THE TALKING DOLL 223

in a canoe which the princess had sent to fetch
them.

Long before the sun was half-way across the
heavens, they arrived at the Haida camp and passed
into the makeshift dwelling of the chief, which had
been hastily constructed of huge mats and many
skins. In the center of the dark and drafty room, a fire
burned brightly upon a gravel hearth, and around
it all the chief’s household were assembled, await-
ing the arrival of the Tsimshian slaves.

“Show me the Talking Doll that Thaimshim
brought from his home across the sea,” the Haida
chief commanded, when at last the twins stood be-
fore him. “My daughter says that it makes noises
like a happy baby. Let me hear this with my own
ears, so that I may be convinced, for I cannot be-
lieve that it is true.”

“This is the doll, O Chief,” Oala said, drawing
it from beneath her ragged furs. “This is the doll
Thaimshim brought to the land of the Tsimshians
many years ago and gave to a princess who was
my ancestress.”

While the chief watched eagerly, she caused the
doll to make the same cooing baby sounds the prin-
cess had heard the day before; then, one by one,
she fastened on the small perfect masks that Kona
had made, and with each one the doll presented an
entirely different appearance. Never before had the
Haidas seen a Talking Doll! Never before had