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1 2 3

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FRONTENAC.

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S.'

FRONTENAC.

A POEM

ALFRED B. STREET.

LONDON :

RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,

VQbKsjieT (n OrOinatfi to l^er ffatestp,

1849.

srf7

72106

linADBrRT (Jill KVANa, PnillTSR!!, UIIITKPHMII^

PREFACE.

Oru tale is based upon tlie following chiipttr of
liistory : — In the month of June, 1 600, Count Krontenac,
then (jrovemor-General of Canada, assembled an army at
Lachine, a few miles from Montreal, for an expedition
I'gainst the Iroquois, who, from the earliest settlement of
the province, had been inimical to the French.

The army consisted of the regular troops, the hahitans
or militia of the province, and some of the Indian tribes,
who were the allies of the French, and who entertained an
hereditary hatred against the Iroquois, by reason of their
nations having, in former times, been conquered by the
Confederacy. Frontenac, with this army, ascended the
St. Lawrence, in batteaux and canoes, carr}'ing with him,
in addition to light arms, cannon, mortars, and grenades.
Making the customary portages, he reached Lake Ontario,

PRKFACK.

t(»iLst«<l Its niLstorii waterH. a^jcendrd the Oswc^n l{iv»r.
irortscd Ononila^a liftko, and cncanipod iipai its Imh-
ders H»' tlinii plimj»od, with his forces, into tlif vast
wilderness, in search of the Iro(|iiois. Arnvinf» at the
principal castle or village of the Onondagas. into whosf
particular canton or country he had penetrated, he ftanid
it deserted. Pushing farther then into the wilderness.
I 'intenac fliscovered nothing of his wild enemies, and
tinally, in disappointment, ho retraced his inarch. < Mi
his return path, however, the Iroquois waylaid his steps,
killed a numlier of his raeu, and did not cease their
attacks until he had entirely left their territory.

The Iroquois at that time consisted of five nations, viz. :
the Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas, and Senecas,
occupying a territory which they figuratively called their
" Long House," extending from east to west over what is
now the state of Xew York, from the Lakes Erie and
Ont^irio to the Hudson lliver.

These Indian nations had banded themselves into a
League or Confederacy, at first for protection against
their common enemies, and afterwards for conquest.
The imic of the formation of this League is not known.

PRRK VCK.

VII

Imt is supposed to hiivo hoi'ii uges bot'oro tlm whiU'miiii
iippoiirod amongst tliom, utul it lias given birth, on at'coiint
of its value and iniportjince, as woU as its lt»)ing involved
ill the mist of uncortainty, to a wiKl mythology eoncoming
it amongst themselves.

When Champlain hrst cam*! to (^u('l)ec, ho found thr
Confederacy at war with the llurons and Adirondacks,
then warlike and powerful nations. Having allied himself
to the Adirondacks, he joined them in an expedition
against the Iro(]Uois ; and, by reason of the lire-arms he
carried, then totally unknown to the warrioi*s of the
C'onfederacy, who were accustomed only to the spears and
arrows of their fathers, ho was the means of defeating
them with great slaughter on the borders of the very lake
which now bears his name. This kindled an animosity
against the French on the part of the Iroquois, which
was never forgotten, lieceiving, a few years afterwards,
fire-arms in their turn from the Dutch, who. in the mean-
while, had penetrated the forests along the Hudson and
Mohawk Rivers in New York, the confederated warriors
commenced their attacks upon the French at every post
and settlement. So serious did their inroads become, that
at times the very province itself was in jeopardy. And

Vtll

PRKKACr.

not only did tliCHO wiirlikc Miiviii»r.s imiiuy tin) IVtinli.
but tlioy tiinit'd their arms n^uiiist all tliu ii(>i^lilK)uriii^'
trihcH, driving the ilurotis iitid Adirondacks, tlinir fonncr
rivuU, from their villages and Imiitiiig-grouiidH, and uliso-
lutely extemiinatiti^ many of the savage nations around
tht'iii. i'usliing their (>on<|u<;Ht^ in all directions, they at
length mastered ovt-rj' Indian tribe residing, not only in
New York, but every other, as far jus Carolina to ihr
south, and the Mississippi to the west. The tiovemors-
General of (Janada made freciuent incursions into their
territoi-y or Long IFouse, but those incursions only served
to stimulate the wrath of these haughty and powerful
savages, without weakening their strength or diminishing
their power. That strength and power had arrived at
their height when Frontenac took the reins of command,
for the second time, in 16Hi». The Iroquois had now
assumed so threatening an attitude, that this stem and |
proud noble thought it advisable to penetrate their fast-
nesses and crush them, if possible, at a blow. Henc(>
the expedition above detailed, which was, however, as
fruitless as those of the former Governors- General De La J
Barre and De Nonville.

In the meanwhile the Confederacy (its good-will and

PRKFAl E.

t'nntidship Imviiij,' U'oii tnuistVrrnl liy tin- iMifcfi u< t\\r
H!n>{lisli) pntvod it.srif ils fuitlifiil to ( 't»rl«'iir. tlit> iihiiu- h
f^ufo to t.h«' Kn>»lish ( luvcnior, as hoHtih* to Yoiiiion-d«(-V'>li
itH titin lor tho (iovflmor-iinu'riil of thr Kmirli. (mi
M'qu«'ntly, in I77»^ when tho war of tin' Kovoliitioii
l»roko out, truo to thoir olil fri<MnlHlii|t, the lioijuoiH si(l»'"l
with I'iii^liiiul. 'I'his I«'(l to fht" rxpoditioii of Siillivmi. the
Aiin'rican 'iojioml, into tho heart of their <'uuiitry.
Siillivuii (loHolutod their fiohlH. destroyed their viUH^,'*!*.
and exterminated tho warriors they brought against hitn.
From this period thoy began to decline. With the return
of peace, civilisation eommenced hewing down their
forests, and Uiking possession of their hunting-grounds ;
and the unwelcome sight of the Pale-face met them in
every direction beside their beautiful streams imd romantic
lakes. Their liOng House, to use their own pathetic
language, was broken open at both ends, and the storms
i)f destruction made it desolate for ever. The Mohawks
abandoned their lovely valley in a body, and settled upon
(irand River, in Canada, on territory granted them by
the British (iovernment. The rest of the Confederacy,
although it had been previously increased by the accession
of the Tuscaroras, a reclaimed original tribe, gradually
diminished, and has still continued to waste away, until

f :'

iii'

i''

X PREFACE.

MOW only a few individuals remain, haunting their smiling
valleys, and hovering around their sparkling waters,
miserable spectres of the former greatness of the Iroquois.
A few more years, and even they will disappear. The
memory of the Confederacy only will remain to furnish
fit themes for song and story, and one more melancholy
instance of a once powerful and happy people entirely
disappearing from the face of the earth.

Iii

r smiling
[ waters,
Iroquois,
iitr. The
furnish
lelancholy
! entirely

CONTENTS.

CANTO FIRST.

PAGE

I.CCIII.E — FRONTENAC

CANTO SEC(uVD.

THE IROQUOIS — THE CANADIAN SPRING THE PEACE BELT-

ON-ON-DAH-GAH — THE ATOTARHO — JISKOKO — THE MESSAGE-
QUEBEC — THE CALUMET — THE TALK ....

CANTO THIRD.

THE WAR SONO — THE HUNTERS THE BATTEAU— THE OARIONAN

VILLAGE — THE BRIGANTINE .....

CANTO FOURTH.

THE THANKSGIVING DANCE — THE DANCE OF THE GREAT SPIRIT —
KAH-KAH THE EXPEDITION THE BIVOUAC THE ABDUC-
TION — THE RESCUE AND DEATH

CANTO FIFTH.

THE INN OF THE CANOE — WE-AN-DAH — THE SUMMONS — THE
ENCAMPMENT — THE MARCH .....

126

. 1 i
' I -a

Xll CONTENTS.

CANTO SIXTH.

THE WAR-ITATCHET- THE WILDERNESS — THE CATARACT THE

HENECAH — A-OA-TEN-TEII — OAYUOA LAKE — THE OAYHOAS —
THE 0NEIDA8 — THE STRAWBERRY DANOE — THE CANOE
VuVAOE -THE MOHAWKs' SOALF DANCE . . . 153

CANTO SEVENTH.

THE MAROJf — THE WAR-DANCE— THE COUNCIL — THE QUARREL —

THE PRIESTESS — THE SACRED FLAME .... 189

CANTO EIGHTH.

THE .MARril — THE MEETING — THE MARCH — THE MoCCASIN-PRINT

— THE NIGHT-WATCH . 227

^11!

) I

CANTO NINTH.

THE BATTLE — THE TORTURE — THE DEFIANCE — THE DEATH —
PRONTBNAC — MASS FOR THE DEAD . . . . .

25r.

-THE

)AS —
!ANOE

. . 153

lEIi-

189

CANTO FIRST.

RINT

. 22'i

LUCILLE,
FRONTENAC.

ITH —

25r»

Ill

! I

CANTO FIRST.

LUCILLE.

TwAS in June's bright and glowing prime
The loveliest of the summer time.
The laurels were one splendid sheet

Of crowded blossom everywhere ;
The locust's clustered pearl was sweet,

And the tall whitewood made the air
Delicious with the fragrance shed
From the gold flowers all o'er it spread.

II.

In the rich pomp of dying day

Quebec, the rock-throned monarch, glowed-

Castle and spire and dwelling gray :

The batteries rude that niched their wav

Along the cliff, beneath the play

Of the deep yellow light, were gay.

And the curved flood, below that lay.

In flashing glory flowed ;
B 2

'iii

4 FRONTENAC.

Beyond the sweet and mellow smile
Beamed upon Orleans' lovely isle ;

Until the downward view
Was closed by mountain-tops that, reared
Against the burnished sky, appeared

In misty dreamy hue.

HI.

West of Quebec's embankments rose
The forests in their wild repose.
Between the trunks, the radiance slim

Here came with slant and quivering blaze ;
Whilst there, in leaf-wreathed arbors dim,

Was gathering gray the twilight's haze.
Where cut the boughs the back-ground glow

That striped the West, a glittering belt,
The leaves transparent seemed, as though

In the rich radiance they would melt.

IV.

Upon a narrow grassy glade.

Where thickets stood in grouping shade,

The light streaked down in golden mist

Kindled the shrubs, the greensward kissed,

Until the clover-blossoms white

Flashed out like spangles large and bright.

This green and sun-streaked glade was rife
With sights and sounds of forest life.

LUCILLE.

A robin in a bush was singing,

A flicker * rattled on a tree ;
In liquid fife-like tones round ringing

A thrasher f piped its melody ;
Crouching and leaping with pointed ear

From thicket to thicket a rabbit sped,
And on the short delicate grass a deer

Lashing the insects from off him, fed.

VI.

Sudden he paused with lifted foot.
Then, like an arrow, away he shot ;

Robin and flicker and thrasher were mute ;
The rabbit glided from the spot —

The next an Indian, from the shade,

Came bounding out upon the glade.

VII.

A warrior was he, armed for strife.
With tomahawk and scalping knife

Thrust through his wampum-belt ;
The long lock crowned his shaven head ;
Bare, save the belt, his form of red.
And where around his loins was spread

A stripe of shaggy felt.

* Flicker is the common name for the Golden-winged Woodpecker of
tiie American forests.

t The Thrasher is the brown thrush of the American woods, and some-
times called the Ground-robin.

PRONTENAC.

VIII.

With head aaide he stood intent
An instant, then he stooped and bent

His ear upon tlie ground ;
Then looking lorth with piercing eye,
Entered a laurel thicket nigh
So subtly, to the breeze's sigh

More motion 'twould have found.

