could not
speak a word of each other's language, they nevertheless
came soon to have an excellent mutual iniderstanding.

The chief showed great interest in their rilles, and lltie
fired a couple of shots out across the water for his benelit,
the sight of the bullet skipping across the smooth surface of
the water being hailed with lively satisfaction.

After Kae had iired twice the Indian's interest grew so
keen that nothing would do but that he nnist try his own
hand at shooting, so taking up the riile, he made signs for
l\ae to loarl it.

Eae felt afraid to trust him with it, but did not like to
refuse lest it should make him angi'v. Having carefully

'es m 110
_'ii aiiionu"
! of tlifir
.:>ay tlioiii
iisoiii for
tlie sub-
liiiT^- but
)tor.s, aiul
:hoy soon
i.l (lone at

A'DUvably.
nd had a
iu'<l quiti'
as kindly
•rspoiidfil

ould not

crtliC'less
iDl;'.

and Eae
Is Ixnieflt,

;ui'faco of

Ids own
di^'ns for

l)t. likoto
.•arefuily

■('.'('.vi' /,i.Vi':('.'/.7; i'w >i/H>>t mine a uoit'i o/ /'ii.ii

r.i>;e J69.

■^ii«

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

269

loaded it, thoreforo, he attempted to show the chief how he
should hold it fwr fiiinf,'.

This, however, the chief resented. He had hecn watching
Rac closely when he was firing, and felt (|inte confident he
knew exactly what to do. Accordingly he raised the riHe,
and after looking prondly around, as though to say to the
spectators, of whom a nundjer had gathered, "See me make
the white man's magic. I can use his thunder and light-
niug stick too," ho shut hoth his eyes tight and pulled
the trigger. Close following the report came a howl of
pain, and, dropping the rifle as though it were red-hot,
the chief clapped both his hands to his right jaw, and
(lanced around, yelling out something which no doubt
laeant, —

"Oh my! I'm hurt! I'm hurt! The thunder and light-
ning stick has broken my mouth ! "

Rae at first was quite alarmed, not so much indeed on
account of the chief as of himself and Freckles, for if the
Indian were made angry by the mishap, he might visit his
anger upon them, innocent though they were.

Hut his apprehensions were happily altogether unfounded.
Instead of being incensed by his experience, the Indian chief
was tilled with profound respect for Rae, l)ecause ho could
manage so dangerous an affair without any trouble. He had
not noted that while Rae placed the butt of the rifle against
liis shoulder, and held it firndy there, he had rested it
against his cheek, and he therefore concluded that since the
white boy suffered no discomfort from the firing, he must be
made of much sterner stuft' than himself.

(47S) 1 7

270

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

Life in tlio Massot village soon settled down to very
inueli the same tliin:^- that it was at Skidegate. There was
so little difference between tlie tribes, both being brandies
of the Haida nation, that Rao wondered why they shouM
be at war at all. Their manners ami customs were very
similar, and even their dialect liad much the same souu'l.
[n every respect the boys were just as well off now as they
had been with the other Indians; but what fi'ave llac
2;reat concern was the thouii'ht of his father cominiic to
Skidegatc in quest of him, and not finding liini there. 80
far as he knew not one of the war-party had survivi'd.
Tliere would therefore be entire iixnoranco of its fate at
Skidegate, and his father's anxious inquiries would meet
with no response. That on being disappointed there he
would come on up to IMasset was hardly possible, unless he
had some hint of what had happened, and who was there
to fjivo him this ?

Pondering the situation, however, Rae could find small
ground for hope in that direction ; but instead of yielding to
despair, he began to think at once of some other way of
escape. A permanent residence among the Indians was of
course not to be considered for a moment. Escape he nuist
somehow, whether secretly or with the savages' consent, as
by ransom ; the only question was how it might be accom-
plished. After much thinking a way suggested itself, and
wdth a brightened countenance he explained it to Freckles.

" There's only one chance for us now that I can see,
said he, "and dear only knows when that will come. It's
this. You know these people go over to the mainland every

TAKEN BY THE MASSETS.

271

o very
■re was
ranches

re very

3 soun'l.
as tliey

IV c llao

)mmg to

lere. ^0

survived.

^ fate at

uld meet
there ho
unless he

kvas there

ind sniall
liclding to
[r way of
Ins was of

he must

lonsent, as

Ijc accoiu-

itself, and

reckles.

can see,"

nne. It s
land every

year to get their onlachan grease from the Tsinishians, and
to buy blankets. Now we must manage somtdiow to make
them understand that if they will take us over with tlieni,
and let the folks at Fort Simps(jn know they have us, they
can get a good ransom for us, do you see ? ''

"To be sure," responded Freckles, his face brightening
up as he grasped the idea; "they don't want to keep us
here always. We're no good to them, are wo ? "

" No good that I can see, except as curiosities," returned
Iwic, smiling grimly ; " but they might have a fancy for
]<eeping us all the same. They miglit M'ant to adopt us,
you know. They do that sort of thing quite often. Now,
how would you like," he continued, pointing to a bent and
shrivelled hag of a woman, who was slowly creejnng past,
loohino: more like a witch than a human bein^Gf, "to be
adopted by her, and to be her son ?"

Freckles lifted up his hands in horror at the suggestion.

" No, indeed," ho exclaimed energetically ; " not a bit

of it."

Rao laughed at his perturl)ation.

"Don't be scared," said he; "there's not unich likelihood
in it, but I've heard of such thini-'s beinG" done. Hollo !
here comes the chief, and he looks as if he had something to
say to us."

The chief, whose name was Sing-ai, signifying "sunrise,"
had already taken a warm liking to the boys, and felt most
kindly disposed towards them, and he was now approaching
them in order to explain a scheme that was in his mind to
give tliem some amusement.

272

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

Witli mTafc animation he soiio-ht to make his meaninc;
clear, but all tliat Rac could make out was, that he proposed
to take them out hunting*, though whether the game was to
be human beings or wild animals he could not clearly
determine. He felt pretty sure, however, that it was the
latter, and sio-nified his williuirness to take a hand at it.
whereat the chief seemed much gratilied.

The next day quite a large party set out, Sing-ai acting
as leader, and having the boys by his side. They directed
their course towards the forest to the north-west of the
village, and it was not long before they were swallowed up
in its leafy depths.

Being thoroughly recruited by the rest of the past two
days, Rae and Freckles found no difficulty in keeping their
places in the procession. The country was more open than
it had been farther south, and the travelling wns con-
sequently much easier. Rae had many temptations to try
his skill on different kinds of game they met with in their
progress ; Init Sing-ai checked him the first time he raised
his ride, and made him understand that he wanted him to
reserve his lire for the present.

A little before mid-day the chief's reason for the action
was revealed. Making their way with great caution to the
sunnuit of a ridge, they looked down into the valley beyond
it, and there, feeding in blissful ignorance of their proximity,
was a small herd of wapiti, consisting of a fine stag, several
does, and a couple of fawns.

8ing-ai's eye glistened at the sight, and pointing first at
the deer and then at Rae's riile, he nodded his head, and

TAKEN B V T//E MASSETS.

273

neamnfjj
)roposed
I was to
clearly
was the
Lid at it.

ai acting:
' (lirccted
st of tlic
lowed \ip

past two

their

open than
was con-
3ns to try
1 in their
ho raised
3d hiui to

the action
non to the

7 h^^yf^"*^^

Iproxhiiity,

liv", several

[n*'<' fn'st fit
head, aucl

smiled, as thoni^-h to say, "Xow yon can fire. That's the
reason I did not want you to do so before."

Making sure that he had a good cap on, Rao, resting the
rille upon the root of a tree, and striving io control the
nervousness which would assert itself — for both the import-
ance of the game and the presence of so many spectators
had their effect upon him — took long and careful aim at
the stag just behind the fore-shoulder, and fired.

At the instant of the report, the wapiti sprang liigh into
the air, made a frantic rush forward, and then fell over on
its side, kicking its loa's convulsively.

Witli a shout of delight the chief leaped down the slope,
followed by all his men, tlio most of whom set off in pursuit
of the does and fawns, in the hope of securing some of them
also.

8ing-ai ran ridit \\\) to the struggling stag, and catching
liim by the antlers tried to cut his throat with a seaman's
sheath-knife of which he was very proud, anil \\ hich he had
got in barter over on the mainland some time before. I'ut
it was a poor affair, rusty of blaile and dull of edge, and the
pain it inflicted only served to arouse the dying animal into
a final spasm of energy.

Ivegaininci: its feet by a frantic effort, it lunged forward
fiU'lously at Sing-ai and threw him to the grcjund, once
inure falling itself, and this time in such a way as to pin
file Indian down ; one tine of the antlers indeed piercing
his arm, and compelling him to shout for assistance M'ith
undisguised terror in his tone.

Rac had paused after tiring to reload his "ifle, but seeing

2; 4

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

tlic cliicf'.s perilous position lie did not wait to complete the
operation.

Dropping liis rifle, he snatched up Frcckles's, ^^'hich was
still loaded, and sprang down the slope to where the deer
and the chief were encja^'ed in so close a struordc that he
did not dare lire for fear of the bullet doin^x more harm than
he desired.

But he liad his hunting-knife in his belt, and drawing
this he threw himself into the conflict, thrusting the keun
blade deep into the wapiti's throat.

What the Indian's knife had failed to do, his accomplished
at the first stroke. A great gush of 1)lood followed the steel
as it was v. ithdrawn, and once more the stag fell, this time
never to rise again.

With some difficulty Sing-ai released himself and rose
to his feet. His face bore an expression of mingled surprise
and chagrin, as though to say, —

" You go( me out of a nasty scrape that time, didn't you,
but what was I thinking of any way that I got into it?"

The wound in his arm evidently hurt him sorely, and it
was bleeding a good deal, so he made signs to Eae to bind it
up tightly with a thong in such a way as to compress the
artery and stop the flow of blood.

This done, he was ready to give attention to the wapiti,
and they looked him ovei* together. He was a very tine
largo specimen of his kind, being in ]n'ime condition, and
having a splendid spread of antlers. With the assistance of
a couple of his men, the chief proceeded to cut the creature
up ; and not being interested in that process, Rao strolled up

leto the

licli was
,hc deer
that lie
rm than

drawiiig
lie keen

iiplislied
the steel
Ills time

and ruse
surprise

dii't you,

it ? "

, and it
l)in<l it

rcss the

wapiti,
•cry tine
ion, and
>tance of
creature
•oiled up

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

-275

tlic other side of the valley to sec how those who had gone
in pursuit of the rest of the herd might he faring".

He met them as they were returning, their sole prize
being a poor little fawn that they had managed to run down,
and he could not help feeling somewhat proud of the dill'er-
encc between his trophy of the chase and theirs.

On their return to the villasje there was crrcat reioicini>'
over the slaying of the stag, and that night a feast was held
at which there were dances and songs that seemed to llae
remarkably liki.' those he had seen an<l heard at Ski<jegate.

Sing-ai, in spite of his sore arm, took a very acti\e part,
one time coming before the assembly in his finest array, and
liaving the wapiti's antlers upon his head, while he moved
around the circle with a slow dignified step amid a chorus
of grunts and cries that meant applause.

lie was very anxious for Tlae and Freckles to show what
they could do in the dancing line, but they refused, until at
length, after repeated invitations, Rao, not wishing to seem
discourteous, seeing how han<lsomely the chief was treating
them, said to his companion, —

" Look here. Freckles, j'ou whistle for me, and Fll see if
I can't give them a bit of a Highland Hing."

Now Freckles had a rare tiift in whistling, and he had
no objection to displaying it if Iiac wanted to give an
exhibition of his ability on the light fantastic toe, so he at
once set up his pi['ing shrill and brisk, and Ihie, stepping
out into the clear space before the fire, began to dance.

At first he felt awkward and constrained, but soon the
spirit of the thing seized upon him, and as Frcckles's music

276

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

c^rew morrier lie tlirew more and more enercrv into the exer-
cise, snap[)ing his fingers above his head, and giving vent
to exultant cries as he sprang liigher and liigher from the
ground, until at last, reaching the climax with a wild whoop
worthy of a native, he tlung himself down completely out of
breath, but feeling very well satisfied with his performance.

The savage spectators enjoyed it innncnsely. There was
so nuieh more animation in it than in their own dances that
they would have liked to encore Rae ; but once was enough
for him, and he slipped away soon after to the chief's house,
where he and Freckles had been made to feel entirely at
homo.

As usual the Indians kept up their revelry until far into
the night, not betaking themselves to their beds until tliey
were entirely worn out, and in a condition to sleep for tho
next twenty-four hours.

The boys had been asleep for a couple of hours before
8ing-ai and the other meml)ers of the household returned,
and llae was awakened by the noise of their talk and their
movements.

After they had all settled down and were sleeping
heavily, he found himself very wide awake, and the night
being warm, and the air of the house close nnd oppressive,
he thought lie would go outside for a breath of fi'esh air.

Moving gently so as to disturlj no one, not even Freckles,
he made his way out of the house. It was cU'ar bright
moonlight, and the whole ^'illago was wrnj-ti^ed in absolute
silence, not even the dogs being astir : and with a delicious
sense of beinu' his own master for a brief while at least, Rao

J-AKEN BY THE MASSETS.

277

he exor-
ng vent
rom tlic
l1 whoop
ly out of
ii'iuaiice.
here was
ices that
s cnoiisi'h
E"s house,
ith'ely at

1 far into
ntil tlioy
p for th'j

s before
returned,
uid their

t^leepinc;
he night
)pressivo,
h air.
Freckle^;,
lir hright

ahsohUe
I delicious
least, Kao

moved quietly down towards the shore, where the waves
were softly lapping' the pebbles. His thoughts wont out to
his father, and he wondered where he might be at that
moment, and whether he had yet started from Fort Camosun
in the jaunty little Plorcr. Then his eyes grow moist and a
lump rose in his throat as he pictured to himself his father's
1 litter disappointment when he would reach Skidegate and
find no trace of his son. AVould ho think him dead, or
vro'.ild he surmise what had happened, and come on to Masset
determined to find him at any cost ?

While pondering over these (juestions, to which he himself
could only hazard unsatisfactory guesses, Eae glanced out
towards the open sea just at the moment that the moon's
beams, makino- a bi'oad briuiit path across the shinnnerinix
vraves, threw into prominence something, the sight of which
caused him to spring to his feet with an exclamation of
surprise, and v.'ith a M'ild ohrill of hope at his lienrt.

Clearly outlined in the midst of the silver light was a
schooner r.-litlino- smoothly aloncr before the o-cntlc niiiht
Itrcezo, and evidently making for ]\rasset Inlet.

"Can that be the I'loirrT' cried Kae breathlessly.
"Thank Cod if it is!" Th^u after a pause, dvn-ing whirjh
he strove to make out more distinctly the sluw ly ap]»roaching
vessel. "It's Mdiite men anvwav, and we must get out to her
sonioiiow before tlii^ Indians know she is here."

Making his way back to the chiefs house' as silently as
ho could, lie waked up Fi'eckles, and, putting his hand over
his mouth to signify that he should ask no questions,
whispered to him to take his ritle and follow him.

2jS

TAKEN BY THE M ASSETS.

They <4'ot outside and down to tlic sliorc M'ithout any-
thing stirring, and then Rae pointed out the schooner, now
in plainer sight than before.

Freckles threw up liis hands in delight, but discreetly
refrained from any other expression of his feelings.

" We must get a canoe," wliispered Kae, "and put ofl' in
it at once."

They liad not long to seek among the many canoes drawn
up on the beach, and soon found a small one that they
could launch without dilliculty. Placing their riiles in it,
they carried it carefully out into the water, reckless of wet
feet, and ckuubered in, every sound their movements made
sending a thrill of fear throuMi their hearts.

Once safely aboard, they grasped the paddles and set to
work with all their might, Freckles splasliing badly, and
causing the canoe to rock ominously with his unskilful
strokes.

They had got but a hundred yards from the shore when
they heard a shout, and looking back saw Sing-ai rushing
down to the beach with furious strides.

CHAPTER XVI.

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

AT the sight of Siiig-ai, Freckles cried out in terror, aiul.
ijiissing' a stroke with liis paddle, came within an
ace of upsetting the canoe. But for the skill in the man-
agement of this ticklish craft that Rae had acquired on
Camosini Bay. they certainly would have been tund>led into
the water, and their attempt a: flight summarily brought to
an end.

Happily, by a deft movement, Rae restored crpiilibrium,
and shouted to his companion, —

" Take care there, Freckles, will you ! Don't lose your
head, or they will catch us sure. Keep cool now, and paddle
away for dear life."

After the first fright, Freckles, however, rei:jained his
lialance, and the two boys managed to make their light bark
fairly fly through the water, Rae casting frequent anxious
glances behind him to see how the chief was getting on.

Fortunately for them his progress was slow, for the
reason that he found dillicultv in arousing some of his men,
they were so heavy with sleep after their feast and dance.
The boys had consequently more than doubled their lead

■"SSBSS

280

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

before a canoe contaiiiiiiu' four Indians M'as launcliod in their
pursuit.

But once tins canoe was well under way it becjan to
ov^erhaul them at a rate that caused Rae's heart to sink,
though it did not diminish the energy witli which lie plied
his paddle. The pursuers seeme<l to be going as fast again
as the pursued, and the issue of tlic race could hardly bo
long in doubt.

But all this time the schooner was steadily thougli
slowly drawing nearer, and those on board, if keeping a
sharp look-out, nuist soon get an inkling of what was
taking place. This thought came to Bae as he dashed his
paddle in deeply, an<l, bidding Freckles stop for a monu-nt,
he stood up in the canoe and shouted with all his might, —

" Schooner alioy ! Help us ! We're chased by the
Indians."

Then without waiting for an answer, he resumed his
strenuous strokes.

That his hail reached the schooner was evident from an
answer coming to him through the warm still air; buteltlni'
because of the distance or of liis own excessive a^'itation, ho
coidd not make out its meaning, so he ]iaused again and sent
another appeal for help across the water.

1\) it also there was a response no more intelligible than
the first, and Bae beu'an to M-ondcr if it reallv could be tlie
Plover, as certainly there was nothing familiar al)out tin'
voice of the person answering him. Not daring to lose any
more time in this ^^'ay, for Sing-ai's canoe was gaining u[)OU
him liand-over-hand, Bae gave his whole attention to lii^j

RESCUED BY THE RUSSLIXS.

281

pa'lilling until the Indians were within fifty yards of him,
ant] ho was about tlio same distance from the schooner.
Then lie felt that he must niak(^ one more efl'ort to enlist
tlie aid of those on Ijoard, and ci'icd out passionately, —

"For Heaven's sake, help us! Stop that other canoe.
Those Indians are after us/'

Just as he finished a man appeared in the Viow of the
schooner, and tlie next moment the report of a rille rang out
with startling effect, while a bullet struck the water close to
the bow of the Indian canoe.

"Hurrah!" gasped Eae, who had about reachetl the
limit of his strength ; " they're helping us. We're all right."

Looking back, he saw, to his intense joy, that the report
of the rifle, and the splash of the bullet so dangerously near,
liail made the Indians halt. They wore evidently conferring
among themselves as to what thev should do.

As if to help thenr to a conclusion, another report came
from the schooner, and another bullet inw u]) the water,
tliis time so close to the canoe that some dro2:)S were splashed
into Sing-ai's face.

This second warning settled the matter. Uttering harsh
cries of disappointment and rage, the Indians turned about
and paddled furiously shoreward, abandoning further pur-
suit,

" Thank God ! " exclaimed Rae, with a fervent sigh of
relief and gratitude, " they've given up. Paddle away for
the schooner, Freckles."

As they approached her, Rae saw that it was not the
I'lorer at all, but a larger vessel, and that it was a number

28:

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

of entirely unfainiliar faces the Itri^-lit inoonlic;lit showed
him loukinu" over the bulwarks at the canoe witli iiKiuiriii"-

1111

interest.

"Oil, tliank 3'oii, thank yon," he pantc(h ''Yon flicil
that ritle just in time. They ncai'ly can^ht ns/'

Itunning up aiongsi(hj tlic schooner, ho hid Freckles
climb on board by means of the rope one of the crew oflercd,
and then followed himself.

When he gained the deck and looked about him, he was
suri)rised to find a numl)er of strange faces Gfazinii; at him
with eager curiosity, and to be addressed in a language
entirely foreign to him.

Turning to the speaker, who was evidently one of the
officers, he said, —

" T can't understand j^ou ; I am English."

At the sound of the last word the oflicer pricked up liis
ears, and nodded his head to show that he understood. Ilo
then disappeared into the after-cabin, and after a minute
returned, having with him a young man a couple of years
older than Rae, who at once went up to him and held up his
hand with a smile of courteous greeting.

" You are English, eh ? I speak English a little. You
tell me and I tell him," pointing to the officer, who was, as
Piae rightly judged, the captain of the schooner.

Rae at once entered into explanations, speaking with
great earnestness, being anxious to produce the deepest im-
pression possible upon his new-found protectors, so that
they might make his cause their own, and not give him
back to the IMassets under any circumstances.

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIAXS.

2S3

Tlie yoiin;:;' ninn interpret! '»] for liiin very well indeed,
althougli now iind then lie had to ask him to repeat sonic of
his sentences, he was speakinuj so rapidly nndcr tin- stress of
mixed emotions he was experieneino" as he told his stoiy.

The ea[)tain an<l the others on board listened with lively
interest, making remarks to one another from time to time
ill sympathetic tones that hoded well for the result of Kac's
appeal.

When ho had finished his relation, the captain and tho
voune' man conferred tocjcther a little while, durine- which
liac scanned their faces with feverish anxiety, and then tho
yonnc,Mnan, extcndiiiL,^ his hand, sai<l with o-reat cordiality, —

" You are welcome here, ^^'e will take care of you, and
we arc glad to have had the good fortune to come to your
assistance in such good time."

Rae wrung the proffered hand warmly, and drawing
Freckles forward, so that it might be clear he was speaking
for both, said, —

"AVc thank you with all our hearts, and my father will
rewar-1 you well for all }'our goodness."

The young man laughed lightly.

" Oh, you need say nothing al^out rewards. Wo will
help you all wc can, and when 3'ou do get back to your
father you can tell him that th(^ Tiussians are not ba<l people.
And now, won't you come down into the cabin and eat some
food ? "

With great willingness tho boys accepte'd the invitation,
and soon a bountiful supper of salt meat, hard biscuits, and
liot coffee was spread before them, that seemed after their

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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I.I

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Photographic

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'^" ...^ 4^^

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

,<i^

284

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

many days' experience of sava^re fare the most delicious meal
they had ever tasted in their lives.

How heartily tliey did fall to, and how pleased their
hosts seemed to be at the keenness of their appetites !

"Ah, ha! you like that," said the youni,' man, smiling:;;
" you did get tired of what the In*lians gave you — was it
not so ? "

" Indjed wo did," responded Rae, " tired to death of it.
And then y(ju know we haven't had a plate or a knife anil
fork since we left the Plover, and it is so nice to have them

ai^am.

Hardly less delightful than the comfortable meal was
the going to bed in civilized fashion once more. There
happened to be a spare bunk in the after-cabin and another
in the fore-cabin, and these were placed at the boys' service.

They were l)otli very weary, the reaction from the
excitement of the escape telling upon them no less than the
exertion of the paddling, nnd it was with great sighs of con-
tent that they lay down in their bunks for a good lung
sleep.

The next morning, when they came on deck, they were
almost out of sight of land, and in answer to Rae's question,
the young man who spoke English informed him that they
were on their way to Alaska.

