THE IRON MEN 57

evil thing that could reach out and fold him in its arms.

“Tt is but one of the fancies of childhood,” Weah suddenly heard his father say, his deep voice plainly audible above the others. “Something has put this fear into his heart, but of course it will go away as he grows older. He is as brave as the other lads in every- thing else. In any game, there is no boy more fear- less than he. Let him alone. Do not make fun of him. He is still young, and has yet time to forget many things.”

“I will conquer this fear!’”” Weah vowed earnestly as he listened to the kind words of the great chief, his father. “I cannot grow to manhood and have men call me Weah the Timid. No other Haida is afraid of darkness. I must cast fear from my heart, so that my father shall no longer be ashamed of me and men shall learn to call me Weah the Bold.”

One afternoon not long afterward, a schooner with white wind-filled sails came flying like a great bird across the waters. It glided into the cove in front of Quasset and dropped anchor in the deep, calm waters there, in order to repair a broken spar and other damage caused by a terrific storm.

“It is the spirit of Kali Koustli!” declared the shamans, as the terrified villagers stared at the strange visitor. Kali Koustli was the dreaded spirit of the pestilence which the Haidas feared more than any other thing.