alorous young men who thought so little of life that they
willingly, gladly laid it down to serve and to save those they loved
and cared for. Amongst them were war-tried warriors who had fought
fifty battles, and boys not yet full grown, who were drawing a bow
string for the first time, but their hearts, their courage, their
self-sacrifice were as one.

"Out before a long file of southern warriors they stood. Their chins
uplifted, their eyes defiant, their breasts bared. Each leaned forward
and laid his weapons at his feet, then stood erect, with empty hands,
and laughed forth their challenge to death. A thousand arrows ripped
the air, two hundred gallant northern throats flung forth a death cry
exultant, triumphant as conquering kings--then two hundred fearless
northern hearts ceased to beat.

"But in the morning the southern tribes found the spot where they fell
peopled with flaming fire-flowers. Dread terror seized upon them.
They abandoned the island, and when night again shrouded them they
manned their canoes and noiselessly slipped through the Narrows, turned
their bows southward and this coast line knew them no more."

"What glorious men," I half whispered as the chief concluded the
strange legend.

"Yes, men!" he echoed. "The white people call it Deadman's Island.
That is their way; but we of the Squamish call it The Island of Dead
Men."

The clustering pines and the outlines of the island's margin were now
dusky and indistinct. Peace, peace lay over the waters, and the purple
of the summer twilight had turned to grey, but I knew that in the
depths of the undergrowth on Deadman's Island there blossomed a flower
of flaming beauty; its colors were veiled in the coming nightfall, but
somewhere down in the sanctuary of its petals pulsed the heart's blood
of many and valiant men.

[1] Note.--It would almost seem that the chief knew that wonderful poem
of "The Khan's," "The Men of the Northern Zone," wherein he says:

If ever a Northman lost a throne
Did the conqueror come from the South?
Nay, the North shall ever be free ... etc.

[Illustration: Gold panning pan, pick, shovel]

A Squamish Legend of Napoleon

Holding an important place among the majority of curious tales held in
veneration by the coast tribes are those of the sea-serpent. The
monster appears and reappears with almost monotonous frequency in
connection with history, traditions, legends and superstitions; but
perhap