Tlie Iloiiie of tJie Wolverene and Beaver. 183 



means, and commenced bantering Thorn on the 

 low prices he offered. This caused the volcano 

 slumbering in the captain's breast to break forth 

 with a vengeance, and snatching the skin from the 

 hands of his tormentor, he first rubbed it in his 

 face, and then kicked him over the ship's side, 

 returning to do the same with the other bundles of 

 peltry, which were soon flying in all directions 

 urged by the foot of the exasperated skipper. The 

 old chief hurried ashore speechless with rage at the 

 insult, and soon every Indian had left the ship, 

 some of them vowing vengeance for so gross an 

 indignity. 



Such is one version of the story given by Lamazu, 

 We now pass on to the second. 



Here he states that McKay did not sleep at the 

 chief's house, but returned on board that evening, 

 having seen many sea-otter skins. On the 

 following day the Indians came ofif in great 

 numbers to trade, and on seeing them Captain 

 Thorn ordered the boarding nettings to be triced up 

 round the ship, and gave directions that only ten 

 natives should be allowed on board at once. These 

 precautions carried out, trade commenced ; but in a 

 few minutes the captain observed an Indian making 

 an opening in the boarding netting with his knife, 

 to enable him to slip on board. Directly this man 



