THE CHILCAT BLANKET 239

touched the young chief who forced his way so rudely
through the crush of canoes near the shore, for in-
sults were quickly avenged upon these crowded
waters, and enemies were always ready to fight.

“Him will I marry and no other,” Kali vowed to
herself again, trying to hide her confusion and her
admiration for the young chief. Then, like a black
cloud over the shining sun, returned the thought of
the blanket to torment her.

For the first time in her life Kali showed little
interest in the wonders of the trading-post. Now that
the time had come to choose things she had been
longing to own, she felt no thrill of excitement or
eagerness. She purchased what she wished to take
back home—the red cloth and red ribbons, the comb
and mirror and scissors, the needles and pins and
spools of thread, and lastly the perfume that smelled
like violets in the spring. This she hastily opened,
rubbed upon her fur mantle, and sniffed with satis-
faction; but not even the sweet perfume, delightful
as it was, could take her thoughts from the wretched
blanket on display in the Chilcat encampment. Nor
could she for a moment forget the young chief.

When they left the fort, the young chief was wait-
ing beside the landing-beach just as Kali had ex-
pected, and the two exchanged glances as the Chilcat
canoe pulled away from the shore, just as young
chiefs and princesses have done from ancient times.
Rich and powerful was the young chief who could

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