er first-class
influences. I am generalizing now, of course; the exceptions are rare
enough to prove the rule."

"I wish I had those spoons," said Fanny, "they would be such a curiosity
at home."

"The spoon I wish for is one of the vessel's forks, with a bit of roast
beef on it. Here, Sis, jump in; we shall be late for dinner, and the
Captain will call us to account."

In a few moments we were out of the little cove, and in open water of
the sound, pulling back toward the harbor, where the steamer was lying
that had brought us this summer excursion. As we came abreast of a
certain inlet, Fanny cried out, "Look there!" and turning our eyes in
the direction of her glance, we saw the canoe with its bronzed crew just
disappearing up the narrow entrance, half-hidden in shrubbery.

Our adventure was related at dinner in the steamer's cabin, and various
were the conjectures regarding the identity of Chief Nittinat. The
captain declared his ignorance of any such personage. Most of the party
were inclined to regard the whole affair as a practical joke, though who
could have been the authors of it no one ventured to say. It was
proposed that another party should repeat the excursion on the following
day, in order that another opportunity might be given the mysterious
medicine man to put in an appearance. And this, I believe, really was
carried into effect, but without result, so far as solving the mystery
was concerned. A canoe, similar to the one we had seen, had been
discovered up one of the numerous arms of the Sound, but on attempting
to overtake it, the pursuing party had been easily distanced, and the
clue lost, so that all hope of clearing up the mystery was relinquished.

One evening, shortly after, Fanny and I sat together in the soft, clear
moonlight, listening to the dance-music in the cabin, and the gentle
splash of the waters about the vessel's keel. All at once, a canoe-load
of Nootkans shot across the moon's wake, not fifty yards from our
anchorage, and as suddenly was lost again in shadow. "Fanny," I said,
"being the only invalid of this party, I feel a good deal nervous about
these apparitions. They are usually regarded, I believe, as portentious.
Without designing to take advantage of your too sympathizing
disposition, I am tempted to remind you that if I am ever to have the
happiness of calling your precious self truly my own, it ought to be
before the third appearance of the ghostly presence; will you co