visions and blankets, we left Wrangell October 14,
eager to welcome weather of every sort, as long as
food lasted.

I was anxious to make an early start, but it was
half-past two in the afternoon before I could get my
Indians together--Toyatte, a grand old Stickeen
nobleman, who was made captain, not only because
he owned the canoe, but for his skill in woodcraft and
seamanship; Kadachan, the son of a Chilcat chief;
John, a Stickeen, who acted as interpreter; and Sitka.
Charley. Mr. Young, my companion, was an adven-
turous evangelist, and it was the opportunities the
trip might afford to meet the Indians of the different
tribes on our route with reference to future mission-
ary work, that induced him to join us.

When at last all were aboard and we were about
to cast loose from the wharf, Kadachan's mother, a
woman of great natural dignity and force of character,
came down the steps alongside the canoe oppressed
with anxious fears for the safety of her son. Standing
silent for a few moments, she held the missionary
with her dark, bodeful eyes, and with great solemnity
of speech and gesture accused him of using undue in-
fluence in gaining her son's consent to go on a danger-
ous voyage among unfriendly tribes; and like an
ancient sibyl foretold a long train of bad luck from
storms and enemies, and finished by saying, "If my
son comes not back, on you will be his blood, and you
shall pay. I say it."

Mr. Young tried in vain to calm her fears, promis-
ing Heaven's care as well as his own for her precious

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