THE CHILCAT BLANKET 241

around the big room of the Chilcat chief’s hastily
constructed dwelling where the blankets of the entire
tribe were on display, Kali stood with downcast eyes
and waited the fatal question. She could hear her
mother’s words: “I shall show it to all who ask to
see it, and then I shall turn away and hide my head
in shame.”

“But I shall die,” Kali thought despairingly. “I
cannot bear to have the young chief see that wretched
blanket!”

Shortly afterward the Haida chieftainess turned
to Kali’s mother and addressed her politely.

“We have not seen the blanket made by your
daughter, the princess,” she said graciously. “Surely
such a beautiful girl has woven a blanket of sur-
passing beauty and merit.”

Kali’s mother hesitated. For just one moment Kali
thought she would weaken, would invent some excuse
for not showing her daughter’s handiwork. Instead,
she walked to the place where the blanket was partly
hidden behind another and gravely lifted it up so
that all might see. None knew better than Kali the
shame her mother so bravely hid, and the deep cha-
grin and anger in the heart of her father, the Chil-
cat chief.

“This is my daughter’s blanket,” Kali’s mother
said quietly. For a moment there was silence. Kali
heard the matting on walls and roof snap and rattle
in the wind; she heard a bird singing in a tree out-