156 THE BIG CANOE

When he was telling a story Shim seemed en-
chanted; filled, for the time being, with the wit and
wisdom of Thaimshim the Wonder-worker, whom he
adored. He had the power so to bewitch his hearers
that they were transported from their surroundings
to the far-off village on the Nass, where they lived
over again, as if actually present, the great adven-
ture of the boy Kadonah.

This is the story Shim told beside the fire that
stormy winter’s day:

Many, many years ago, there lived a Niska chief’s
son whose name was Kadonah, but who was known
to all the tribe as the young-chief-with-the-crooked-
tongue, because he was not truthful. In vain did his
father, the chief, threaten and punish him; in vain
did he counsel him. Kadonah would not tell the
truth.

At last the chief made up his mind that something
must be done. So he called the boy to his side and
spoke sternly.

“You are the son of a chief and the nephew of a
chief,” he said. “Some day you will be a chief also
and great dishonor will fall upon my name if you
are then known to all men as the chief-with-the-
crooked-tongue. Already this is what they call you