24 THE BIG CANOE

His voice broke as Kinna wildly seized his arm. “I
will go, this very day, that another sun may find me
well started upon this strange quest. Go bring me a
good canoe, Kinna; one small enough and in such
good condition that I can handle it alone in any kind
of weather. Take it to the cove behind the headland. I
will go through the forest and meet you there. You
may tell our mother secretly, Kinna, and she will
give you food and furs and anything else that I may
need on a long journey. Give her this dish and tell
her not to fear, for I will come back with the carving
of some strange animal, even as our father has
promised for me.”

“Wait until morning, Quahl!’’ begged Kinna. “‘Per-
haps our father will change his mind. I do not want
to bring the canoe. I cannot bear to have you go
away!”

“Our father will not change his mind,” Quahl de-
clared, shaking his head. “You know very well that
when he says a thing shall be done, it is done. It is
much better, Kinna, that I should go away to-day of
my own accord. It is true that I do not like to fish or
hunt; I prefer to spend all my time here in the forest,
carving. Too late, I can see that I have been selfish.
I must go and find this strange animal, redeem my-
self in my father’s eyes, and win an honorable name
in the tribe. It is the only way. Go now; bring the
canoe quickly. The wind blows straight from the south
and there is not a cloud in the sky. I should be able