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

14 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS.
When oft, as winter winds wore chill
And woke the Raven's croak and caw,
Borne on the blast came yelpings shrill
Broke from the Wolf's nnsated maw ;
As, trailing far some hapless Roe
He circled on the panting beast,
Wild calling through the drifting snow
His fellows to a common feast.
What time the Fox, or late or soon,
Far o'er the glimmering fields away,
Led forth her young beneath the moon
To wily hunt the wary prey;
Or following wide, to snuff the wind,
Of keener scent, in cunning deft,
Her larger unloved kin, to find
If latest surfeit something left.
Or, when sweet Shaw -on -da -see drew
Each pinion fleet from seas remote,
Outwelled from sightless deeps of blue,
The Brand -goose clanged his harsher note;
The while each oft
returning spring
The purple sea was softly pressed
By gentle White Swan's snowy wing,
Or daring Osprey's downy breast.