g it with tobacco, lit it. "But I tell you, girls," he went on
between puffs of the keenest enjoyment, "Kayak and I had the biggest
surprise of our lives the day before we left Katleean!" He turned to
Gregg and made a ludicrous confidential attempt to wink a swollen eye.
"A cannery steamer put in and landed no less person than his royal
nibs--the president of the Alaska Fur and Trading Company!"

This announcement was received with no particular enthusiasm by either
of his listeners. He went on:

"We got close as paving bricks right off the reel, and he's going to
finance the mining of Kon Klayu!" He stopped to note the effect of
this statement. "We left him at the post looking into the business
methods of the White Chief. The cannery steamer will be back in ten
days and we'll all strike out for San Francisco together and get our
outfit. We'll be back here at Kon Klayu this fall to begin
operations." There was a dismayed exclamation from Ellen; a delighted
one from Jean. "Oh, cheer up, El," he said to his wife. "You and I
won't have to come unless we want to. We've already appointed the old
man's son resident manager. He wants the job--is crazy about it in
fact. Turn around girls, and I'll present him to you--Mr. Gregg
Harlan, ladies!" With a grand flourish Shane indicated the flushing
young man. "Why he chose to keep it a secret all these months, he
hasn't told us yet, but--perhaps Jean will find out!" Laughing at the
incredulous look on Ellen's face he limped out to the shed where Kayak
Bill was doing up samples of ore to take aboard the _Hoonah_ lying just
off the bluff.

At midnight the schooner was rippling gently over the long swells into
an atmosphere of golden sunset light that flooded the sky and crinkled
along the wavetops in shimmering, mellow orange. Up in the bow of the
_Hoonah_ silhouetted against the glow, old Kayak Bill stood alone. In
his hazel eyes was the wistful look that crept there sometimes when he
watched the domestic happiness of those about him. A-top the cabin by
the mainmast Jean and Gregg stood looking back over the lengthening
stretch of water. Kon Klayu lay, an oblong of jade in the amber light,
ringed with a wreath of foam. A single gull winnowed across the vision
calling a wistful question, and from the Lookout the tattered flag
flung itself out on the breeze as if in farewell. Jean's happy voice
came to him from where she snuggled in the circle of Harlan's arm.