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146 THE BIG CANOE

Pe deserted. If it is Sebassa, he is coming fast; so fast
iis that I cannot call the chief and his men home with
my cannon before he arrives. What shall we do, Skai?
How can we save the village?”

Mr. Williams talked to the Haida lad as if he were
a grown man. He had learned that beneath Skai’s
crazy tricks lurked an astonishing amount of wit and
common sense. He had no fear for his own safety, for
the trading-post was so well fortified that it would
withstand a long siege, but he was deeply worried
about the safety of the old people and children in the
village, as well as the riches that had been gathered
in the house of the chief.

“What can be done, Skai?” he repeated anxiously,
as he watched the speeding canoes through the long
telescope. “They are coming fast!”

“TI will run down to the village and warn every one
there to run into the forest,” Skai said quickly in the
Haida tongue. “If it is Sebassa, he will attack the
chief’s house first, and that I must prevent if I can.
I have a plan. If it succeeds, Sebassa will flee in terror
from the village; if it fails, you must fire the big gun
to warn my people.”

Before the trader could remonstrate, Skai had fled
through the gateway, Tahn lumbering along at his
heels. Down the hill, through the village he ran, stop-
ping at every lodge, shouting warnings. Behind him,
figures tumbled out of the entrance holes and scurried