230 THE BIG CANOE

motionless, so frightened by her impulsive deed that
she could neither move nor think, nor did she turn
when Kona sank down upon the mat beside her and
reached up for her hand. Fear lay upon her heart.
Surely some dreadful thing would happen because
she had dared to destroy the sacred Talking Doll!

As she stood there, trembling, her eyes upon the
piece of charred wood in the chief’s hand, she saw
the princess steal to her father’s side and whisper in
his ear. When she finished, the chief hesitated for a
moment, then he nodded, and motioned for the Niska
to approach.

“T will give you the canoe demanded in payment
for both slaves,” he announced gravely, and a sigh
of relief and approval swept around the room. “These
two are twins, and it is not right to separate twins.”

‘Did you hear, Oala?” Kona cried, joyfully.
“The chief has purchased both of us. Now we shall
go together to live among the Haidas!”

Oala nodded, her eyes shining with a light that
only Kona could understand. She said nothing, but
Kona understood, just as twins have always done since
those ancient days when Thaimshim brought the Talk-
ing Doll to the land of the Tsimshians from that land
of sunshine and beautiful flowers far across the sea.