212 THE BIG CANOE

ivory bowl and a curved stem. Thaimshim’s pipe,
without a doubt; the pipe he had brought from a far
country and dropped when the angry crab bit his
tongue; the pipe which the chief coveted more than
anything else in the world!

“You have been good to Shim,” the old man said,
patting Teka’s hand. “You sang to Shim. Never before
had he heard such a beautiful song. He is glad to
give you the pipe he found upon the beach years ago
and hid here beneath a rock. No one else has touched
it, I am sure, since it flew from Thaimshim’s hand.”

“Are you sure it is Thaimshim’s pipe?” Teka
asked, wonderingly.

“Of course I am sure,” Shim cackled. “The gulls
told me so. They brought me to the spot and showed
me the pipe, hidden beneath a rock. That was years
ago, but I have never told any one about it. But I
whispered to Kilko that I could tell him where it was
hid and he followed me here, thinking to have it for
his own. Lo, he is gone! Kilko is gone!”” He seemed
to notice this for the first time.

“He has gone home,” Teka said quickly. “He was
punished enough. He will not forget. He will not be
cruel to Shim again. Come now, let us go back to
the encampment and warm ourselves beside the roar-
ing fire. The wind that blows down the Nass is cold
and there is a storm in the air. Let us hurry before
the tide comes in and covers the reefs.”

Shim shook his head stubbornly.