In the course of a long conversation with him, Kao
learned much about the schooner and those who manned
her. Tlic vessel belom^fed to the Russian American Ctini-
pany, which then held a monopoly of fur-hunting all over
Alaska, and those on board were in the employ of the com-

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

'■^5

us meal

ed their
j

smiling ;
— was it

^th of it.
nifc aivl
ive them

meal was
3. There
(1 another
s' service,
rom the
than the
IS of con-
rfood long

they were

s question,
that they

him, Kac
,0 manned
[ican Com-
lo- all over
the com-

pany. They had made a trip south in the hope of picking
up some good pelts among the Indians of tlie Queen Char-
lotte Islands, and when they made so ti nely an appearance
at Masset were intending to see if there were any skins
to be found in that village. But as Rae, in tlic course of
conversation that night, told them he had seen notlnng of
tlie kind, and as they presumed tlie Indians would not be
in very good-liumour for trade any way, they liad decided
to put out to sea again, and return to Sitka, the time
allowed for their trip having nearly expired at any rate.

"You will now come back with us," said the young man,
vliose name, as Rae had l)y this time learned, was Alexander
r.amnov, "and M'c will be good to you ; and some day you
will go back to your fort where your father is. Tliat will
make you glad, will it not ? " and he smiled at the idea as
if it gave him no small pleasure to suggest it.

" We will, indeed, be glad to stay with you until Me can
go home," said Rae cordially. " i am quite sure you will
be good to us, and we'll try to l)0 good boys, and not give
you any trouble — won't we, Freckles ? "

Freckles promptly ducked his touzled head in token of
assL'ut, and the covenant was complete.

During the next few days, while the schooner was beat-
ing her way northward against opposing winds, Rae liad a
happy time. The comforts of civilize*! life — not merely
having good food well served, but also the lieing able to
wash and dress oneself properly, and to sleep in a cozy
hunk — rejoiced his heart ; and then, best of all, there was tlie
assurance that now it would be only a question of time

(473) 18

286

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

when ho should get hack to Fort Camosnn. He might have
to he patient for weeks, or even perhaps for months, until
an opportunity should offer, hut ultimately he would get
back all rights and in the meantime he was among people
who would treat him and Freckles kindly, and who were
entirely civilized, even if they spoke a foreign tongue.

4tl « « • *

It is now necessary that the hoys should be left on hoan:
the Russian schooner, with all their discomfort and dangers
at an end for the present, in order that the course of afl'aiDj
at Fort Camosun may be taken up.

When the Plover returned to the fort without the boys,
]\rr. Finlayson's grief was so profound that for the space of
a day he would have speech with nobo'ly. The gloomy
premonitions which had oppressed him before Rae left, but
which he had dismissed as being based more ujton Lis own
selfishness than anything else, and as aflording no suflicient
reason in themselves for denj'ing his son what he .so eagerly
desired, now came back to haunt him.

" I should never have let him w," he murmured to him-
self. " I dreaded lest ill should come of it, and now it has
fallen out as I feared. Well," he added, bracing himself up
to bear the new burden of anxiety that had come upon hiin,
" there's no time to be lost in repining. I must go after
him at once. God grant that he may be gently dealt with
by the Indians. They shall have anything they ask as
ransom, if only they harm not one hair of my boy's head."

With the utmost speed preparations were made for a
rescue expedition. The Plover was provisioned for many

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

387

fht have
ihs, until
oul<-l get
ig people
vho were
;ue.

) on board
d clangers

of aflair^:

, the boys,
le space o£
'he gloomy
^ae left, but
on bis own
lO sniliciont
bO eagerly

[c(l to bin\-
now it bti^
himself np

upon

biin,

list go after
dealt ^Yitll
I icy ask fvs
ly's head."
ladc for a
for many

weeks, and instead of her usual cargo, was ballasted so
as to sail her best, the only goods taken being a largo
assortment of things likely to prove most attractive to
the Haidas, and to be readily accei)ted as ransom for their
captives.

In addition to the rcixnlar crew of the schooner, Mr.
Finlayson took on board with him twelve of h.is best men,
all fully armed ; and as a special means of coercion, to be
resorted to only at the last necessity, he liad one of the
small cannon removed from the bastion and mounted in
the bows. Havinix seen the sensational efl'ect of tins in-
strument of war when tried upon the Songhies, he felt sure
it would stand him in equally good stead if it required to be
used against the Haidas.

The men comprising his party were harilly less eager
than himself for the recovery of the boys. They all loved
llae, and for his sake felt an interest in Freckles, and they
were to a man reaily to do or dare anything that might
stand in the way of their success. There was not one left
in the garrison who would not gladly have exchanged places
with any of those who were accompanying j\Ir. Finlayson ;
and as the schooner moved away froin the wharf, they sent
lioarty cheers after her, to show their deep interest in her
mission, and their fervent desire that it might be success-
fully accomplished.

Tears filled the factor's ej'es as he witnessed these proofs
of his men's loyaltj^ and love.

" They're ground good fellows," he said to himself. " They
think far more of me than I deserve; but if we only 11 nd

288

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

Rae safe and sound, they shall all have good reason to re-
joice with me."

There was not mucli talked about on the voyage up
but the chances of regaining the boys, and many were the
suggestions made by the men as to what should be done
in the event of this or that difficulty presenting itself. In
their hearts they were all hoping that they would have an
opportunity of giving the Indians a sound trouncing, pro-
vided of course their young captives did not suffer thereby.
They deemed it a most aggravating piece of presumption
for them to attack the schooner and lay hands upon the
boys, and considered that the cannonading of their village
and the knocking of a score or so of them on the head
would bo only a well-merited penalty.

But Mr. Finlayson held different views. He was not a
man of blood under any circumstances ; and although, if it
should turn out that Rac's life hud been takeii, he would
assuredly inflict condign punishment upon his murderers,
still, short of so lamentable a contingency, he would be
guilty of no violence. And, moreover, it was his intention
to exhaust every means of diplomacy before making any
show of force. If he could regain his boy without shedding
a drop of blood, he would bo perfectly content.

The Plover had a prosperous voyage to Skidegate, reach-
ing the inlet about noon of a fine bright day, when all nature
at least seemed to be in a hopeful mood. Making in as
close to the shore as the soundings permitted, the schooner
came to anchor right in front of the village, whose iiiliabit-
ants soon turjied out in force to receive her.

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

289

n to re-
rage up
vcrc the
be done
^elf. In
Lave an
;ing, pro-
tliercby.
sumption
upon the
jir village
the hea<l

was not a
ugh, if it
he would
uurderers,
^YOuld be
intention
,king auy
t shedding

tate, rcach-
11 all nature
Iking in as
lie schooner
)se uihabit-

"Now," said the factor, "let us all be ready to fight
if needs be, but let us go as quietly as we can at the
start."

The cannon having been charged and pointed towards
tlie village, and every rille and every nui.sket carefully
loaded, Mr. Finlayson, getting into the boat with two men
only to row him, approached the l)each, but did not land,
standing In the bow of the boat and calling upon the natives
to come forward and have a parley with him. He knew
enough of their dialect to make himself understood, and was
very lu'gent in his request.

At first there was a manifest hanging back on the part
of the Haidas. Their consciences evidently troubled them,
and they no doubt feared treachery of some kind.

Ihit as the factor persisted in his request, and added
thereto as^Airances of no intention to harm any of them, and
promises of presents, after a little .several Indians came for-
ward about half-way to the water's edge, and halting there,
one of them — who was, in fact, old Hi-ling-a's successor in
the chieftainship — plucked up courage to ask, —

" Who are you ? What do you want ? "

Too eager for information concerning his son to lose any
time in beatincf about the bush, although that would have
been the proper etiquette for the occasion, Mr. Finlayson
spoke out at once, —

" I want to know where are those two white bovs whom
you kept behind when the big canoe " — indicating the
Plover — " was here a little while ago."

At the mention of the boys the Indian's face clouded.

29©

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

Ho \\\m^ his head and made no answer. The factor noticed
this, and it filled him with apprehension.

"Have the scoundrels done away with them?" he asked
himself, shuddering at the thought. " He evidently under-
stands me well enough, and is afraid or ashamed to answer."

Repeating his question, and still getting no reply, ]\Ir.
Finlayson's anxiety could no longer be restrained.

" Row me ashore," he connnanded. " I must make him
answer me. I can't stand this uncertaintv."

As soon as the boat moved in the chief retreated to the
main body of the people, and awaited the factor's approach
in manifest i)erturbation.

Leaping out of the boat, IMr. Finlayson marched straight
up to the crowd of natives, and, standing before the one who
had been their spokesman, said in his most conunanding
tone, —

" Tell me at once about the white boj's, and it will be
well with you ; but if you do not tell me, T will command the
thunder and lightning to smite you, and " — pointing to the
row of houses — " I will break them in pieces so that you will
have no houses to dwell in."

The natives knew well cnouijh that these were not mere
empty words. They had sufficient knowledge of the terrilde
weapons of war used by the white people to credit all the
factor's threats, and, disheartened as they were by the sore
loss they had sustained through the disastrous failure of the
war-pnrty against the Massets, they had no desire to l>riiig
upon themselves further humiliation. Mr. Finlayson's words
therefore disturbed them deeply, and they engaged in earnest

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIAXS.

291

consultation for some niinutes, at tlic close of which an old
grave-looking man, who was in fact their chief niedicine-inan,
came forward a little, and stretching out his empty palms
towards the factor, said in a tone of such profound sadness
that it went far to carry conviction of the truth of his
statements, —

" The white hoys arc not here. We have them not. The
white chief may search in all our houses, l»ut he will not
find them. Yet we did them no harm. Their Mood is not
upon our hands. If the wiiite chief will listen, he will be
toMall."

Mr. Finlayson liaving signified his willingness to listen
patiently, the medicine-man entered into a full account of
what had occurred, explaining that the boys had been held
captive just in order that they might be taken with the war-
party, and how they had set forth with the rest to attack
the ^basset village, and how the war-party had been utterly
defeated, and of its whole nund)er only thive hail survived,
and after enduring awful hardships made their way back to
Skidegato, where two had subsequently died.

As he was speaking there were murnuu's of assent and
nods of confirmation from those standing around, and, look-
ing into their faces, Mr. Finlayson, who from long experience
had come to be able to understand the Indians as well as
any white man on the West Coast, felt forced upon him the
harrowincc conviction that he was hearincr the truth.

When the medicine-man had finished his narration, he
put a number of questions 10 him, but elicited nothing
further of importance.

292

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

If Rac had not lost liis life in the assault on the villaGfe,
ho must be a prisoner among the Massets, and there was
nothing to do but follow liini thither in the hope of finding
him in their hands, and ransoming liim.

With a heavy heart the factor turned away, having iirst
spoken in biii-ning words to the Indians, telling them that
his son's blood would be upon them if he was not found safe
at Masset, for they had exposed him to the danger; and so,
if he was not recovered, he, Mr. Finlayson, would return,
and destroy tlieir village, to teach them a lesson they might
never forget.

Tliis threat made them all look very solemn and fright-
ened, and they followed the factor to the boat, entreating
him to be merciful, for they did not mean any harm to his
son. They had intended to take good care of him, and they
had not expected that the war-party would be defeated, and
so on.

]\Ir. Finlayson's replies were curt almost to grnffncss.
He did give the Indians credit for being free from murderous
intent when they made captives of the two boys, yet, never-
theless, as a consequence of that indefensible proceeding,
Rae was now either dead or in captivity with the ^lassct
tribe, and who could say which ?

As soon as the schooner was regained, orders were given
to up anchor and get under way for the Masset village,
Mr. Finlayson being determined to follow his son step by
step until his fate was ascertained and the worst known.

Pursuing her way northward, the Plover circumnavigated
Rose Point, and without delay or mishap reached Masset

RESCUED BY THE RUSSLIXS.

!93

I village,
lerc was
: finding

'ing liist
icm that
)iuk1 safe
; and so,
d return,
icy

miglit

id friglit-
mtrcating
rm to liis
L and they
eated, and

rrrn ffncss.
inu'dcrous
et, never-
occcding,
le ^lasset

ere given
et village,
n step hy
:nown.
mavigated
ed Masset

Inlet. ]\rr. Finlayson had never vi*<ited the place hcforo,
l)ut one of his men had, and had ac(iuircd sufHcient fannliar-
ity with the dialect to hold speech with the natives.

The latter, when they saw the Vlovcv carefully picking
her w.iy into their harbour, at once jumped to the conclusion
tliat it was the same schooner as that in which Rae and
Freckles had escaped, and the wdiole population of the
village flocked to the shore to receive the hoat, ^\hich, as
before, contained only the factor and two oarsmen, one of
whom was to act as interpreter.

Sing-ai came forward from the crowd, his liandsomo
face beaming with good-humour, for he had (juite nia<le up
his mind that he was to hear about the white boj-s again,
and perhaps be rewarded for the kindness he had certainly
shown them during their brief stay at the viHage.

Mr. Finlayson deemed this genial reception a good
omen, and bid his interpreter speak in as pleasant a
tone as he could manage in view of his naturally grutf
voice.

However surprised and disappointed as ^Ir. Finla3'son
uiay have been at the result of his inquiries after Ilae among
the Skidegate Indians, what he learned from those at Masset
caused him even deeper distress.

Rae and Freckles had been there, and had been well
treated by the chief and his people, although they had come
in the company of their enemies on a hostile mission. J^ut
they were not there now. They ha<l eflected their escape
one night when a big canoe just like that at present out in
the water had suddenly appeared, and they had gone off to

294

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

it in one of tlio small canoc^^, takin^^ tlioir thunder and light-
nlni,' sticks, and all their belongings.

Poor Mr. Finlayson ! Here was fresh mystery indeed,
yet not without some rays of hope, A schooner just like
the Plover ! Wliat could that mean ? lie knew of no such
vessel on the coast belonging to his company. It must either
have come up from Siin Francisco or down from Sitka, and
there was no telling wliich.

He questioned Sing-ai as closely as possible, but could
elicit nothing that might help him to determine whence the
schooner came.

Indeed, if Sing-ai had had something to tell, it would
have been hard to get it out of him, for he was so dis-
appointed at finding that it was not the Plover which had
been at IMasset before, that he grew (piite sulky, and ^Ir.
Finlayson thought it well to pro[)itiate him with presents
ere the interview ended.

When he had satisfied himself that there was nothing
more to be learned from the Massets, Mr. Finlayson returned
to the schooner to talk over the matter with his men.

The news that his son had succeeded in getting back
among civilized people comforted him greatly. It could
now be only a question of time as to his getting back to
Fort Camosun also. But in his fond impatience to have liis
boy with him again, the factor could not think of returning
to the fort to avrait there Rao's return. He must follow in
Ids track as fast as he could in the hope of catching up with
him ere Ion;?.

He had a long consultation with his men upon the

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

295

,iul liglit-

just like
if no siicli
iiist either
Sitka, and

"but could
^'hence tlie

!, it would
,vas so dis-
whicli liiid
y, and Mr.
th presents

[•as notliing
ion returned
men.

letting back
It could

\\Yf back to

r ^

I to have kis
)f rcturnin;4'
1st follow in
ling up witk

n upoi

1 the

question as to whcnco the mj^'sterious schooner most likely
hailed. Was she a tra<linj,' vessel from San Francisco pick-
ing up skins amongst the different Indian .settleiiionis, or
was she one of the Russian sealing schooners that had for
.some reason or other run into Ma.sset ?

Mr. Finlayson liimself inclined to the latter theory, but
the men, who per]ua}>s were somewhat inlluenced by the
desire to have a run down to San Fijnicisco, were unanimous
in support of the former, and the factor let thorn carry the
day.

The Plovers course was ther-fn/c turned scuthwft,rd
a'^ain, and thus father and son, instead of drawinij- nearer,
were being separated further and further from each other
every hour, the one going north, the other south, and their
reunion more remote in the distance tlian ever.

^p ^» ^^ ^^ '^f

And now to return to Rae. He was not long in getting
to feel thoroughly at home on board the Russian schooner,
although Alexander Baranov was the only member of the
crew who could speak English fluently. The captain and
some of the men could manage only a few words apiece, and
hy the aid of these and abundant gesticulations, Rae could
hold intercourse with them after a fashion.

They all took kindly to him. His sto/y was accepted as
true in every particular, and he had the comfort of knowing
that his position amongst them was unquestioned, and that
iu due time they would aid him in rejoining his father.

With ^is happy faculty, therefore, of taking things as
they came and making the best of them, trusting in a kindly

296

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS,

Providence to look after tlie future, he felt very much at
ease in his iiiind, and was ready to enter heartily into tlie
new life that surrounded him, and fulfil his part in anything
that niiij^ht turn up.

To young Baranov he quickly became warmly attached.
The Russian youth was much akin to himself hy nature,
being of a frank, fearless spirit, and having a warm heart.
Like Rae, too, he took pleasure in leadership ; and just as
llae enjoyed his relation to Freckles, so did Baranov his
relation to Rae, which the latter had the good sense to
accept just as unrpiestioningly as Freckles had done.

In making her way back to Sitka the Russian schooner
did not go out into the Pacillc, which would have been
much the shorter course, but for safety's sake crossed Dixon
Entrance, and began to thread the mazes of the archipelago
which fringed the mainland clear up to Cape Spencer.

The scenery was very much like that through which
Rae had passed on the voj^age from Fort Camosun to Fort
Simpson, except that in many places it vras wilder, and that
the chances of shipwreck seemed even more plentiful than
on the other course.

Baranov told him that they would make a call at Fort
Wrangel on their way, and Rae, who had heard something
about this important Russian post, was glad to know that
he would have an opportunity of seeing it.

As the schooner worked her way through the devious
straits and channels and passages which had to be traversed,
Rae could not help admiring the skill in navigation shown
by the Russians. They certainly knew how to sail their

RESCUED BY THE RUSSIANS.

297

sturdy craft to perfection, and loyal as lio felt to Captain
Hanson, he found liiniself compelled to admit that the cap-
tain of the Russian schooner had little to learn from him.

'Oh, wouldn't it be fun to have a race between your
scliooner and ours ! " said he to Baranov. " I'm sure 1 can t
say which is the best sailer, and it would he so exciting.
And perhaps we may have it, too," he went on, his face
lighting up at the thought which h.ad just occurred to him.
" You know my father will be sure to follow me up as fast
as he can, and he may guess what kind of a vessel I've
escaped on, and come right up to Sitka after me. That's
quite possible, isn't it, Alexander ? " he concluded, looking
into the Russian's face with an appeal for assent in the
probability of this happy consunnnation.

"Wh}', of course," responded Earanov heartily, "nothing
impossible about that. And if he does come up to Sitka,
we'll do our best to beat him at sailing, I promise you.''

If Rae had only known that while he was thus chatting,
and niakiuG: his heart liiiht with hones that were, after all,
not too wild, his father, having allowed his men to persuade
liini against his own judgment, had already turned the
Plover's bow southward, and instead of drav.'ing nearer
Sitka was increasing the distance from it every hour, he
woiiM hardly have whistled so merrily to the breeze bi'i\)re
which the schooner was bowline,^ aloii'^ at an inspii-ing rate
of speed.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

THE Russian schooner reached Fort Wrangel "in good
order and condition," as the bills of lading have it,
one snnny afternoon, and Rae looked around with keen
interest upon this famous post, where the Hudson Bay
Company had often had exciting times with their northern
rivals in the fur trade with the Indians.

For the company had established itself on the Stikine
River not IVir from Fort Wrano'el, and refused to admit ex-
elusive right on the part of the Russians, the consequences
being fre(|uent collisions lietween the two interests, and
more tluri one attempt on the part of the latter to burn
down thr I<^nglish establishment.

But this was all over now. The company had with-
drawn some time previous, and the Russians were in sole
possession. They had a strong stockade-ibrt tliere, well-
garrisoned, and besides trading in furs with the natives
were doing a little in the way of gold-mining, which had
attracted a number of people, whose presence gave the place
an air of bustle and importance that Rue found very enter-
taining.

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

299

ol " in good
\wz liavc it,
with keen
ludson Bav
oil* nortliern

the Stikinc
,0 a(hnit ex-
onseqiieiices
,ercsts, and
AT to hurn

had witli-
verc in sole
there, wrll-
the natives

which liivl
,ve the pkice

very enter-

In company with Baranov he went about " doing the
town," and Leincj much deliiihted at mectini;- some enter-
prising Englishmen who were trying their fortune at gold-
mining, and with whom he could talk freely. One of them,
who had been many years roving up and down the coast,
and knew his futhcr, hecamo much interested in him, and
gave liim a small nugget of gold as a keepsake, of which
llae was very proud.

It had been the intention that the schooner should stay
at Fort Wrangel about a week before proceeding on to
Sitka ; but at the end of the second day, Baranov, who had
Itcen calling on the commander of the fort, came back to
the vessel with a countenance whose expression of gravity
betokened that he had heard something of no ordinarv
importance.

I le at once sought out the captain, and was closeted with
him for some time, after which the two went up to the fort
together talking earnestly.

Rae saw all this, and it filled him with curiosity. "What
was up now?" he ask^d jiimself. "Could the matter in
any way concern him ? " "• ^ - .

He was not kept loner in icrnorance. As soon as Baranov
ivturned, he came up to him and said, —

"What do you think we've got to <lo now ? Instead of
i^'oimj;' straiiiht on to >Sitka, we're to take all the men the
tVirt can spare over to Kuprianoff Island, to try to rescue
some of .our people those villanous Kakcs have ca[)tured.
Tliov're the worst Indians on the whole coast, vou know,
and we're always having trouble with them. We're pretty

300

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

sure to have a fight, and if we do, somebody's bound to he
killed."

" I've iieard of tIio.se dreadful Kakcs," said Rae, " They
come down as far as Nisqually in their raids, and father
once had a terrible llo-ht with one of their war-parties."

•' Well, we've got our hands full to give them a good
lickincr this time," said Baranov, his countenance ^lowinu' at
the prospect of a battle. " But you needn't come unless
you want to, Bae. The schooner will have to come back to
Fort Wrangel before going on to Sitka, and the coumiander
will be glad of your company while we are away."

" No, indeed," returned Rau, most emphatically ; " I'm
going with you if j'ou'll let me. I've a goud rifle and pistol^;,
and if you'll give me a little more powder and bullets, I want
nothino' else."

" Come along then," said Baranov, evidently well pleased
at the boy's spirit. " Every ritle counts, you know, and it
won't do to take too many men from the fort, for the Indians
round about here are not to be trusted."

Baranov then went on to explain more fully the object
of their expedition. It seemed that a small sealing schooner,
on her way from Sitka to Fort "Wrangel, had been cast away
on KuprianofF Island ; and the Kake Indians, taking advan-
tage of the helplessness of the crew, had killed half of tluin
and made prisoners of the rest, at the same time plundering
the vessel of everything they could carry olF. The news of
this outrage had been brought by fi-iendly Indians, who
vouched for the truth of their story by showing some . iiclcs
belonfinn* to the schooner which they had obtained in barter

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

\o\

ind to he

'. " Thoy
nd father
■ties."
m a good
flowing at
mo unless
10 back to
onmiander

illy; "I'm
md pistols,
lets, I want

:ell pleased
ow, an<l it
he Indians

the ohject
Ig schooner,
cast away
.ing' advan-
Llf of tlifin
Iplundering
'lie news of
lians, who
)ine . 'tides
Id in barter

from the Kakcs. Having rewarded them handsomely for
their information, the commander of the fort at once deter-
mined to attempt the rescue of tlio survivors of the catas-
trophe, and the timely presence of Jkranov's vessel enabled
him to press her into service for the purpose.

No time was lost in fitting out the expedition, and by
iioGii of the next day the schooner got under way, having on
board, besides her own crew, twenty-iivc stalwart men, not
all of whom belonged to the garrison ; for the gold-miners,
when they heard of what was contemplated, promptly vol-
unteered their aid, and ten of their number were accepted.

Ill addition to the rifles, muskets, and pistols that
abounded, two small cannon were mounted on the steamer's
deck, and a number of rockets were also taken, as it was
intended, not merely to recover what was possible of the
crow and cargo of the schooner, but also to inflict such
punishment upon the Kakes that they would behave better
in future.

Pvrc entered as heartily into the spirit of the affair as if
among the captured crew there were some of his own friends.
Ill' had tasted the miseries of captivity himself, and his
heart burned with sympathy for those who were now under-
going a similar experience.

