Kalitan, Our Little Alaskan Cousin

ong winter, for then it was still and calm as night, and now the wind

it was the first of May, and just as he had begun to think of summer pleasures, lo! a storm had come which seemed to freeze the very marrow

hing-hole, and soon the ice was a wind-swept plain where even his own tracks were covered with a white pall, he fished steadily on.

re not Esquimos, not Indians, not coloured people, nor whites. They are the tribes living in Southeastern Alaska and along the coast. Many think that a long, long

he coast of Alaska, and, finding their boats destroyed and the land

est, simple, and kind, and more intelligent than the Indians living farther north, in the colder regions. The Thlinkit coast is was

luffy as a lady's boa. On his feet were moccasins of walrus hide. He had been perhaps an hour watching the hole in the ice, and knelt there so still that he looked almost as

o himself as he watched

and Ted Strong had begun to thin

t, but lapsed into his favourite "No understan'," a remark he

knew meant that he had to go all around the country and poke about all day among rocks and mountains and glaciers. He had come with hi

e early morning, and he was cold and hungry besides; so h

egs. We'll try to find out where

nterviewing the boy, who

u?" demande

as," was the

e?" was the

Pilchicka

is a

pointing toward a clump

own unwonted silence, and he came

say this is a jolly place. I wish you would teach me to fish in a snow-hole. It must be g

ping his dark face like a fleeting sunbeam, but disappea

. Strong, "hun

he Thlinkits are always ready to share food and fire with any stranger. The two boys stro

ct, for it stood straight up from his forehead like a golden fleece; his mother called it his aureole. His skin was fair as a girl's, and his eyes as big and blue as a young Viking's; but the Indian boy's l

dly animals, and Ted was soon chattering away to his

our name?

"They call me Kalitan Ten

d Ted. He wanted to

id Kalitan

d his own father, and felt it w

n, "but we had blood-money f

?" asked Ted

ready to die, ready to die). His voice wailed out the mournful chant, which was weird and solemn and almost made Ted shiver. "But now," the boy went on, "Boston

ve here?"

ed his hand seaward. "Come to fish with my

zen river wound like a silver ribbon, widening toward the sea. A cold green glacier filled the valley between two mountains with its peaks of beauty. Toward the shore, which swept

e camp with great politene

Strong, "and we will gladly share your

o right away?" he asked. "T

alitan, briefly, to Ch

Chetwoof.

ained the situation to the Tyee, who welcomed the strangers with grave politeness. He was an old man, with a seamed, scarred face, but

to Mr. Strong. "You are welcome.

oked at him in astonishment. Alaskan boys are taught to hold their tongues and let the

ew he could work but little till the storm was passed; so he readily consent

hile Chetwoof cared for the dogs, and the old chief helped Mr. Strong pitch his tent in the lee of some fragrant firs. Soon all was prepared and supper cooking over the coals,-a supper of fres

TNO

ittle

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