136 THE BIG CANOE

sick person. He was always performing from morning
until night, greatly to the despair of his father who
was a famous hunter, and his mother who was a noted
basket-maker. They were sober, industrious persons
and had little patience with such foolishness.

Skai had a strange companion that took part in all
his pranks and loved his young master. He was Tahn,
a big black bear that Skai had raised from a tiny cub.
Tahn was fat and good natured and could do so many
tricks that those who saw him perform were often
astonished by his intelligence.

One day during the salmon moon (August), Skai
and his pet climbed slowly up the steep winding trail
to the top of the hill behind Quasset. They found
Mr. Williams, the Hudson’s Bay factor in charge at
Quasset, sitting upon the steps in front of the trading-
post. The lonely factor was pleased when the In-
dian lad appeared, dressed in a bearskin and a
raven mask, hobbling along in a pair of red-topped
leather boots, beside the black bear. Skai, thrilled
with a new audience, coaxed Tahn to do all his most
difficult tricks. He himself performed also, and ended
by turning a somersault on the back of the good-
natured bear.

“That was very cleverly done!” laughed the factor
when the performance was ended. He brought hard
pink-and-white candy from the store and handed it
to Skai, who quickly broke off a piece of it and gave