THE IRON MEN 57

evil thing that could reach out and fold him in its
arms.

“Tt is but one of the fancies of childhood,” Weah
suddenly heard his father say, his deep voice plainly
audible above the others. “Something has put this
fear into his heart, but of course it will go away as he
grows older. He is as brave as the other lads in every-
thing else. In any game, there is no boy more fear-
less than he. Let him alone. Do not make fun of him.
He is still young, and has yet time to forget many
things.”

“I will conquer this fear!’”” Weah vowed earnestly
as he listened to the kind words of the great chief,
his father. “I cannot grow to manhood and have men
call me Weah the Timid. No other Haida is afraid of
darkness. I must cast fear from my heart, so that my
father shall no longer be ashamed of me and men
shall learn to call me Weah the Bold.”

One afternoon not long afterward, a schooner with
white wind-filled sails came flying like a great bird
across the waters. It glided into the cove in front of
Quasset and dropped anchor in the deep, calm waters
there, in order to repair a broken spar and other
damage caused by a terrific storm.

“It is the spirit of Kali Koustli!” declared the
shamans, as the terrified villagers stared at the strange
visitor. Kali Koustli was the dreaded spirit of the
pestilence which the Haidas feared more than any
other thing.