ng the slightest heed to the Indians he ran to the
dog, disengaged the buckskin thong from his teeth, slipped it over his
own head, tucked the tooth carefully inside his little parka, and
started back toward the cabin. Amook followed him, while the Indians
regarded the whole transaction with blank amazement.

Both Nel-te and Amook regained the cabin, and were engaged in another
romp on its floor before Jalap Coombs awoke from his nap. An hour later,
when he was surprised by the appearance of half a dozen Indians before
the door, he thrust the child and dog behind him, and standing in the
opening, axe in hand, boldly faced the newcomers. In vain did they talk,
shout, point to Nel-te, and gesticulate. The only idea they conveyed to
the sailorman was that they had come to carry Cap'n Kid back to the
wilderness.

"Which ye sha'n't have him, ye bloody pirates! Not so long as old Jalap
can swing an axe!" he cried, at length wearied of their vociferations
and slamming the door in their faces.

In spite of this the Indians were so determined to attain their object,
that they were planning for an attack on the cabin, when all at once
there came a barking of other dogs, and, looking in that direction, they
saw two more white men, armed with guns, coming rapidly toward them.

"Hello in the house! Are you safe? What is the meaning of this?" cried
Phil, in front of the closed door.

"Ay, ay, sir!" replied Jalap Coombs, joyfully, flinging it open. "We're
safe enough so far; but them black swabs overhauled us awhile ago, and
gave out as how they'd got to have Cap'n Kid. I double-shotted the guns,
stationed the crew at quarters, and returned reply that they couldn't
have him; then they run up the black-flag and allowed they'd blow the
ship out of water. With that I declined to hold further communication,
cleared for action, and prepared to repel boarders."

In the mean time Serge was talking to the natives in Chinook jargon.
Suddenly he exclaimed:

"They are Chilkats, Phil, and they want something that they seem to
think is in Nel-te's possession."

"In Nel-te's possession?" repeated Phil, in a puzzled tone. "What can
they mean? I don't see how they can know anything about Nel-te, anyway.
They can't mean the fur-seal's tooth, can they?"

"That is exactly what they do mean!" replied Serge, after asking the
natives a few more questions. "They say it is hanging about his neck,
inside of his parka."

"How long have these people