SKAI AND THE DANCING BEAR 145

’

“He could raid this one easily to-day,” suggested
the trader. “All the men are away hunting and fish-
ing; all the women are picking berries, and there is no
one in the village to prevent Sebassa from burning it
to the ground and escaping with all the treasures in
the chief’s house.”

“Sebassa far away,” was Skai’s indifferent reply.
“His men afraid to attack the Haidas.” And he be-
gan to practise some of his stunts.

Not more than an hour later, the factor came to the
back door of the post and called to Skai, who was
soberly rehearsing in the back yard.

“Come here, Skai! Come quickly. There are canoes
coming from the east!”

Skai ran quickly through the store and peered
through the front door. There to the eastward, still
but specks on the blue-green waters, were many
canoes, coming directly from the mainland. From the
east! Skai’s heart beat fast. Canoes from the east,
when all the Haidas invited to the potlatch were com-
ing from the south! Not by any chance would any of
the visitors arrive from the east. These must be
Sebassa’s men.

“They are war canoes,” the trader said, looking
through a long telescope which he kept hanging on the
wall. “It is Sebassa, without a doubt, though it is
strange that he should attack in the day-time. Still, he
is wise enough to suspect that he may find the village

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