The league of the Iroquois and other legends : from the Indian muse

THE COUNCIL. 145
Near and more near ;
he gains the shore ;
From out the bark with loving hand
The maiden dear he lightly bore ;
While voices , waking all the land,
The Chieftain greet, now more their hope.
A thousand warriors on him wait
To bear him up the grassy slope,
Where, empty, waits the lodge of state.
But lo ! what sound from far is heard ?
What fierce-descending form is there
With pinions of a mighty bird,
That rived and blackened all the air ?
How thrilled the bravest hearts with fear !
With wings that brought the gloom of night,
That terror-bearing creature near
Swooped frightful on their startled sight.
Still down and down ; still circling nigh,
While deepened more the shrouding gloom ;
Still down and down ;
till all the sky
Shone awful with impending doom !
How fled the frightened multitude
Fled wild and shrieking everywhere
!
While calm great Hayo-went-ha stood
He and the little maiden fair.