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

THE BEAR-WIFE. 285
Oh !
fatal shot !
For when he came nigh to the spot,
He there, with awe,
His Bear-wife's sister, bleeding saw :
"0 cruel man !" she cried;
u in vain
Leave us I pray !
Our kindness shown ;
Return again.'
1
unto your own
Straight did he go
Back to the lodge ; pretending so
By speech and air
That all the time he had been there ;
The Chief knew all :
with anger seized,
Would Yek-wai kill,
But that the Bear-wife's woman skill
His wrath appeased.
The Autumn passed ;
The Winter came ;
the Bears, at last,
As all Bears do,
Into their winter-lodge withdrew.
There Yek-wai with his Bear-wife went ;
And lovingly
Together in a hollow tree
They lived content.