IX.

Silence fell deeply down once more.

Till fluttering sounds among the trees
Told that the woodland fright was o'er

And soon would swell fresh harmonies.
The robin's warble was renewed,

The flicker's hammer tapped again.
And once more through the solitude

Bang out the thrasher's splendid strain ;
But the sweet sounds had scarcely filled
The place, when they again were stilled.
On the green glade two figures came ;
One of a tall and stalwart frame,
With sword and plume and martial air ;

The other scarce four summers old.
Whose coal-black eyes and raven hair

And features — though of loveliest mould,-
O'er-tinted with alight red shade,
Blood of the native race betrayed.

LUCILLE.

The soldier, on the grass reclined,
Viewed the glad gambols of the child.
Who, to each impulse of her mind,

Now, gave her shout of pleasure wild.
As the rich red-bird in his flight
Passed with a flash some streak of light

Slanted in hazy sheen ;
And now, with footstep bounding free.
Chased the fleet squirrel to its tree,

Across the sylvan scene.

XI.

Tired with her sports, at length the girl
Paused at the leanmg soldier's side,

Brushed from his brow a silveiy curl.
And then her panting efforts plied.

Until she bared his glittering brand.

And sought to poise it in her hand.

XII.

Closer the child the senior drew
And with delight caressed her head ;

" Thou would'st have been a soldier too
Had'st thou been bom a boy ! " he said ;

•' Thy sire's brave blood within thee glows

Too strong for peaceful dull repose ;

FBONTENAC.

i J

And the wild nature 1 espy
Of thy red mother in thine eyo.
Listen ! 1 11 tell the talo ugiiin

I told thee yester-night,
When proudly on the battle-plain

France stemmed the dreadful fight.
And heard at last the clarion strain

Of victory crown her might ! "
And then commenced the legend old :

The girl's red features flushed more red.
Brightened her eye more wild and bold

As on the story sped,
Until with sight that fairly blazed,
The blade with both her hands she raised

And waved it o'er her head.

XIII.

At the first words, a thicket's screen

Had moved behind the pair,
And then two eyeballs fierce and keen

Like spots of fire gleamed there ;
Out came a scalplock — then a head —
Then was put forth an arm of red.
And, like the cowering panther's tread,
The Indian left his lair.

XIV.

Stilly, as glides o'er earth a shade
From bush to bush, along the glade

1 iiiii;

LUCILLE.

Tlic stealthy savage went :
A snap, tin' f,'irl half tuniod ; his crouch
Wivs like the spider's, when u touch

Its filmy snare has rent.
Then, rising from behind the hank
Where, for lui instant's space, ho sank.

Again ho glided low ;
The trcnilde of the leaves and grass
Telling alone his snake-like pass,

80 viewless, silent, slow.

XV.

Near and more near, with eyes of flame,
The Indian creeping, creeping, came,

Until he paused, and drew
His hatchet, then leaned back like light,
And from his clutch in whirling flight

The glittering weapon flew ;
It fell upon the soldier's head,
Who, as gushed out a stream of red.
Groaned deep, and started from his bed

Convulsive to his knee ;
In vain, in vain ; the hatchet drank
Again his blood, and down he sank

Beneath his enemy.
And, as in pangs of parting life

The quivering soldier lay,

The savage drew his gleaming knife

And wrenched the scalp away.
b3

KR(»\TENAC.

iil::

XVI.

TIjo chilli, trnuslixod iit mute surprise,
lliul viewed tli(! hocuo with stariug eyes ;
Hut, m the fearful Iiuliuii shred
The srulp from olT that honored head,

Then, wakened from her trance.
Lifting the weapon, at the foe
She leaped, and nought to aim her hlow

With stern defying glance.

XVII.

The savage gazed ; across his brow

A look gleamed proud and high ;
'Twas vivid admiration now

That glittered in his eye ;
And with a guttural of delight.
The child njain o'erwhelmed with fright,

But hulding still the blade,
He swept upon his stalwart arm,
And, as she shrieked in wild alarm.

Plunged with her in the shade.
Leaving the scene to its repose
In the soft hue of twilights close.

xvin.
Over the glade the ladened ■ •♦; <^
Darted straight forward to its tree ;
Each bird low twittered on its perch ;
The night-hawk flew in jarring search ;

FROSTENAr.

Thf» rrow tlnppcd o'or wuL -^tlemii rnmk ;
Thn fro}? its rliunorous pipi«»s wnko:
'V\w wolf drew out lii«< phn ' howi .
Slioutt'd, in piiusos ltri» I, ln' owl ;
Ilor wail set up tho wliippoorwill ;
The trcc-toiid swclh'd its litdlow ti;ll ;
Tlie lire-flies shod, in tliickmin^ flight.
'J lieir gold-green intennittrnt light.
•Tp.^! tho gray and glinnnoring ha/o
VVnh fairy meteors seemed aldazo ;
And once another doer stepped out,
Hut as he stooped to feed, about

lie swenod with snort of dread,
And through tho darkening forest waste
Dashed far away in fren/ied haste —

There lay tho bloody dead.

FRONTENAC.

XIX.

Reared on the cliff, at the very brink.

Whence a pebble dropped would sink

Four-scor« feet to the slope below.

The Castle of St. Louis caught

Dancing hues of delicate pink,

With which the clouds o'erhead were fraught

From the rich sunset's streaming glow.

iri

1 1

FRONTENAC.

XX.

Opposite, in the soft warm light
The RecoUets' steeple glittered bright ;
And tipped with gold was the Convent by,
Whilst both threw a mantle of raven dye

The broad Place d'Armes across,
That up to the massive curtain lay.
Save where a slanting and hazy ray,
Shooting between the buildings gray,

Streaked it with yellow gloss ;
The bastions threw on the Castle court
Crescents of shade, whilst the sallyport,

Open, was filled with a golden glare
That made the sentinel's cuirass glow
With transient flashing, as to and fro

Trod he monotonous there.

XXI.

In a room of the Castle, bright

With a ray of rich ruby light.

That caused gi'eat tremulous blots to fall

On raftered ceiling and oaken wall,

And touched the weapons in nooks arranged,

Till keen quick winkings they exchanged,

Frontenac sat at a massive desk,

Canned all over with shapes grotesijue.

XXII.

Around him were splendor and rudeness at strife,
Signs of the savage and civilized life.

) I

FRONTENAC. ^'^

Here branched, for some gay garment's use,
The broad flat antlers of the moose ;
There, o'er some painting rich, were hung
Wampum in varied colors strung ;
Whilst moccasin and blanket red
By corslet and steel pike were spread.

XXIII.

A lofty pride and liery will.
Which sixty winters could not chill,
Sat in his eye, and on his brow,
But blent with anxious musing now.

XXIT.

The Iroquois in their dread and might

Stood frowning in his menUil sight ;

Onward and onward their power had pressed ;

Upward and upward had risen their crest ;

Nought in the woods now their might could oppose,

Nought could withstand their confederate blows ;

Banded in strength and united in soul,

They moved on their course with the cataract's roll.

XXV.

Wherever the banner of France was reared.
The blood thirsty hate of the Braves appeared ;
Kindled against Champlain when first
His lightning death on their sires had burst,
Years had not quenched it, for never depart
Thoughts of revenge from the Indian heart.

FRONTENAC.

(

XXVI.

'l\

I I

Frontenac long, with care, had tried

To win their kindness to his side ;

But the stern Nations in disdain

The proffered belt cast back again.

If he uttered wrathful threat.

With a taunting scorn 'twas met ;

And if he sent, in a burst of ire,

A sudden foray of sword and fire.

Everywhere up the wild warriors stood,

And rushed in fierce joy to their banquet of blood.

XXVII.

From ceiling and wall the light vanished away,

The room now began to grow dusky and gray ;

Sculptured desk and high-backed chair

Strange wild figures seemed to wear ;

Branching antlers round the wall

Seemed to wax more wide and tall ;

Weapons in their comers made

Faint dull glimmerings in the shade ; —

Still sat Frontenac motionless,

Still thought's burthen seemed heavy to press.

Hark ! a sudden ciy ! a beat

In the court of many feet —

He glanced through the casement — amid a throng

Of soldiers, a figure was borne along —

A drooping figure, the glimmering light

Yielding the outlines alone to sight.

i i i

FRONTEXAC.

XXVIII.

Men as ho looked the portal jarred,
A hurried tap at the door was heard. —

Hastily entered a pallid rruard.

With a soldier s salute at the bidding word :

" That form — whoso is if.' — this stir why made ".'■
" The Sieur Lavergne's I he is " —

" What ! speak ! ' — " Dead : —

" Dead ! " —

— " Found by the hunter Jiizarre in the gladu

Where he used at sunset to ramble, with head
Showing the knife of the Iroiiuois wild ! " —
" Dead I found in the glade ! but where "s my child !
LucUle ! my daughter ! together they left
The castle at sunset ! " The father bereft
Struggled with groans that the soldier suppressed :
" Send the scouts quickly and bid them not rest
Till the forests are scoured ! let Count Lavergne
lie brought in the room ! " The spirit stern
Of the warrior seemed again to sway,

Whilst on the table they placed the dead,

Lighted the cresset swung overhead.
Then hastened with soft falling footsteps away.
Seizing the hand of his early friend,
Again did the soul of proud Frontenac bend ;
He pressed that mangled and clotted head,
There were the muscles all bare and red.
" Those Iroquois tiends ! "" — he muttered low —
" Lucille, Lucille, did the murderous blow
" Fall too on thee ! ho ! without there ! haste !

S I"

i I ! I;

U!.!!

iii-

K) FRONTENAC.

T.et the hunter BizaiTe in our presence he placed I —
Tell nie, ' as low the rough woodsman made
Olieisancc uncouth, " didst thou traverse the glude?
Whs th(,Te no other lyhig there ?"
"None!"

•' Leave nie ! "" Xo eye must hehold his despair.
The ruthless stern Frontcnac hent o'er the dead
With a heart from which all but deep sorrow was lied ;
That arm, cold and stitV, had once sheltered his life
In a whirlwind of bloody and desperate strife ;
And Lucille, the loved child of Sa-ha-wee ! * too gone I
Must his winter of life be left cheerless and lone ! '
The Iroquois ! up flashed his fury I ho sprung,
("lulched his sword until in its steel scabbard it rung;
And on through the room with quick gestures he strode,
As though some fierce demon was plying his goad.

XXIX.

Scarce a ileeting three months glide

Since his murdered Sa-ha-wee died.
Struck by the hand of Ta-yo-neef v^iilst seeing,

(So her Iroquois handmaid said),

Seated upon Cape Diamond's head,
Slowly the beautiful sunset fleeing

From the rich landscape below her spread.
" Yon-nou-de-yohs slave no more,"
Hissed the fierce Brave as his hatchet flashed oer —
" Die ! " and gasping Sa-ha-wee fell ;

• "Sa-ha-\vce" nicuiis "A Vine" in the On-on-dah-gah tongue.
t " Ta-yo-neo " means " A Wolf"' in the same tongue.

■i

FRONTENAC.

