things for the Indian. It teaches our boys useful things in the schools,
and, if some of its people are bad, some Indians are bad, too. Men all
alike," he repeated with the calm stoicism of his race.

"The government is far away," said Mr. Strong, "and should not be blamed
for the doings of all its servants. I should like to see this island home
of yours, and think we must accept your invitation; shall we, Ted?" he
smiled at the boy.

"Yes, indeed; thank you, sir," said Ted, and he and Kalitan grinned at
each other happily.

"We shall stay in camp until the blue jay comes," said the old chief,
smiling, "and then seek the village of my people."

"What does the blue jay mean?" asked Ted, timidly, for he was very much
in awe of this grave old man.

Kalitan said something in Thlinkit to his uncle, and the old chief,
looking kindly at the boy, replied with, a nod:

"I will tell you the story of the blue jay," he said.

"My story is of the far, far north. Beside a salmon stream there dwelt
people rich in slaves. These caught and dried the salmon for the winter,
and nothing is better to eat than dried salmon dipped in seal oil. All
the fish were caught and stored away, when lo! the whiteness fell from
heaven and the snows were upon them. It was the time of snow and they
should not have complained, but the chief was evil and he cursed the
whiteness. No one should dare to speak evil of the Snow Spirit, which