m
here he could see the small creek which flowed through the hills down
to the lake. As he was looking at it, he thought he saw some dark
objects along the shore of the creek. They seemed about the size of
canoes. He scanned the hills anxiously, and at length could see a band
of Indians making their way along the trail made by the hunters in the
morning.

At once the young man knew there was great danger ahead, for these
Indians, the Shuswaps, were the enemies of his tribe and now were
following their trail, and when they found them, they would kill them.
Quickly the young man made his way down the hill, and through the
forest to the spot where the hunters had camped for their evening meal.
Running up to them, he cried, "Return at once to your lodges. Our
enemies are now on our trail. They are in the forest on the other side
of this hill. I shall return and delay them while you reach your
lodges in safety."

Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned and ran back in the
direction from which he had come, By short cuts through the hills, he
made his way to the creek and found, as he expected, that the Indians
had left their canoes tied at its mouth. Seizing his tomahawk, he
began to break the canoes, and soon had a hole made in all of them
except one. Leaving the creek, he mounted the hill and from there
could see the Shuswaps. He began to wave his arms and call wildly to
attract their chief. At last they noticed him and began to make their
way towards him. The young man was delighted, for now he knew that his
tribe could escape in safety, while their enemies were returning
towards the creek. Soon the Shuswaps neared the top of the hill, and
he knew he must think of some plan to delay them here. Suddenly he
dropped to the ground and lay there as though insensible. With a run
the Shuswaps gained the summit and surrounded him. He lay face
downwards with his arms stretched out. They turned him over on his
back and peered into his face. Not a muscle moved; not even his
eyelids quivered. Then the chief bent over him and felt his heart.
"He has not gone to the Happy Hunting Ground," he said, "but the Great
Spirit has called his spirit to go on a long journey. It may not be
back for many moons. Let us place his body under the pine-trees, there
to await the return of the spirit."

The Indians lifted the body of the young man, carried it to a clump of
pine-trees and laid it down. Then they walked some ya