Then pealing a bloody triumphant yoll,
And spurring the shrieking attendant away,
Off boro the chieftain the lifeless clay.
Ta-yo-nce ! her brother ! and could it be
That he again was the enemy !
The On-on-dah-gah fierce, whose hate

To the French race had visited
The vengeance of such dreadful fate

Upon a sister's head !
And then the thoughts of that sister stole
Like music o'er Frontenac's tortured soul.
A captive brought to the shores of I'rance

By noble De Tracy with her sire,
In his stem bosom her fiiwn-like glance,

Kindled at length delicious fire ;
i.\nd when, heart-broken, her father died,
He wooed the red maiden to his side ;
In his gray castle beside the Rhone
Five bright summei's above them shone ;
Decked with his Sovereign's trust, he bore
His destinies then to Canada's shore
With Sa-ha-wee and little Lucille ; and the moon
That saw them drop anchor, her beautiful boon
O'er the brow of the night had ceased scarcely to spread
E'er the blood of the first was thus ruthlessly shed.

XXX.

And now too the fate of Lavergne ! Lucille
Tom from him ! his over-wrought senses reel.
But hai'k ! on his ear a pealing swell ;

FRONTENAC.

v\ I

The neighbouring RecoUets' vesper-bell !

And soon, through the open casement, song

Comes like the blessing of peace along ;

Pouring on his heart like balm,

Spreading a delicious calm,

Hushing every thought of pain,

" Mary Mother ! " swelled the strain.

"'In

I !

" Mary Mother ! from thy dwelling

Look with soft and smiling eye !
Us, thy humble suppliants telling

Thou dost watch us from the sky.
Ever be thy presence near us !

Ever o'er us be thy care !
Mother of Him who perished ! hear us !

Mary Mother, list our prayer.

" Honored above all, yet lowly

Bend the sweetness of thy brow,
Mary Mother ! Virgin holy !

On thy waiting children now.
Let thy smile, sweet Mother ! cheer us !

To our souls thy blessing bear !
Mother of Him who perished ! hear us !

Mary Mother ! list our prayer."

He glanced without — the splendid moon
Was climbing to her gorgeous noon ;
The massive church and convent bright

', .L

null

FRONTENAC.

Reared their tall summits in her light ;
Whilst on the court the castle laid
The sharp cut blackness of its shade ;
The sentry still with measured stride
Passed and repassed the portal wide ; —
All, all was beauty, light and peace.
He felt his feverish throbbing cease.
'• Mary Mother ! " seemed to bear
Still upon the balmy air ;
Now to rise along the sky,
Now to tremble from on high ;
Falling, swelling, echoing round.
Till the moonlight changed to sound ;
Sound that told of heaven above ;
Sound that told of guardian love ;
Off from his bosom rolled the gloom.

The wrath, the anguish, the despair ;
And in that still and lonely room

The stern old soldier knelt in prayer.

i It' ;■;

' I i

il!

END OF CANTO FIRST.

UUiid.ii

CANTO SECOND.

[HE IROQUOIS.

[HE CANADIAN SPRING.

rHE PEACE-BELT.

)N-ON-DAH-GAH.

rHE ATOTARHO.

JISKOKO.

THE MESSAGE.

QUEBEC.

THE CALUMET.

THE TALK.

CANTO SECOND.

THE mOQUOIS.

TwF,NTY-FOUR ycavs ! a fleeting span
In the fleeting career of man,
Twenty-four years have passed aloi;g
In the flow of my humble song.

II.

)h the Eagle is SAvift when he sweeps from his height,
^ith his wing to the wind, and his eye to the light,
)arting on, darting on through his empire of air,
^ith nought to oppose him — his pathway to share ;
Jut the king of the sky would have drooped on his way
i'er his wing could have measured the Iroquois sway.
?he League — the proud summit, had clambered at length,
Sought so long by their firm banded wisdom and strength ;
?h( ir Long House extended now, spacious and high,
?he branches its rafters, its canopy, sky,
i'rom Co-ha-ta-te-yah's * full oceanward bed,
To where its great bosom Ontario spread.

* *' The Hudson River " in the Iroquois tongue.

21^

PnONTKNAC.

':i •

\ i,;

liC:

: , ; -.(■^

'I'lic ficif'i' Adiptiidiirks liml IIcmI from their wmtli.
TIji- lliirons boen swept fnuii their iin'riilcss path;
Around, iho <i'u.!\vas, like h'lives, Ijud heeii strown ;
And the hike of tlie Kries struck silent and lone.
The Tienape, h)rds oneo of valley and hill,
Made women, hent low at their compicrors' will :
\\y tht! far Mississippi, the lUini shrank
When the trail of the Tohtoisk was seen on the bank ;
On the hills of New Kn^'land the Pcquod turned pale,
When the howl of the Woij' swelled at night on the gale ;
And the Cherokee shook in his green smiling bowel's,
When the foot of the JiiiAR stamped bis carpet of flowers.

III.

Death, death to the tribes that now lingered behind
When the Iroquois young men came on like the wind.
The forests were tilled with affright and despair
When the whoops of the Braves keenly rolled on the air ;
They looked — at their frown the whole region grew black ;
They rose — and their way was the hurricane's track.

IV.

Stern Frontenac saw, from the walls of Quebec,
This flood from the woods do hing on without check.
His forts were surrounded, his outposts were burned,
French blood he saw flowing wherever he turned.
Now here, and now there, as clouds flash in their strife,
Was the dart of the foemen, the flash of their knife ;
The hunter, whilst tracking the Hudson Bay snow
In search of the ermuie, sank under their blow ;

Tlie iRngrois.

rin- si'tlltT whilst plyiiii^ his aw iii the wood,

At ill'' skirts of (^uobe*-, dyed iho earth with his Mood ;

I Im; liiittcnuiniui, jiiishiii^ hiK craft to its goal

l'\\ the Hwft C^ataruqui,* fell dead nt his poh' ;

The scntrj', whilst ^'imrdinj* Fort I'Vitiitciiac's wall

liy nntJirioH waters, felt death in the hall;

'I'htj tiir trader, skimming with hlanket and IxmkI

The Lake of the ilurons, was followed to hlced;

Hlood crimsoned the earth, and cries ])urthoned the air,

Ciitil Frontenac, lashed into maddening despair,

Kaged round like the Hon foes gird in a ring,

His mane bristling fierce, yet in douht where to spring,

Here opening his roar and there glancing his eye.

With the circle stdl growing more threatening and nigh.

The proudest of all in the hostile array

Was young Thurenserah.f the Dawn of the Day,

The League's Atotarho ! the boldest in fight !

The wisest in council ! in form the most bright !

The fleetest of foot, the most skilled in the chuse I

The glory and boast of the Iroquois race !

Day after day to tierce Frontenac 's ear

Was the name of the chieftain borne loudly by fear ;

With the rush of the blast trod the Brave on his path,

Slaughter and flame were the marks of his wrath ;

In the silence of midnight his war-whoop arose ;

• The name of the River St. Lawrence in the Iroquois tongue,
t " Thurenscrah " signifies in the Ou-on-dah-gah language " the Dawn
of Day."

Il'i

!,rl

FUOXTENAC.

Ill the brightness of noonday were stricken his blows;
Woe to the French ! for a demon seemed sent
On its way of dark horrors wherever he went ;
Woe to the French ! for the hatchet he bore
Wearied not, spared not, streamed ever with gore ;
Woe to the French ! for their ramparts of stone
Saved them from utter destruction alone.

THE CANADIAN SPRING.

VI.

'Twas May ! the Spring with magic bloom
Leaped up from Winter's frozen tomb.
Day lit the river's icy mail ;

The bland warm rain at evening sank ;
Ice fragments dashed in midnight's gale ;

The moose at mom the ripples drank.
The yacht, that stood with naked mast

In the locked shallows motionless
When sunset fell, went curtseying past

As breathed the morning's light caress.
The woodman, in the forest deep,

At sunrise heai'd with gladdening thrill,
Where yester-eve was gloomy sleep,

The brown rossignol's carol shrill ;
Where yester-eve the snowbank spread

The hemlock's twisted roots between,
He saw the coltsfoot's golden head

Rising from mosses plump and green ;

THK CANADIAN SPRINO.

Whilst all around were budiliiig trees,
And mellow sweetness filled the breeze.
A few days passed along, and brought
More changes as by magic wrought.
With plumes were tipped the beechen sprays

The birch long dangling tassels showed ;
The oak still bare, but in a blaze

Of gorgeous red the maple glowed ;
With clusters of the purest white
< herry and shadbush charmed the sight

i^ike spots of snow the boughs among :
And showers of strawberry blossoms made
liich caq)ets in each field and glade

Where day its kindliest glances flung.
And air too hailed Spring's joyous sway ;

The bluebird warbled clear and sweet ;
Then came the wren with carols gay.

The customed roof and porch to greet ;
The mockbird showed its varied skill ;
At evening moaned the whippoorwill.
Type of the Spring from Winter's gloom !

The butterfly new being found ;
Whilst round the pink may-apple's bloom

(xave myriad drinking bees their sound.
• ireat fleeting clouds the pigeons made ;
When near her brood the hunter strayed,

Her limping lure the partridge tried ;
Whilst, ill a glittering speck that shot
liapid as thought from spot to spot,

W^as the rich humming-bird descried.

't'

FRONTENAC.

THE PEACE-BELT,

I ':

L W^

1 t

|l:

'V,' ' :

III

rji;,;

VII.

Ill the same room where Frontenac stern

Heard the loss of Lucille autl the death of Lavergnc,

Twenty-four rapid years ago ;
In this same room were his footsteps bent

To and fro, to and fro ;
Over his visage shades came and went ;
Now tliought in his wrinkles crouched low like a snake,
Xow venomous fuiy all up and awake,

Now death-like pallor, now crimson glow.
T'hose years had dimmed his eye's (juiok liame,
Whitened his brow, and bent his frame,
Vox more than the threescore-and-ton had been given,
Whether in favour or anger, by Heaven.
Within these years had the staff of command
Jieen wielded by another's hand.
But once more at his sovereign's word
O'er Canada's destinies stood he lord.

VIII.

To and fro, to and fro,
l-'rontenac on his stridings made ;

Hastily, heavily, still and slow.
As thought or passion within him swayed.
Now, chafing fierce, and treading high.

Like a roused lion in his den ;

Sh^-

THE PEACE-nELT.

Now, like the panther creeping nigh

The hunter slumbering in the glen.
He ! governor of the province ! he
The sport of Iroquois enmity !
He clenched liis teeth, his sword half drew,
Whilst darkened his brow to a swarthy hue ;
" Oh, that this young Thurenserah stood
IJefore me, e'en in his native wood,
This aged arm — but slumber pride,
Twere best to win him to my side."
He stamped his foot " Without that wait ! "

A guardsman in his presence bent ;
" Ta-wen-deh* bid attend us straight ! "

Then on again the stridings went.
The door re-opened with a tread

Noiseless as snowtlakes in their fall,
And bowing scarce his haughty head,

Near came an Indian grim and tall.
His eye on Frontenac he set,
The Huron runner of Lorette,
A wampum-belt stretched Frontenac
Of braided colours white and black.
" Ta-wen-deh ! take this belt of peace ;

Rest not till Thurenserah 's found ;
Tell him, we wish the storm to cease ;

The hatchet bury in the ground.
Tell him, the Atotarlio proud,

Forgetting enmity and wrath,

* " The Otter " in tlie Huron tongue.

•iO FRONTEXAC.

Should from our sky sweep every cloud,

Should clear nil briars from off our path.
Toll him to seek this lodge of stone.
Where oft the council-fire has shone ;
That Yon-non-de-yoh asks a talk
The tree of peace between to set,
Beneath to smoke the calumet,
And wipe from blood the tomahawk ! "

ON-ON-DAH-GAH.

