50 THE BIG CANOE

people and there was enough of it there within the
cave to bring wealth and fame to the entire tribe.

While they removed the treasure, Loo and I worked
tirelessly, without sleep, upon these carvings that I
have brought to you. Loo wrote the story of how we
found the Ancient Ones and I carved this little image
of an animal no Haida has ever seen.

When our tasks were finished, I was so eager to
come home that I took leave of my kind friends there
on the shore of the ice-filled sea near the cave of the
Ancient Ones. Not yet had the long night come; not
yet were the waters frozen over, so they gave me a
kayak—one of their queer little canoes—plenty of
food, and the fine clothes I now wear, which were a
present from the entire tribe. In addition, the chief
gave me the little carved box to hold the image of
the Ancient One, as well as many other presents which
are wrapped in those bundles on the ground.

They had been very kind to me, those jolly little
people, and it was hard to bid them farewell. Loo—
who had been like a brother to me for such a long
time, who had saved my life, and had helped me find
the Ancient Ones—followed me to the canoe. How I
wished I could bring him with me and show him the
many wonderful things to be seen here in the South-
land!

But that was not to be. Loo was the son of a great
chief and he chose to remain there with his people,
though his heart bade him come with me into a land