The schooner's course lay past the north of Zn rombo
Island and through Keku Strait, in the upper reach of which
the schooner had been wrecked. It was not difhcult navi-
gation, and such good progress was made that by noon of
the second day she began to near hor destination ; and the
plan of the commander of the expedition being to make a
(ITS) 19

302

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

nii^'ht attack on the offending village, of whose precise posi-
tion ho was not quite sure, he decided to come to anchor in
a deep cove, whose absolute solitude and safe anchorage
exactly suited his purpose.

When the schooner had hecn securely moored, a consul-
tation was held as to the best plan of campaign. All agreed
that a land attack would be most effectual, and at the same
time expose the party to the least danger. Expert and
daring as they were in their canoes, like all the other
Indians inhabiting the islands, the Kakes were as awkward
as water-fowls on shore, and if the Russians cnild only creep
up to the village under cover of darkness, they would hardly
fail of an easy victory. The first thing to be done was to
fix the location of the village, and the best means of ap-
proach.

The commander had taken the precaution to bring along
with him a couple of Stikine Indians, who cherished a
hereditary hatred for the Kakes, and could be relied upon
to heartily co-operate in their undoing. They were good
hunters, and well skilled in making their way through the
forest.

He proposed that these Stikines should act as guides for
a small party who should go in advance of the nain body,
and blaze the way, as it were. On this being agreed to,
Baranov at once said he would form one of the advance-
guard, and llae immediately begged to be allowed to go
along also.

The connnander demurred at first, but Laranov woii him
over, and the party was made up as follows — the two

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

303

Indians, Baranov and Rao, and four of the men from the
fort. The remainder of the little force, ^vith the connnander
at their head, were to await a message from the leaders, and
then follow as fast as possible.

The cautious advance through the forest reminded l\ae
of his similar ailventure with lli-ling-a's war-party, and he
said to himself that lie lioped the present one would have
a happier issue than that liad.

AUhouiih there was not much chance of encounterinij
any of the Kakes, who were rarely known to venture far
from the shore, still the utmost care was taken to move
silently, and the keenest look-out was maintained for any-
tliini;- of the biped Idnd.

Plenty of four-legged creatures were met, and for such
ardent sportsmen as Baranov and Rae it was a great tempta-
tion to take a shot at some of them. Indeed, so rich did the
island seem to be in game, that Baranov made up his mind
to have one day's hunting before returning to Fort Wrangel,
provided, of course, the object of their mission was success-
fully accomplished.

The going was pretty difTicult, owing to the density of
the undergrowth ; but they made good progress notwith-
standino* and, accordincj to their calculation. ouL-lit soon to
be drawing near to the village, when to their surprise they
heard the sound of a human voice callino- out in a lan^ua^re
that the Indians recocrnized as bcim^ that of the island.

Instantly every one of the party crouched low to the
ground, while with throbbing pulses they waited to see
what was coming. The cry was repeated several times in

304

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

such a way that it seemed clear the person uttering it was
calling for his companions, either because he wanted them
to come to him, or because he had lost his way and wanted
to find them.

Now it was of the utmost importance tliat the Kal<o
should be captured nnd silenced before any othei's appcniwd
on the scene, and Ii;iranov, who was a born strategist,
promptly devised the best means to do it.

The six members of the scouting-party were directed to
spread out in a line within siglit of each other, and to
advance simultaneously in the direction whence the cries
had come. They woukl thus be able to head off the Indian,
and to close upon him even if lie di<l take the alarm before
they had him in their hands.

They could not understand why he still remained in-
visible, but they judged that he was not more than a hun-
dred yards distant.

Moving as silently as catamounts, they crep* forward
foot by foot, each one hoping that he would be the first to
sight the Kako, or, better still, to get his hands upon him.

In the disposition of the part}'' Rae and Baranov had the
centre of tlie line, the Indians being at the ends, and the
thoucfht that filled Rae's mind was : —

''Wouldn't it be fine for me to see him first! I'd just
like to show the Russians what a Scotch boy is good for."

The wonderful ixood fortinie which had followed him
hitherto, despite his enterprising spirit having so often led
him to tempt Providence, once more stood in his stead. It
chanced that an opening in the underbrush enabled him to

THE ATTACK ON THE AAKES.

305

JX it was
,cd them
I wanttnl

he Kako
appt.'avod
iti'ategisfc,

ircctctl to
r, and to
the cries
le Indian,
rm before

laincd in-
an a Imn-

f or ward
\c first to
on Idui.
)V had the
and tlie

I'd just
)od for.'
owed hiiu
often led
stead. It
led hiui to

Cfet a little in advance of the others, and he was thus the
first to come to the edije of a little ji'lade, in the centre of
whicli, stan<lin!:;- over one of the small red deer to be found
on the island, that had no doubt Just fallen a victim to his
arrow, was a ytnuii,^ Kake, whose calls for his conu-ades,
evidently meant that they mi^ht come and help him to
carry his quarry back to the village.

Kae's first impulse on seeing the Indian was to give a
vicwdialloo that would hurry the others to the spot. But
a second look at the tawny youth, still unconscious of his
danger, determined him to venture upon his arrest single-
handed.

Once he stepped out into the glade there was no further
concealment of his approach, so, staking all upon the celerity
of his action, he grasped his rifie tightly, dashed out of the
forest at a pace worthy of an expert sprinter, and got within
ten yards of the Kake before the latter, who had been
standing with his back to him, heard the approaching foot-
falls, and turned to see wdiat they meant.

At the siu'ht of the white stranger rushing upon him
with manifest hostile intent, the Indian uttered a wild
shriek of terror and sprang away with frantic bounds like
those of the deer he had just secure<l.

But, as has already been explained, the Kakes were far
more at home on the water than on the land ; and although
this poor frightened fellow was doing his best, the fleet-
footed white boy made two yards for his one.

Yet should he succeed in reaching the forest first he
might manage to effect his escape, and, realizing this, Eae

3o6

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

dropped his rille, that there might be no check upon his
speed.

In tlic meantime, Laranov and tlic others had come to
the glade and were spectators of the exciting foot-race, while
following after the contestants as rapidly as they were ahle.

The Kake, awkwardly as he ran, got over the ground so
well that he had just reached the edge of the forest when,
with an exultant shont of " Ah ! ha ! I've got you," Rae
sprang upon his back and bore him to the ground.

In the excitement of the sifditing of the Indian and of
the chase lie had not taken any thought as to whether he
would find the savage an easy conquest. He had just obeyed
the impulse of the moment without heed of consequences.

But when, having downed his quarry cleverly enough,
the latter, instead of submitting passively, squirmed around
like a weasel and clasped his assailant with a grip of steel,
at the same time threatening liis face with two rows of
shining teeth that looked capable of giving a terrible bite,
Rae suddenly realized that he liad undertaken a more ditTi-
cult task than he had supposed, and was fain to cry out
lustily, " Help ! help ! Quick, or he'll get away from me."

The cry caused Baranov to increase his exertion, and
summoning all his speed he dashed up just in time to give
the Kake a deft crack on the head with the butt of his
pistol that put a sharp and sufficient quietus upon his
struogles for freedom.

" That's good 1 " exclaimed Rae gratefully. " You were
just in time. He has a fearful grip, and he was doing his
best to set his teeth into me."

Tim ATTACK ON THE KAKES,

>o7

me to .irive

Rac iiiiL,dit Well speak (^f tlie savage's grip as fearful, for
on liis ribs were a number of Itruises made liy his finger
nails ; and liad the wrestling continueil nnieli longer he would,
beyond a doubt, have got considerably the worst of it.

Before the Kake ''ecovered consciousness he was safely
bound and gagged, avid Mhcn lie opened his eyes to find
himself surrounded by a number of white people and two
Indians, who had all a hostile appearance, such a pitiful
look of abject terror came into his face that Ihie's feelings
were touched, and he felt half borry for having been the
instrument of his capture.

The Stikines were sufliciently versed in the Kake dialect
t(j talk with the prisoner, and so Jkiranov told them what
to say, and he was thoroughly examined.

At first he was disposed to be sulky and silent, but
when IJaranov, assuming his fiercest look, drevv' his hunting-
knife, and made as though he would cut the fellow's throat,
his perversity promptly vanished ; and having been assured
that if ho ventured to cry out for help the knife would bo
plunged into him, the gag was removed from liis moutli and
the questioning began.

It took a little time to elicit just what was vequired of
the unwilling informer, but by dint of patience and deft
inquiry it was learne<l that the Kake village stood about a
mile away, that the Russian sailors were held there un-
harmed, and that there was going to be a big feast that
night, the captive having been in quest of some venison for
it when they came upon him.

All these bits of information were highly satisfactory,

3oS

THE ATTACK OX THE k'Ak'ES.

ami tlic Russians cxcliajiged congratulations at the fine
prospect of success.

"That feast just suits our plans to perfection," saiil
liaranov, ruhbinj:,' liis liands i^fleefuliy. "We'll come down
upon them like an avalanche when they're in the very
middle of it, and scatter them like sheep."

"Wouldn't it be better to wait until the feast is all over
and they're tired out and sleepy," sui,'gested Rae.

"No, indeed," replied JJaranov. " 'J'hey nnL;ht take it
into their heads to torture our cduntrymen for an additional
attraction when they ,^'et worked up. We must not let
them have a chance to do that. '

One of the Indians having been sent Ijack to bring up
the main body, the little advance-party sat down to wait for
them, taking advantage of the opportunity to refresh them-
selves with the contents of their wallets, which they had
been so foresiiihted as to lill before setting forth.

" I hope the commander won't forget to bring some
rockets along," said Baranov. "They'll be just the thing to
let the Kakes know" we'd arrived and had an account to
settle with them."

►Sure enough, when the commander appeared with the
men they had rockets all right, and the erpiipment of the
expedition was complete.

Dusk was at hand by the time all had gathered. The
connuander was highly pleased at the capture of the Indian
and the information that had been extracted from him. He
complimented Rae warndy upon his having run the savage
down, which made the boy feel very proud of himself.

THE ATTACK OX TUT. KAKES.

309

The Kakc, liaviiiL,^ Iicl-ii iiiaile to uiuloi'stainl tliat liisown
life (li'pciidfd upon liis ^,^001! liulKivioiir, uiul tliat lio was ex-
pected to sliow tlie best way to tlie villni^a', li;id the bonds
ivnioved from his fe«-t, but not from liis hands, and tlien was
ordered to '••o ahead, one of tlie Stikines beiuLT on eitlier sich;

of llUll.

^bjvin^f in almost absolute silence, tl e Russians made
their way toward the viUa^'e. It soon became so dark that
t' I y could scarcely distinc(uish one an<;t]ier in the i^doom,
but by keeping close tocjether and followinf,^ implicitly the
lead of the Indian, who seemed to see as well in the dark as
in the daytime, their progress, if slow, was steady.

As they drew nera* their goal, the cries of the villagers,
who had already begun the dance that preceded the feast,
fell upon their cars, and presently the blaze of the big tire
around which they were gathered shone through the trees
v.ith increasing brilliancy.

When they had got thus far, a careful reconnaissance was
thought expedient, and so, while the others waited, the com-
mander, with IJaranov and the two Indians, went ahead to
get a clearer understandiuL!' of the situation.

The excitement had now become intense, and llac
showed it equally with the others, although he was after all
not personally interested in the proceedings, lie thought
to himself, as with beating heart he awaited the return of
the leaders, and the connnand to advance to the attack, Ikjw
nmch he would have to tell his father when they were re-
united ; and with that, naturally enough, came the thought,
how proud his father would be of his exploits.

3IO

THE ATTACK OX THE KAKES.

These reflections were iiitcrriipte<l liy ;i sudden move-
ment on lii.s rii^'lit, and a sliaip ciy of alaini from one of tlie
llu.ssians. Then came tlie sound of one dasln'nL;" reckk'ssly
tln'onL;h the undcrhriisli, ami liy tlie aid of a llasli of liio
lii^ht liae made out tlie Kake \vho had heen taken piisoinT
llyini;- toward the villan'e with frantic speed.

The next moment a wiM whoop of warninc;' rani;- out
ahove the bahid of the dancers, and the connnanilcr, hurrv-
iii^" back to his men, exclaimed in a tone of vexation, —

"You lilockheads, to let the rascal irct awav ! lie's
warn(Ml the whole village already."

Tsot an instant was now to he lost. Pressing forward
witiiout any attention to orderly array, the Ivussians reached
tlie edge of a .slight hluH' t'c.at overlooked the vilhige, and
the first u'lance told them their nroxinntv was realized.

The dance had broken up i]i confusion, and the men
were rushing this way and that after their weapons of war,
while the women, gathering together for mutual supjtort,
set up a wild a ailing chorus that was perhaps an appeal to
their deities to take them und.r their protection.

PointinLf a rocket so that it wouM i-'O just over their
heads, the fuse was lit, and as the projectile, with an ear-
s])littinL!: shriek and linhtninu'dike brilliancy, tore throu'^h
the air, the poor creatures, wlio had never seen anything ef
the kind Ixd'ore, fell forward on their faces in abject teirei',
then, picking themselves u}), rushe(l away to their respective
dwellings to hide fi'om such a}i]>alling perils.

Down upon the village charged the Kussians, uttering
war-cries e(jual in fierceness of sound io anything the

k'li movc-
011 c of tlio
rcc1<lc's>ly
sll of 1i lu-
ll prisoner

vaiiL;" out
lor, hiivrv-

,1011, —

ray ! He's

11 Lj; foiwav'l
aiis veacl It'll
villains aiiil
kli/AM.l.
1 the iiH'U
lis of war,
il siipi'ort,
appeal to

over tlieii-
itli an eav-
ii'o tlirtiug'li
anytlnn;j,' "i'

jccfc trl'l'dl'^
r respect Ivf

ns, uttering
ivtliinu' the

iii^m'.

/'it (lUtiif^- t'u I'/'.t' Aij/itj.

I'.IKL- 5M.

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

>T3

Iiullaiis could profluce ; and every man they met they
piom]itly knocked over \\\iV the l)utts of their rifles, the
commander liavini-' driven strict injunctions that no more
hluod shoiiM he shed than was ahsohitely necessary.

At the outset it looked as if they Avere going to have an
L'lisy victory; hut after tlu; iirst moments of panic-stiicken
confusion the sav.niies rallied, and, taking' heart from the
evident disparity of numbers, sliowcd signs of standing their
ground.

?sot until then did the connnander have recourse to
bullets. The order to lire was given, and simultaneous with
the volley two more rockets were set off, this time, however,
heiuix aimed ri^ht into the midst of the Indians.

The effect of the combined fire was dreadful. Full a
score of Indians fell dead or wounded to the i-round, and the
others, with wild cries of terror, fled towards the canoes that
were drawn up along the beach. 'I'lie sea was their natural
way of escape, and, forgetting everything else, tliey made for
it, knowing that their assailants could not follow them there.

Among the fugitives was a stalwart young fellow, whose
richly adorned dress marked him out as being of superior
rank, and Baranov, whose fighting spirit ha<l l)een stirred to
tlie depths, catching sight of liim, detei'mincd to make him
Ills prisoner.

He accordingly put on a ti-emendous spurt, and rapidly
overhauled his man, m hu was a pooi' runner comjjared with
liiui. The brii-ht fireliuht showccl Kac what his friend was
about, and, thinking he might possibly Ijc of some service to
him, he likewise joined in the chase.

THE ATTACK OiY THE KAKES.

It was well for Baranov that he divl, for tlic youncj
Ilussiaii, in tliu ardour of the pursuit, tiippud over a small
boulder, and fell with such violence as partially to stun
him.

At the moment, ho was within a couple of yards of tlie
Indian, who, hearing the thud of his fall, glanced round, and
seeing him prostrate, stopped suddenly in his tlight.

In his right hand he had an ugly-looking spear, and this
he raised with intent to transfix his prostrate pursuer, who
saw the danger, but was powerless to avert it, when llae,
although still a dozen yards away, realizing that if he would
save his friend he must act at once, drew his pistol, and tired
what was little better than a snap-shot.

Happily, however, it was good enough for its purpose.
The bullet struck the savage in the arm, shatteriiiL;' his
elbow, and with a howl of niini'-led friu'ht and fury he
dropped the spear and continued his flight to the canoes,
into one of which he jumped and paddled away before
Baranov recovered from the shock of his fall sutliciently to
follow him.

" You did that beantifull}', my dear fellow," said the
latter in tones of cordial i/ratitutle. " I saw my danger, but
1 really couldn't move a limb. My tundile coni})lct<Iy
knocked the wind out of me. I'm sure I can't tell you how
nu'ich I'm obliged to vou."

"Turn about is fair play," laughed Rae. "You helped
me with that fellow who wanted to bite my head otl; and
now I've just returned the favour, that's all."

" Yes, but you got your man, and I didn't," responded

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

315

lie younc*
or a siuall
y to stun

.Ills of tlie
round, aiiil
it.

.1-, ami tltis
irsucr, AvliD
when Rac,
it' lie would
;l,and fired

its purpose.

ttcrinu' Ids
1 fury lie
he canoes,

way l»efore

Oieiently to

," said tlio

danger, Lut

eoniplct'dy

dl YOU luAV

Vu\i liel[i' d
jad otr, and

' responded

the Russian with an exapf^-cration of disappointment ; " nnd
he was such a tlne-lookinrj fellow too. I wanted to take
him u}) to Sitka as a troph.3\ Rut come now and let us see
if we can tlnd the men we came to rescue ; I've seen n(»thing
i)f them yet."

Tho jiLihtinL'' was all over hv this time, and of the entire
population of the viUa^'C only the ilcad and wounded lyinuj
u[)ou th(.> ground remained in sight, those wlio had not
escaped in the canoes having hidden in the woods at the far
end of the line of dwellings.

The sight of tlio dead, now that the hand-to-hand strugMo
had subsided, o-avc Rac a feelini'' of nausea, and lie got as
far away from them as possible while search was being made
for the Russian captives.

Before long, triumjdiant shouts announced their discovery.
They had been confined as close prisoners in the chief's
dwelling, and were brouiiht out with great reioicing, seeming
none the worse for their captivity. Not only were the}''
t'ouiifl, but also a large fpiantity of the belongings of the
schooner, and a fine lot of furs that would jio far towards
recompensing the pursuers for theii' trouble.

The connnander could not thiid>: of neelcctinu" these, anil
as it would bo ver}^ dilllcult to transport them back to the
schooner through the demise woods, it was, after consultati(^n,
decided that, while a part}' of four went back to liring the
schooncn' around the point to the village, the rest should
remain in possession until the vessel arrived.

Of course this could not be done until davliuht ; l>ut the
night was already more than half gone, and there was no

3i6

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

chance of attack from any quarter, so that the wearied
warriors were free to take a inneli -needed rest.

In due time tlie scliooner appeared, and as rapidly as
possible everything that had belonged to the wrecked vessel,
and also everything else in the villnge that seemed worth
taking, were got on board ; which work being completed
without interruption, the scliooner sailed away, having taught
the Kakes a lesson they could hardly fail to remember for
many a long day.

Rae was very glad when it was all over. Slaughter and
pillage were not at all to his taste, and richly, no doubt, as
the Indians deserved their punishment, he felt some regret
at having had a share in its iniliction. They were only
poor ignorant creatures after all, and they had l)een made
to suffer terribly for their wrong-doing. lie said somethiiiu"
of this to Baranov, but the Russian had no sympathy with
such notions. The Indians were, in his opinion, no more to
be considered than so many wild animals; and if they had
the presumption to provoke the white mnn's wrath, they
could not be made to pay too heavily for their folly.

There was great rejoicing on the return of the schooner
to Fort Wrangel with the rescued sailors and the recoxered
property, and nothing M'ould satisfy the connnander but to
have a big feast to celebrate the event, at which the presence
of those on board the schooner was absolutely indispensable.

The captain of the vessel would have preferred pushiiiL,'
on to Sitka without further delay, but not so Alexander
Baranov ; a feast was entirely to his mind, and ho was so
determined upon remaining that he carried his point.

THE ATTACK OX THE KAKES.

3^7

,e wearied

rapidly as
;kcd vessel,
med \voitli
completed
s'wYf tauulit
member for

iiKd^ter and

110 doubt, as
some rcg-ret
J were only
l;)oen made
d sometlnng-
apathy ^vit^l
no more t<>
if tliey liad
wratli, they

the sehooner
he recovcVf'l
nder hut to
the presence
lispcnsahle.

red push ill '4
Alexamler
,1 ho was so
oint.

Rac was very glad to stay. There wouhl l)0 sure to be
some fun, and what boy <l<)es not know how to appreciate a
liig dinner ? He had got to feel altogether at hnnie among
the Russians, wlio were kindly albeit somewhat rouuh in
their manners, and treated liimself an<l Freckles as widl as
they couhl wish.

Freckles felt so content at being out of the liands of the
savages that it was all one to him whethor they stayed at
Furt Wrangel or went on to Sitka. lie had three good
meals every day, a comfortalde bunk at night, and nobody
to order him around except Tlae, whom he found unfailing
delight in obeying, for he loved him with the whole strength
of his nature.

The day of the jubilation was made a holiday, and
wholly given up to enjoyment. There were canoe-races and
foot-races, wrestling matches and target shooting, and
similar amusements, during the morning and afternoon, all
of which Tiae and Freckles enjoyed lieartily, although some-
times the competitors got so fiercely in earnest that breaches
of the peace seemed innuinent.

J5ut the presence of the eonnuander, who acted as referee
in all the contests, ami maintaineil a most huulable judicial
dignity des})ito the excitement aroun<l him, exercised a
wholesome restraint, and although there was considerable
wrauL'dinL'' no actual collision occurred.

Late in the afternoon I'ai'anov, who, like Ihie, had not
taken ])art in any of the contests, got lired with the notion
of trying his speed against Rae, and accorflinuly challenf^ed
liiiu to a contest.

3i8

THE ATTACK ON THE KAKES.

Rrtc would ratlicr not Lave run. He felt pretty sure of
being able to outstrip the llussian, and he was not at all
ambitious to do so.

J>ut l>aranov urged so strongly that he at length con-
sentod, and they prepared for the trial. By this time the
other people had about tired themselves out, and the news
of the raee bc'tween the two youths having spread, they all
i:athered round to witness it.

The course agreed upon M'as along the edge of the l)each
to a boulder about a quarter of a mile distant and back

agani.

Having dolled all superfluous clothing, Rac and I' . ..jov

toed the mark and awaited the signal to start.

CHAPTER XVIir.
EXCITIXG TLMES AT FORT WRAXOEL.

"T^HE report of a pistol held by the commander sent the
J- runners off side by side for the first fe^v yards, and
then Baranov drew ahead. He was excessively anxious to
win the race, ami his impetuous nature made him exert
himself to the utmost at the outset, just as thouoh the
distance to be covered had been a hun.lred 3-ards inst'ead of
half-a-mile.

Rao, on the other hand, was not only less en-er for
victory, but ha.l suHiei.>nt connuand of himself to reco-nize
the fact tliat he was not capable of running so far at sjaint-
in? speed, and he therefore kept himself'well in hand, in
spite of the exultant glances that Raranov cast back at him
over his shoulder.

All the cheers were, of course, for the Russian, but Rao
•lid not mind that. Had they been running at Fort Camosun
instead of Fort Wrangel it would hax-e been the other way,
so he just kept on resolutely; while J]aranov increased his
1^'a.l, until at the turning-point he was full fifty yards
ali.'ad, and as he passed Rae on his way back panted out
triumphantly, —

(47.) 2Q

320 EXCITING TIMES AT FORT WRANGEL.

"Good-bye ; I'll see you again later on."

But lie had better bave kept bis crowing until the race
was over and tbc issue beyond doubt. Once around tlie
turn, Rae let himself out, and having plenty of reserve wind
overhauled his opponent at a rate that made the latter's
friends look anxious.

Every stride told in his favour. Earanov, blown and
fagged from his foolish spurt at the start, perceptibly lost
speed, although he struggled fiercely to maintain his pace,
and Ilae drew up to him yard after yard until they were
again side by side.