IX.

i.M

'1,1

' "I

1 1 ^1 :1

-!i

The sunset, from his rainbow throne,
On On-on-dah-gah Hollow shone.
A double ring of palisade

Enclosed within one half its bounds
A round-topped Indian village, made

Of mats and branches ; scores of mounds
Told that the other yielded space
To the thrice hallowed burial-place ;
Tlience maize, ris'n newly, spread each way,
Save where the usual ball-green lay,
The earth-domes tipped with golden glow ;
The whole shaped like the Indian bow
By the curved forest, and a stream
That stretched below its sunset gleam.

;3;

Along the castle's beaten square,
Displaying marks of sldll and care,

OX-ON-DAH-(JAU.

The dread, renowned Tcnr-jis-tft-yo
Extended its long log-built frame ;
Shrining within the sacred tlame,
Which burned with never-ceasing glow.
Type of the ancient league that bound

The five Red Nations into one.
Ages had seen its light cast round

Successive forms of sire and son
In countless councils bearing part ;
The feast of union every year
Renewing by the radiance clear
The tie in each confederate's heart.

XI.

Ever on high the smoke-cloud streamed.
In summer's sun it richly gleamed ;
Against stem winter's sky of grey
In wreaths condensed and pale it lay :
In midnight's hushed and solemn gloom
It touched the heavens with sable plume ;
Like ocean's surges wild it cast
Its rolling fragments on the blast ;
And pointed upward deep and proud
Toward the black frowning thundercloud.

XII.

All eyes, but one, were barred the flame,
Save when the feast of union came ;
And if the portal oped perchance,

Or, through some crevice, streaks of red

4, •■I

FUONTENAC.

Broke out, away was tamed the glance,
C^uick from the precincts passed the tread.

:f?l

XIII.

II 1 .1.

Unceasing sustenance it found
From the vast forests spread around.
The boy had seen it with awed sight ;
It shone upon his locks of white ;
Still glowed its undiminished light

When death its trophy won ;
Another generation passed,
And still the ruddy gleams were cast,

Unwasted as the sun.

XIV.

S!-';"

I'l' .^Vi

A priestess watched with tireless care
That the pure splendor of the fire
Should never, day nor night, expire,
And always was her presence there.
The Atotarho's mother — she
Cherished with pride the dignity

To keep alive the blaze ;
And, save for him, her heart had not
A thought or wish beyond the spot

So sacred to her gaze.

XV.

Once every year a glowing brand.

Whose sparldes from the flame had birth,
Was borne by To-ne-sah-bah's hand

lililiil'iii

THE ATOTAllIIO.

To eveiy On-on-dali-<,'ali lie.irtli ;
And there again the wigwani-tiit'.
For this cml sufiered to expire.
At the brand's touch its radiance tlirevv :
Thus the cheered hearth made sacrt'd too.
Sign too how all is cold and black

When Hah-wen-no-yo's smile is o\:r.
And then how warm and bright, when back

Flashes liis glorious glance once more.
Thence through the Long House went the tread
Of the grey priest, the brand made red
By the whirled wheel, and everywhere

Again he made the dark hearths bright
With the fire-emblem, whilst the air

Rang with the usual festal rite.

THE ATOTARHO.

XVI.

Upon the square's opposing side

The Atotarho's lodge arose I
its domed shape also, greater pride

And skill displaying far than those
On either side the space that flanked,
And into ways broad trodden ranked,
Each warrior's totem rudely cut
Above the porch of every hut.
With narrow transverse lanes between.
Till the slant pickets closed the scene.

.'54

PKONTENAC.

■'\

'■'■■

til' I

I,'! J,: ■'■.

llil

X V 1 1 .

'i'hc (;iilniucc uf the lodge botore
Hung au entire panther skin
With curving claws and tusky grin
( Spoil of the Atotarho's might
Won in a desperate mountain fight.)
Whilst beaver skins the earthen tloor
With delicate softness robed within.
The walls with deerskins were o'erspread,
White as the snow the lake-marsh shed,
impending from moose-antlers, slione
The league's great calumet, its stem
Plumed like the feathery diadem
The Atotarho on his throne
Of branches in the square displayed,
When for the union feast arrayed.

xvin.

His own rich pipe was hung below.
Its sculptured bowl and stem a glow,
With thickly pictured tints of red,
Telling of actions stem and dread.
On one side was the bearskin couch,
Above it his fusee and pouch ;
Around were ranged the war-club strong
And cui*ved, with its wrist-looping thong ;
The bow with deeds all over dyed,
The flint-head arrows at its side ;
Leggings of crimson, mantle felts ;

THK ATOTAKHO.

SiKAvy and purple wiiiniiutu-liplts :
^loccnsitis (juillod in rainbow hue ;
liroiid sinewed snow-shoes ; girdles blue :
Shiirp sculping-knives and hate' ,s keen ;
And feast-crown rich in feathery sheen ;
Whilst from the tloor a sapling sprung
With huiuan scalps upon it strung ;
Age's gray locks, long woman's hair.
Childhood's and manhood's blended there.

XIX.

No wife the warrior's wigwam shared,
Plis venison or his maize prepared ;
No gentle accent welcomed him
When from the chase came weary limb ;
No soft hand bound his wounds when back
Returned from battle's bloody track ;
Sweet woman's eye — that household star,
Driving all household gloom afar —
Within his bleak walls never shone ;
The Atotarho lived alone.

.'J5

XX,

And yet more bright each maiden's glance
When moved his figure in the dance ;
More eager bent each listening ear
When rose his war-song high and clear ;
Each maiden's tongue was loud to tell
His feats, so bold, so terrible,
The foemen slain, the castles won,
Witliin the frequent war-path done.

KllONTKNAC

XXI.

When tlirou},'!! the ways aiul hiiies ho went,
Dark sparkling eyes were on him hont ;
Soft hearts beat wherosoe'er ho trod ;
Sweet cheeks blushed sweeter at iiis noil ;
For as the League's young men beyond

In deeds, in beauty was he too ;
But yet affection's gentle bond

The graceful warrior never knew.
He — the proud Atotarho — kept

No thoughts within his heart for love ;
His spirit with the eagle swept.

It cowered not to the cooing dove.

f!' !''■-''!

JISKOKO.

XXII.

,:.,

I
}

1 I'l

Still, for that nature stem and high.
One, loveliest of the maiden train,
In secret heaved the burning sigh,

In secret felt the tender pain.
Her mother, captive in some strife.
In youth had been a white man's wife.
Then, hurried to a bloody grave
By a fierce On-on-dah-gah Brave,
Who said she had forgot her pride
To slumber by a Frenchman's side ;
And in another war-path brought
The infant to her tribe, that she,

JISKOKO.

;i7

Though with tho hiitod lilood so fmuf,'ht,
An Oii-on-ilu-ga)i still shouKl he.

XXIII.

"^incc, ciglitocn Springs their hlossoms sweet
Had turned around .Tiskoko's * foot.
flor hirgo soft olkdiko eye tho nico

Of the Ho-dc-no-sonne showed.
Whilst on her sunny cheek the trace

Of her pale lineage — rose-like — glowed.
She followed ever with her eye
Tho Atotarho passing hy ;
Whene'er his look was on her turned,
Her downcast brow with blushes bunied ;
In the wild dance she marked his grace,
Her wh )le roused soul within her face ;
Whene'er he struck the battle-post.
She hung delighted on his boast ;
When on the war-path stern he went,

She 'd frequent hide to weep the while ;
But when his scalp-whoop high ho sent,

Returning, oh I how bright hor smile ;
And the glad maidens she would leave,
As if for very joy to grieve.
Then, when she joined the praishig throng,

Amidst the tinkling Indian lute.
Or the loud swell of joyous song,
To him, she, she alone was mute.

* " Tlic Robin" in On-ou-dah-gah.

.'IS FUONTKNAC.

Vrt tlicrf. con tlioro, so HO«'niing cold.
Tlir sif^'li inul blush their story told,
itiit thou<^'li the Atoturho liliiul

To her (lofj) lovo appoarcd, his tono
And look worn ever, over kind,

Ti'llinj/ warm friendship hold tho tiirone.

XXIV.

Thus, while .liskoko h vvd in vuin,
Sho wildly was holovcc' agftin,
Hy Kiih-kah '= of fierce desperate mood.
Whose fiery will and vengeful hlood
Caused her to shudder and tuni pale,
Whene'er he told his hated tale.

XXV.

His sire Ska-nux-heh f was a Brave,
Noted, yet to vile passions slave.
Treaeherous, blood-thirsty as a wolf.

Yet full of deep deceit and guile,
A calm look veiled the boiling gulf,

]\Iurder was hidden in his smile.
Hut still, when on the war-path rushed

His feet, so just his after boast,
All blame was in his praises hushed.

The wretch was in the warrior lost.

* Kah-kali means "a Crow " in the On-nn-dah-pih tongue.
+ Ska-nux-hch aieans " a F'ox " in On-oii-dali-gali.

|i|: ' -Ml

llli.l'ii:,,

UK Mt;sSA<i'.

.i'.>

TlIM Mi:SSA(il«;.

X X \ I .

'I'lie sun his jounii'v l)ri<,'l»t Imil bciit
So low, a levjjl ray ho sent.
Tippinj^ the forests with the glow,
Whilst twilight gathered gray hclow.

XXVII.

I 'poll the pleasant outside green
Two shttuting hands, the gates l)etw(.'en,
With their hroad rackets, sent on iiigh
The hall, now soaring to the sky,
Now falling, to again he caught
And sent aloft with speed of thought,
Hver upon its whizzing wing
As though it were a living thing.

\ XVIII.

Here, tlirough the alleys, warriors bore

Short scarlet cloaks their shoulders oer.

Arrow and bow hi either hand,

Yet wearing nought of war's command ;

There, others strove in mimic fray.

Wrenching the fancied scalp away.

Casting:; their tomahawks about.

.\nd (juavering war-whoops pealing OM.

FKONTENAC.

I i;'

■I *;,

XXIX.

Boys also in the mocking strife
Whirled the dull hatchet, aimed the knife :
Whooped shrill, the scalp in gesture rent,
From the twanged bow the arrow sent,
Or, with strained strength, and flying feet.
Shot on, the distant goal to greet.
Whilst with their pipes the old men sat,
Each at his entrance on his mat.

XXX.

Upon the straggling trees that flung

Their boughs outside, upon the maize.
Infants in their broad cradles hung

Asleep, or with dull patient gaze ;
Whilst grouped their mothers gossiping.

The corn to golden powder pounding.
Drawing the water from the spring,

Or the Kunatali's ^i*- flame surrounding.

XXXI.

Over the river's surface flew
Youths in the rapid birch canoe ;
Or floated for their finny prey ;
Or lurked, the feeding duck to slay.

* " A Kettle " in Uie On-on-dah-giili tongue.

THE MESSAGE.

XXXII.

Suddenly 'mid the maize, where led
A pathway to the neighb'ring shades,

A stranger's form was seen to tread,
Approaching toward the palisades.

And lifting, as he came, on high

Wampum of black and sno^vy dye,

A ringing whoop of warning swelled

From those the figure that beheld.

The ball plunged down, and lay in sleep ;

The mock fights ceased, ceased whoop and leap ;

The warriors checked their sauntering stride ;

Sought the canoes the river side.

XXXIIT.

The comer was an Indian tall,
And on him curiously gazed all ;
Grave through the palisades he passed,
And paused within the square at last.

XXXIV.

There followed too the village crowd ;

And, though the warriors silent gazed,
The women, boys, and children loud

Their voices in enquiry raised.
But 'mid the wild and chattering din,
The grim and frowning panther skin
Of Thurenserah's lodge was reared.
And at the threshold he appeared.

