242 THE BIG CANOE

side; she heard her own heart pounding in her breast
for one long moment before the Haida chieftainess
spoke.

“That is a very fine blanket,” she said politely,
and passed on to the next one.

“It is a very fine blanket, but not large enough for
our purpose,” added the Haida chief, for there is a
certain etiquette in such cases; and, besides, the
haughty Chilcats find insults where none are intended.

The young chief said nothing. Kali waited a mo-
ment to hear his words; then, when the silence con-
tinued, glanced in his direction. He was not looking
at the blanket. He was looking at her, and she knew
he could not fail to see her shame and humiliation.

“T will buy this blanket,” he said loudly, turning
toward the Chilcat chief. “It is a very fine blanket
and will suit me better than any other. I shall be
proud indeed to wear a blanket made by such a
beautiful princess.”

His father and mother looked at him in astonish-
ment, but they said nothing for a moment, since upon
such occasions words must be chosen carefully, lest
they offend. Finally the chief spoke.

“Tf this blanket pleases my son, it is the one we
wish to purchase,” he said, and began to bargain
with the Chilcat chief, who, unwilling to let such an
example of his daughter’s handiwork pass out among
the Haidas, where it would bring discredit upon her
and upon the tribe, named an absurdly high price,