f some kind of a cactus," he said to Kalitan,
who only replied:

"Huh! picked hedgehog," as he pointed to where Ted's cactus was ambling
indignantly away with every quill rattling and set straight out in anger
at having his morning nap disturbed. Kalitan wrapped Ted's hand in soft
mud, which took the pain out, but he couldn't use it much for the next
few days, and did not feel eager to hunt when his father and the Tyee
started out in the morning. Kalitan remained with him, although his eyes
looked wistful, for he had heard the chief talk about bear tracks having
been seen the day before. Bears were quite a rarity, but sometimes an old
cinnamon or even a big black bruin would venture down in search of fresh
fish, which he would catch cleverly with his great paws.

Kalitan and Ted fished awhile, and then Ted wandered away a little,
wondering what lay around a point of rock which he had never yet
explored. Something lay there which he had by no means expected to see,
and he scarcely knew what to make of it. On the river-bank, close to the
edge of the stream, was a black figure, an Indian fishing, as he
supposed, and he paused to watch. The fisherman was covered with fur
from head to foot, and, as Ted watched him, he seemed to have no line or
rod. Going nearer, the boy grew even more puzzled? and, though the man's
back was toward him, he could easily see that there was something
unusual about the figure. Just as he was within hailing distance and
about to shout, the figure made a quick dive toward the water and sprang
back again with a fish between his paws, and Ted saw that it was a huge
bear. He gave a sharp cry and then stood stock-still. The creature
looked around and stood gnawing his fish and staring at Ted as stupidly
as the boy stared at him. Then Ted heard a halloo behind him and
Kalitan's voice:

"Run for Chetwoof, quick!"

Ted obeyed as the animal started to move off. He ran toward the camp,
hearing the report of Kalitan's gun as he ran. Chetwoof, hearing the
noise, hurried out, and it was but a few moments before he was at
Kalitan's side. To Ted it seemed like a day before he could get back and
see what was happening, but he arrived on the scene in time to see
Chetwoof despatch the animal.

"Hurrah!" cried Ted. "You've killed a bear," but Chetwoof only
grunted crossly.

"Very bad luck!" he said, and Kalitan explained:

"Indians don't like to kill bears or ravens. Spirits in them, maybe
ancestors."

Te