H-

ill"

1 la

FRONTEXAC.

XXXV,

Of beauty high and rare was he ;

A deer-skin shirt of white was spread
Close round his frame from neck to knee,

Meeting his leggings richly red.
Delicate were his features, yet
A haughty soul was in them set ;
The customary paint in trace
Of red and black was o'er his face ;
And while a slender form he reared,
Lithe as a panther's it appeared.

XXXVI.

Upon his heart his hand he pressed,
And to the stranger bowed his crest ;
Then to the Hah-yah-do-yah * said,

Who near him stood, " my Sachems call ! "
Next to the stranger, " come ! " his tread

Bent toward the palisaded wall,
Where the long council-house appeared
Beneath a row of hemlocks reared.

XXXVII.

They entered, soon the Sachems came ;
The circle crouched upon the floor ;
The pipe its customed circuit bore ;
And then the stranger reared his frame,

• Tlic " Pipe-bcarcr," or aid to the AtoUulio.

THE MESSAGE.

FlKtended m his bmwny luiud
The wampum, and in accents bland
Ti- Thurenserah said, who sat
In front upon his tufted mat,
" Ta-wen-deh Yon-non-de-yoh's talk

To the great Atotarho brings ;
He seeks to plant the tree of Peace,
Water it, bid its boughs increase.
And then to hide the tomahawk

Under the pleasant shade it tlings.
And hard the earth above to tread.
Until it is like rock o'erspread !
Then round the tree lock Friendship's chain,
And never let it break again.
' Gru' arho, come ! ' says he,

' To u-j -cone lodge upon the rock,
And there together will we lock
This chain, unbroke and bright to be,
Until the grass shall cease to grow.
Until the waters cease to flow ! ' "

XXXVIII.

A guttural quick " yo-hah ! " awoke
From the dark ring ; still no one spoke ;
Once more the pipe breathed round its smoke,

Then Thurenserah rose ;
His eye each Sachem's countenance
Sought, and each Sachem to his glance

Said " good," and his repose
Vanished into a lofty air ;

FUONTENAC.

His head ho reared, his arm he spread,

" Good words speaks You-non-de-yoh '" said;

" The Atotarho will bo there ! "

1 i;

4 U

Cf!

QUEBEC.

XXXIX.

The fresh May morning's earliest light,

P>om where the richest hues were blended,
Lit on Cape P'omond's towering height
Whose spangled crystals glittered bright,

Thence to the castle roof descended,
And bathed in radiance p.ii'e and deep
The spires and dwellings of the steep.
Still downward crept the strengthening rays ;
The lofty crowded roofs below
And Cataraqui caught the glow,
Till the whole scene was in a blaze.
The scattered bastions — walls of stone
"With bristling lines of cannon crowned.
Whose muzzles o'er the landscape frowned
Blackly through their embrazures — shone.
Point Levi's woods sent many a wreath
Of mist, as though hearths smoked beneath,
Whilst heavy folds of vapor grey
Upon St. Charles, still brooding, lay ;
The basin glowed in splendid dyes
Glassing the glories of the skies,
And chequered tints of light and shade
The banks of Orlean's Isle displayed.

QUEBEC.

XL.

To af^tive life the scene awoke :
A brigantine her canvp.s spread,

And as her sailor-songs outbroke

Dovoi toward the southern channel sped.

A coureur in his bark canoe

From Skannadario's boundless blue,

Measured his oars, as swift along

He glided, to his frontier song ;

And a batteau a sheltered nook

For its up-river path forsook,

The boatmen at their poles low bending.

Their chorus in rude music blending.

xu.
Quebec's great thoroughfare within
Rose too the usual stir and din :
With flowing plume, and mantle gay.
The mounted noble went his way ;
Chaunting, with crucifix on high,
A train of monks swept slowly by ;
With pike and corslet, grim and scarred,
And measured step, on strode a guard.
Coureurs de bois, loud chattering, went
Beneath their packs of peltry bent ;
The half-blood scout, with footstep light,
Passed, glancing rourd his rapid sight ;
Hurons quick bore, with loping tread.
Rich beavers toward the trader's shed ;

FRONTENAC.

Woodmon with axes in their hands,
Hunters with hounds and rifles lonj,'.

And rough hattcaumen, grouped in hands.
On sauntering, swelled the motley throng.

XLII.

Suddenly rose a murmur through

The busy street ; a word passed on ;
Eyes glanced around ; together drew^

In groups the crowd ; with visage wan
At doors and windows, mothers pressed
Their screaming infants to their breast :
i^ere, with clenched teeth men grasped the knife,
As if to rush on desperate strife ;
Whilst others, there, cast loolcs of fear
On wives and children shuddering near ;
What word was that, so quick had made
The sun-bright scene so dark with shade !
'Tvvas " Thurenserah ! " uttered now
In whispers deep, with cowering brow.
And spoken now in anger loud
With hand tight clasped and bearing proud.
" Ha ! here he comes ! " exclaimed the scout,
" See how he throws his glance about ! "
•' The dog ! here, midst us, in Quebec ! "
Muttered the noble, sudden check
Giving his steed, " as proud his feet
As though the forest leaves they beat ;
He seems to beard us with that tread,
And how he lifts his haughty head ! "

(JUKBEC,

" The demon I see his glittering knife ! "

Murmured a female ctisting look

On her pale child who by her shook,

" Christ save us from his murderous strife I

'• St. Francis, keep it far away ! "

Exclaimed a passing Recollet.

" Ho, comrade ! " a batteauman said,

" How feels the scalp upon your head !

Creeps it, as on that stormy night

We tugged upon St. Peter's lake
When the moon showed with fitful light

That fearful savage in our wake ? "'
" Milet ! dost thou remember Roux,
Scalped by this fiend in his canoe ? "
A coureur asked, his bended back
Freeing an instant from his pack :
" Ashes are where Moyne's cabin utood,

And his the torch that waked the fire,
His hatchet drank Le Renault's blood,

His stake saw Le Montayne ex-pire,
The time our village in the dell
A prey to his wild fury fell ! "
A rough Carignan settler said.
In a low voice of rage and dread.
To a fur-trader ^ his shed ;
" Allaire ! I 'd give a year to strike
That haughty Indian with my pike ! "
A youthful guardsman fiercely cried,
To an old veteran by his side,
" Hush Merle ! his calumet behold.

1^ FHONTKNAC.

Besides there tread bis followers bold ! "
Sucb sounds proclaimed the warrior's way.

I'ising and sinkinj,' as bis feet
I'aj^scd eroucbin},' but r.nd building grey.

Tbat walled the long and winding street.

!l:i|'

THE CALUMET.

XLIII.

On came tbe Atotarho's ' i ead,

Leading tbe file of bis tawny band ;
Like the crest of tbe stag rose bis baugbty bead,

Whilst high he lifted in his band
'J'bat sign of peace, the calumet,
So sacred to the Indian soul,
With its stem of reed and its dark red bowl.

Flaunting with feathers white, yellow, and green,
Which seemed as if jewels were over them set,

As they glanced to the sun in their changeable sheen.

XLIV.

Courage i-uat danger ne'er disturbed.
And a proud spirit never curbed,
Were throned upon his forehead bold,
And in bis dark wild glance were told.
His usual close white robe he wore,
Its hue in emblems nearly lost ;
A short fusee his shoulders crossed ;
His head the bristling scalp-lock bore ;

THE TALK.

A horoti plume of snow hung o'er ;
I Memorial of that l)ir(l that swept

Its way to Hah-yoh-wont-hah dread,
And whose pure plumage long was kept

I'o deck the bravest warrior's head.)
n.>liind his mat hung, richly dyed,
Ami dangling loosely at his side.

His pouch of rabbit skin was seen ;
His limbs bright crimson leggings graced,
I Worked moccasins his feet e*- cased,

And in the sunshine gleaming keen.
His hatchet o'er his mat was slung,
|Wliilst his long knife before him hung.

XIV.

JHis warriors also bore fusee.

Hatchet and knife, with bearing proud ;
JBut not a sign showed enmity,

" Hai ! hai ! " they sounded oft and loud.
[Thus down St. Louis' Street, that led
JTo the Place d'Armes, all slowly sped,
lAnd there they checked their lofty tread.

ift

THE TALK.

XLVI.

[The castle's council chamber, long
i.iid narrow, raftered low and strong :
)ii a raised chair sat Frontenac,
score of nobles at his back,

5(>

KRONTENAC.

I::i'

N\ llil^t pikcmen in two rows litfurc
Stretched to tho threshold of tbo dour,

XI.VII.

'J'lie sunshine through the casement streamed,

FiUing with golden glow tho room,
On corslet, cas(iue, and pikchcad gleamed.

And danced on sword, fusee, and jilume.
JJut the wide portal open How •,
Five forms strod' up the avenue,
By tho gran bristling pikemen made,

The fde the Atotarho leading,

The rest close after, each a Brave,
In a Brave's weapons each arrayed,

Seeming to see nought, stem and grave,

Yet subtly every object heeding.

xLvin.
As Thurenserah slowly passed,
Around his eagle look he cast,
Smiling with scorn as pike and gun
Flashed all around him ui the sun.

No pause he made, until his tread
Placed him two paces from the chair
Where Frontenac, with kindling air,
Sat gazing ; then in broken speech.
Whilst swept his arm a haughty reach,

The youthful warrior said :
" Great Yon-non-de-yoh whispered ' Come ! '

To Dawn of Day, and ha is here,

■u

.''■'''' !

TIIF. TALK.

Ken in groat Yon-iutnile-yoh's honn' ;

The Atoturho knows not tVar.
For a great Hruvo is Dawn of i)ay :
Wliut dutli my Canada lathur say '.' "

XLIX.

A Ireathlcss pause ; at length 'twas hrdko
By Frontenac, ns thus he spoke :
"My Sachem, dwelHng o'er the sea,
To his red children speaks through me —
Why should the Ongue-IIonwee host
Against me strike the battle-post !
Why shoiUd my young men vainlv ciy

For succour at their l)urniug stake !

Why should my lightnings round them wake,
Bidding their boldest warriors die !
Why should our pathway witli a cloud
The brave Ho-de-no-sonne shroud !
I listen as the west wind comes,
Its errand in my ear it hums ;
It says — I bear the shriek and groan

From distant Niissillimakinak
To Yon-non-de-yoh's lodge of stone,

A dreaiy, long, and bloody track.
These things have ri\en my heart with pain.
But let us now make bright the chain.
We '11 smoke the calumet together,

And on our path will rest the glow,
The soft warm glow of Summer weather,

D 2

PHONThXAC.

Not Winter's <liilling i'tjl>rg of miow
'I'liis liell preserves my wonls !
We'll platit tlio peaco-tree derply nnw,
So timt iu hIukIo shall steep eiu'h In-ow ;
Ami no more l(;t the lires of wruth
Mo kindled in the hiittlt -path

By deeds or 8in','ing-l»ird8.
See, Thurensenih I yon liright pile
< )f ^'ifts will make thy warriors sinilo I
Fusees, to bring tlie fleet moose low ;
Rockets, to hunt him in the snow ;
Blankets, within whose downy fold,
The sires can brave the bitterest cold ;
Sashes, to bind the robes of skin ;
Beads, for the tawny moccasin ;
Trinkets, to make the squaws more bright ;
Paints, fitting warriors for the fight ;
Powder and ball, to scathe with flame
The foe, and heap the lodge with game ;
Leggings that match the ruddy blaze ;
Kettles, to boil the golden maize ;
And look ! let Thurenserah spread
Round him this mantle rich and red,
Worthy an Atotarho's sight,
Whose deeds have made his name so bright."

