a

352 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

intense pain caused him to shriek in agony. Judging by the sound that
the guards had been overcome and were being killed, the raiders were
thrown into confusion. With one accord they abandoned the attack and
fled to their canoes; those who first reached them pushed off at once,
abandoning their less fortunate comrades to their fate.

One of Tecdisa’s wives was a Bella Bella who feared that a dearly loved
relative, a certain Nusmdt-a, might be among the assailants. In the
confusion that followed the rout she called out in her native speech:

““Nusmdt-a, are you there?”

The Bella Coola had actually been reinforced by a number of Bella
Bella volunteers including Nusmdt-a, but he had made good his escape.
Another Bella Bella, less fortunate, realized that this was a chance for
help and called back, imitating the voice of the man addressed. The
woman was deceived and told him to drag one of the Kitkatla canoes into
the water and that she would bring paddles as soon as she could do so
unobserved. About forty of the attackers took possession of a large
canoe, but their courage failed as they waited for the woman with paddles
and they shoved off, propelling the craft with their hands. Aided by an
off-shore wind, they were able to steal away from the scene and had
almost reached a tiny islet when they met another canoe coming to
Tevbisa’s assistance. A fight ensued, the refugees were driven ashore to
the island and their canoe carried off. Even in their perilous position,
the party continued to wrangle. Some scoured the woods for yellow
cedar from the bark of which the Carriers used to make canoes, an art
well known, although not generally practised by the coastal tribes. Fire
had swept over the island so that only two trees were found; the dis-
coverers hastily peeled bark from these, fashioned it into rude canoes,
and pushed off with their friends, leaving seven men marooned. The two
craft ultimately reached Bella Coola after various adventures.

Among the seven abandoned were two uncles of the father of the man
from whom this account was obtained, as well as the grandfather of a
middle-aged Kimsquit man with whom the tale was also discussed. The
two brothers were warriors, men whose bravery had been validated. One
said to the other:

“You are always boasting of your valour, now is your opportunity to
display it. Swim across and steal a canoe from the village we attacked.”

Thus urged, the man agreed to make the attempt, first requesting
the others not to kill his brother, the originator of the scheme, in case of
his non-return, though this was the usual penalty for proposing a plan
which led to the death of another. But the Bella Bella who had imitated
Nusmdt-a’s voice insisted on risking his life. He stripped, tied a knife
to his head, took a board for support, and essayed the theft. He had no