pay to do government work. I must do
it and do it well in the shortest time possible. You will have a far
better time on the island with Kalitan than you could possibly have
loafing around the camp here. You couldn't go to many places where I am
going, and, if my mind is easy about you, I can take Chetwoof and do my
work in half the time. I'll come to the island in three or four weeks,
and we'll take a week's vacation together, and then we'll hit the trail
for the gold-fields. Are you satisfied with this arrangement?"

"Yes, sir." Ted's tone was dubious, but his face soon cleared up. "A
month won't be very long, father."

"No, I'll wager you'll be sorry to leave when I come for you. Try and not
make any trouble. Of course Indian ways are not ours, but you'll get
used to it all and enjoy it. It's a chance most boys would be crazy over,
and you'll have tales to tell when you get home to make your playmates
envy you. I'm glad I have a son I can trust to keep straight when he is
out of my sight," and he laid his hand affectionately on the boy's
shoulder. Ted looked his father squarely in the eye, but gave only a
little nod in answer, then he laughed his clear, ringing laugh.

"Wouldn't mother have spasms!" he exclaimed. Mr. Strong laughed
too, but said:

"You'll be just as well off tumbling around with Kalitan as falling off a
glacier or two, as you would be certain to do if you were with me."

Teddy felt a little blue when he said good-bye to his father, but Kalitan
quickly dispelled his gloom by a great piece of news. "Great time on
island," he said, as the canoe glided toward the dim outline of land to
which Ted's thoughts had so often turned. "Tyee's whale came ashore. We
go to see him cut up."

"Hurrah!" cried Ted, delighted. "To think I shall see all that! What else
will we do, Kalitan?"

"Hunt, fish, hear old Kala-kash stories. See berry dance if you stay long
enough, perhaps a potlatch; do many things," said the Indian.

One of the Indian paddlers said something to Kalitan, and he laughed a
little, and Ted asked, curiously: "What did he say?"

"Said Kalitan Tenas learned to talk as much as a Boston boy," said
Kalitan, laughing heartily, and Ted laughed, too.

The canoes were nearing the shore of a wooded island, and Ted saw a
fringe of trees and some native houses clustered picturesquely against
them at the crest of a small hill which sloped down to the water's edge
where stood a group of people awaiting