"Could they have seen him at any time during the day?"
"Not without me knowing it; for he hain't left my side sence you boys went away."
"Then it is more certain than ever that there is magic connected with the fur-seal's tooth, and that the Chilkats are in some way involved in it. How else could they possibly have known that it was in our possession, just where to find us, and, above all, the exact position of the tooth at this moment?"
"It surely does look ridicerlous," meditated Jalap Coombs; while Serge said he was glad Phil was becoming so reasonable and willing to see things in a true light.
"How did these fellows get here?" asked Phil.
"They say they came in canoes," replied Serge.
"Ask them if they will take us to Sitka, provided we will give them the fur-seal's tooth."
"No; the Indians could not do that."
"Will they give us a canoe in exchange for it?"
"They say they will," replied Serge, "if we will go with them to their village and allow their Shaman (medicine-man) to examine the tooth, and see whether or not it is the genuine article."