Now at the beginning of the race Rae had it pretty well
settled in his mind to let Baranov win whether he should
prove the faster runner or not. But on the way the latter's
tauntinij looks and words, and the one-sided cheerinfj of
the spectators, together with the excitement of the struggle,
had worked a change in his mood, and he felt stirred up to
Avin now that he saw^ victory easily within his grasp.

" ril show them who's the best runner ! "' he muttered.
" They think too much of themselves altogether."

Keeping on, therefore, Avith his steady stride, he slipped
past Baranov, Avho made a frantic but futile effort to hoM
him, and when about a hundred yards from the goal had
a clear lead of full ten yards.

The race was his. Already the cheers for his opponent
had died away into a disappointed murmur, and the few
who had, more for the sake of sport than with any ex-
pectation of winning, wagered their roubles upon Rae began
to look joyful, and to wish they had doubled their wager,

"LL.

EXCITING TIMES AT FORT WR ANGEL. 321

I the race
ound the
^rve ^vi^<l
ic latter's

)lown ami

ptlLly lost

1 his pace,

they were

pretty ^vell
L- lie should
the latter s
cheering of
le struggle,
lire J up to

-asp.

e mutterc'l.

he slippe.l
ort to hol'l
le coal ha<l

lis opponent

ma the l■'■^v

ith any ex-

n Rae hcgan

their Avager,

when Rae happened to look over his shoulder and caught
a cflance of the Russian's face.

That glance made hiin suddcnlv chancre Ids mind, for
on Baranov's features he beheld such a nnngling of despair
and ra2ce and dejection that it went straiirht to liis lieart.

" I mustn't beat him," he nuittered ; " it will break his
lieart. He's crazy to win."

It was not, therefore, from any fear of ill consequences
to himself, but from sincere pity for his competitor, to whom
victory meant far more than it did to him, that Rae began
to falter in his stride.

Had his wind of a sudden given out? were Ids legs
failing beneath him ? The spectators did not know, but
the quick resumption of their encouraging cheers showed
that hope for their favourite had revived.

Baranov was not slow to read the sign arii^ht, and it
spurred him on to one more supreme eflbrt. Almost reeling
in his tracks, he forced himself forward. Now he was
within a stride of Rae ; now they were shoulder to shoulder;
another moment, and he was ahead ; and just as they
crossed the line he staggered in the winner by one yard,
and fell utterly exhauste<l into the arms of the commander
outstretched to receive him, while his countrymen made the
welkin ring with shouts of triumph, being so excited over
the result that not one of them had the thoui-htfulness to
say something consolatory to the vanquished.

But Freckles did not forgot, and his liesitating words
were all the comfort Rae needed, for they spared him the
necessity of explanation.

322 EXCITING TIMES AT FORT IVRAXGEL.

"You couM have beaten liini all ri^^lit, couMn't you,
Rae?" said the afl'ectionate fellow, whose keen eyes of love
had not failed to read the situation aviciht. " You let hiiu
beat you, di<ln't you ? "

"Hush!" replied Rae, puttinj^ his hand over his com-
panion's mouth ; " th('y'll hear you. You're rit^dit," ho
added in a whisper; "I could have beaten him, but 1 didn't
want to."

Freckles beamed, but said no more. Such a defeat was
better than a victory, and so long as Rae and he under-
stood each other, he was quite willing to let the Russians
rejoice to their hearts' content.

As soon as Baranov recovered his breath he came up to
Rae with outstretched hand. All the gloom had gone from
his face, and he was radiant.

" You gave me a hard time of it," ho panted. " I thought
you'd beaten me, and indeed but for my last spurt you
would have done it handsomely. You're a fine runner,
Rae."

Rao smiled amiall}', and shook the proH'ered liand
warmly. He had felt -oine slight apprehension lest Baranov
might suspect the race had been given him, but it was
evidently groundless. The Russian had no doubt as to his
success being entirely due to his superiority, and in that
comfortable conviction he would never be disturbed.

Not only he, but the commander and all the others, had
been put in the best of humour by the result of the contest,
even those who had lost a few roubles finding adequate
consolation in the victory of their countryman. When the

EL.

EXC/TJXG TIMES AT FORT JVRAXGEL. 323

In't you,
;s of love
u let liini

his com-
•io-ht," lie
it, 1 dkln't

Icfeat was
be luuler-
i Russians

}ame up to
rrone from

" I thouf^ht
spurt you
ne runner,

Icreel lian<l
jst Baranov
but it was
jt as to bis
\nd iu tbat
jed.

others, had

the contest,

.fv adequate

When the

crowd liad quite finislicMl conLfrattdatini; tlie victor, they
gathered about Rae, and smiled upon him witli nucIi mani-
fest good feeUnij;- tliat lie realized liis self-denial had been
]i(j less a stroke of diplomacy than a wholesonje impulse
of kindness. Undoubtedly he stood in better favour with
the Russians than ever, and that was a prize worth winning'
in itself.

Soon after sundown the feast bei>-an in the bii,^ dinini::-
hall of the fort, which had been decorated for the occasion
with llacrs, and tlowers, and ferns, and hii-hlv burnished
weapons of war, both civilized and savage, until it really
looked almost fit for any company.

Rae thouo'ht it ma'-'niticent. He had never seen anv-
tiling' so line before ; and when upon the table he found
snow-white linen as soft as silk, and tlashinc,^ o;]ass, and
ulcamini^ silver, and j^-litteriny steel, the like of which were
hitherto unknown to him, his eyes opened wide with won-
dt-ring admiration, and turning to Baranov, who had placed
him at the commander's left and taken a seat beside him,
he said in his frank', hearty way, —

"This beats anything I've ever seen. How splendid it
all is ! You must be very rich at the fort."

"Pooh!" laughed Raranov, well pleased at the 1»oy's
sincere admiration. "It's pretty fair, but it's nothing to
what they can do at Sitka. I'll show you something nnich
Ihier up there."

" This is quite fine enough for me," responded Rae,
settling himself down in his chair to the full enjoyment of
the honours of the occasion.

324 EXCITING TIMES AT FORT ]VRANGEL.

Not less luxurious and elalioratc tliaii the table appoint-
ments was the bill of fare provided. The cooks of the
establishment had been enjoined to out-do themselves, and
they had spared neither materials, skill, nor trouble in
obeying the command.

Besides some things that "were quite new to Kae, and
wliieh he found not at all to his taste — such as caviare,
salted salmon roe, smoked breast of wild goose, and other
characteristic llussian relishes — there were plenty of viands
that he could heartily enjoy: rich soups whose very odour
was enough to give one an appetite had that been wanting,
huge salmon boiled whole and smothered in creamy sauces,
great haunches of venison done to a turn, braces of roast duck
brown and juicy, and so on, in apparently endless profusio)i.

As the boy watched the lordly dishes being borne in
one after the other, and set in bewildering array before him,
he found himself regretting keenly that his capacity for the
enjoyment of them was so limited.

Baranov bethought himself of this also, for, seeing with
what vigour Rae attacked the soup and the fish, he ventured
to warn liim against iilling up too soon when there was so
much yet to follow.

The Russian was a more experienced diner-out, and
understood the importance of observing a ({w^^ proportion,
and thus being able to range over the whole bill of fare.

Rae laughed good-humouredly at the hint. " I don't
wonder you think I'm a bit gi-eedy," ho said. " But I toll
you I've not had an^'thing so good to eat for months, and
it just seems as if I couldn't get enough of it."

■i

EL.

J appoint-
ks of the
■elves, and
;roul)lc ill

Eae, and
IS caviare,
and utluT
^ of viands
^•evy odour
n wanting,
,iny sauces,
roast duels'

profusion.
>• l)ornc in
jeforc liiui,
pity for tlie

eciii!^ witli
le ventured
lerc was so

M'-out, anil

troportion,

f fare.

" I don't

But 1 till

liontlis, and

1.)

EXCITING TIMES AT TORT U'RAXGEL 3^5

Not only were there delicious viands in ahundance, but
tempting wines also, brought over from Russia at great
expense, and indulged in only on rare occasions.

These likewise were new to Rae, and at his friend's
])ressing request he tasteil the vodka, which is the Russian
national drink, hut found it so raw and liery that, forgetting
his good manners for the nioinent, instead of swallowing the
mouthful he had taken, he spat it out on the lloor, exclaim
ing energetically, —

"Ugh! it ])urns the skin oil' my tongue! What awful
stull'! How can you drink it?"

Both Baianov and the commander laughed heartily at
his disgust. It was just what they had expected.

"Ah, my boy," said the former, in an amiistMl tone,
'■ that's too stron:-- for you, eh :' You"ll have to ^•t't used to
it little by little. 8ee how good 1 think it," and putting
his glass to his mouth, he drank off its contents, smacking
his lips with great gusto.

Rae shook his head very decidedly. lie had no idea of
learning to like such fiery stuff. It might do for the Rus-
sians, but it wouldn't do for him.

" Well, then, try some champagne," said Uaranov ; " that
won't burn your tongue. Youll like it, I'm sure."

When his glass was filled, Rae regarded it for a miiuite
dubiously. He had an instinctive dislike to strong drink of
any kind, and had already at Fort \'ancouver seen and
heard something of its perils, l>ut he liad ncvei* come to
any conclusion aljout it as regards himself beyond register-
ing a vow one dav, when he saw one of the men in a

326 EXCITING TIMES AT TORT U'RAXGEL.

state of beastly intoxication, that he would never be such
a fool.

But the champagne foamed and bubbled so brightly, and
the fumes of it were so enticing, that he could not resist the
temptation to take one sip ; and thus finding the wine as
delicious to the taste as it was beautiful to the eye, he kept
on sipping until he finished his glass.

Hardly had he done so, however, than he began to have
a queer feeling in his head. A kind of mist came over his
eyes, and he found his head growing heavy as though he
needed to lie down and sleep.

At once it flashed across him that this was the cflTect of
the champagne, and he felt angry with himself for having
taken it. He dreaded lest Baranov should notice how he
was feeling, and did his best to conceal it, untd at last the
situation was too uncomfortable to be borne, and, whispering
to him that he would be back in a minute, he got up from
his chair and slipped quietly out of the room.

The change from the hot, fume-laden atmosphere of the
dining-hall to the cool air outside was very refreshing, yet
with some concern Rae noticed that there was a tendency
to unsteadiness in his gait ; and being resolved to lose no
time in gaining complete command of himself, he hastcn(^d
down to the beach, threw off his clothes, and took a dip in
the cold sea-water that eflectually dispelled the influence of
the wine and thoroughly restored his equilibrium.

Then dressing again in a leisurely fashion, he made hi>^
way back to the dinner and resumed his seat, feeling as fresh
and as bright as he ha<l done at the beginning of the feast.

EL.

r be SLicli

^htly, and

resist tl\c

le wine as

e, he kept

,n to have
e over his
though he

c effect of
for having
ice how he
at last the
whispering
up fi'oni

lerc of the
■eshing, yet
a tendency
to lose no
c hastened
ok a dip in
nrtuence of

le made hi^

ling as fresh

the feast.

EXCITING TIMES AT FORT WR ANGEL.

'^ 1 '^

He was not long there before he observed that Baranov
was acting in a way that showed a plunge in the brine
would be a e-ooJ thin^' for him also. The youno- Russian
had been imbibing pretty freely, alternating vodka with
champagne, and taking too much of each. Now he would
break out into a snatch of a song, and again he would
throw some taunting jest across the table, frequently
breaking out into noisy laughter apropos of nothing in
particular.

Soon after Rae bad seated himself he turned his atten-
tion upon him, and throwing his arm around his neck with
cthisive demonstrations, hiccujiped out, —

" You're a fine runner for a Britisher, but I can beat you
every time. I can give you lessons in running any day.
That's so, isn't it ? Eh ? you can't deny it ? " and he peered
eagerly into Bae's face.

Now it had been hard enough for the "Britisher" to
allow his opponent to win that race sim[)ly because his lieart
was too tender to inflict a defeat that would have been felt
so keenly, and to have his magnanimity turned against him
in this fashion tried his self-control sorely. Had the cham-
pagne still been in his head, he would prol)al)ly have made
some injudicious reply, that might have led on to a heated
discussion. But, thanks to the timely outing, he was able
to keep command over himself suflieiently to preserve silence
in the face of Baranov's taunts.

With this, however, the young man would not be con-
tent. He must needs have Kae acknowledge his inferiority
in so many words; and he repeated his boasts in a voice

328 EXCITING TIMES AT FORT W RAN GEL.

of ascendiiiGj strength, until he was licard all over the
room, and the rest of the party turned to see what was the
matter.

Still Rac resolutely kept silence. He did not want to
flatly contradict Baranov, and yet he was not going to
stultify himself by assenting to what he well knew to he
untrue and unjust to his own powers. He felt sure he could
outrun the Russian at any distance, and he was not to be
intimidated into declaring the contrary.

As Baranov became increasingly aggressive, Rae moved
away from him, saying persuasively, —

" Oh, never mind, Baranov ; you beat me right enough
that time, and I'm quite satisfied."

But still Baranov was not satisfied. He must liave
nothing less than the open admission that he could beat hiui
at any time ; and staggering up from his seat he laid hold of
Rae, who had by this time also risen, and began to shake
him as though he would shake the withheld words out of
him.

Rae's patience had endured wonderfully, when his natural
quickness of temper was borne in mind, but the rudeness of
the Russian put quite too severe a strain upon it.

" Come now, Baranov," said he sharply, " you needn't do
that. I've said all that I'm going to say, and that's an end
of it," and with this he threw off the other's hands, and
made as though he would leave the I'oom.

Both the tone of voice and the action angered Baranov
still more, and crj-ing out, " No, sir, you don't leave this
room until you've said what I want you to say," he lurched

^rEL.

EXCITING TIMES AT TORT WR ANGEL. 329

over the
it was tlie

3t want to
, going to
new to be
re he could
; not to be

Ilae moved

n-ht enough

must have

lid beat him

laid hold of

m to shake

ords out of

[1 his natural
rudeness of

1 needn't do
lat's an end
hands, and

ed Baranov
't leave this
•," he lurched

forward, and laid liands ujwn Kac again, this time with a
much firmer grip.

Thorougidy roused, Ilae strove to free himself, and the
two swayed to and fro for the ^space of a minute, auiid the
applauding exclamations of the other guests, who all thought
it a good bit of fun, except Freckles, who, having his wits
about him better than they had, saw well enough that there
was less fun than earnest in the thing.

Under ordinary circumstances Ilae would have lieen no
match for Baranov at wrestling. He was younger, shorter,
and slighter ; but the Russian's partial intoxication prevented
him making the best of his advantages, and equalized mat-
ters, so that Ilae was able to hold his own against him
long enough to give him hopes of getting the best of the
wrestle.

Up to this point Baranov had been playing a fair enough
game, but the fear lest Rae sliould prove too much for him
aroused the devil in his spirit, and losing all care fur con-
sequences, he gave his unwilling antagonist a brutal kick on
the ankle, at the same time putting forth a .supreme cflbrt
to force him backward.

The cruel, cowardly trick succeeded only too well. Taken
completely by surprise, for he expected no such treachery,
hae lost his foothold, and was thrown backward, his fore-
head coming into violent contact with the edge of a heavy
chair, so as to inflict a serious wound near the right temple,
and to render him unconscious.

At the sight of his bleeding face. Freckles, all thought of
self or fear of men banished by passionate anxiety for the

330 EXCITING TIMES AT FORT WR ANGEL.

friend he loved, sprang forward to raise liini up, crying out
wildly, —

" Ob ! you've killed liim, you brute ! You've killed Rae,
and it's all your fault."

Startled into comparative sobriety by the sight before
him, Ijaranov, resenting not Freckles's excited words, bent
forward to aid him in lifting the motionless form, but in so
doii:g lost his balance and toppled over beside him. Indeed
h" wo ' 1 have fallen across him but for a tierce push from
Freckles that warded him off.

\y thi vmc the connnander thought he had better in-
terpose, and with his assistance Rae was carried into one of
the bedrooms and placed upon a bed, where the blood was
tenderly washed from his face by Freckles, who would allow
no one else to touch him.

It was several minutes before Rae recovered conscious-
ness. The blow was a bad one, and would be a, cause of
su tiering for several days to come. Fort Wrangel did not
boast a doctor, but the commander had a medicine-chest, the
contents of which he knew how to use, and he promptly
came to the rescue with this, putting a plaster on, and bind-
ing up the wound with a degree of skill that was decidedly
to his credit.

The remainder of the nio'ht Freckles never left Rac's
side, nor closed his eyes, but was ever watchful to anticipate
and supply his slightest want, fanning his fevered face,
changing his pillows, bringing fresh cool water, and in fact
lining the part of a nurse with an afi'ectionate thoroughness
that left nothinq; undone.

VGEL.

), crying out

3 killed Rae,

sight before
words, Lent
11, Lilt in so
lim. Indeed
3 push from

id Letter in-
d into one of
le Llood was
I would allow-
ed conseious-
e a, cause of
inn-cl did not
inc-chest, the
he promptly
on, and Lind-
as decidedly

er left Pvac's
to anticipate
fevered face,
, and in fact
thorouGfhness

EXCITING TIMES AT TORT WRANGEL. 331

And for this service he asked no better reward than
when, as the dawn stole into the room, poor Rae, who had
been groaning with pain, paused for a moment to take his
lian^l, and to murnuir softly, " How good you are. Freckles.
You are making me feel Letter already."

Early in the morning Raranov made his appearance,
looking the very picture of shame and contrition. It was
not until sleep had restored to him the command of Ids
faculties that he realized what he had done, and he was
most sincerely sorry for it.

" I was a drunken fool last night, Rae," .said he, with
frank self-condemnation, "and deserve a taste of the knout
for my conduct ; and if you like," he added quite seriously,
■' yoii can give it to me too when you're all right again. But
I'm really so sorr}^ and I hope you'll forgive me. You'll
never have reason to find fault with me again, I promise
you."

There was no mistaking the sincerity of Rae's forgive-
ness. Taking Baranov's extended hand he clasped it warmly
in his, saying heartily, '' That's all right, Baranov ; I don't
hear you the least Lit of a grudge. You didn't mean to liurt
me like this, I know, and we'll just try to forget aLout it."

Baranov looked as if he might cry, so deeply was he
moved Ly Rae's magnanimity; Lut Ly a mighty eflbrt ho
restrained himself, and said in a Lroken voice, —

"You're a good fellow, Rae, and I won't forget this, even
if you do. You'll sec if I don't try to make it up to you
some way."

Some day.s elapsed Leforc Rae was thoroughly himself

2,T,2 EXCITING TIMES AT FORT WR ANGEL.

again, and in the meantime the schooner had been got ready
for the voyage to Sitka, and only waited for him to start.

Pleasant as the stay at Fort Wrangel had proved, barring
of course the dinner incident, Rae was very glad to bid tlie
place farewell. Without being able to explain to himself
just why, he cherished a hope almost amounting to a convic-
tion that at Sitka he would hear news of his father, if not
indeed be re-united to him. He was therefore impatient to
reach the place, and at least satisfy himself on this point if
he accomplished nothing else.

Baranov showed the sincerity of his contrition by insist-
ing upon Rae having the most comfortable berth in the
cabin, and the seat on the captain's right hand at the table.
Not only so, but he would have lavished gifts upon him had
Rae consented to receive them ; and as it w^as, he was fain
to accept a splendid dagger in a richly chased silver sheath,
and a superb seal-skin coat, trimmed with sea-otter, fit for
the back of a prince.

" You must at least take these," urged Baranov, " or I
won't be able to feel sure that you've really forgiven me."

And so Rae yielded, assuring the donor that he would
always keep them in pleasant remembrance of him.

In order to reach Sitka the schooner, rather than attempt
the outside passage, which would have been much shorter,
went up through Wrangel Narrows past Kuprianoft' Island,
whereon dwelt the Kakes who had been tauHit the danger
of meddling with Russian sailors, across the broad Frederick
Sound, and up still broader Chatham Strait, where the
shores on either side were hardly visible, into Peril Strait,

^GEL.

EXCITING TIMES AT FORT U'RANGEL. 333

n got ready
L to start,
ved, barring
to Lid the
, to himself
to a convic-
ither, if nut
impatient to
this point if

)n by insist-
)erth in the
at the table.
pon him had
he was fain
ilver sheath,
-otter, fit for

•anov, "or I
•iven me."

at he would
lim.

ban attempt
nich shorter,
moft' Island,
the danger
id Frederick
where the
Peril Strait,

which bordered the nortli of the island on which Sitka
stood, and then down past Kruzoll' Island and many others
to Sitka itself.

It was a pleasant and prosperous voyage, with the ex-
ception of the passage of Peril Strait, where the schooner
had a tussle that forcibly reminded Kae of the thrilling
struggle the game little Plover had with the dreaded Yaculta
whirlpc^ol in the Seymour Narrows.

Peril Strait, rightly called by the Tingets Koo-la-tchika,
or " dangerous channel," had at its two narrowest parts tidal
rapids, that required to be encountered at slack water be-
tween tides in order to be easily managed.

The schooner got to the first rapid in good time, and
passed through with such little difficult}'' that the captain
was not so careful as he ouoht to have been at the second.
Moreover, he was anxious to get through before nightfall,
and. so, although the tide had turned, and w^as already run-
ning out when he reached the second or southern rapid, he
determined to make the venture.

No sooner had the schooner got into the full power of
the current, however, than he regretted his rashness ; but it
was too late to withdraw.

At its narrowest part the channel was barely one hundred
yards in width, and strewn with sunken rocks, over which
the tide rushed roaring at the rate of ten knots an hour.
The sails of course counted for nothinoj under these circum-
stances, and flapped uselessly at the masts, as the vessel, borne
along swiftly by a power mighty enough to master a colossal
ironclad, tossed upon the boiling waves like a bit of wood.

334 EXCITIXG TIMES AT FORT JVRAXGEL.

The pcriloiisncss of tlieir situation soon became nuinifest
to all on board, and there beinic nothini^ to do but to await
the issue, they i,'athered amidships, now watching the cap-
tain at the wheel with looks of deep concern, and now
glancing anxiously ahead at the dangers that threatened
so thickly.

The captain, concealing his regret for having attempted
the passage then, stood at the stern as calmly as though they
were in the open sea, keeping a keen look-out forward, and
spinning the wheel around this way or that, according to the
need of the moment.

With startling speed the schooner was swept on for mile
after mile, now passing a menacing rock so closely that even
the captain trembled for the moment, and now dancing gaily
in the middle of the flood, with plenty of room on either side.

There were no less than eio'ht miles of this harrowinif
navicjation, and althoufjli the actual time taken was less
than an hour, it seemed to Rae as if it w^ould never be over.

At length the channel began to widen, and the .spirits of
those on board the schooner to rise. They could already see
smoother water not far ahead ; and Rae, who had been in
the bow, coming back to the stern where Baranov stood
near the captain, had just said in a relieved tone, " We'll
soon be through. See, that's where the rapids end," point-
inof to where there was no more foam and the water seemed
comparatively at rest, when, with a shock that sent a shud-
der through every one on board, the schooner struck one of
the sunken rocks, and hung quivering upon it, while tlic
wild waters foamed fiercely about her.

\'GEL.

tne Hi an if est
lut to await
ng the cap-
1, and now
; threatened

g attempted
though they
forward, ami
:)rding to the

t on for mile
gly that even
lancing gaily
in either side,
is harrowing
:en was less
ever be over,
the spirits of
d already see
had been in
aranov stood
tone, "We'll
5 end," point-
water seemed
sent a shud-
s truck one of
it, while the

CHAPTER XIX.
THE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL.

^^HE shock of the schooner striking threw many of
J- those on board off their feet, including Rac and
Bamnov; but they were all up again at once, looking this
way and that with anxious, excited faces.

Was the vessel stuck fast, or would she free herself?
and if she did, was slie so severely injured as to be unsea-
worthy? These were the questions the men asked one
another, but no one could answer.

