Part 81 (2/2)
Her brother smiled: ”She is a girl-warrior as well as our Oneida prophetess. Skenandoa respects and consults her. Spencer, who wors.h.i.+ps your white G.o.d and is still humble before Tharon, has said that my sister is quite a witch. All Oneidas know her to be a sorceress. She can make a pair of old moccasins jump about when she drums.”
”Where is she now?”
”Yonder in the glade dancing with the fire-flies.”
I walked forward in the luminous dusk, surrounded by my Oneidas. And, of a sudden, in the swale ahead I saw sparks whirling up in clouds, but perceived no fire.
”Fire-flies,” whispered Tahioni.
And now, in the centre of the turbulent whirl of living sparks, I saw a slim and supple shape, like a boy warrior stripped for war, and dancing there all alone amid the gold and myriad greenish dots of light eddying above the swale gra.s.s.
Swaying, twisting, graceful as a thread of smoke, the little sorceress danced in a perfect whirlwind of fire-flies, which made an incandescent cloud enveloping her.
And I heard her singing in a low, clear voice the song that timed the rhythm of her naked limbs and her painted body, from which the cinctured wampum-broidered sporran flew like a shower of jewels:
”Wood o' Brakabeen, Hiahya!
Leaves, flowers, gra.s.ses green, Dancing where you lean Above the stream unseen, Hiahya!
Dance, little fireflies, Like shooting stars in winter skies; Dance, little fireflies, As the Oneida Dancers whirl, Where silver clouds unfurl, Revealing a dark Heaven And Sisters Seven.
Hiahya! Wood o' Brakabeen!
Hiahya! Gra.s.ses green!
You shall tell me what they mean Who ride hither, Who 'bide thither, Who creep unseen In red coats and in green; Who come this way, Who come to slay!
Hiahya! my fireflies!
Tell me all you know About the foe!
Where hath he hidden?
Whither hath he ridden?
Where are the Maquas in their paint, Who have forgotten their Girl-Sainte?[37]
Hiahya!
I am The River-Reed!
Hiahya!
All things take heed!
Naked, without drum or mask I do my magic task.
Fireflies, tell me what I ask!...”
[Footnote 37: Catherine. Her shrine is at Auriesville--the Lourdes of America--where many miraculous cures are effected.]
”He-he!” chuckled The Water-snake, ”Thiohero is quite a witch!”
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