[Illustration: HOW THE CHIEF'S DEATH WAS AVENGED.] There was enough meat to last them many months, and Blackskin was still piling, when suddenly the men in the canoe pushed off, and paddled home again, and this was because of their dread of Blackskin. They made the canoe fast and told the people of the town that it was Blackskin who pulled out the branch and twisted the tree, and that for very fear they had left him on the island of the sea-lions. 'Why did you do that?' asked the people. 'Trouble may come of it.' * * * * * So Blackskin found himself alone on the island, and as there was nothing to make a fire with, he rolled himself, head and all in his blanket, and went to sleep. After a time he was wakened by a noise which sounded like the beating of sticks, and someone called out: 'I have come after you.' He sat up and looked round, but only saw a black duck swimming towards him. 'I have seen you already,' said he, and the black duck answered: 'I was bidden to fetch you. Get on my back and be sure to keep your eyes tight shut till I tell you to open them.' And Blackskin kept his eyes tight shut till the duck called out: 'Now you may open them,' and he opened them and found that he was in a fine house, though he did not guess it was the house of the sea-lions. Of course, the people of the town knew nothing of the black duck, and they mourned for the chief and for Blackskin, who had been left to perish on the island, and the chief's wife mourned most of all. 'Why did you do it?' she asked many times, and the townspeople repeated,'Why did you do it? A strong man like that is scarce.' Then the chief's wife begged some of the young men to cross to the island and bring back her husband's body; and this they did at last, but they could not find Blackskin's. 'Where can he be?' they said. 'Can the tide have taken him, or a wild beast have eaten him? We must consult the wise man.' And the wise man told them that Blackskin was not dead, but would come back again some day; and this troubled them more than ever. * * * * * All this time Blackskin was quite happy in the house of the sea-lions. He had grown so used to them that they seemed to him quite like human beings, though when he thought about it, he knew of course they were not. One day he heard a young sea-lion crying with pain, and his people could not tell what was the matter. Then Blackskin came and examined him, and declared that he had a barbed spear-point sticking in his side. 'This wise medicine man has found out why he cries,' said one; and Blackskin answered: 'I am not a medicine man, but all the same I can take out that spear-head!' And after it was out, he washed the place with warm water. The young sea-lion was very grateful, and as he belonged to a powerful tribe they wished to reward Blackskin for his kindness, and said to him: 'Anything that belongs to us, you may have if you will.'