To-night I followed in a canoe unseen. When I
heard the shooting, I leaped overboard and swam to the ship. It was
lucky for me some one seized the canoe which I found there. The men in
her had to swim to other canoes, and two were wounded, I heard them
say; this caused some confusion, and I had something to grasp when I
reached the ship; otherwise I must have been drowned, as the water was
very cold."
"Yet you refused an overcoat a little while ago," interjected
Christobal.
"Ah, yes. For many years I have lived altogether in Indian fashion.
My skin is hard. Wind or rain cannot harm me. But melted ice mixed
with salt water drives even the seals out to sea."
"Can you speak the Alaculof language?"
"Is that what you call them? Their own name for the tribe is 'The
Feathered People,' because all their chief men and heads of families
wear these things," and he touched his head-dress. "Yes, I know nearly
all their words. They don't use a great many. One word may have
several meanings, according to the pitch of the voice."
"They captured you on the Smyth Channel side of the island.
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