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

40 THE LEAGUE OF THE IROQUOIS.
And patient wrought he many a day
With sinew-string and barky thong ;
With loop and seam and stitch and stay,
Intent to make it firm and strong ;
Until at length, his labors o'er,
As in the wigwams whence he came,
Bright by the Onondaga shore
He lit the Home-fire's sacred flame. *
Of heart of ash-tree, stout and true
He skillful shaped the hunter-bow ;
He wove the trusty cord that drew,
From sinew of the fallen roe ;
With far-resounding blow and dint
He agate from the quarry broke,
And cunning shaped the stubborn flint
With steady hand and patient stroke.
Of rude unshapeii stones he brought
From out the deeply-cloven ledge,
He many a rocky missile wrought
With glistening point and keenest edge ;
He fashioned straight the sharpened sh:ut.
With point of jasper ;
to the string
Made fit the arrow's shining haft
And plumed it from the eagle's wing.