Rocking and trembling in the turbulent current the
schooner kept her place for perhaps the space of three
mmutes, and then with a wrench, caused by the stern
swinging round, tore herself free, and rr. umed her onward
course amid the glad shouts of her crew.

Down into the hold went a coupk- of the men, and their
report was awaited with keen anxiety. Presently they came
1'ack announcing that the vessel was making very little
water, and had not apparently sud'erod much damage. As
a matter of fact, thanks to the honest solidity of h.T build
slie had only lost her forefoot, and beyond the slight strain-

5^'

r//E HOME OF TTIE FUR SEAL,

ing apart of licr lowest .scam, was none tlie worse for her
Ituinpinc,^ on the rocks.

Thenceforward tlic rapids presented no further difliculty,
and the captain succeeded, ere darkness fell, 'nding a
snug little cove wherein to anchor for the night, as he did
not care to run the risk of making his way without the aid
of full daylight in those dangerous ^vaters.

After escaping from Peril Strait, there was a maze of
islands that sprinkled the strait between Kruzof Island and
Sitka to be cautiously threaded ; and then at last, just before
sunset, the capital of the then llussian Provinc of Alaska
was reached, and the loud report of the nine-por ider carried
in the bow annotuiced the successful termii r *on of the
voyage.

The first thiiiL!- that caucrht Pae's attentic^ was the great
castle built upon the rocky eminence that conniict.. ^ r'\ the
town and liarbour, and which seemed to Pae, although it
was only a wooden structure, imposing as it certainly ap-
peared, a magnificent monument of human power.

" Why, what is that?" ho asked, breathless with admira-
tion as its lofty walls of mighty logs and towering bastions
bri.stling with car.non came fully into view. "Is that your
fort?"

Paranov's nostrils expanded with pride, and he drew
himself up to his full height as he replied, —

"My grandfather built that. It M'as his castle. He con-
quered this country for Russia, and he was commander here
for many years."

The young Russian spoke truly. Although he had made

THE HOME OF THE FIR SEAL.

3.^7

irsc fur her

^(liniculty,

"nding a

it, as he di'l

lout the aid

^ a maze of
Island antl
t, jiisthcfovc
of Alaska
[• idcr cari'ioil
? "on of tlie

.vas the gveat

althou'^h it
certainly np-

er.

^Yith aduiiva-
ring bastions
Is that your

and he drew

stlo. He cou-
iiimander here

1 he had made

no boast of it hitlievto, ho was the grandson of the famous
Alexander IJaranov who, in the beginning ol" the century,
bad hy his reckless daring and tremendous energy taught
the Koloshian Indians to respect Iiussian rule, and had
lived amongst them in princely state, exercising an almost
supreme authority over Europeans and Indians alike.

In spite of the memory of many wild doings nttr:ehed to
his name, the grandson had good reason to be proud of it ;
and having kept silence liithcrto on this point, he now
indulged himself in a glowing account of the deeds of his
ancestor that found in liae and Freckles as sympathetic and
delighted an audience as he could possibly Mish.

The elder Ilaranov had evidently been a hero after Uae's
own heart, for though small in stature, lie was possessed
of miusual musculai' strength and physical endurance. He
was absolutely rearless, and never allowed any obstacle, no
matter how serious, to turn him aside from his chosen
purpose.

The Koloshian Indians having, during his absence, de-
stroyed a strong post that he had established to the north-
ward of Sitka, he, on h!s return, gathered together all liis
forces, which comprised some two score Paissians and three
hundred Aleutian sea-otter hunters, and in three small sloops
set out to attack Sitka, then the Indian stronghold, nothinir
daunted by the fact that he had to reckon with a body of
not less than five thousand sava^'es, fierce and flushed with
tlieir recent success, and ready for fresh blood and rapine.

He found his foes intrenched behind a hucce stockade
thrown up on the same lofty height where he subse(|uently

33^

THE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL.

M':<

bnilt liis own castle, from the apjtarcnt security of wliieh
they reviled liiin and taunted him with his recent mis-
i'ortunes. But tliey soon were made to eat their own words.

The cannon on l)oard the sloops splintered the stockade,
and, led by Baranov, whose immunity from hurt seemed to
make him hear a charmed life, the Biussians and Aleuts
charged dauntlessly again and again until the defenders of
the citadel fled in dismay, and the victory was complete.

As Rac looked admiringly about him, he fi'lt that it was
a victory well worth winning. Sitka was now in the heiirht
of its glory under the llussians, and when in company with
Baranov he went ashore and '• did the lions " of the place,
lie felt disposed to thaidv Providence for having brought
him thither even by so devious and strange a course.

The houses of Sitka were of a size and stvle far sur-
passing ai\ything ho had ever seen before. For the sake of
self-protection and comfort, the Russians, instead of living
in separate dwellings, had built large apartment houses or
flats, some of which wovg not less tlian one hundred and
fifty feet in length by eighty in depth, and three stories
high, with huge attic roofs. They were constructeil of big
spruce logs, snugly dove-tailed at the corners, and the roofs
were covered with sheet-iron. The walls were painted a
faint lemon colour, and the iron roofs glowed with red
ochre. Tlie windows were small, but fitted neatly with
tasteful casements, and had double sashes.

Within, the floors were laid of planks tongued and
grooved by hand and highly polished, the imier wnlls
were " ceiled up " on all sides and pajiered showily, and the

THE HOME OE THE J'CR SEAL.

339

cccnt iiiis-
)\vn ^vovl:ls.
3 stockade,
; sccine<l to
111(1 Alcnts
C'fcnders of
impk'to.
tliat it ^vas
I tlie height
npany ^vith
f the place,
no- Iji-oudit

arse.

;vle far snr-
the sake of

[1(1 of livhig

it houses or
\i mired and
rec stories
icted of hig
nd the roofs
e painted a
m1 \vith red
neatly with

ongned and

imier ^valls

;ily, and tlio

lieavy Iliissian furniture stood upon rugs of wool and fur
that gave a delightfully rich eli'ect to tluj rooms, Avhcrein,
let the outside weather be as boisterous and l>itt(-'r as it
might, the occupants could lead lives of entire physical
couifort.

All this was very new to llae, ami so also was the
lavishly decorated church where the Greek Catholic IJishop
of Alaska, aided by a large stati' of priests and deacons,
conducted service with a degree of ecclesiastical pomp and
splendour strangely contrasted to the savage wilderness that
hdiiied his bish(jpric. And then there were the shipyard,
as complete as any similar estal)lishment in the Russian
empire, and the l)rickyard, anil the wood-turning shop, and
the woollen mills, and the iron foundrv, where lielis for the
mission chapels were cast, and ploughshares and other
ac-ricultural inndcments.

It seemed to Rae, as he accompanied Earanov from one
establishment to another, that theie was no ead to the
marvels of Sitka, and again and again he exclaimed in his
own hearty way, —

"IbiWgladl am that yon brought nie here ! I've read
about places like this, an<l fntlur has told me something
about them, Init now I am seeing them for myself, and it is
just splendid."

lint it was when they went up to the casth-, then in its
halcyon days of splendoui-, that the highest point (jf his
enthusiasm was reached. Here indeed was a fort that real-
ized his ideal. lUiilt upon the solid rcjck, with precipices all
round, and conuuanding an unbroken sweep of sea and land ;

340

THE HOME OE THE EUR SEAL.

constructed so strongly tliat its Liittleuicnts endure to this
day in spite of the ravages of decay and vandal hands ; de-
fended by rows of shining brass cannon, and garrisoned by
scores of stalwart men, it wanted nothing in his eyes, and
almost unconsciously he murmured, —

"I wish Fort Camosun were like T ' . Why can't we
liave thino;s as fine as the Russians ? "

If Rao enjoyed seeing all these things, Baranov found
har<lly less enjoyment in showing them. Ele was full of
pride and pleasure on more than one account. There were
his family connection with the place, his patriotic interest
in it, and his delight in hearing that it so far surpassed any
of the establishments of the great Hudson Bay Company
on the western coast. He never appeared to more advan-
tage than in doing the honours of the place, and Rae iVlt
himself to be greatly favoured of fortune in having such a
cicerone.

The following evening after their arrival Baranov and
Rac, together with the captain of the schooner, were in\itod
to diimer at the castle. Pvae's own clothes were altogether
too weather-worn to be suitable fur such an occasion, so lie
was fain to accept his friend's urgent oti'cr of an outfit from
his own ample wardrolie. They were of course a little large,
but in every otlier respect they met the boy's need, and he
felt quite at ease on that point when they presented them-
selves before the governor, where their reception was ex-
ceedingly cordial, and Rae soon lost all uncomfortable senso
of strangeness.

Splendid as the banquet at Fort Wrangel had secmeil to

THE HOME OF THE EUK SEAL.

341

1.(1 seemed t^

Rae, this one as far surpassed it as that liad done the best
of M'liich Fort Caiiiosun was capable. Magniticeiit gold and
silver plate, glittering cut glass, precious china, and sump-
tuous damask adorned the table, and the viands were m ell
worthy of the elegance wilh which they were served.

Mindful of his experience at Fort Wrangvl, Kae confined
himself rigidly to cold water and coil'ee ; and Baranov, while
he did not let the champagne go by him untouched, took
care tliat only a moderate quantity passed his lips. There
was plenty of speech, song, and story after the cloth -was
removed ; and although liae could understand but little of
it, still the atmosphere of good fellowship was sutliciently
enjoyable in itself.

Kot only the governor but many of his subordinates
could speak the English language freely, and Uae found it
easy to maintain conversation with them, so that in this
respect he was much better off than he had been at the Fort
Wrangel ban(|uet.

Altogether lie had wdiat he considered a right royal time,
the only cloud upon his enjoyment of it being the regret
that his father was not sharing it with him.

As he looked alonnr the row of faces that lined the table,
ho saw some that were certainly very handsome, but there
were none that in his opinion could outshine his father's,
and he pictured to himself how the stalwart factor of Fort
Camosun would hold his own among these men, who were
as a rule of a much shorter, heavier build and less refined
cast of countenance.

It was during the dinner that T^aranov learned of somo

342

THE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL.

vessels beini^" about to start for the islands upon which the
famous fur seals were hunted, and the moment he heard of
it he determined to accompany them.

" Wouldn't you like to go too ? " he srdd to Rae. " You'd
better come along ; you may never get the chance again in
your life, and it would be a pity to miss it. It's a great
place to see ; " and then he went on to tell about the won-
derful Pribylov Islands, and the innumerable multitudes of
seals that resorted thither in the sunmier time.

Rae listened with eager interest, and the more he heard
the more anxious he became to go. The only thing that
made him hesitate was the possibility of his father coming
on to Sitka during his absence ; but Baranov removed this
difficulty by saying that word could be left for ]\Ir. Finlay-
son, and if he did turn up he could follow on to the islands
also, and make the extra trip pay for itself by securing a
lot of seal and sea-otter skins for the Company.

This seemed to Rae so reasonable that he made no fur-
ther objection, and Baranov, evidently much pleased, said, —

" That's right ; you're a sensible fellow, and you'll never
regret going up there, I know."

Having much influence at Sitka because of his fjimily
connection with its history, Baranov had little ditFieulty in
arranging for Rae and Freckles to accompany himself on
board one of the schooners bound for the Pril»ylov Islands ;
and after a couple more days at the Alaskan capital, they
all set oft' again, with their course this time set almost due
west.

In order to reach the home of the fur seal it was neccs-

THE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL.

04 v)

which tlio
3 heard oi:

3. " YoiiM
ce again in
It's a great
it the won-
alti tildes of

re he heard
thing that
ther coming
L3nioved this
:Mr. Finlay-
D the ishmds
securing a

ade no fur-
ased, said, —
you'll never

f liis family
dilhculty in
himself on
^dov Islands ;
capital, they
it almost due

it was neces-

sary to voyage away out into the ocean and around the far
projecting chain of the Alaskan Islands, and it was nut by
any means all easy sailing. There were enshrouding fogs
to be passed through, provoking heail-winds to be struggled
against, and confusing currents to be taken into account.

But the captain of the schooner was a veteran navigator
in these waters, and no fog or current could throw him out
of Ills reckoning, nor head-winds bailie him in ultimately
making the point he aimed at ; and so in good time he
])rought his schooner safely to the island of St. Taul, the
largest and most important of the Prilyluv gKjup.

On the voyage, Kae learned a great deal about these
islands — how they were discovered by a rugged ]\Iuscovite
"stoorman," a ship's mate, named Gerassim Pribylov, who,
on the strength of a story told him by an old Aleutian
" sharman " at Oonaliska of some mysterious islands hidden
in the heart of the Behring Sea, where sea-otters and seals
resorted in countless numbers, had spent three years in
patient persistent search for them; and at last, in July
1780, his old sloop ran up against the walls of Tolstoi JMees
at St. Georn'c's, and thouuh the fog was so thick that he
could scarce see the length of his vessel, his ears were re-
galed by the glad nuisic of the seal rookeries wafted out
to him on the heavy air. He knew then that he had found
the object of his search, and he at once took possession of
the island on behalf of the Russians.

His discovery was soon made public, and scores of
schooners had followed in the wake of his own until the
poor seals were in serious danger of extinction. Then came

344

riiE HOME OF THE fur seal.

on the scene tlie great Russian- American Company, wliicli
took tlie whole seal-hunting business into its own hands,
and in whose service Baranov was employed at Sitka.

There was no such thing as a safe harbour at the Priby-
lov Islands, and the captain of the schooner had to feel his
way cautiously through the fog that nine days out of ten
enshrouded the islands all snmmer lonir, until the boom of
the breakers, and the stran^je niiii":liii2: of roars and barks
and cries given forth by the seal herd on the rookeries, ad-
vised him of the nearness of liis destination.

It chanced that just before coining to anchor the fog
broke away, and gave Kae a chance to see something of the
strange place to which he had come.

The schooner had made her way into the cove in front
of the village of St. Paul, if such miserable dwellings as
were irregularly scattered along the shore could be called a
village, the most of them being sod-walled and dirt-roofed
structures partly nndcr ground, called by the native inhabit-
ants " barrabkies."

When Rae landed with Baranov and looked into one of
these places, he had no desire to repeat the visit. It was
dark, damp, and lilthy beyond description, the use of seal-
fat for fuel having caused a deposit upon everything within
doors of a thick coat of greasy soot strongly impregnated
with an intolerably oll'ensive odour.

The people themselves were no more attractive tlum
their abodes, being short and square of stature, and ugly of
feature, and having the appearance of never having washed
for many years.

THE HOME OF THE EUR SEAL.

.545

Lut it was neither the vill.aijje nor its inhjihitants that

Rao had come to see ; it was the seals, whose rookeries
stretched alon<:j ahnost the whole southern shore of the
island, and who were now in full occupation of Loth '• haul-
iuLT-o-rounds " and " breedinf^-^rounds."

There was a small rookery a little to the north of the
village called Lai^oon, Lut on the advice of a veteran seal-
hunter they kept on to Tolstoi, still farther north, Letween
which and Zapadnio the wonders of seal life could l)e oL-
served in every detail.

During the stay of the schooner, Rae and Freckles paid
many visits to this place, and yet saw sometliing novel and
interesting every time, until they came to regard the fur
seal as one of the marvels of creation.

'■ 1 cannot tell you how thankful I am to you for Lring-
iug me up here," said Rao to Earanov at the close of their
tu'st day's .sight-seeing. "I could never have Lelieved all
this without seeing it with my own eye.s."

The island of St. Paul, upon which they now were, was
l)ut a small place, Leing a trifle over thirteen miles in length,
east and west, and aLout six and a quarter in greatest width,
north and south. Yet it was the resort of millions of seals,
who crowded its sandy Leaches and rocky ledges in nudti-
tudes no man could nundjcr.

For the fir.st time in his life Rae saw the famous fur
seal, the most eagerly sought after of all amphiLious animals,
and it was little wonder if their ways and manners filled
liiin with amazement.

h\ the midst of the })erpetual surf that Leat upon the

34^'

THE HOME OE THE EUR SEAL.

island were the vouncc seals learniiiu' to swim and steer in
tlie Ijoisterous water; for, strange as it may seem, a bal>y-
seal knows no more how to swim at first than a human bul)\-
does how to M'alk, and it has patiently to practise before it
becomes at home in the deep.

There were also tinnblin<:j about in the surf to their own
manifest enjoyment great numbers of the " holluschickie," as
they are called by the natives — the bachelor seals, \\ho had
not yet risen to the dignity of being the heads of families ;
for in the seal connnunity the males must reach the age of
six or seven years before they can talce unto themselves
wives.

The female seals were pretty, graceful creatures, from
four to four and a half feet in lenixth, with little elastic
forms and well-shaped heads, from which looked out large
lustrous eyes, humid and suft wdth a wonderfully tender
expression.

As they gambolled about in the water, or drew them-
selves up on land, bleating softly for their cubs when they
were prepared to nurse, after being away to get their own
food, there was somethino- so sweet and feminine in their
whole appearance that Kac's heart went out to them ; ami
turning to Baranov he exclaimed, in a tone of anticipatory
indignation, for he did not yet k'now the methods of the
fur-seal hunter, —

" And do you mean to say that they kill those beautiful
creatures for the sake of their skins ? "

Baranov laughed at his emphatic question.

"Why, no," he replied; "those arc the 'matkah' — the

rilE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL.

347

iiatkah '—the

iiiotlicrs. They are never kill<Ml. If thoy were, there would
soon be no more seals. Only the holluschiekie are killed, as
111 show you before we cjo awav."

" Well, 1 am i;lad to hear it," responded liae ; " for if
I thought that such lovely creatures had to be killed to
make that splendid coat you were so good as to give me,
I am sure I could not take any pleasure in wearing it."

Baranov smiled in a superior way, for such a range of
sympathy seemed to him a sign of weakness which he would
not care to confess.

" Oh, 3'ou needn't be anxious on that account. There's
not a matkah skin in your coat. It's prime holluschiekie
every inch of it."

The antics and contortions of the seals in the surf were
exceedingly amusing, and the boys could have watched them
for hours.

The best swimmers were the young bachelors, and the
gracefid unconcern with which they would sport safely in,
among, and under the b(M:)ming breakers was fascinating
beyond description. It would seem us if at any moment
tlie mighty billows must in their lierce convulsions dash
tlie darino- creatures, stunne<l an<l lifeless, against the cruel
boulders which lined the beach. But nothing of the kind
oceiuTcd. Through the wihb^st and most ungovernable
moods of the storm-tossed waters — for calms are unknown
at the Pribvlov Islands, and it is ineessfiiitlv blowing; hard
from one quarter or ant)ther — these accomplished amphibians
would amuse themselves gambolling in the seethiuLC creamy
wake of the tremendous rollers which constantly broke over

148

THE HOME OF THE FUR SEAL

tlicir ulert dodginc^ heads. The swift siicccediiic,^ Wtaves
seemed every instant to poise tliem at the very veri^e of
death ; but, exultini,^ in their own skill and stren^'tli, tlicy
hafiO defiance to the wrathful deep, and continued tluir
diversions.

"Oh, if I could only swim as they can!" sighed Rae,
after watching their pcrforinancc in silent admiration for
some time. " I don't think I'd choose such rough water
for my fun ; hut it would he splendid, wouldn't it, Frockl<\s,
to he ahle to tundjle ahout in that way and never hurt
yourself ;* "

All this time, as they stood upon an elevated rocky point
which o-ave them a clear outlook in every direction, their
ears had been filled with the ceaseless roaring that came u[i
from the rookeries, where the old liuUs or "seecatchie" were
incessantly fighting for the possession of a l)it of ground, or
the company of the females.

Wonderful as the scene in the surf had been, this was
even more extraordinary. Spread over many acres of sand on
hard-packed earth were thousands upon thousands of huge
bulls, each having his own little plot and his own grouj) of
wives, and each apparently tr3'ing to make more noise and
more of a disturbance generally than his neighbour.

They were all big brutes of ^ellows, that presented a
striking contrast to the meek, graceful, pretty females at
their side, or to the jaunty, handsome bachelors out on the
surf. They had been on the ground since the spring, hoM-
ing their own airainst the attacks of the bachelors ambitious
for family privileges, and now from nuich fighting and long

TnR iFoyrE of tiie fur seal

349

fasting were reduced to a pliysical condition tliat was posi-
tively disrei)ntal)le.

A couple of months before, tliev had cnioru'ed from the
ocean depths the very pictures of plethoric sleekness, the
true aldermen of the sea. Measuring from six to seven feet
in leno-th, and weiii-hinn' from four hundred to six hundred
potuiils, they had emerged from the boisterous brine and
stepped upon the beach (for their way of pi-ogression by
their fore-llippers may ([uito properly be called " st('p})iug "),
carrying their small, well-shaped heads high in the air, and,
looking about them with their large, bluish-hazel eyes, had
selected locations upon which to take up family life.

Then had pandemonium set in. Every hour of the day
an 1 ni<j-]it brou<dit fresh arrivals, who either challeui'-ed
those nearest the water for their plots, or sought to force
their way throui-h their close-set ranks in order to secure
places in their rear. In either case they had had to fight
for their object, and these fights were no trilling affairs,
liae saw many of them during his stay at St. Paul's, and
tliey made him wonder how creatures could be constructed
to survive such terrible maulings as they gave and received.

The fio-htinix was done entirely with the mouth. The
two opponents wouhl approach each other with heads
averted in a comical fashion, just as though they felt nearly
ashamed of the tumult they were about to make. When
they got M'ithin striking distance they began a series of
passes or feints, which their long powerful necks enabled
them to make with -wonderful quickness. Their heads were
darted out and drawn back as quick as a flasli, now in this

35°

THE IlO}rE OF THE FCR SEAL.

direction aivl now in that, tlio one attackinc^, the other
parryiiiL,^ or dodging; for in tliese duels one combatant ■\vas
always on the oU'ensive and the other on tlie defensive.

In the meantime, tlieir hoarse roaring and shrill piping
whistle filled the air, while their fat bodies Avrithcd and
swelled with rage and energy, and their eyes flaslied furi-
ously.

At length one would get a grip with his teeth on the
other's flipper or shoulder, and they would close in a tierce
wrestling match, the bitten one striving to shake oil' his
opponent, and the latter holding on with merciless rigour
until his sharp canines tore out a deep gutter in the former's
skin, or shred the flipper into ribl>on strips.

The blood would stream down from the horrid wounds
inflicted, and moans of agony would take the place of the
roars of rage ; and at last the defeated duellist would draLj
himself painfully away, while the victor, content with his
conquest, instead of following liim np, would sink com-
placently back with a curious chuckle of satisfaction,
and proceed to fan his fevered head with one of his hind-
flippers.

At first when he saw these conflicts, Lae ^^a- str<.ngly
tempted to interfere, just as ho i were t-'o dogs

fighting, the big seals seemed so u rminod to kill one
another.

But Baranov laughed at his concern, and he soon saw
the utter futility of playing the part of peacemaker where
a thousand such fights were taking place every hour.

He did, however, venture to interfere once, and then ha '

THE HOME OF THE Ei'R SEAL.

351

tlio other
)atant was
isive.

rill pipini,'
fitbcd and
islietl fiui-

utli on tlie
in a tierce
ake oil' liis
iless rigovn-
dIic former's

:ri(-l wounds
)laco of tlie
wouM drag
lit with his
sink com-
atisfaction,
Df his hind-

..,, .tri.ngly
t-o dogs
to Kill one

ic soon saw

naker where

hour.

,nd then had

an experience that eHectually taught him the wisdom of
nunding his own hu^'ness.

One morning, wh -n he was standing in company with
BaraiKjv and Freckles up(jn a rocky point that overlooked
one of the rookeries, and they were all three watching the
extraordinary mingling of motion and noise at their feet,
a very prettily-shaped " cow " emerged from the water just
at the spot occupied by a burly seecateliie, who coaxed her
to his harem by a medlev of chucklim:, whistlin<j, and roar-
ing that was excessively anuis'.ng to the human spectators,
and successful in eflecting its object.