The warrior stirred not from his place.
But reared his tall light form more tall,

Al
Sud
CleJ
The

TIIK T.\l,k.

Atid Hiiid, whilst lcttinj», with fVi'f ^»rat•o.

I'lMtii his iirm the inuntlt' fall —
" When, it) hii >iiiowy-wiii^'fil cimoc,
I'irst WiilkiiiL,' Thimdrr ■ crept to view,

On Cular!ii|ui's llood,
The AdirDJulucU ilogs tho kiiifo
Ai^.iinst inv people hold in strife,

I{ed ever with thi'ir hlood.
(So hy tho oldest sires uvouchtid.
In Winter, in tho lodges crouched ;)
And thouf^'h these dogs now, trcnihling, fe»d
The scornful stumpings of our heel,
Then did our fathers knt)w their wnith.
And die within their bloody [uith.
Beside that hroad and lovely lake

Where dwells the Prophet of the winds,
Who, if no olfering mortals make

Passing his lodge of rock, unbinds
His rushing fury o'er the wave,
And whelms them in a watery grave ;
Herding with those base dogs, the (ires

Of Walking Thunder fiercely flashed
Against the bosoms of our sires,

And down to earth their bravest dashed,
Sudden, as when the lightning's bound
Cleaves the proud hemlock to the ground.
T'hey made our trembling waniors bow,

Warriors who only bowed before

• Champlain.

: i ■

'y\' I'RONTENAC.

To Hah-\veii-ne-yo ; from the roar
And flash of Wnlking Thunder's wrath,
Thoir feet llcw o'(;r a briery path.
And long they veiled their humbled brow.

LI.

" But the wise Charistooni* came,
And gave the dust where slept the l^ame
To our awed sires. From that bright hour.

Their scalp-locks higher and higher arose.
They climbed the mountain of their power,

They poured destruction on their foes ;
Each warriors lodge with scalps was filled,
We swam within the blood we spilled.
Not only Adirondacks bowed.
When o'er them passed our tempest-cloud,
But Huron, Erie, Illini,
Ottawa, Pequod, bent the knee.
Until tunied every red man pale.
Where'er was seen our stealthy trail ;
And where our wandering footsteps led,
The earth was strown, like leaves, with de; J.

LII.

" Then the good Charistooni placed

The chain in Corlear's friendly hands ;
Since, side by side, the game we "ve chased,

Aij

Sel

I:i-^

* Tlie Dutch were so called by the Iroquois.

THE TALK.

.),)

And still the tree we planted stands,
This helt preserves my talk I
oft has tlie Atotarho smoked

The pipe with Corlear, his white brother,
And oft have we the smiles invoked

Oi Hah-wen-nc-yo on each other ;
Deep lies om* tomahawk !
If You-nou-de-yoh, then, the chain

Would place in Thurenserah'8 grasp.
And make it free from every stain,

The links must Corlear also clasp,
And Yon-non-de-yoh, with his hand
Upon his heart, by Corlear stand,
A brother."

— " Nay, it cannot be! "

Thus broke in fiery Frontenac ;
" The mighty Sachems o'er the sea

Have dug the hatchet from the ground,

The knife must gleam, the war-whoop sound ;
Ne'er Yon-non-de-yoh bends the knee,

C)r from the war-path turns him back ! "
" Then ! " and the Atotarho dashed
The mantle down, with eye that flashed.

And spurned it with disdain ;
" Then shall the hatchet still be red,
And still the sky with clouds be spread ;
See ! Thurenserah's scornful tread

Is on the broken chain ! "
" This to my face ! " cried Frontenac,
Upstarting, " Seize him ! " — In his track

FROXTENAC.

The savage turned — one bound he made,
His hatchet gleamed, and low was laid

A pikeman on the floor ;
Another bound, another blow,
Beneath his feet another foe

Was gasping in his gore ;
A third, and, with a war-whoop shrill.
That pierced all ears with deafening thrill.

He vanished through the door ;
Over his tribesmen fierce, who stood
Stem, fighting, till they fell in blood,

Nobles and pikemen pour.
Across the court the chieftain flies.
One struggle more — the sentiy dies ;

Haste, haste, thy need is sore !
Ope, ope the sally-port ! thy flight
Thy foemen press with stem delight,

Thy warriors are before.
Joy, joy ! the sallyport is spread !
And, with loud whoop and winged tread.
He plunges 'midst his tribesmen red,
And with quick words he points ahead —

All vanish from the square ;
Up through St. Louis' Street they dash.
Corslet and pike behind them flash,
And shots at rapid periods crash.

But onward still they bear.
All, wondering, view the warriors flee,
In their left hands the clutched fusee,
The hatchet in their right.

Tin: TALK.

.»<

liatteauman, hunter, courier, scout.
Show their surprise by cUimorous shout.

Women shriek wild with friglit :
Yet scarce is marked the tawny crowd
Before, like passage of a cloud,

They shoot athwart the sight ;
But ere they gain the walls, a hand
Of hunters in their pathway stand,
Poured from a little inn at hand,
(Roused by Ta-wen-deh, who had sought
The place at Frontenac's quick thought.
By a side alley thither brought,)

And deadly fire threw in ;
Hatchets and knives and wood-blades Hash,
Fusees and rifles blend their crash.

Whoop, shout, and scream their din :
Bosom to bosom, eye to eye,
Pale-face and red-skin sink to die,

Blood gushes through the street :
Near and more near the armed array
Of guardsmen come to grasp their prey :
Still cut, still cut, wild Braves ! your way !

Still urge, still urge your feet !
Haoh I * Hah-wen-ne-yo's smile is cast
Upon them yet — they reach at last
The walls — the sentries low they bring.
The massive gates they open swing,

Nought now their way retards.

* An exclamation in Iroquois, expressive of joy or triumph.

D 3

\ i

58 KRONTKNAC.

And turning, Thurenserah throws
His hatchet with a look that glows
In glr.rinr.j fury at liis foes ;

Then, as dash near the guards,
Vanishes with his dusky band
Within ■\'-i tangled woods at hand.

I ■!

.i.:'^^

END OF CANTO SECOND.

•^^^Is^-

' V

CANTO THIRD.

THE WAR-SONG.
THE HUNTERS.
THE BATTEAU.

THE CARIGNAN

VILLAGE.
THE BRIGANTINE.

■ I

Hoc
So
Hoc
So

Thi

' I

CANTO THIRD.

THE WAK-SONO.

" HooH ! hooh I how the panther springs,
As flies the deer on affrighted wings I
Hooh ! hooh I how he rends his prey I
So will the On-on-dah-gahs slay !
Hooh ! whoop I how he rends his prey !
So will the On-on-dah-gahs slay !

" Hooh ! hooh ! how the eagle screams,

As the hlood of the fawn from his talons streams

Hooh ! hooh ! how the woods ring out !

So will the On-on-dah-gahs shout !

Hooh ! whoop ! how the woods ring out I

So will the On-on-dah-gahs shout ! "

II.

Thus, the next morning that beheld

The Atotarho safe again
At On-on-dah-gah, loudly swelled

The war-song in its angriest strain.

02 IKOXTEN'AC,

Kcvcngc on Yon-non-dc-yoli '■ hi^'h
Went up tho tierce iinil Moody cry :
Uevengo on all his race ! their ire
Flashed into furious, frenzied fire ;
l{(;venge ! revenge ! it filled the day,
It e'en disturbed the midnight's sway,
Its sound the Atotarho swelled,
The echo wild his warriors yelled,
The old men, women, children, all
Blended their voices in the call,
Kevenge ! revenge ! till every breast
Had but that passion for its guest.

in.

And now round flame and war-post red
Within the castle's crowded square,

The wrathful Atotarho led

His Braves, and raised his chauntings there,

Joined by their tones, whilst every bound

Beat to the song with muffled sound.

" Hooh ! hooh ! how the sharpened knife
Will gleam again in the war-path's strife !
Hooh ! hooh ! like the lightning red,
The On-on-dah-gahs will flash in dread !
Hooh ! whoop ! like the lightnhig red,
The On-on-dah galis will dart in dread !

THE WAK-S()\(i.

" Ilooh ! hooh I how tlio Imiigr}' (ire
Will wrap the French in its lci4)in(» ire I
Ilooii ' hooh I like the torrent's flood.
The On-on-ilah-gahs will rush in Mood !
lldoh ! wiioop I like the torrent's tlood.
The On-on-dah-gahs will rush in hlood ! "

Breaking the song, above his head

The Atotarho flashed a sweep
With his bright hatchet ; down it sped,

And in the post was buried deep.
The next one gave a piercing yell,
And down his hatchet also fell.
Another struck — another — shrill
Whoop upon whoop resounding, till
Blows rained upon the post so fast,
In fragments round 'twas strown at last.

i I

IV.

The Atotarho clutched his axe

And shook it liigh with fiercest gaze,
Then — scores of warriors in his tracks —

Rushed through the palisades, the maize,
And bounding to the water-side

Where, from the soft white bass-wood hollowed,
Three war-canoes with withes were tied.

Entered the first ; his warriors followed

FH()NTKNA( .

Till all wore filled, ftiul tlic furious throng
With niishing inuMlos then left the ^hore,

Skiramin;^ the river with whoop and song
Upon their war path of flume and gore.

THE IIUXTEKS.

'Twas one of June's delicious eves ;

Sweetly the sunset s rays were streaming,
Here tangled in the forest leaves.

There on the Catara<iui gleaming.
A broad glade lay beside the flood
Wheio tall dropped trees and bushes stood.

A cove its semicircle bent
Wi , in, and through the sylvan space,
Where lay the light in splintered trace.

A moose, slow grazing, went,
Twisting his long, curved, flexile lip
Now the striped moosewood's leaves to strip.
And now his maned neck, short and strong.
Stooping, between his fore-limbs long
Stretched widely out, to crop the plant
And tall rich grass that clothed the haunt.
On moved he to the basin's edge.
Mowing the swordflag, rush, and sedge.
And, wading short way from the shore
Where spread the waterlilies o'er
A pavement green with globes of gold,
Commenced liis favorite feast to hold.

THE III'NTKRS.

ftS

VI.

Sn still the soono — the rivor'H lap>e

Alonj/ its coiirsf giivc hollow sound.
With Hoiuc raised wav«'let's la/y ^laps

Oil log and stone around ;
And the crisp noise the moose's croppin«,'
Madi', with the water lightly droi)|»ing
From some lithe, sprekled, lily stem

Entangled in his antlers svidc,
Thus scattering iniuiy u sparkling gem

Within the gold-cups at his side.
Sudden he raised his head on high,
Oped his great nostrils, fixed his eye,
lieared half liis giant car-llaps, stood,

Between his teeth a half-chewed root.
And sidelong on the neighbouring wood

Made startled glances shoot.
licsumiiig then his stem, once more.

He bent, as from suspicion free,
His bearded throat the lilies o'er,

And cropped them quietly.

VII.

Mmutes passed on in such repose,
No sound within the scene arose,
Save, as before, the river's tinklings ;

The rustling that the feeding moose
Made midst the lilies, and the sprinklings

Each mass of roots he reared let loose ;

FRONTENAC.

Hut now a rifle rrarknl, — he started,
And tlimugli tlif rnOTpd luisin dartrd,
I'lmiid tiuickly tin; (»jtj»()Hni<j( ^idc

And. hoofs loud clicking, left the spot,
His frame oxtcnth'd in a wide,

Headlong, yet awkward trot ;
hut scarce an arrow's lliglit li< hore.

