"Then the slaves hastened to dig out the canoe, and they drew it with
mighty labour, for they were weak from fasting, over the snows to the
shore, and there they launched it without sail or paddle, with all the
people rejoicing. And after a time the wind carried them to a beach
where all was summer. Birds sang, flowers bloomed, and berries gleamed
scarlet in the sun, and there were salmon jumping in the blue water.
They ate and were satisfied, for it was summer on the earth and summer
in their hearts.

"That is how the Thlinkits came to our island, and so we say when the
snow breaks, that now comes the blue jays."

"Thank you for telling us such a dandy story." cried Ted, who had not
lost a word of this quaint tale, told so graphically over the camp-fire
of the old chief Klake.




CHAPTER III

TO THE GLACIER


Ted slept soundly all night, wrapped in the bearskins from the sledge,
in the little tent he shared with his father. When the morning broke, he
sprang to his feet and hurried out of doors, hopeful for the day's
pleasures. The snow had stopped, but the ground was covered with a thick
white pall, and the mountains were turned to rose colour in the morning
sun, which was rising in a blaze of glory.