But she had hardly settled down upon the smooth rock
which constituted her lord's domain than an adjacent bull,
no doubt inspired by the special charms of the graceful
creature, reached across from his stati(jn and seized lier with
his mouth at the nape of the neck, just as a cat would lift a
kitten.

At the same instant the first bull turned just in time to
catch her in his teeth by the back, a little above the rear
flippers.

Then was the poor innocent thing lifted into the air
between the infuriated brutes, who tugged in opposite direc-
tions, until Rao could no longer control his impulse to inter-
fere, and, springing down to the cow's rescue, he gave each
of the bulls a sharp blow on the nose with a stout stick he
happened to have in his hand.

So far as the cow was concerned his interference was a
brilliant success, for both the rivals let go of her instantly,
and she slid back to her place not much injured. But Rao

(478) 22

3.V

THE HOME OE THE EUR SEAL.

Ccamc very near sufferin;^' in licr stead in a wixy tluit in liis
syinpathctic haste he had not reckoned upon.

Just as lie delivered the second blow his feet slipped on
the slime that covered the rock, and down he went right
between the two enraged monsters, wlio, qnite forgetting the
bewitching cause of their conllict, now turned their whole
attention upon the boy who had so rashly ventured to inter-
meddle in their domestic affairs.

The moment Rae tried to regain his feet one of them
promptly knocked liim down, and tlic other stood over him
Avith gleaming teeth displaj^ed in a most terrifying fashion.

" Lie still, Rae ! Don't try to move, or they'll kill you
between them," shouted Baranov, as, with Fr(}ckles at his
heels, he rushed to Rae's rescue, his blanched countenance
showing how grave he considered the boy's peril tv) be.

that in his

slippci.l on
went riiiht
■o-ettin2: the

bheir whole
cd to inter-
ne of them
j(l over hiui
q;^ fasliion.
^'11 kill you
ckles at his
conntenancc
. to be.

CHAPTER XX.
TTTE WAYS AXD MANNERS OF THE SEAL.

A A 7'tIEN Rao found himself at the mercy of the two
V V furious seecatchie, lie was no less surprised than
scared. He had never imagined that he liad anything to
fear from them, taking it for granted that he could spring
out of their way M'ith the utmost ease.

But, instead of being able to do so, ho could not even get
upon his feet. Within the reach of their long, powerful
necks they were as agile as punthers, and met every move
he attempted to make with their bewhiskered heads, whoso
long white teeth could inflict such frarful woun.ls.

Happily neither of them succeeded in getting his teeth
into Rae's tlesh, although nuG caught the sleeve of his jacket
and tore it ofl' at the shoulder; and before anything' worse
could happen, Raraiiov and Freckles were at hand.

They also carried stout sticks, and each taking one of
the bulls, plied him so vigorously with blows that both were
fain to beat a prompt retreat, roaring and whistling in sullen
rage.

When Rac picked himself up, he presented such a sorry
spectacle that the other two could not keep back their

354 THE \VA YS /L\D MANNERS OE THE SEAL.

laiit'-litcr : and, rccon'niziiiGj the humour of the situation, ho
had tlie good sense to join in the mirth.

Altliougli in reality none tlie worse save for a bruise or
two, ho looked as if he ought to be sent to liospital. He
was daubed all over with the slime of the rookerv, and,
moreover, liad been liberally spattered M'ith Ijlood from the
wounds the bulls had inHicted on the "cow" before he had
taken a hand in the affair.

"Are you badly liurt, Rae ? " inquired Baranov, with
sincere concern in his voice, so soon as lie could get it steady
enough to speak. " They've given you a pretty rough
liandling."

"Not a bit," replied Rae, giving himself a good shake to
make sure there were no bones broken ; " they've only dirtied
me up a lot, that's all. I must liurry back to the schooner
and clean up."

Freckles, still seemingly anxious, took hold of the arm
from which the sleeve had been torn, and passed his liand
over it tenderly.

" Are you all right here ? " he asked. " I was nfraid that
big brute was going to hurt you dreadfully."

" He's spoiled my shirt, Freckles," answered llae, looking
ruefully at the torn garment, "and it's one of the best Fve
got ; but I ought to be thankful at getting oil' so easily. I
never thought those creatures could be so (piick. I tell you
I'll have more respect for them after this,"

They all returned to the schooner, where Rae put on
some clean clothes and had his bruises looked after, and then
felt ready for a fresh adventure.

SEAL.
tiiation, lie

a bruise or
.pitcal. He
jkery, and,
1(1 from tlie
'ore lie had

•anov, with
;ct it steady
L-etty rough

)od shake to
only dirtied
he schooner

of the arm
ed his hand

s afraid that

llae, looking

die hest Tve

so easily. I

. 1 tell you

"Rae put on
;ter, and then

THE WAYS AXD JELYYEA'S OE THE SEAE 355

No mishap ever daunted his spirit. In the words of the
song, he " bobbed up .serenely" after each buffet at the hands
of fate, and proposed to continue to do .so as long as health
and strength were granted him.

The rough treatment given him by the old scecatchie in
no wise damped his zeal for further study of the strange
and interesting ways of the fur .seal, and every day added
to the stores of information that lie told himself he would
iind such pleasure in retailing to the good people at Fort
Camosun, none of wliom had, so far as he knew, ever visited
the Pribylov Islands.

It was just the season when the " kotickie " or pups ^vcre
in their most amusing stage, and the three lads had a great
deal of fun with the funny little creatures.

They were all jet black in colour, and had big innocent
eyes, with which they gazed about them in an inquiring way
that was very comical. They were perpetual motion incar-
nate, and seemed never to take any rest except, perliaps,
when beinc "ed b}' their mothers.

A remaruable thing was the unfailing accuracy with
which the mothers would pick out their own pups from the
countless thousands that swarmed through the rookeries.
The little things, lieing as fond of company as other children,
always gathered in groups or " pods ; " and when the mothers
came in from the sea, whither they had been to wash and
feed, they would stop at tlu' edge of the pod where they
thought their ollspring ought to l»o, and bleat just like
sheep calling for their lambs.

Cun.siderinu' the multitude of 'kotickie," all .seeming as

356 THE WAYS AND MANNERS OF THE SEAL.

much alike as so many pins, and tlio incessant din prevail-
ing, this proceeding on the mother's part might seem a very
futile one. But such was not the case.

After a few trials, the solicitous parent would hear the
cry of her own furry baby, and then make straiglit for it
through the crowd, showing entire indifference to the safety
of the other youngsters as she struck out right and left with
her fore-flippers.

After watching this proceeding several times, Rae came
to the conclusion that the pups did not know their own
mothers, hut it being their nature to cry out incessantly
while awake, their mothers were bound to hear them bleat
before long and hunt them out.

When not down at the water's edge learnincf to swim,
the pui)s would pod in the rear of the large rookeries, and
this was one of the most fascinating sights in the island.

From the summit of Cross Hill, looking southward and
w^estward over a reach of alternate grass and sand-dunes,
Rae could sec hundreds of thousands of the shiny black
things sporting about in the jolliest of moods, or stretched
out asleep when they had had enough of play for a time.

Going down amongst them sometimes, he would find
lively amusement in their antics as they took alarm at liis
approach, and with a medley of coughing, spitting, snorting,
and bleating shambled spasmodically away a few yards ; and
then, forgetting all about him, they would resume their
playing or sleeping, just as though nobody had been so rude
as to disturb them.

Another interesting sight was that of the pups learning

' SEAL.

THE JVAYS AXD AELWVEA'S OE THE SEAL. 357

liii prcvail-
scem a very

kl hear the
aiirlit for it
the safety
ncl left with

iS, Rae came

; their own

incessantly

them bleat

nix to swim.

lokeries, and

island.

ihward and

sand-dunes,

shiny black

or stretched

)r a time.

would ilnd
darm at his
ni,^ snortiuii',
' yards ; and
esume their

»oen so rude

.ips learn iuL;'

to swim. Driven by instinct to the nuiri^in of the beach,
they would hesitatingly smell and then touch the little pools,
and roll around in the upper wash of the surf, until begin-
ning to feel more at home they would venture out into
deeper water.

At first they would flounder about in the most awkward

thrash

•at(

ith their fore-tlippers Just

manner, turasiung tne water witn tueu" lore-iiippers
little dogs do with their fore-feet, and making no use of the
hind-flippers. With wide open mouths and staring eyes,
they would thus paddle and splash ui\til little by little they
learned to use their powers aright, and to realize their mas-
tery over the water.

Then were they the happiest creatures alive. Their
shiny black forms fairly coruscated in the surf as, swim-
ming in endless evolutions, twisting, diving, turning, and all
the time chattering like a mob of children, they played all
day long with seemingly exhaustless zest and energy.

Rae would have dearly liked to secure a mother seal
and a pup to take away with him, but JUuanov assured
him they could not Ije kej)t alive in captivity. 'Jdie experi-
mont had been often tried, but never with success. The
seals would not eat, and died of starvation.

Shortly after the arrival of the schooner the killing of
the holluscliickie f(jr the sake of their skins began, and
the boys went once to the " killing-grounds." These were
situated not far from the village of St. Paul, and one look
at them was suflicient to discover their sinister character,
for they were thickly spriid<lL'd with the bleached skeletons
and the grinning skulls of the victims of preceding years.

358 THE WA YS AND MANNERS OE THE SEAL.

The (Irivini:^ of the seals to the spot Kae found rather
ainnsing', altliough it did appeal to his tender synipathies
sometimes. The manner of it was as follows : —

Getting np at dawn, the Aleuts whose duty it was
would slip quietly down to the sand-beach and place them-
selves between the sleeping droves of holluschickie and the
water before the creatures suspected their presence.

Then they would make a noise by clattering bones to-
gether and shouting, and the seals would wake up suddenly
from their last sleep on earth. On awaking the}^ would, of
course, instinctively turn to the water, but, seeing men
between them and their natural refuge, they would imme-
diately whirl round, and scramble hurriedly back up and
over the land, the Aleuts leisurely following the drove
thus secured, and directing its course over to the killing-
grounds.

Not more than half-a-mile an hour could be expected
from the doomed creatures, so that it was work that re-
quired abundant patience, especially as rests had to be
allowed every few yards in order that the seals might not
get overheated from their exertions, which would have a
bad etlect upon their skins, seriously damaging the fine fur.

The method of progression was the same in all cases —
a kind of walking step, and a sliding shambling gallop, tlui
whole drove moving with a succession of starts, spasmodic
and irregular, made every few minutes after pauses to catch
the breath, and to gaze about in a plaintive way that was
quite ])athetic.

During these rests they would pant like so many digs,

SEAL.

THE JFAVS AXE MAA'AEAS OE THE SEAL

559

iind rather
syinpathies

ity it was
)lace them-
:ie and the

10.

f^ hones to-
p suddenly
Y \voul(h of
iceing men
)uld imme-
ck up and
the drove
:he killinof-

)e expected
rk that re-
had to he
mio'lit not
uld have a
lie fine fur.
all cases —
\ gallop, th(;
i, spasmodic
ses to catch
ay that was

many i}<<^g^,

and fan themselves vigorously with their hind-llippers, not
moving forward again until urged hy the noise of the
natives. They no more attempted to show light than would
a tiock of sheep, seeming to be in mortal terror of men, and
to bo willing to do anything at their bidding.

Every now and then a seal would become exhausted,
and after dragging itself painfully along for a few yards
would collapse utterly and be left behind, (piivering and
panting, not to revive for hours, or perhaps never at all.

It was these cases that touched Rae's lieart. He would
have liked to pick up every such seal and carry it back to
the water, but of course there was no doing anything of the
kind ; so ho kept on to the killing-grounds, whose gruesome
sights soon made him forget the sufferings of those by the
wayside.

Having been driven up on the flats between the oast
landing and the village, the seals were herded there until
they had rested and were cooled off. Tlien all the Aleuts
gathered to the slaughter, in which, of course, the boys took
no part.

Each man was armed with a long wooden clul», a stab-
bing-knife, and a skinning-knife, and the whole party were
under the direction of foremen, who divided up the work so
that not a moment might be wasted once it had begun.

At the signal of the chief foreman the men entered the
drove and cut out from it a hundred or more seals, consti-
tuting a "pod," which they surrounded in a circle, huddling
the creatures together so that they might be within easy
reach of the clubs.

36o THE WAYS AXD MANNERS OE THE SEAL

Then the cliief, cascin^,^ his eye over the p<intiiiL;', writli-
ing mass, rapidly pointed out tliose that were not worth
killing — one heinr too Ijadly torn by an opponent's tvisks,
another heing too young, ami a third too old, and so on.

Tliis being done, ho gave the command to strike, and
instantly the heavy clubs fell all around the circle, every
animal that \vas eliu'ible bein!]f stretched out, stunned and
motionless,, with a celerity that was simply amazing.

Dropping their clubs, the men then seized the prostrated
animals by the hind-flippers, and, spreading them out flat,
plunged their stabbing-knives into their warm bodies be-
tween the fore-flippers. The heart was thus pierced, the
blood gushed forth, and the quivering of the creature ceased
for ever.

As soon as all those in the " pod " had been disposed of,
the process of skinning connnenced. It was evidently severe
work, and even the long-practised Aleuts found it exceed-
ingly exhausting. Piolling the body over until it balanced
squarely on its back, the native made a single swift cut
throu2;h the skin down alon^* the neck, chest, and bellv,
from the lower jaw to the root of the tail, usinc"' for the
purpose his long stal)bing-knife. Then, straddling the seal,
a sweeping circular incision was made around the flippers
just at the point where the body-fur ended, after Mdiich,
seizing a ilap of the skin, the man proceeded with his
shorter skinning-knife rapidly to separate it from the body
and blubber until it was entirely free, the whole operation
taking the most expert skiiniers only a minute and a half.

The handling of one " pod " was quite enough for llae.

THE UWYS AND MAXNERS OE THE SEAL 361

The plaintive Lleatiiig of the poor helpless seals, the crush-
in^^' blows of the clubs, the plnni^Miiij;' of the long knives into
the plump, sleek breasts, and the swift stripping otl' of the
soft rich skin soon wrought in him profound disgust.

" Come, Freckles," he exclaimed, as almost overpowering
qualms of nausea rose within him, " I can't stand any more
of this. Let us go."

There was more than a suspicion of a sneer in the smile
with which Baranov heard these words. To him each skin
represented an addition to the profits of the company, and
the more energetically the swarthy Aleuts toiled at their
repulsive task, the better he was pleased.

But Rae affected not to notic" the sneer, and hastened
away from the sights and smells that were so abhorrent to
him.

Baranov, as if repenting of seeming disagreealjle, pre-
sently hastened after him, saying pleasantly, " Since you
don't like that, Rae, I'll show you something better to-
morrow^ We'll go out to Walrus Island.'

"Walrus Island?" asked llae, glad of a change of sub-
ject. " Where is that ? and what can you do there ? "

" Just wait until I show you," was Baranov's response,
and no further information would he give.

The next morning was bright and clear, and free from
boisterous winils, so that they were able to start with good
prospects of a pleasant trip. Walrus Island lay about six
miles eastward from St. Paul's, and was nothing more than
a mere ledge of lava, llat-capped, and lifting itself just above
the wash of the waves, being scarcely more than a quarter

362 THE WAYS AXn MAXNERS OF THE SEAL.

of a mile in length, and one Imndred yards in greatest
breadth.

As the clumsy " bidarrah," or native boat, approached
the island, the first thin<>' Rao noticed was the marvellous
multitude of birds squatting upon its level surface or dark-
ening the air with their whirring wings. They swarmed
as thickly as mosquitoes in a swamp ; indeed, it seemed
hard to understand how they avoided colliding with one
another in the air, or crowding each other off' the surface of
the rock into the sea that splashed all round their limited
domain.

" Where do they all come from ? " he exclaimed in won-
derment. "You'd think all the birds in Behring Sea must
be there. I never saw anything like it in my life."

"They are just like that every year," answered Baranov,
who greatly enjoyed this acting as guide to the strange
sights of the possessions of the Eussian- American Company ;
" and no matter how many you kill, or how many of their
eggs you take, it makes no difference in their numbers."

They had to be very careful in ctfecting a landing, for
there was no beach or shore, the sides of the island rising
like walls out of the sea ; and it took all the dexterity of the
natives to bring their bidarrah near enough for the boys to
jump out upon a jutting ledge. As it was. Freckles slipped
on its slimy surface, and would have fallen back into the
water but for the timely help of Baranov, who seized his
arm and drew him out of danger.

The birds, although they evidently were aware of the
approach of the bidarrah, showed no signs of disturbance

: SEAL.

THE WAYS AND ALL\NERS OE THE SEAL. 36^

ill greatest

appvoachecl
inai'vellous
ICC or dark-
ey swarmed
I, it seeiiied
10' witli one
le surface of
,heir limited

iiied ill woii-

[wsi Sea must

ife."

red Baranov,
tlic strang'o

m Company ;
any of their

umbers."
landing, for
island rising
tcrity of the

ir the boys to
ckles slipped
ack into the

ho seized his

aware of the
f disturbance

until the boys had fairly hinded. Then those nearest them
rose in clouds from the eggs wliich they were liatclung, and
before they liad control of their Higlit, many of tliem went
bang into tlie intruders upon their domain, hitting them
right and left with such violence that they were fain to
crouch down upon their knees until this extraordinary hail-
storm was over.

After the first connuotion had subsided, the visitors were
al)le to stand up and look about them. The scene was
certainly a remarkable one. The birds fairly covered the
surface of the rocky island with their feathered forms, while
as many more whirled in rapid flight overhead, so thickly
interweaving their evolutions as to hide the sky from sight.

When t(~) this were added the stunninir whirr of iiuiumer-
able strong wings beating the air, the shrill screams of the
gulls, the muftied croaking of the "arries," and the indescrib-
able disagreeable smell arisinnr from the broken eaa's, and
other decaying substances, the whole impression was one of
amazement, and one never to be forgotten.

Rae and Freckles started to pick up some of the eggs,
but soon had their hands so full that they could carry no
more, and turned them over to the natives, who were only
too glad to get them.

Rae noted that the different kinds of birds divided their
scanty territory l,)etwein them, the "arries" occupying a
narrow strip all round the edge of the island, the kittiwakes
and little auks sharing the face of the clifls with the sea-
parrots and cormorants, and the big white burgomaster gulls
occupying the interior, where among the grassy tussocks

364 TITE WAYS AND MANNERS OF THE SEAL.

they built noat nests of dry j^'rass and sea-ferns, and reared
their young in comfort.

Nor were tlie hirds the only interesting inhahitants of
the reniarkaUe little island. At the farther end was to bo
seen a large herd of male walruses that made it their home
every summer.

They were huge, hideous, morose-looking creatures, who
manifested no fear Avhatever at the appearance of the boys,
but snorted and growled in a threatening fashion, as though
to say, —

" What brings you here ? This is our home, and we
didn't invite you. ]>e ofF'.rith you at once."

One of them looked so very disagreeable that Baranov
was moved to take a shot at him with his pistol — they had
not brought their guns — whereat the ugly brute plunged
into the water, and the others promptly followed his ex-
ample, all moving with a degree of ease and speed that
seemed inconsistent with their clumsy forms.

" Do the natives kill many of the walruses ? " asked Rao,
as he watched the loni^^-tusked monsters snrgincj throucjh the
waves in angry confusion.

" No," replied Baranov. " They're not much use, and
they're let alone most of the time ; but the natives do take a
good many sea-lions every season, and we must go over to
their hauling-grounds and have a look at them if it's fine."

Being anxious to see all that was to bo seen, in order
that he might have the more to tell his father, Rae said ho
would like very much to make the acquaintance of the sea-
lion, and Baranov promised to see aljout it forthwith.

THE WAYS AXD .\rANXERS OF THE SEAL. 365

IS, and reared

oinc, and \ve

" asked Rao,

The liaulinix-f'roundH of the soa-lion were at the North-
East Point, and guided by a native tlie tliree l)oys made
their \vay over to them the followinp^ morniii!:^. Ow in;:,^ to
tlic fact that, altlioni^di twice as liig and stroni^ as the fur
seal, the sea-lion is a miserable coward, and at the first sign
of the approach of man hurries incontinently into the water,
they could not walk boldly up to where they were congre-
gated, but had to be content witli observinj]: them from a
distance.

They were magnificent-looking creatures, the old bulls
particularly, as they reared themselves upon their powerful
fore-arn]s full six feet in height, and roared out challenges
to their own kind in a tremendous l)ass voice that rose above
the ceaseless booming of the surf. Measuring tun feet in
length, and from eight to nine feet in girth at the shoidders,
and weighing from twelve hundred to fourteen hundred
pounds, they seemed veritable "sead<ings," and lit to cope
with almost any antagonist ; yet a small boy with a rattle
could put a thousand of them to ignominious flight, and had
Tvae allowed them to get a good look at him he would have
had no chance of getting a good look at them.

But if they were mortally afraid of man, they were not
of each other, and, like the seecatchic, were alwa^'s having
tierce fights, in which they gave and received terrible wounds.
Not one adult male M'as free from hideous scars, and being
totally without fur, these showed the more plainly. A
tremendous combat between two Inills took place just in
front of the spot where the boys were concealed, and they
had a fine view of it.

366 THE WAYS AND MANNERS OF THE SEAL.

Opcnino' witli a loii^^^ round of roaring, the glatliators of
the f-'ca «j,'radiially cauio tog'utlier v/ith averted heads, as
tliong'li tlic very siglit of each otlier was sickening, and
began a series of feints for an opening, darting out and
witliih'awing tlieir heads witli a swiftness that the eye could
hardly f(^llow. At length one of them succeeded in striking-
Ids teeth into the thick skin of his opponent's cheek, and
then, clinching his jaws, held grindy on until tlie struggles
of the tortured victim tore them loose, leavinij: a i>'apini>-
wound bin' enousfh to hold Kae's tist.

Nothing daunted by his fearful injury the bull retaliated
by fastening his teeth into the other's neck, and held on in
his turn until shaken loose in the same way ; and so, while
the blood and foam bespattered the ground, and their
hoarse ferocious roaring filled the air, the great creatures
fought on until in sheer exhaustion they were compelled to
fall back, panting as though they were drawing their last
breath.

"Tliat's worth seeing, isn't it, llae ? " said Baranov.
" Nothing like that down in your country, eh ? "

Loyal as he was to his own, Rac had to admit that
Baranov's boast could not bo gainsaid, and he racked his
brains to try to ilnd something to offset against the sea-
lions. At length he bethought himself of some gi-eat moun-
tain elk he had seen before he left Fort Vancouver, and
forthwith launched into so vivid a description of those
monarclis of the forest as to till Baranov with a hunter's
liercc longing to sec them for himself.

" And are tney so grand ivs that \ " he queried. " Then,

E SEAL.

n-ladiators of
1(1 heads, as

ikcninn;, ami
ill!'- out and
he eye could
d in striking
s clieek, and
the struggles
ng a gaping

uU retaliated
1 held on in
and so, \vhile
1, and their
eat creatures
compelled to
nsc their last

lid Baranov.

admit that
e racked his
inst the sea-
3 o-ivat nioun-
ncouvcr, and
Jon (if those
th a hunter's

L'ied. '• Then,

THE JVAYS AXD MAXXERS OF THE SEAL, :^f^^

as sure as my name is Alexander Baranov, I'll come down to
your country some time, and you nnist show me where I'll
see some of tlie elk."

Rao readily j-iromised to help him all he could in the
matter, ami th^n felt nnich easier in his miml, seeing that
he had thus restored the balanco Iji'twceii thr Baissian and
I'^nglish possessions by setting off mountain elk against sea-
lions as objects of patriotic pridi'.

Taking care not to allow themselves to be seen, the boys
spent several hours watching the sea-lions who were coming
out from the sea. and returning to it in an apparently con-
tinuous procession, varied only by fretjueiit lights between
the old bulls.

As swinnners they surpassed even the fur seals, careering
through the wild Ijillows, ;ind performing all sorts of seem-
ingly impossible feats in their very midst. For such heavy
animals their agility was certainly astonishing, and they
apparently enjoyed the sport immensely.

