242 THE BIG CANOE

side; she heard her own heart pounding in her breast for one long moment before the Haida chieftainess spoke.

“That is a very fine blanket,” she said politely, and passed on to the next one.

“It is a very fine blanket, but not large enough for our purpose,” added the Haida chief, for there is a certain etiquette in such cases; and, besides, the haughty Chilcats find insults where none are intended.

The young chief said nothing. Kali waited a mo- ment to hear his words; then, when the silence con- tinued, glanced in his direction. He was not looking at the blanket. He was looking at her, and she knew he could not fail to see her shame and humiliation.

“T will buy this blanket,” he said loudly, turning toward the Chilcat chief. “It is a very fine blanket and will suit me better than any other. I shall be proud indeed to wear a blanket made by such a beautiful princess.”

His father and mother looked at him in astonish- ment, but they said nothing for a moment, since upon such occasions words must be chosen carefully, lest they offend. Finally the chief spoke.

“Tf this blanket pleases my son, it is the one we wish to purchase,” he said, and began to bargain with the Chilcat chief, who, unwilling to let such an example of his daughter’s handiwork pass out among the Haidas, where it would bring discredit upon her and upon the tribe, named an absurdly high price,