THE CHILCAT BLANKET 243

hoping the Haida chief would refuse to buy. But in
this case the honor of the Haida chief was at stake,
and he would pay any price for this blanket for his
son, who had publicly expressed a wish to own it.

All through the bargaining that followed, Kali sat
apart. The young chief had praised the blanket and
purchased it, thinking to please her, but she knew
that at the Haida encampment many others would
examine it and say unkind things of the royal weaver.
Out among the tribes would go the word that Kali,
the beautiful Chilcat princess, was stupid and
slovenly. Her mother was ashamed of her; her father
would have to give a great potlatch in order to win
respect, and her tribe would be angry and revenge-
ful, for they were fiercely proud of the quality of
their blankets.

Only once did Kali glance toward the young chief,
and then, as always, she found his gaze upon her.
With burning cheeks that betrayed her shame, she
looked deep into his eyes, and in that moment she
knew that the young chief was not concerned with
the wretched quality of the blanket—cared not at all
for the flaws and careless weaving. He wished to
marry her in spite of the blanket; in spite of her
carelessness!

She remembered with sinking heart, however, that
the young chief would find it difficult to prove the
wisdom of his choice. Not for a moment would these
proud Haidas be willing to have him marry a princess