" If we Were to stay at St. Paul's a little longer we'd see
the natives di'ive tlu^ sea-lions up to th<.' killing-grounds,''
said Baranov ; " but they won't be doing that until thex'n;
done with the fur seals."

"What good are the sea-liuus ? They've got no fur,"
asked Bae,

"Why,"' replie(l Baranov, " the natives make their bid-
arkies and l»idarr;dis witli their .skius; and ca[)ital Ijoats
they are tito, if you don't keep tlirm in tlit; waVei- too
long. Then they make waterproof coats out of their
intestines, and they eat the meat and use the blubber for

(ITS) 23

368 THE JI\1VS AXD J/.l.V.VE/^S OF TirE SEAT..

oil; so YOU soo tlicy don't kill tlioni for tlie fun of tlio
tliini(."

Rae M'as not at all sorry to miss anotlicr "killing-." It
could not fail to 1)0 even more unpleasant a performance
than in the case of the seals, and he felt much more desirous
of seeing the funny little blue and white foxes which Bar-
anov hail spoken about.

There were many of these upon the islands, who found
comfortahlc holes for their accommodation and retreat amon''-
th(_! covnitless chiidss and crevices of the basaltic rocks.
Feeding upon the weak and sickly seals, and the younv; puv)s
when they could ij'ct them, they mvw fat in the s ;iKi*:jr
time, and were full of vigour.

The boys liad a capital day's sport hunting them, and,
althouidi it was no easy job to i^'et a wod shot at them,
they Averc so wary and so swift of llight. they succeeded in
getting ]ialf-a-dozen good specimens, Avhose Ijrushes were
duly loppeil olf for trophies.

Thus each day of the schooner's stay at St. Paul's had its
own interest, and the time flew by so rajiidly that Rae was
surprised wdien Baranov announced that they must be re-
turning to Sitka, as tlie busin(\ss upon which the schooner
had come was all tran ;acted, and there wns no excuse for
remain iuL!' any lonicer.

llae woul<l not liave been sorry to spend another month nt
St. Paul's, there were so many thinu's of interest in and around
that wondei'ful island. At the same time, he was glad to bo
going back to Sitka, bocnuse of liis hop(.^ of finding his father
there, or at least of glutting soim^ word concerning him.

• SEAL
fun of tho

xillinc;'." It
pci'forinanco
lorc desirous
; ^vllicll Bar-

, ^vho foil ml
3treat ainoii;^;
Lsaltic rocks.
> youn'.-: pnr)S
tlic s-;ii:i>:cr

ii-.- them, ami,

hot at them,

succeeded iu

)rushes wen>

^^auVs had its

that Rae was

must lie re-

thc schooner

10 excuse foi'

llier month at
in and around
its ,L;lad to h.^
inij,' liis father
wyx him.

r///r JJ'AYS AXD MANNERS OF THE SEAL 369

" We're c-'oino; to call at nelcovsky on our way hack,"
Baranov told l^ae, " and perhaps we may ha\-e a chance to
see some otter-huntiug. 1 do hope wc will, for it's fine
sport, I tell you."

Knowing nothing ahout this ])hict', Rae hail a good many
questions to .'isk, winch Baranov took pleasure in answering ;
and so he learned that it was a village on the eastern side
of tho long Aleutian peninsula, which was th(^ centre of the
sea-otter hunting. There, ever since 17cS0, the Russians had
heen lirmly estahli.died, and ha<l (Icrived innuense profits
from the trade in sea-otter skins, the natives doing tho
hunting, and the Russians reaping most of tli<^ hrnetit, as
might naturally lie expected, seeing th;it they liad matti'rs
entii'ely in their own hands.

In order to reach Belcovsky it was necessary to circum-
navigate th(_^ far projecting peninsula, and this prov.'d no
easy task. Tnde»Ml, the weather was so stormy that tho
captain of tiie schooner M'ould fain have given up the pi'()-
jcct, and made straight for Sitka. But I'aranov persuaded
him to persevere, ;ind at last, after nnudi buffeting fr-)m
wind and wave, the stanch little vessel found her way into
the desired port without a mishap of any kind.

Rao saw hefori:' him, as the schooner cime to anchrir, a
little town clinging to the flanks of a mountain that loomed
up precipitously hehind it, and was usually so wreathe<l in
fog as not to allow its sununit to he visible, Ifere several
hundred Aleutian sea-otter hunters lived with theii' families
ill very unattractive-looking dwellings called " barrabkies."

As soon as tliev could the two boys Lfot off in the )»oat,

370 THE WAYS AND MANNERS OF THE SEAL

and pulled to tho lundiiiL;', Avliicli was iiotliinu;" better tliaii a
,slieltere<l surf eddy in the sliadow of the- Ijlackest and most
forbiddinii; of bluli's.

Having landed, not M'itlioiit difficulty, tlicy clinilied up
the sloping slide of moss}- earth and stones which was the
only way fi'om the shore to the town, and down the middle
of winch a clear bal)bling brook tnmbled merrily. At the
top of tlio slope they found themselves in the town, and
surrounded by a curious tlu'ong of natives, who ^\'ere evi-
dently very glad to see them.

Rae returned with interest the scrutiny to which the
visitors were subjected, and found the Aleuts not at all an
ill-looking people. They were mostly short and squat of
figure, with broad faces that had very little acipiaintonce
with soap and Avater, high cheek bones, ilat noses, and small
black eyes set in a way that gave their owners a Japanese
expression.

The young people had (|uite fair complexions, bnt the
older ones had faces of parchment, deeply wrinkled. From
their spending so much of their life in the cramped " bidarka,"
the men were well developed in the chest and arms, but
decidedlj' sprung at the knees, and walked in an unsteady
pigeon-toed fashion.

'J'heir houses, or l^airabkies, were only one half abov^e the
C'round, and covered with heavv sods, so that thcA' looked
like huo"e burrows.

liae pe(*ped Into one, but the close fetid air made him
beat a hasty retreat, and hr had no desire for another look.

As Ijaranov's object was to in(juire about the chance ot

«-Wi>*A-M>-t*-A-<lMA-

^ SEAL

I'tter tliaii a,
st an<l most

climbed up
lich was tile

1 the middle
ily. At the

2 town, and
10 were evi-

) which the
ot at all an
>nd squat of
lequaintanco
}s, and small
s a Japanese

Dns, lait the
kde(L From
d " bidarka,''
d arms, but
an unsteady

lU' above the
they looked

TJiE WAYS AND MAXXERS OF THE SEAL.

sharing in a sea-otter hunt, and to make arrangements there-
for, he son-ht out the chief hunter in the village, ami en-
gaged him in conversation while Kae an.l Freckles looked
about them.

Presently the Russian came up with a beandiig face.
" It's all right," he cried exultantly. '• K.-d.goon says we
inny come, and he's going to arrange exerything for us/'

r made liim
lother look.
le chance ot

CHAPTER XXL

THE SEA-OTTlvR HUNT.

BARiVNOY'S news was intensely satisfuctury, in view
of the eagerness of tlie boys to take part in a real
sea-otter hunt. Kaligoon, the cliief hunter at Beleovsky,
moved in part by a diplomatic desire to be in good favour
with Baranov, who would probably in time become the chict'
officer of the Russian-American Company, and in part by
the promise of a tine present if the hunt were a success, had
promised to arrange for the boys to accompany the next hunt-
ing party, and would duly notify tliem when to be ready.
In the meantime they must wait until the natives who would
be sent out returned with a report of otters being seen.

While they M'ere somewhat iuipatiently, it must Ije con-
fessed, awaiting the word from Kahgoon.. Rae learned much
about the strange animal whose pelt was more precious than
any other animal known to the fur-di'aler.

So much reseml)]ing the beaver in shape as to be calKd
after that animal by the natives, the otter, he was toLl,
nnlike th(} beaver, spent very little time on land. Tn fact,
it only came ashore in severe storms to get a rest from the
tiiesuuie tumbling of the billows.

THE SKA02TLR J/LW'T.

0/ o

ory, m view
art ill a real
,t Belcovsky,
<XOod favour
ome the cliicl'
d in part l^y
success, Lad
le next hunt-
to he ready,
es who would
nii' seen,
must he con-
carned much
precious than

IS to be eaUud
he was tuld,
and Tn fact,
r(jst from the

So far as the hunters hncw, ha\ iuLi' never seen a mother
and her pup on tlie rocks or hcaches, the otter was hDrii at
sea in one of the floating kcip-beds which covered hxrgc
expanses of the northern waters, and there, literally "rocked
in the cradle of the dee})," grew uj) to maturity.

From an ugly little pup a foot in length, covered with
brownish brindled hair, the otter gradually inqtroNed with
age, until at fom- years it was at its prime, having then a
coat of the most lustrous softness and eljony shinnnering, so
liighly prized that a perfect one would bring not less than
a hundred pounds at tlie great marts of the fur trade.

Just such a splendid fellow did liae liope to share in
securing, althouLifi the more he heard of the dilficulties of
the chase, the less sami'uine he became of havinn' his desire
gratilied.

There were, he learned, three modes of hunting in vogue
— to wit, clubbing, surf -shooting, and spearing-surrouuds.

Clubbing was possible only for natives. No white man
could take part in il, as a description of the proceeding at
once makes manifest.

Between the west end of Kadiak Island and the Strait
of Oonimak lay the chief liunting ground of the sea-otter or
" kahlan,'' as the natives called him. Here was a succession
of small rocky islands coveretl with kelp and sea-Aveed, to
which the animnl resorteMl when wearied with stormy
weather, coming no further ashore, however, than to be just
free of the surf-wash.

So fpiick is tlie hearing and keen the smell ])0ssesscd l»y
these most shy and sensitive' of all creatures, that only in

374

THE SEA-OTTER IIUXT

tlic midst of a Vv'iM storm, when tlie billows are breaking
with thiimleroiis roar npon the beach, and the air is thick
with Hying spume, can even a native approach near cnongh
to crush in its head with a blow from his club, and consc-
rpiently this method of taking requires the co-operation of
a furious u'ale, such as no white man would care to face for
the sake of any animal, however valuable its skin.

Yet the Aleuts will never let a good opportunity slip
by, and although the wind may be tearing the crests of the
breakers into tatters, and the spume and spray lie whirring
and whizzing through the air like sheets of rain, they will
hiunch their bidarkies, seat themselves within, lash their
"kamlaykas" firmly over the rims of the man-holes, so that
no water may find its wa_y inside, and then boldly striking
out beyond the protection of the cliif, plunge into the very
vortex of the fearful sea, and scud like an arrow before the
gale that has been blowing from the west for the past three
days without cessati(jn, until it seems as if wind and wave
could not concei\-ably rage more fiercely together.

What can be the meaning of sucli seeming madness?
Surely they are throwing their lives away. Possibly they
are; for if, in the twenty miles' wild scudding before the
wind and howling tempest, they deviate but one paddle's
length from the course they have in mind, and consequently
fail to hit the tiny islet which is their goal, they must be
swept on and out into a vast marine waste, where death
from exhaustion and exposure would be their inevitable
doom.

But they have no such ill-fortune. By their acute

THE SF.AOTTIIR IIIXT.

J I .")

re breaking
air is thick
near enough
, and consc-
operation of

to face for
in.

)rtnnity slip
zre.sts of the

lie whirring
AU, they will
:i, lash their
lioles, so that
Idly striking
nto the very
w lie fore the

e past three

1 and wave

g madness ?
ossibly they
before the
one paddle's
consequently
liey must be
where death
ir inevitable

their acute

instinct thi'y have discerned that the ^^torm will last only a
few hours longer, and they know that upon the rocky i^let
for which they are aiming there will be perhaps many otters
which the long-contiiuied fury of the gale has driven ashore
to bury their globose heads in heaps of sea-weed for protec-
tion from the pitiless pelting of the v.'ind, and to sleep there,
just above the wash of the sui'f, in great comfort until the
weather shall moderate.

So the two hunteis keep on their way, l>alanciiig their
frail skin boat in the billows with marvellous skill, and
maintaining their course by some subtle iirstinct tluy could
not explain themselves, until at last they run in between
the breakers to the leewaid of the islet, land without injury
either to themselves or their crank craft, and club in hand
creep upon their prey.

The roaring of the wind and the booming of the surges
prevent their kelp-bedded victims, keen as their hearing is,
from getting warning of their aiiinHiach, and ljefV)re the
sleeping creatures are awai'e of danger, the lieavy club hns
descended unon their hi'ads, and their davs are nuudjered.
Tn this way two Aleutian brothers once slew over seventy
otters in less than an hour !

])ut it is no undertaking for white men. Oidy natives
could dare such dangers, and Hae felt no desire to enndatc
the achievements of Kahgoou and his brethren in this
direction.

Surf-shooting was another mode of securing the sea-otter,
but it was not much in use, having come in with the recent
introduction of fire-arms. During heavy weather the shores

37^

rilE SEAOITER I/C'XT.

of .Sa;uiak iiinl the Clioniaboors would bu patrolled Ly
natives beariiiii" iiiiiskets, and whenever a sea-otter's head
was seen in the surf it would be shot at, and as a bullet in
the head was instantly fatal, the hunter, if successful in his
shot, had only to wait with a lonc( landing-gatt' for the
waves to heave the precious prize within liis ready reach.

Rae and Baranov did try this method one day in the
midst of a raging gale ; l»ut the v.ind and spray dashing in
their faces prevented them from tidving accurate aim, and
they were fain, after wasting nnich powder, to give up in
disgust, although the natives, with much infci'ior weapons,
were able to secure several good skins the same day.

They were therefore all the more eager to try their luck
at tlic " spoaring-surround," and hailed with groat satisfac-
tion the announcement that Kah^'oon had maile arranixe-
ments for one to take place the following morning, the gale
which had been blowing for two days having worked itself
out, and the indications being favouraljle for a line calui
morning, such as was necessary for their purpose.

Kahgoon's reading of the weather omens was amply
jnstitied by a brilliant sunrise such as rarely blessed that
region of storms, where wind, rain, snow, and fog are so
pitilessly persistent that it is said good Bishop Veniaminov,
when he tirst came among the Aleutian Islands, ordered the
curriculuui of hell to be omitted from the churcli breviary
for the reason that the natives had enough of it here in this
earth !

As soon as possible after dnwn tlu^ fleet of bidarkies sot
forth.

THE SKA-OTTER UUXT.

377

[itvolk'd by
jttor's head
a l.ullet in
;ssful in liis
-■art' for the
dy reach.

day in the
y dashing in
ate aim, and
) give np in
[■iov weapons,

day.
:ry their hieh

rcat satistae-

lade an-angt!-

ning, the gale

worked itself

a fine calm

fse.

s was amply
l)lessed that
ul fog arc so
) Veniaminov,
s, ordered the
lurch breviary
lit here in this

])i darkies set

There were nearly twenty of these odd -look in '■• hut
serviceable craft, all having two occupants, with tlu' excep-
tion of a very large one which held llae, l!aranov, ami
Freckles, besides the four natives ^\•ho were to padrlle it.

The ordinary bidarkies in appearance nuich rescmlde<l
clumsy llob Koy canoes, and Avero made by stretching un-
tunned sea-lion skins over a light framework of wood lathed
together with sinews. The skins were put on wet an<l soft,
and when they dried out they hecame as taut as the parch-
liient of a drum. Then they were thickly smeared with
seal-oil, whicli rendt.Tcd them able to keep out the water
for many hours, although a long-continued exposure was
apt to soften the skin covering ami cause it to slacken.

Each bidarka ha<l two man-holes, the sea-otter hunters
always going in pairs. The big one that held the boys Avas
open, not decked in like the others, and provided with
thwarts upon which they could sit.

Had they not been going so far out to sea, Jhie would
1 ave liked very much to share a double bidarka with one of
the natives ; but when Daranov explained that they might
be all day on the water, he wisely decided that he would be
safer and more comfortable in the bi'i' fellow, where there
wonld be room to turn around, and he need not be constantly
pa<ldling as he would be in the other.

It was surprising the speed the natives, whose paddling
powers were developed to the utmost, got out of their skin
boats. They fairly danced o\"er the water, wldch had hardly
a ripi^le upon it, and seemed as innocent of harin to humanity
as a baby ; nn<l yet every native knew right well that plu-cid

L-r

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

*' ' IM IIM

12.0

1.8

1.25 1.4

1.6

-4 6" -

►

'c^i

Photographic

Sciences
Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. I4S80

(716) 872-4503

■^

•%

^' . ills

'<>

%^^

378

rilE SEA OTTER HUNT

and peaceful as it \vas then, it coukl rise at the bidding of
a sudden gale into mountain billows that would sweep the
frail bidarkies out into the measureless spaces of the North
Paciiic, from wliich they mioht never return.

But no one allowed any tiioughts of this kind to trouble
him just then. The morning was flawless for their purpose.
J'here was every reason to expect success, and even the most
stolid of the Aleuts had a bright look on his grimy
countenance as the bidarkies, keeping ■well together, left
Belcovsky far behind.

When the hunting-ground was reached, the fleet spread
out into a single long line, an interval of a hundred feet or
so being between each two bidarkies. Thus arranged, they
paddled softly and slowly over the rolling water, every
native peering eagerly ahead and around for the first sign
of the otter's presence, though it were no more than the tip
of his blunt head lifted for an instant above the surface for
breath and observation.

The excitement was all the more intense for having to be
so carefully suppressed, as a chance cough, or a splash with
the paddles, or any other noise however slight, would in-
stantly give warning to the creature, whose sense of sight,
smell, and hearing is not surpassed in acuteness by that
of any other animal known to man.

In the stillness llac could liear his lieart beating so
loudly that lie feared its throbbings might be audible to the
otter if he should rise anywhere near the big bidarka, but
lie could not put any check upon it. He found it hard
enough to keep motionless upon the thwart while the

TITE SEA-OTTER HUXT.

379

: Lidding of
I sweep the
I the North

(1 to trouhlc
\eir purpose,
/en the most
his grimy
ogether, left

tleet spread
ndred feet or
.•ranged, they
water, every
pile first sign

than the tip
le surface for

having to ho
Li splash with
it, wouUl in-
■nse of sight,
ness by that

t beating so
indible to the

bidarka, but
3und it hard

t while the

natives sent the boat slipping softly through the water with
liardly a ripple.

It seemed an age to the eager boys before the " view-
halloo " was raised, rnd then old Kal-goon was the lucky man.
His keen eyes had detected the rufous-white nose of an
otter lifted for a moment above the waves, and instantly
his pa<ldle was raised in token thereof, and the signal passed
silently along the line.

Not a word was spoken, not a paddle splashed, yet the
vigilant, sensitive creature had taken the alarm, and with
powerful strokes of its strong, webbed hind-feet, which smote
the water like the blades of a steamer's jMopcller, had shot
down into the depths of the sea, and away along underneath
with the speed of a salm(>n.

Kahgoon, bringing his bidarka to a full stop directly in
the bubbling wake of the otters disappearance, hoisted his
paddle high in the air, and held it there, while the other
boats whirled over the water into a large circle nearly half-
a-mile in diameter.

The kahlan had vanished, but he must reappear soon, for
he could not stay under water indefinitely, and the game
was*to cover so wide an area that when he did come up to
breathe some one in the circle would be certain to sec him.

Sure enough, after fifteen minutes of submersion, the
creature rose atxaiii breathless, and this time so near the bJLT
bidarka that both Rae and Baranov saw him simultaneously.

There was no longer need for silence, and with shouts of
*•■ There he is! I see him!" they urged their ])addles to-
wards the spot.

38o

THE SEA-OTTER HUNT.

Instantly the kalilan dived again without having had
time to take a good breath, so that he would not be able to
stay un<ler so long this time, while the boys' bidarka took
up its station whore he had gone down, and the paddles
were hold on high for another circle to form.

In this way the hunted creature was compellod to dive
and dive again, without being allowed a chance to get one
full breath, while the exciting chase continued for over an
hour, the natives all the time throwing their spears at him
whenever they came anywhere within range, as the hunter
who got first blood was, by accepted law, the fortunate
possessor of the precious pelt.

Each disappearance of the kahlan Avas briefer than its
predecessor, and the fatal circle drew closer about him. To
the excitement of the chase was now added the intense
eagerness for first blood, and the spears flew about so
recklessly that there secmiod danger of something else than
the otter falling a victim to them.

At length, exhausted by liis tremendous exertions, and
swollen with air so as to be unable any more to dive,
the otter floated helplessly on the water, and a well-
aimed throw of Kahgoon's spear transfixed its palpitating
form.

The chase was over, the prize won, and all rejoiced with
the veteran hunter over his success, and hoped that they
would be the lucky one next time.

HavinGf rested for a little while, and haviniTj had a chat
together, the Aleuts lined out again, and moved on over
the water in quest of a fresh victin\. Tn the course of an

THE SEA- OTTER HUNT.

3S1

havinsj had
, be able to
iclarka took
the paddles

;llcd to dive
3 to get one
for over an
3eavs at him
s the hunter
ho fovtunate

lefer than its
out him. To
I the intense
cw al)0ut so
ino' else than

xcrtions, and

bore to dive,

and a well-

,s palpitatini

rejoiced ^vith
)cd that they

li<f had a cliat

[oved on over

course of an

hour another otter was sighted, and the same tactics as
before Avere adopted.

This time the kahlan led them a tremendous chase. IFe
was a very large powerful fellow, and swam with wonder-
ful speed, thus managing to outwit his pursuers more than
once, and to get a good full breath, whereby he was enabled
to prolong the struggle for escape.

So absorbed in the hunt did all become, that they failed
to notice the sudden and ominous chanrje that was taking:
place in the weather.

As has already been indicated, the Aleutian peninsula
may fairly claim to be the storm centre of the world, for
indeed nowhere else do storms come up so suddenly or rage
more furiously. Every attempt at forecasting the coming
weather is futile, because of there being no certain indica-
tions by which to be guided, and a bureau of weather
probabilities would be so often incorrect in its predictions
as to become the laughing-stock of the co'nmunity.

Now, the day of the "spear-surround" promised well, if
ever a day did, and not even tlie veteran Kahgoon had any
suspicions of its proving otherwise. Yet not long after
noon, and just when the whole p«-rty were most intensely
interested in the pursuit of the second otter, the sky suddenly
clouded over, the wind rose, and with it the sea to such an
extent that, resigning all thoughts of the otter, the Aleuts
gave their wdiole attention to getting back to Belcovsky.

But this getting back threatened to prove more than
an easy job. They had worked almost due south in their
hunting, and the storm was coming down from the north.

■ppl

382

THE SEA-OTTER HUNT

III

III
... w

Tliey liad therefore to go riglit into it if they would retrace
tlieir course.

Ah tlie white caps hegan to hiss savagely beside their
hidarka, and even to break on board, despite the skilful
inanagomcnt of the natives, the boys looked at each other
with startled, anxious faces.

" We're in for :, big storm," said Rao, " and I'm afraid
we'll have a hard time getting out of it. Can this thing
stand much rough weather ? "

" Oh, yes," replied Earanov, " it can stand it all right so
long as the skin stays tight ; but after being in the water
a good while it gets soft and stretches, and then there's
nothing to do but make for land as fast as possible."

" Then if wo don't get ashore pretty soon our bidarka
will become good for nothing, is that it?" asked Rae, his
face white with horror at the thought of such a thing
happening out in the midst of that wild waste of waters.
" Oh, why did we come at all ? " he added in a wailing
tone ; " we had far better have stayed on board the
schooner."

Freckles shivered with cold and fright, and crept closer
up to him, murmuring, " Do you think we can't get back to
the schooner, Rae ? "

" Oh, come now," said Baranov, striving to put a brave
face OR the matter, " it's not so bad as all that. If we
can't make our way up to Belcovsky, they will try for one of
the islands about here, and stay there until the storm is over."

The first impulse of terror having spent iloelf, Rae
lx3came more composed, and in a much steadier tone said, —

THE SEA-OTTER HUNT.

