WARFARE 353

difficulty in getting near the village, but the dogs smelt his approach and
their barking so dismayed him that he returned. Now it was the turn
of the man to whom the scheme had first been suggested. He took the
same float and pushed off into the darkness. A celebration of victory
was taking place, so that he was able to land unobserved on the beach
and mingle without suspicion among the many strangers who had as-
sembled to Tevdisa’s aid. These included allies among whom were slaves
and others whose faces were unfamiliar to the residents of the village
itself. After walking around for some time, the Bella Coola ‘noticed a
canoe of suitable size at the end of the village. He joineda group walking
in that direction, but detached himself by making some excuse when near
the desired point. Once out of sight behind the canoe, he waited until
he was unobserved and moved the craft a few feet; again he waited, then
shifted it once more, until he was ultimately able to launch it. By great
good fortune, he was able to slip in unobserved, and managed to rejoin
his companions although he had only his hands and a few pieces of wood
with which to paddle. The seven remained on the islet for two days
more, making paddles and waiting until all suspicion of the proximity of
any attackers had passed.

Then they launched their craft and started homewards. Ignorant
of the outside channel, they determined to follow the well-known inner
route, though this course exposed them to constant danger and neces-
sitated travelling by night only. There was so little darkness, however,
that they could neither proceed fast nor replenish their stock of food.
On the eighth day, when lying near Hartley Bay, they were almost
starving. T'sé-kmai, one of the warriors, said to his brother Ogmikumx:

“Do you want us to die of starvation? We cannot go on this way,
let us camp for a few days and hunt, no matter what the danger.”

Ogmikims agreed, and set off with a packer, telling his comrades not
to worry even if he were absent four days since he did not know the
country, and might have difficulty in finding game. Another hunter,
Kumsixwaléxtsta, went off with a packer in the other direction but soon
returned unsuccessful and discouraged, though Tsd-kmai cheered him
by saying that he was sure his brother would succeed. Before night
Ogmikimy and his packer brought back a fat buck which was divided
among the starving wanderers. At first they ate the fat uncooked, but
hunger at last drove them to build a small fire and toast the meat in thin
strips so that the minimum of heat and flame was required. Thus
strengthened, they eventually reached home.

Even those who had fled at the arrival of the first reinforcements had
difficulties in reaching home owing to ignorance of the route. Some of
the canoes reached Kitlobe in safety, whence the occupants proceeded