Part 16 (1/2)

Old and wrinkled was the Sea-Gull, Good and true, but old and wrinkled.

Twenty winters for the Panther Had she ruled the humble wigwam, Borne the burdens on the journey, Gathered f.a.gots for the lodge-fire, Tanned the skins of bear and beaver, Tanned the hides of moose and red deer, Made him moccasins and leggings, Decked his hood with quills and feathers, Colored quills of Kaug, the th.o.r.n.y, Feathers from the great war-eagle; Ever diligent and faithful, Ever patient, ne'er complaining.

but like all brave men the Panther Loved a young and handsome woman; So he dallied with the danger, Dallied with the fair Algonkin, [1011]

Till a magic mead she gave him, Brewed of buds of birch and cedar. [1012]Madly then he loved the woman; Then she ruled him, then she held him Tangled in her raven tresses, Tied and tangled in her tresses.

Ah, the tail and tawny Panther!

Ah, the brave and brawny Panther!

Son of Waub-Ojeeg, the warrior!

With a slender hair she led him, With a slender hair he drew him, Drew him often to her wigwam; There she bound him, there she held him Tangled in her raven tresses, Tied and tangled in her tresses.

Ah, the best of men are tangled-- Sometime tangled in the tresses Of a fair and crafty woman.

So the Panther wed the Red Fox, And she followed to his wigwam.

Young again he seemed and gladsome, Glad as Raven when the father Made his first bow from the elm-tree, From the ash tree made his arrows, Taught him how to aim his arrows, How to shoot Wabose--the rabbit.

Then again the brawny hunter Brought the black bear and the beaver, Brought the haunch of elk and red-deer, Brought the rabbit and the pheasant-- Choicest bits of all for Red Fox.

For her robes he brought the sable, Brought the otter and the ermine, Brought the black-fox tipped with silver.

But the Sea-Gull murmured never, Not a word she spoke in anger, Went about her work as ever, Tanned the skins of bear and beaver, Tanned the hides of moose and red deer, Gathered f.a.gots for the lodge-fire, Gathered rushes from the marches; Deftly into mats she wove them; Kept the lodge as bright as ever.

Only to herself she murmured, All alone with Waub-omee-mee, On the tall and toppling highland, O'er the wilderness of waters; Murmured to the murmuring waters, Murmured to the Nebe-naw-baigs-- To the spirits of the waters; On the wild waves poured her sorrow, Save the infant on her bosom With her dark eyes wide with wonder, None to hear her but the spirits, And the murmuring pines above her.

Thus she cast away her burdens, Cast her burdens on the waters; Thus unto the Mighty Spirit, Made her lowly lamentation: ”Wahonowin!--Wahonowin!” [1013]

Gitchee Manito, bena nin!

Nah, Ba-ba, showain nemes.h.i.+n!

”Wahonowin!--Wahonowin!”

Ka-be-bon-ik-ka, the mighty, [109]

He that sends the cruel winter, From the distant Thunder-mountain, On the sh.o.r.e of Gitchee Gumee-- On the rugged northern limit, Sent his solemn, final warning, Sent the white wolves of the Nor'land [1014]

Like the dust of stars in ether-- In the Pathway of the Spirits. [1015]

Like the sparkling dust of diamonds, Fell the frost upon the forest, On the mountains and the meadows, On the wilderness of woodland.

On the wilderness of waters.

All the lingering fowls departed-- All that seek the South in winter, All but s.h.i.+ngebis, the diver. [1016]

He defies the Winter-maker, Sits and laughs at Winter-maker.

Ka-be-bon-ik-ka, the mighty, From his wigwam called Kewaydin,-- From his home among the ice-bergs, From the sea of frozen waters, Called the swift and hungry North-wind.

Then he spread his mighty pinions Over all the land and shook them, Like the white down of Waubese [1017]

Fell the feathery snow and covered, All the marshes and the meadows, All the hill-tops and the highlands.

Then old Peboan--the winter--[1018]

Laughed along the stormy waters, Danced upon the windy headlands, On the storm his white hair streaming,-- And his steaming breath, ascending, On the pine-tops and the cedars Fell in frosty mists refulgent, Sprinkling somber shades with silver, Sprinkling all the woods with silver.

By the lodge-fire all the winter Sat the Sea-Gull and the Red Fox, Sat and kindly spoke and chatted, Till the twain seemed friends together.

Friends they seemed in word and action, But within the breast of either Smouldered still the baneful embers-- Fires of jealousy and hatred,--

Like a camp-fire in the forest Left by hunters and deserted; Only seems a bed of ashes, But the East-wind, Wabun noodin, Scatters through the woods the ashes, Fans to flame the sleeping embers, And the wild-fire roars and rages, Roars and rages through the forest.

So the baneful embers smouldered, Smouldered in the breast of either.

From the far-off Sunny Islands, From the pleasant land of Summer, Where the spirits of the blessed Feel no more the fangs of hunger, Or the cold breath of Kewaydin, Came a stately youth and handsome, Came Segun the foe of Winter. [1019]

Like the rising sun his face was, Like the s.h.i.+ning stars his eyes were, Light his footsteps as the Morning's.

In his hand were buds and blossoms, On his brow a blooming garland.

Straightway to the icy wigwam Of old Peboan, the Winter, Strode Segun and quickly entered.