383

ould retrace

beside their
) the skilful
t each other

d I'm afraid
m this thing

t all right so
in the water

[ then there's

siblc."

1 our hidarka

sked Eac, his
such a thing
te of waters,
in a wailing

>n board the

d crept closer
't <^et back to

put a brave
that. If we
try for one of
storm is over."
nt il.'olf, Bae
r tone said, —

" Why, of course. I never thouglit of that. See, perhaps
that's what they're doing now."

While they had been talking the storm had grown
rapidly worse, and now the wind and sea were so violent
that it seemed a miracle that even such expert paddlers as
the Aleuts could keep the clumsy bidarka from being over-
turned. It was tossed from billow to billow like a mere chip,
and a single false stroke from one of the natives would in-
fallibly have caused its overturn. Yet, although the spray
splashed clear over its occupants, and an occasional wave
succeeded in flinging its crest on board, they managed, by
what really seemed a succession of miracles, to keep right
side up, and even to make some headway against the gale.

But f^oon they realized the hopelessness of forcing their
frail craCi: in the face of such a storm over the many miles
of ocean that tossed so furiously between them and Bel-
covsky, and, adopting the only alternative, by a dexterous
sweep of their paddles swung the bidarka around so that it
was heading due south-east instead of due north.

" They're going to try for Saanak," said Baranov, as soon
as he saw the change in their course, and his face lit up as
he added, " If we make Saanak, we'll be all right. We can
stav there till the storm's all over."

" Yes," replied Rae ; " and the others are doing the same
thing. Look!"

Sure enouG^h all the bidarkies in si^ht had also turned
and were scudding before the wind, the light things seeming
to skip over the frothing billows that raged all about them.

Under some circumstances this flying over the sea might

(»78) 24

^^m

\i'^

384

TI/i: SEA-OTTER HUNT.

have been good fun for so adventurous a spirit as Rac's, but
he was in too perilous a case now to take into consideration
anything save their chances of ultimate escape from the
dangers that threatened on every side.

It would indeed be difficult to imagine three persons in
a more perilous predicament than were Baranov, Freckles,
and Rae. Utterly powerless to help themselves, they could
only crouch in the stern of the bidarka, and put their entire
dependence upon the Aleutian paddlcrs to save them from
death, while the roaring, raging waters flung their flimsy
craft from wave to w^ave as if rejoicing in the cruel sport.
Every hour's exposure of their bidarka to the water rendered
it less seaworthy. Indeed, they could already note a soften-
innr and stretching of the skin covering, that showed how
near at hand was yet another danger against which no
human skill coidd provide. Yet they faced the crisis with
a composure as remarkable as it was admirable. Neither
the Russian nor the Scotch boy was willing to let the other
surpass him in fortitude, and Freckles, taking courage from
them, bore himself as bravely as either.

" ]f we miss Saanak, is there any other island we might
make ? " asked Rae of Baranov.

" None that I know of," was the reply. " Saanak 's the
last island of the chain, and if we miss it we'll go right out
into the ocean — God alone knows where."

The other bidarkies were now widely scattered over the
sea, and only a few of them could be seen by the boys.
Being much smaller than the one they were in, and there-
fore presenting less surface to the wind, they were more

THE SEA-OTTER HVXT

38s

s Rac's, but
onsidoration
DC from the

e persons in
ov, Freckles,
s, they could
t their entire
-e them from
their flimsy
3 cruel sport,
atcr rendered
note a sof ten-
showed how
1st which no
lie crisis with
l)lc. Neither
let the other
courage from

land we might

Saanak's the
11 iro riiiht out

easily managed, and were rapidly distancing their hig com-
panion.

" All the rest are leaving us behind," said llae in a mourn-
ful tone, pointing to whore the nearest of them was bobbing
over the waves a hundred yards ahead.

" So they are," answered Baranov. " But it doesn't
matter. They couldn't give us any help anyway. They've
all they can do to look after themselves."

And now, to add to the horrors of their situation, the day
began to darken around them. Nifjht was near at hand,
and with the disappearance of daylight it seemed as though
their last ray of hope must vanish also.

True, the violence of the wind seemed abating somewdiat ;
but what of that ? Not even the keen-eyed Aleuts could
find their way to Saanak in the dark ; and if they did not
reach the island, how else could they be saved from death ?

"God help us!" groaned Rae, as he realized that their
cup of misery and peril was now full to the brim; "we're
done for sure. We'll never be able to find Saanak at night,
and our bidarka won't float till morning."

tcred over the
by the boys,
lin, and there-
ley were more

CHAPTER XXII.
REUNIOX AND llEJOICINGS.

MR. FINLAYSOX, in the Plover, had gone but a very
small part of the way towards San Francisco in
quest of the supposed American trading-vessel which he
hoped had rescued Rae from the Masset Indians, when he
met the Beaver coming up with Mr. Douglas on board. He
at once hove to, and went over to the steamer in a boat to
inform the chief factor of what had happened, and to ask
his advice.

Mr. Douglas listened to the narration with deep interest
and sympathy. He had by no means forgotten his young
friend Rae, and, quite aside from his desire to help the
distracted father, felt eager to do anything he could for the
boy's own sake.

" You shall have my utmost assistance, Finlayson," said
he warmly ; " but let me say at the start that I think you
are only losing time in going down to San Francisco. There
have been no American vessels up this way lately, I under-
stand, and the vessel on which your son escaped must have
been a Russian. They sometimes do come down as far as
the Queen Charlotte Islands; and although I've always

KEUXION AND REJOICINGS.

387

le but a very
Francisco in
scl wliich he
ians, ^vhon he
)n board. He
r in a boat to
k1, and to ask

deep interest
icn his young
to help the
could for the

iulayson," said
It I think you
incisco. There
itcly, I under-
)ed must have
lown as far as
11 I've always

objected to their doing so, for they spoil our trade, yet if
one of them lias been the means of rescuing Rae, it will go
far to make up for the trouble they've given. So now this
is what I propose — that we return to Fort Camosun as fast
as possible, and, leaving the schooner there, proceed in the
Beaver to Fort Wrangel, and, if need be, to Sitka. We're
certain to get tidings of Rae at one or other of the.se places,
if not indeed to find the dear boy there, .safe and sound, as I
greatly hope. What do you say, Finlayson ? "

Mr. Finlayson could with difficulty find words to express
his thank.s. The chief factor's plan seemed to him perfect,
and, for the first time since the news had come of Rae's
capture by the Indians, his heart felt light.

So the schooner's head was turned about, and she followed
in the wake of the steamer to Fort Camosun, where she was
left at her moorings. The Beaver, as soon as Mr. Douglas
had attended to .some necessary business, continued her
course northward, with Fort Wrangel as her destination.

The voyage tliith<ir was made without .special incident
or lo.ss of time, and Mr. Douglas's sagacity was confirmed at
the first inquiry after the mi.ssing boys.

" Oh, yes," was the prompt reply of the commander of the
fort, " the two English boys had been there, but they liad
not remained long. Tliey had gone on to Sitka on the same
vessel which had brought them, and, no doubt, they would
be found there."

Accordingly, w^ithout waiting to avail himself of the
invitation to dinner the commander warndy pressed upon
him, the chief factor hastened on to Sitka, taking with him

p'''.

388

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

as pilot a Russian sailor who liad a thorough knowledge of
the difficult navigation of the coast.

" We're right on your boy's track now, Finlayson," said
Mr. Douglas as they steamed away from Fort Wrangel.
" He can't liave gone further than Sitka, and he's probably
waiting there for you to come after him."

•' I hope so, indeed," responded Mr. Finlayson. " This
suspense is very hard to bear, thankful as I am to know
that he is in good hands, and that it's only a question of
time when I'll see him once more."

Slipping safely through Peril Strait at the right state
of the tide, the Beaver made a good passage to Sitka, and
created quite a sensation there as she ploughed her way into
the harbour, and came to anchor in front of the castle.

Mr. Finlayson was trembling with excitement and im-
patience as they hastened ashore in the boat, and up to the
castle, where they were courteously received by the governor.
His eyes were glancing in every direction in hopes of seeing
Rae or some sign of his presence, and, not daring to trust
his own voice, he left to Mr. Douglas the business of making
inquiry as to his son. The sharpness of his disappointment
may therefore be conceived when he learned that he was
once more too late ; that Rae had been at Sitka, and indeed
was expected back there soon, but was not there now, having
gone away off to the Pribylov Islands.

" The Pribylov Islands ! " cried Mr. Finlayson, in a tone
of mingled amazement and concern ; "what on earth possessed
him to go there ? It's a most dangerous trip, I understand,
and there's no knowing what might happen to him."

A'EOW/Oy AXD REJOICIXGS

389

lowlcdge of

ay son," said
L't Wrangcl.
)'s probably

son. " This

im to know

question of

I rifht state
Sitka, and
her way into
castle.

lent and inl-
and up to the
,he governor,
pes of seeing
ing to trust
ss of making
appointment
that he was
, and indeed
now, having

m, in a tone
[rth possessed
understand,
liun.

Tlic governor explained about Baranov, and suggested
that Uau, assuming that he would have time to make the
trip before his father could reach Sitka, and being eager to
see the home of the famous fur seals, had seized the oppor-
tunity to do so. lie would most probably be back within a
week, and the Beaver had better remain at Sitka, when Mr.
Douglas and Mr. Finlayson \, .nld be most welcome guests.

But the anxious, impatient lather would not consent to
any such arrangement. R'uce Eae br.u gone to the fur seal
islands he must follow him thitl r, and he was with difficulty
persuaded to yield to the go\evuor's importunities to the ex-
tent of dining with him at the castle. On the following
morning the Baiver steamed away from Siika, nnU, for the
first time on the voyage, leaving sight altogether of land,
ventured out upon the vast ex})anso of the North racitic
that stretched between Sitka and the Aleutian peninsula.

" We'll surely run that fox of yours to earth this time,
Finlayson," said Mr. Douglas good - humouredly. " He's
certainly given, us a long chase of it. Won't he have a lot
to tell us of his adventures, for, no doubt, he's been having
a lovely time of it ? "

" God grant he may have passed safely through them,
sir," murmured the factor of Fort Camosun, upon whose
spirit each fresh disappointment had told heavily, and who
was beginning to be haunted by the fear that he would never
see his boy again, " Rae has never mt^ant to give us so much
trouble and concern. He'll be able to explain it all, Tin sure ;
but this uncertainty is hard to bear," and the poor man
sighed heavily as he turned away to hide his brinnning eyes.

390

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

As tlie Beaver drew near the Aleutian peninsula she met
the same storm as had so ruthlessly interfered with the sea-
otter hunt in which the boys were taking part, and, stanch,
sturdy craft as she was, found it no easy task' to struggle
against it. Indeed, when the gale raged most fiercely, Mr.
Douglas ordered the vessel to lie to until the sea should fjo
down, as he did not consider it safe to send her through it,
so many billows were breaking over her.

" I pray that my poor boy is not out in this storm," said
]V[r. Finlayson, having in mind the small schooner in which
he had been informed the trip to the Pribylov Islands was
made. " The Beaver evidently has all she can do to stand
up against it, and a small sailing-vessel could hardly weather
it in safety."

Little did the factor imagine that while he was speaking
Rae and his companions were being tossed about on the
heaving billows in a light skin-covered boat that he would
scarcely have trusted to curry iiim from Vancouver Island
to the mainland, across the still waters of Juan de Fuca
Strait. In truth, could he have realized Rae's situation at
that moment, it must have driven him frantic with fear
and anxiety. But he was comforting himself witli the hope
that the boy was safe in port somewhere, and not exposed
to the blind, pitiless wrath of the elements.

As has been already stated, the gale moderated towards
evening, and the soa became less boisterous ; not only so,
but an hour after sunset the moon appeared, and, being
not long past the full, poured a flood of light upon the
tossing waters.

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

391

ala she met
ith tbe sea-
ancl, stanch,
to struggle
fiercely, Mr.
?a should go
• through it,

storm," said
ner in which
T Islands was

do to stand
irdly weather

was speaking
,bout on the
bat he would
Oliver Island
uan de Fuca
situation at
Itic w^ith fear
^vitli the hope
ll not exposed

bated towards
not only so,

|l1, and, being
dit upon the

This welcojue change in the weather cheered Mr. Finlay-
son's heart, and he paced the deck with a lighter step. Mr.
Douglas had gone below, and there was only the night watch
on deck, so that the factor was left to his own thoughts.

" My poor dear boy ! " he murinured ; " indeed if Pro-
vidence be kind enough to give you back to me, we shall not
soon be separated again. — Hollo ! what is that ? It looks
like some kind of a boat. — Ahoy there, watch ! Do you
make out anything on the port side ? Look ! "

The sailors thus appealed to scanned the sea carefully,
but could make out nothing except what they took to be the
shadows of the waves, for none of them had so keen a sight
as the factor. He was positive, however, he saw something
more than shadows, and calling up Mr. Douglas, pointed out
to him a dark object in the water a couple of hundred yards
away, and only dimly revealed by the moonlight.

Mr. Douo'las was doubtful as to its beini>" more than a
floating log at most, but he ordo'ed the steamer to be directed
towards it.

As the Beaver approached the object, Mr. Finlayson
watched it intently, and soon had the accuracy of his vision
confirmed, for it })roved to be one of the bidarkies which had
joined in the "spear-surround." It contained two natives,
who, utterly exhausted from their long struggle with the
storm, had been resting for a while ere they renewed their
endeavour to reach one of the islands.

Little imagining how closely the information they couid
give w^ould touch the purpose of the Bmvers presence in
those waters, Mr. Douglas gave the poor creatures a warm

wmm

392

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

welcome on board, and, after seeing that they had been well
fed, had a talk with them through the medium of the
Russian sailor who was acting as his pilot.

They had very little to say for themselves, and it was
not until Mr. Douglas was about to dismiss them that a
chance remark about the "white strancjers" aroused his
interest, and he pressed for further particulars.

By dint of determined questioning, enough was elicited
to convince him and Mr. Finlayson that the boys, with their
Russian friend, had formed part of the hunting party, and
that, if they had not already gone to the bottom, they must
now be tossing about somewhere in the vicinity, striving to
make their way back to land.

The excitement on board the Beaver when this became
generally known was intense. Not a man thought of sleep ;
the bunks were deserted even by those who had but a little
while before turned in ; and climbing into the rigging, or
posting themselves at the bow, they swept the moonlit sea
on every side in eager search for the bidarka which carried
such precious freight.

Twice was the glad cry raised of " Boat ahoy ! " and the
steamer bore down upon an object which did indeed prove to
be a native boat, but not the one they were most anxious
to find. Yet they were glad to rescue the exhausted Aleuts,
and they took encouragement from their being able to do so.

Poor ]\[r. Finlayson's agitation was pitiful to witness.
With parched lips and palpitating heart he strode the deck,
straining his eyes to every point of the com[)ass, and mur-
muring brokenly, —

REUXION AND REJOICINGS,

393

,d been well
ium of the

and it was

bhem that a

aroused his

was elicited
rs, with their
ig party, and
ui, they must
y, striving to

I this became
ught of sleep ;
d but a little
10 rigging, or
le moonlit sea
ivhich carried

3y ! " and the
[deed prove to

I most anxious
justed Aleuts,

able to do so.

II to witness,
kdc the deck,
Ls, and nuu'-

" O God, give me back my boy ! He's all I have in the
world now. Spare him, good Lord, spare him ! or my heart
will break."

Mr. Douglas strove to cheer him with words of kindest
sympathy ; but the factor seemed not to hear them as he
moved restlessly hiti^er and thither, never taking his eyes
off the tossing waves.

Suddenly there came from a sailor in the main-truck the
shout of "Boat ahoy, on the port bow!" and at once the
Beaver was pointed thither.

She had not gone far toward it before it was visible to
all on board, because it was so much larger than those that
had been previously encountered, and Mr. Finlayson noticed
that a couple of the rescued natives who stood near him
w^ere pointing it out to each other in a significant way, and
looking very much pleased. Without knowing just why, he
interpreted this as a sign of promise, and it increased his
wild impatience, as he awaited the steamer's approach to the
bidarka.

She was still fifty yards off when a figure rose in the
bidarka, and, waving something in it^ hand, called out in a
faint and broken yet audible voice, "Beaver ahoy! You're
just in time," and then fell back as though overcome with
emotion or weakness.

Had nut Mr. Douglas laid hi^- rostraining grasp upon him,
Mr. Finlayscm would surely liavc sprung overboard in his
frantic eagerness to reach the boat as he cried, —

" It's Rao ! it's Rae ! O God be praised ! It's my own
darling boy ! "

394

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

A few minutes more and the bidarka was alonrrside the
steamer, and a score of strong: lovinjj hands were stretched
out to lift its occupants on board — Rae, Freckles, and Baranov,
so exhausted by exposure and anxiety that they could hardly
stand upon their feet, and the four natives who had, with
marvellous skill and endurance, struggled against the storm
through the long hours when death threatened every moment.

How shall the scene that followed be put into words !
The gruffest of the " old salts " in the Beavers crew felt his
eyes grow moist as Mr. Finlayson again and again pressed
Rae to his heart. Was there ever a gladder reunion of father
and son ? and what one on board could refuse to join in the
rejoicing ?
3j!£ After many fond embraces, Mr. Finlayson laid his hands

upon llae's shoulders, and, lifting his eyes to heaven, said in
solemn fervent tones, —

" O God, I give thee heartfelt praise ! ' for this my son
was dead, and is alive again ; he was lost, and is found.' "

And, as he concluded, Mr. Douglas, by a happy inspiration,
began to sing, " Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,"
with the full strength of his stentorian voice.

Many of the sailors had not sung it since they had left
their homes in the mother land ; but it had not passed out
of their memories, and one by one they joined in as best they
could, until the glorious doxology went ringing out far over
the heaving waters, while the natives listened with faces
full of wonder at this, to them, most strange proceeding.

Rao would have liked to begin at once the recitai of the
moving accidents by flood and field, the hair-breadth escapes.

/?£rAVO.y AXD REJOICTXGS.

395

Llon^side the
3re stretched
and Baranov,
could hardly
ho had, with
nst the stonii
very moment.
b into words!
I crew felt his
again pressed
iiion of father
to join in the

laid his hands
icaven, said in

3r this my son
is found.' "
py inspiration,
lessings flow,"

tliey had left
lot passed out
I in as best they
icT out far over
led with faces
)rocceding.
le recitai of the
)readth escapes,

and the enliglitening experiences which had fallen to his lot
since he parted from his father ; but, eager as Mr. Finlayson
was to hear about them all, he knew that the boy sorely
needed rest after iiis long exposure to wind and wave.

" You must keep your story till the morning, Kae," said
he, fondly yet firmly ; " you are too tired to talk. Come
now to my cal)in, and I'll tuck you in for a good long sleep."

Mr. Douglas took charge of Baranov, and saw that he
had comfortable accommodation ; nor was Freckles neglected ;
and in a little while they had all retired, and the deck of the
steamer was deserted, save for the ofiiccr on dutv and the
steersman.

By Mr. Douglas's orders the steamer kept on her way to
Belcovsky, in order that the rescued natives might be returned
to their homes, and by daj^light on the following morning
had safely made the roadstead, where she came to anchor
while the Aleuts disembarked.

Baranov was warmly invited to remain on board, Mr.
Douglas offering to go back to Sitka with him, but he pre-
ferred rejoining the schooner ; and so he and liae parted, after
exchanging rifles as mementos of their meeting, and many
expressions of hope that in the course of events they would
cross each other's path again.

They had grown warmly attached during their com-
panionship, and it was with sincere regret on the part of
both that they said " Good-bye."

" We've had a good time together, haven't we, Alexander?"
said Ilae, as they stood with clasped hand;j at the gangway
where the boat was waitino: to take the Russian over to his

396

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

schooner, "and j'-ou've been very c^ood to me. I'll never
forget you as long a.s 1 live."

" Nor shall I ever forget yon, Rae," responded Baranov
earnestly; "and because I knew you and your people," look-
ing around at Mr. Finlayson and Mr. Douglas, " I will ahvays
believe that the British are better people than I v/as brought
up to think."

"And after what I've seen of you and your people,"
returned Rae vvith equal heartiness, " I will always stand
up for the Russians wdicncvcr anybody dares say anything
aixainst them."

An hour later the Beaver bade farewell to Bclcovsky,
and began the long voyage southward and homew^ard, in the
course of which Rae had ample time to relate his adventures
to his father and Mr. Douglas, who listened to them all w^ith
unfla2fi>;infj interest.

" How wonderfully the good Lord cared for you, my
darling boy ! " exclaimed i\[r. Finlayson fervently again and
again as the story of his son's experience was unfolded.
" Surely you are destined for something great and good in
the world, or he would not thus have given his angels charge
over you."

" Indeed I don't know, father," Rae would reply ; " but
this I'm sure of, that I'm not going away from you again in
a hurry. I did miss you so much the whole time."

" And if you missed me while you were in the midst of
all that excitement and adventure, how much more do you
think I missed you while I was waiting so anxiously at Fort
Camosun for your return ? " asked Mr. Finlayson.

REUNION AND REJOICINGS,

397

ril never

led Bavanov
)cople," look-
l will ahvays
was brought

iTOur people,"
always stand
say anything

to Bclcovsky,
iicward, in the
liis adventures
I them all with

for you, my
itly again and
[was unfolded,
and good in

anccels charge

Id i-eply; "Ij^it

In you again in
luiic.

In the midst of
|h more do you
[iously at i ort
ison.

'• Well, never mind, fatlier dear," responded Rae, nestling
his face against the factor's broad shoulder ; " I promise you
I won't run away again for ever so long," and he sealed his
covenant with a right hearty kiss that made his father's face
glow with proud delight.

On the voyage down Mr. Finlaysf)n had a talk with Mr.
Douglas, which resulted in his deciding to carry out very
soon a plan that had for some time past been forming in his
mind. He had not revisited his native land since he came
out to Canada to enter into the service of the Hudson Bav
Company, and he was now entitled to a year's leave of absence
from duty on full pay. Of this right he would avail him-
self if his chief had no objections.

" Why, certainly, Mr. Finlayson," was Mr. Douglas's
prompt response to the factor's application. " There is no
reason why you should not take your leave if you Vv'ish it.
Fort Camosun is well established, and Vlx. Ogden can look
after it; and it will do both yourself and Bae a world of
good. You nuist go l)y all means."

Thus it came about that not lonu' after the return to
Fort Camosun, where Rae had a welcome worthy of a prince,
he set off again, this time in com})any with his father, and
having the centres of civilization, not the remote recesses of
the wilderness, in view.

It beincc arranijjcd that Freckles should be added to the
garrison of the fort in a capacity suited to his slender abilities,
Rae could bid good-bye to him with the comfortable convic-
tion that his life henceforth would be free from all hardship;
and although it was not easy to part from tlie poor fellow,

398

REUNION AND REJOICINGS.

who had shared so many adventures with him, still there
was no alternative under the circumstances.

Carried by the Beaver down to San Francisco, Mr. Finlay-
son and Rae took the steamer thence to New York v'uX the
Isthmus of Panama, and from New York sailed for England.

How Rae was impressed by the wonders of London, of
Edinburgh, and of Paris, and how intensely he enjoyed and
how richly he profited by his year's travel, cannot be set
down here. .

When his father's leave was up, they returned together
to Fort Camosun, whose name had in the meantime been
changed to Fort Victoria in honour of Great Britain's Queen.
Entering into the service of the Company, Rae saw the new
West grow up w^ith w^onderful vigour all about him, and,
not neglecting to secure a full share in the general progress
and prosperity, in due time he came to be one of the foremost
men in the land, where his name is still familiar to those
who take pride in the country's history.

THE END

7S.

him, still there

SCO, Mr. Finlay-
w York via the
ed for Eno-land.
J of London, of
he enjoyed and
, cannot be set

-urned tocjether
meantime been
Britain's Queen,
ae saw the new
ibout him, and,
;eneral progress
of the foremost
miliar to those