When itiirst another fpiick flat sound.
And, with drawn linihs. and gushing gore.

He iloundercd on the ground.
'I' wo hunters rushed then from the shade,
And wliilst one drew his wotahnan's bhide

Across the victim "s throat,
Tiie other whooped out slu'ill and keen,
That rang along the silent scene

In startUng, deafeuhig note.

f I

vni.

As from their prey they strip the skin,
Two other hunters enter in,
I bearing a deer with staggering strength,
And on the greensward cast their length.
Now voices all around are heard,
The leaves by hasty feet are stirred,
And soon the whole gay hunter band
Within the sylvan hollow stand.
Casting their wildwood game around
Until it thickly strewed the ground.

THE IIUNThKH.

♦ 17

IX.

Now the gdldfii lij^lit liiif* >li(l
From the liemlock'h pyramid :
Now tlio muj)le s dome is durk,
Klashiii^ late witli lustrous spark ;
And within the solemn woodn
Twilif»ht, dusk and shimmoring, lintuds.

Soon the pile of sticks and leaves
Fire from flint and steel receives,
And the flesh, in juicy flakes,
( )dours rich and pungent makes ;
Seated on the pleasant grass,
Jest and song the hunters pass ;
Then, the rites to hunger paid,
Careless every limb is laid
On the sweet and dewy glade.

XI.

" 'Twas a long shot which struck that goose,"
Says one, " he beat the air so far ! "

" Yes," cries another, " and the moose
Some caution cost us ; hey, Bizarre ? "

" Had he but been that fiend-like boy,

The Atotarho, greater joy,"

Answered Bizarre, " within would glow !

I saw a wolf, an hour ago,

Down in the Wild-cat streamlet's glen.

68 FRONTENAC.

And his fierce roiling eye was like.
J thought, to that young demon's, when

I saw him low Jerandeau strike,
Before the Inn of the Canoe,
When his wild band came trooping through
St. Louis' Street, like panthers leaping ;

Oh, that an instant brief he stood
In my good rifle Bee'sflight's keeping,

Hg 'd never spill another's blood ! "
" Why did not," gay another cried,

" Bee'sflight bore through him in the strife
" As hard as gun e'er did it tried,
But fortune favoured not ; beside

It had to guard its master's life ! "
" Well, let the Atotarho go,"

A third one said ; " we cannot reach

His fierce bloodthirsty heart with speech —
Come, come, Bizarre, let pleasure flow I
Sing, sing ! the ' Happy Hunters ' swell,
We all can trip the chorus well ! "

XII.

Bizarre hemmed loud, then poured amain.
Till the woods rang, his forest strain : —

1.
" Happy and free
Hunters are we,
Free as the winds that roam so wide ;

TUE UrNTERS.

Camping at night,

Up \N'ith tlie light,

Hunters are happy whatever hetide I

Shout out the chonis then,

Swing it out louder, men !

Sorrow or care cannot with us abide.

Hunters are happy whatever betide !

(50

" Happy and free

Hunters are we,
Free as the clouds that above us glide ;

Scorning the worst,

Hunger and tliirst,

Hunters are happy whatever betide !

Shout out the chorus then,

Swing it out louder, men !

Sorrow or (tare cannot with us abide,

Hunters are happy whatever betide ! "

XIII.

On pass the hours : the camp-fire bright
Steeps the near leaves in bronzing light,
And shifting, plays o'er the figures laid,
In the generous glow, on the grassy glade.
The whetsaw's tinkle, the owl's loud shout,
And the ceaseless chime of the frogs, ring out
With the neighbouring Cataraqui's rush,
Making profounder the midnight hush.

FRONTENAC.

XIV.

Silent are the sentries sitting;
One feels dozing visions flitting
O'er his brain, while Fancy, teeming,
Riots through the other's dreaming.

XV.

Creeping, creeping, onward creeping.
Toward the sentries, helpless sleeping,
Amidst the gloom
Two figiu'es come —
Are they wolves upon their way ?
Creeping, creeping, on still creeping.
Then, like lightning, upward leaping.
Fall they on their slumbering prey.

XVI,

Two flashing blows, two gasps, once more

Silence broods for an instant o'er ;

Wild forms are then in a circle round

The slumbering hunters — a blended sound

Of crashing rifles, a whooping bound

Of the figures wfld, and the camp-fire's ground

Is covered with shapes that fall and rise.

Rise and fall, with shouts and cries

Pealing, wliilst savage fury plies

Its murderous work : as Bizarre sank low,

An ember launched upwai'd a tongue-like glow ;

THE BATTE.vr.

He saw aljovo him, in gliminering trace.

The hated, yet feared, Atotarho's face ,

The next, and the swift curved knife is gleannug.

His scalp at the belt of the chief is streaming.

Out peals the Iroquois' war-song, — tbeir feet

In a dance of mad joy the green forest-glade beat.

" Hooh I hooh ! how the panther springs.
As flies the deer on aff'righted wings I
Hooh I hooh ! how he rends his prey !
So do the On-on-dah-gahs slay !
Hooh ! whoop ! how he rends his prey !
So do the On-on-dah-gahs slay ! "

Then Thurenserah points before
With his smeared knife, and in the wood

Darts with his tawny Braves once more
For other scenes of woe and blood.

THE BATTEAU.

XVII.

Morning is brightenmg with golden smiles
The beautiful "Lake of the Thousand Isles.'
Scattered all over the green flood lie
Islands profuse as the stars in the sky :
Here, scarce yielding a few stai's room,
There, bearing upward a forest of gloom,

72 FIIONTENAC,

Hrcakinf; the wave, now, in broad expanses.
Thai flashed out like steel in the morning's glances,
And now into vistas whose either side
Darkened with intermixed shadows the tide.

Ill

XVIII.

A duck, beside an isle of wood.

Within a watery streak was steering.
Dipping his green head in the flood,

When, quick his bill of yellow rearing,
W^ith a loud whiz he flew away,

As a gigantic war-canoe
Filled with a grim and plumed array

Of warriors wild came shouting through
Amidst them, with his look of pride,

Was Thurenserah, his keen eye
Scanning the tangled shore beside,

Till, toward a weeping elm- tree nigh,
Which in a thickly foliaged wreath

Down to the wave its branches threw,
He waved his arm, and underneath

Instantly vanished the canoe.

XIX.

It was not long ere voices gay
Broke on the air, and a batteau

Moved up the furrowing narrow way
With its rough crew in double row.

Each bending shoulder strongly bracing
Against the pole with struggling strain,

THE BATTEAl. < '■)

Then, every one his way retiacin^',
To stoop down to the toil again.
The long cun'ed craft, tho^ jackets red
Of the bent Itoatraen, gliding, spread
In sharp, soft lined, yet shaken trace
I'pon the waters rippling face.

XX.

" The sunset's light I trust," said one,

"Autoine, will sec our toiling done."

•' Aye, Vigne, sound sleep this night we'll win

Fort Frontenac's strong walls within."

" That 's more than we," Vigne answering cried.

" Gained the last night — those screams and whoops
We heard, though in the distance, tried

My manhood, comrades, — deeply droops
My heart within me as I think

Of those poor hunters that we saw
At noon along the river's brink ;

For, comrades," and a look of awe
He glanced around him, " we all know

That Thurenserah and his Braves
Are on the war-path ! "

" Be it so,"

Broke in a third, " we 11 not be slaves,
We, boatmen, we, to abject fear ;
I did not, Vigne, thy whoops e'en hear :
Those maringouins ! * swarm on swarm

* A little white gnat found on the banks of the St. Lawrence.

rUONTEN AC.

'J'lironf,'f'(l nil the ni^'ht about my form ;

Tho little white liends seemed as mad

To drink ui» nil the blood 1 had."

" Cease,'" said Antoiue, " the morn, at least.

Is bright ; we tasto it like a feast;

1 '11 sing tlie boatman's well-known air.

And you must all the chorus bear."

" Push along, boys, push along, boys,

Merrily, cheerily push along ;
And whilst our prow makes merr: itiusic,

We '11 too raise the song.
We 11 too raise the song, my boys,

Swift as wo push along ;
Each to his pole, boys, bend to each pole, boys,

Merrily, cheerily push along ;
A.nd whilst the w-aters ripple round us,

We '11 too raise the song.

" Push along, boys, push along, boys,

Merrily, cheerily " —

" Hush ! " said Vigne,

" I saw a flash, amidst those leaves
Beside, as of some weapon keen ! "

"Pshaw! some white birch thy sight deceives,"
Impatiently another spoke —
" On, let the song agar.; be woke ! "

" Push along, boys, push along, boys,
Merrily, cheerily push along ;

THE I'ATTEAr.

And whilst the wave " —

" Stftv I stay the btniiii

Thero is no wind, and yot F sec
Yon tliifket fluttering I ^fark again

'J'hat gleam. Ha ! from hohind this tree
1 saw a scalp-lock peer, lieware !
My comrades." Just then on the nir
Broke crashes quick, with yell on yell
From the close banks. The hoatmcn fell —
Some dead, some on their knees. Once more
A volley rings, and from the shore
To the batteau fierce figures bound,
Swift weapons flash — shrieks, groans, resound.

/;>

XXI.

" Spare ! spare ! great Atotarho," cries
Vigne, as bis throat a warrior grasps ;
But the knife plunges ; low he gasps :
His rent scalp swings before his eyes.
And with a shuddering groan he dies.
Then whoops the Atotarho keen.
The warriors vanish from the scene ;
And the wild isle its echoes wakes.
As forth the savage war-song breaks.

" Hooh ! hooh ! how the eagle screams.

As the blood of the fawn from his talons streams!

Hooh ! hooh ! how the woods ring out !

So do the On-on-dah-gahs shout !

E 2

7«» fiu)Ntf:n.\c.

llooli ! .•,ii(i(.]i| lidw the wdodi rii)g out I
So do thn Oii-(.ii-<l:ili-<^'alis sliout !"

Whilst tlu; biitteau with its strowed tleud,
Now straiglit, now sidewise, swiftly sped,
A face here iKUiging — there a limb,
O'er its stuiiied sides : u picture grim ;
Down at the mercy of the flood,
Marlung its course with trickling blood.

THE CARIGN.^N VILLAGE.

XXII.

The sun had vanished — a golden rim
Striped the western horizon's wall ;

The forest arbors were fading dim,
Twilight was letting his mantle fall.

XXIII.

'Twas a sweet landscape. A village stood

Amidst a clearing enclosed with wood.

Log-built cabins, a palisade,

Pierced with two gateways, around arrayed ;

Thence to the Cataraqui's glass.

Were wavelike meadows of velvet grass ;

Grain fields growing, and pastures green,

Over I

Abovd

The

Tn a J

Tangj

Deep!

TIIK CARKiNAN VlLLACiK.

1- allows spotted with stumits luxl lilack.
Ami forestclKtiipings — u c'lu>k(Ml-up scenf,

Sliowin<» the axo's rocciit track.
All else was a wilderness, wild and deep,
Darkening each moment with twilight's creep.

XXIV.

Oxen were plodding like snails along
I'o the open gates ; and with careless song
The settler was lounging behind. The Meat
Of 1. cks approaching their folds was sweet.
Along the paths of the winding lanes
llerd-ltclls were tinkling in fitful strains;
The kine now stalking, now stopping to feed.
Whilst frequently neighed some scampering steed.
Hunters from woodland avenues carac
Followed by hounds, and burthened with game ;
And from the far hilMots echoed free
The sounding axe and the crashing tree.
A sylvan picture, this wildwood land
Sketches alone with its rough fresh hand.

