THE HIDDEN ISLAND 17

sail. Their food and water were nearly gone and time
was precious.

Both of the wanderers were tired, hungry, thirsty,
but very happy when at last they paddled into the
cove in front of their village; happy when they gazed
at the unbelievable treasure piled up in the canoe;
happy when they gazed upon the totem poles in front
of their father’s lodge at the end of the street. They
were home!

It was Shim the Foolish One who first spied them
and called to Sagano, their father. It was Shim who
waded into the water and pulled the canoe upon
the beach, then dipped his hands into the piled-up
puffin beaks and showed them to the astonished
Haidas.

“They have found the hidden island! They have
found the puffin beaks!” he shouted. “Did I not tell
you they had gone there? Did I not tell you they
would return with these things?”

“You were very brave, my children,” said the old
warrior Sagano, as he viewed the treasure in the
canoe and knew that he and his children would be
well supplied with food and luxuries for many months
to come. “I am very proud of what you have done. If
I were well and strong, I would carve the story of
your adventure upon a fine new totem pole so that it
would never be forgotten as the years pass by.”

“T do not think we deserve much praise for what
we have done,” Kilsa protested, lifting her mother’s