BARLIE SL GISTORICAL LIMES

For some time previous to 1745, the report had been
current amongst his people and their friends of other
localities that the Chilcotins intended to avenge on him the
death of one of their notables, and, agreeable to anticipa-
tions, a very large band of those Southern Dénés did come
in due time, and in one morning practically annihilated the
whole population then present at Chinlac. A few only
owed their life to their temporary absence or to a speedy
flight.

At the time of the catastrophe the head chief, Khadintel,
was on a tour of inspection of his snares, some distance
down the Nechaco. He had reached the rapid next to the
confluence of the two rivers, paddling up in a large canoe
with two other men, when he suddenly caught sight of a
large number of canoes coming down stream.

“The Chilcotins!” he exclaimed. “Run up the bank
and flee for your lives. I am the one they want, and I
alone ought to die.”

His companions were no sooner out of sight than a
volley of arrows was whizzing around him, which he so
dexterously dodged that, partly because his life appeared
charmed to his aggressors, and partly because they thought
it prudent to keep for any possible emergency the few
remaining arrows in their possession after the great ex-
penditure of them they had made in the morning, Khalh-
pan, the captain of the war party, ordered a suspension of
hostilities. Then, addressing his bold adversary, he said :

“Khadintel, you have the reputation of being a man.
If you are such, dance for me.”

Whereupon the Chinlac chief commenced the dance of a
teneza on the beach of the river, just to show that his
heart was above fear and emotion. When he had finished
he warned his departing enemy that, in the course of a few
years, he would return his visit.

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