510 THE BELLA COOLA INDIANS

“T was on my way to visit you, but that will be unnecessary now that
I have been fortunate enough to meet you.”

The two hunters, ignorant of Sekakmdn-a’s reputation, were willing
to do business without having to journey to Bella Coola, and suggested
that he turn back to a favourite camping-place within the timbered area.
He agreed, and they soon reached a spot which he had quitted half an
hour previously. Sekakmdn-a at once went off to gather firewood, and
soon returned with a load; this was not sufficient, but he told one of the
Carriers that more was available in the direction he indicated, and that
he would remain to help the other build a fire. The remaining Carrier
lit some of the wood which had been broken up, but carelessly threw on
too much so that the fire was choked. As he knelt to blow it up, Sekak-
mdn-a was given the opportunity for which he had been looking, and slew
his companion with a single blow of his axe on the back of the head. With-
out waiting to conceal the body, the murderer hurried off to meet the
other Carrier. He was returning without any fuel and inquired:

“Where did you get the wood? I could not find the place.”

Sekakmén-a guided him to the spot and suggested that they cut long
stakes which they could carry between them. This they did, but as the
Carrier bent to lift his end of the burden, he too was felled with a blow.
Sekakmdan-a dragged the corpse under a fallen tree and covered it with
bark, then returned to the fire and heaped stones over the body of his first
victim. Having thus achieved his purpose, he camped for one night
on the spot and then returned to Bella Coola with the stolen furs. It was
plain to all that these must have been obtained illegally since sufficient
time had not elapsed for him to take a trip to Salmon House. Moreover,
he had blackened his face and tied his hair into a top-knot as is done by
all warriors after killing people.

Two days after the unfortunate hunters left Salmon House, another
party left for Bella Coola by the same route. They reached the usual
camping-ground at dusk and looked for traces of their friends, but, to
their surprise, found the remains of one bed only. A few minutes later
one of the women happened to stumble on the corpse hidden beneath the
tree. Torches were prepared and a careful investigation made, leading
to the discovery of the other body. Taking into account the fact that the
two had been carrying rich loads of furs, the Carriers suspected that it
must have been Sekakmdn-a who had slain their friends.

Meanwhile Sekakmdn-a was at Qomgo-ts where a Cannibal dance was
taking place. During this, he fired upon and seriously wounded a young
Bella Coola, Nusnista, who was employed at the Hudson’s Bay Com-
pany’s post. The assault was committed in the presence of the factor,
who handed his gun to an elderly Bella Coola and told him to shoot the