Alaska Indians 



of the Stickeens struck a Taku in the face — an un- 

 pardonable offense. The next day messengers from 

 the Taku camp gave notice to the Stickeens that they 

 must make atonement for that blow, or fight with 

 guns. Mr. Young, of course, was eager to stop the 

 quarrel and so was Toyatte. They advised the 

 Stickeen who had struck the Taku to return to their 

 camp and submit to an equal blow in the face from 

 the Taku. He did so; went to the camp, said he was 

 ready to make atonement, and invited the person 

 whom he had struck to strike him. This the Taku 

 did with so much force that the balance of justice 

 was again disturbed. The attention of the Takus was 

 called to the fact that this atoning blow was far 

 harder than the one to be atoned for, and immedi- 

 ately a sort of general free fist-fight began, and the 

 quarrel was thus increased in bitterness rather than 

 diminished. 



Next day the Takus sent word to the Stickeens to 

 get their guns ready, for to-morrow they would come 

 up and fight them, thus boldly declaring war. The 

 Stickeens in great excitement assembled and loaded 

 their guns for the coming strife. Mr. Young ran 

 hither and thither amongst the men of his congrega- 

 tion, forbidding them to fight, reminding them that 

 Christ told them when they were struck to ofi'er the 

 other cheek instead of giving a blow in return, doing 

 everything in his power to still the storm, but all in 

 vain. Toyatte stood outside one of the big block- 

 houses with his men about him, awaiting the onset of 

 the Takus. Mr. Young tried hard to get him away to 



[ 203 ] 