/ (

XXV,

Over the brow of a hill tliit towered

Above this landscape — in woods embowered.

The shaggy head of a cedar shot

Tn a slanting line from a hollow spot,

Tangled v/ith brushwood, and in its breast

Deeply his limbs had an Imlian pressed ;

^'i

78 FRONTKNAC.

Cuutiinisly, 9tfmll'u-.tly, ihroui^li the ^roeii,
ilo drf'W \m eyo nor tin villii}^'o bcene,
'I'lu.ji ^li«linj^ down to tlie IkjUow, wht-re
liiUch shadowy bush was uii Indian's lair,
Tho Atotarho also found
'I'hf depths of one of the thitkcts round.

XXVI.

A youtliful couple iicguiled the night,

With talk Ity the social candlelight.

'• ( )no short year, as man and wife,

We, Marie, have skimmed the stream of life !

One short year from to-day : hast tliought

< >f tlio lovely picture the sunset wrought

The eve we wed ? My sire, who then

I )anced at our glad merry-making, said

I I put him in miml of the day he wed !
'n I know he was one of Carignan's men ;
,\iid old Lemoyue says, none more brave

! Ver saw the flag of Carignan wave.

There hangs his sabre, all rusty and didl ;

J wonder if ever the blade I "11 pull

From its steel scabbard ! Ta-wen-deh the scout,

I hear, a week since told a few.

Within the Inn of the Canoe,

At (Juebec, tin t again were the Iroquois out ;

That Thurenserah, inflamed with wrath

From Frontenac's treatment, had taken the path ;

And furthermore, Marie, a courier saw.

rUK t vUIONAN Vll,L\(,i:.

!•

Whili^t thnailiii^ the Tliuusiiml Isles iibovi'
Witlj his luiid ol" skins, a sij^lit i)f awe.

Wlit-re swift on ii jioint the curivnt drovt
I)ost thou rt'Hicnjhor tho largo l)att«.'au
riiat stayed at our villav(o two nights ngo.
With old Aiitoino, Lo Has, and V'igno,
And tilt; rest, with tho dunce on th*' starlit green '.'
W ■ II, there a hatteau was, stained with gore.
With heads and liiuhs hung ghastly o'er
Beached on tho point : he upproachc I '

There 1 ly tho crew — our poor boatmen
Scalped and mangled, displaying plain
That Iroquois devils his friends hud slain.
W ell, Marie, 1 'm ready to draw at word
With my father's heart my father's sword !
Hark ! the wind rages, a stormy night I
I trust that to-morrow will rise up bright ! "
To-morrow ! Ah, folly ! Ah, vanity !
Who — who can be sure that to-morrow he 11 see!

^■'A'

xxvn.
Midnight came, in its sablest hue.
With clouds on a roaring wind that flew ;
Nearer and nearer the dawn of day,
W^ rapped in its slimiber the village lay.

XXVIII.

From the gusty forests passed
Swift approaching shapes at last.

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•^

FRONTENAC.

I V

They fon^e the gates of the palisade —

There stand the dwellings in gloomy sliade ;

Scatter the Iroquois far and near ;

A moment more, and their whoop of fear

Peals out, succeeded by crash on crash,

As inward their hatchets the frail doors dash ;

To his rifle in vain the Carignan flies,

The hatchet gleams after — he sinks, he dies !

The daughter is brained aa she shrieks in dread.

The hairs of the grandsire are steeped in red.

Mothers, imploring in anguish, fall,

Infants are dashed against threshold and wall.

Ah, the young husband ! he starts from his dream !

Ah, the young wife ! she but wakens to scream !

Those whoops, those shrill shrieks, those deep groans all

around !
The Iroquois ! God ! can no refuge be found !
They glance from the casement, wild forms here and thert
Shoot past, weapons glitter, shots stream through the air !
The husband has drawn forth the sword of his sire,
And he stands by the barred door with aspect of fire,
Whilst trembling, half frenzied, his Marie is nigh.
•' Oh, husband ! oh, husband ! " her agonised ciy ;
" My brain reels ! oh, Virgin, most holy ! we flee
In this time of our need for protection to thee !
Oh, husband, that fresh buret of flame ! mighty powers I
It comes from the roof of Lemoyne, next to ours !
Let us hide ! no, the torch will be here too, we 11 gain
The forest, we '11 steal through the herds in the lane !

THE CAIIHJNAX VILLAOE.

Come, husband I oh, husband, come I haste ! let 's lief»<»ii( !

Oh, <iod ! 'tis too late I here their glances are drawn :

That terrible chieftain I he 's hounding this way I

' Thurenserah ! ' these women shriek out as they pray !

Thurenserali ! oh, husband, no help for us now.

We die ! " and she veiled in mute terror her brow.

Ha, that shock ! she screams wildly, down crashes the dour.

And a Brave bursts upon them with tomahawk o'er.

•' Spare, spare, Thurenserah ! " but downward it sinks,

The blood of the husband laid prostrate it drinks ;

The Brave plants his foot on the neck of the slain,

And down falls the gore-dripping hatchet again ;

The wife plunges headlong, her sorrows are o'er,

The couple shall sit at the hearthstone no more.

XXIX.

Still flies round with delight the brand.
Flames flash out upon every hand ;
Over, the clouds are bathed in red ;
A glaring horizon around is spread ;
The tops of the woods seem to stagger in smoke
All the wild life of their depths has awoke.
Eagle and panther, and wolf and bear.
Screaming and howling and snarling th )re ;
Blent with the Iroquois war-song loud,
Pealing from out of the smoky shroud.

t t

) J]

" Hooh ! hooh ! how the sharpened knife

Has gleamed again in the war-path's strife I

£ 3

FRONTENAC.

liooli I hooh ! like the lightning red,

The On-on-dah-gahs have flashed in dread !

Hooh ! whoop I like the lightning red,

The On-on-dah-gahs have flashed in dread ! "

At midnight the village drew slumber's sweet breath,
At day-dawn 'twas hushed in the stillness of death ;
At midnight roofs rose in the wild gusty air,
At day-dawn a waste of dark ashes was there ;
Whilst the fierce Atotarho, more vengeance to claim,
Was again on his war-path of carnage and flame.

THE BRIGANTINE.

XXX.

In the soft twilight's darkening glow,
Near the wild shores of Ontario,
Where points of fore'"" Had fonned a bay,
Now changing its h' j one shade of grey,
Three crowded canoes' of Iroquois Braves

Are gliding; in one Thurenserah, now
Bending Iiis ear to the glassy waves,

Ahead then looking with anxious brow.
Sudden he speaks, and the prows turn quick
To where a cluster of spruces thick
Slants o'er the waters, their shaggy woof
Shaping there an impervious roof,

THE HRIGANTINK.

And i» the Mack shadow beneath it thrown
Kach glides, and the scene to all seeming is lone.
But dashes are heard, and a brigantine creeps
Hound one of the points to the push of her sweeps :
Then dropping her anchor, the beautiful bark
Motionless sits in the gathering dark.

XXXI.

A group of seamen surrounds the mast ;
The stream of their converse is free and fast.
" The Griffin," says one, " was strong and fleet ;

I saw her, some two-score years ago,
Launched on Niagara's rapid sheet,

Near where the cataract rolls below ;
The Sieur La Salle and his gallant crew.

And good father Hennepin, learned and meek.
Were on her decks as she downward drew,

And kissed, with a curtsey, the river's cheek ;
The Iroquois Atotarho too,

Ku-an was there, and with his glance
Of dread stood Ta-yo-nee beside, who slew

His sister whom I rontenac brought from France.
They were then on the war-path in which they fell.
Both of the chieftains knew I well ! "
" What tales," said another, " of blood we hear
From the now Atotarho ; deeds of fear
By this young Thurenserah so constant are done.
That a score of warriors he seems in one !
The Carignan village St. Mie you know,

' \\

\ \

FRONTENAC,

I >
I •

N'oar the foot of the Thousand Isles — it stootl
In its pleasant clearing three days ago,

Tis an asliy waste now slaked with blood ;
The Atotarho led his band
On it with hatchet and with brand ;
Not a dwelling now rises there —
Not a soul did his fury spare —
Frontenac well the day should rue,
When the wrath of the savage he kindled anew."

XXXII.

The frog's hoarse bassoon, and loon's tremulous shriek,
Alone the deep hush of the scene now awake ;
The sailor thinks fond, on his watch, of the spot
Where rises 'mid vineyards his dear native cot.
Once more his free footsteps press valley and plain ;
Once more the glad harvest is sounding its strain ;
He is there — he is there in his home of delight —
He starts, he looks round, the lake gleams on his sight.
But the starlighted hush again falls on his soul,
And his thoughts again fly far away to their goal.

XXXIII.

A haze has now spread a thick mantle of grey,
The waters are hidden, the stars shrink away ;
From the roof of dark cedars quick movements begin,
How silently, silently, onwards they win ! ,

Still silently, silently, every canoe

THE BRIOANTINK.

Si>

Seems urged the grey waters invisibly thmugli,

I,ik»! barks from tlie spirit-land, spoftral and dim,

Si» still fall the paddles, so light is their skim ;

Still silently, silently, onwards they glide,

They reach without question the brigantine's side ;

They spring up the vessel — hush I hush I not a sound I

They peer o'er the Indwarks, the sleepei*s are round ;

They grasp now their hatchets, all caution is past,

To the deck, to the deck, they arc bounding at last !

Whoop ! whoop I Thurenserah the foremost is there !

Whoop ! whoop ! how their shouts ring abroad in the air !

[Ipstart the pale sleepers, and wildered by fright.

And with senses still swimming, they stand to the fight.

Hand to hand is the battle, clash cutlass and knife !

(]lash steel-pike and hatchet ; wild, wild is the strife !

Ho, the young Atotarho ! his eyeballs are flame.

And the blood of his foes is splashed over his frame !

At the sweep of his* hatchet one plunges in death !

At the dart of his knife gasps another for breath !

God save the poor seamen ! no succour is nigh !

Christ save the poor seamen ! they struggle to die !

They are borne to the deck, o'er the sides are they cast :

The water grows red round the brigantine fast.

Till nothing remains of the crew but the dead,

Then over the vessel deep silence is spread.

Off dart the canoes, smoke the doomed bark surrounds,

On the lines of the rigging flame flashes and bounds,

Red pennons stream out from the red-circled mast,

A glare all around on the vapor is cast,

■\'

8«

FRONTENAC.

The waters blush crimson ; hut wildly and high
The Iroquois war-song goes up to the sky.

" Hooh ! hooh ! how the hungry fire
Has wrapped the French in its leaping ire !
Hooh ! hooh ! like the torrent's flood,
The On-on-dah-gahs have rushed in blood !
Hooh ! whoop ! like the torrent's flood,
The On-on-dah-gahs have rushed in blood ! "

END OF CANTO THIRD.

CANTO FOURTH.

THE THANKSGIVING
DANCE.

THE DANCE OF THE
GREAT SPIRIT.

KAH-KAH.

THE EXPEDITION.

THE BIVOUAC,

THE ABDUCTION.

THE RESCUE AND
DEATH.

■ !

' f

I ■;(!

(The

CANTO FOURTH.

THE THANKSGIVING DANCIv

JIrioht ushering in the day of feast
For Thurenserah's safe return
From his red path of anger stem,
The dawn was flickering in the east.
As the rich tints began to spread,

Brave, Sachem, sire, boy, matron, maid.
By the Priest To-ne-sah-huh led
In a long file, slow treading, wound
Thrice the Tcar-jis-ta-yo around ;

Then through the maize fields sought the shade,

Where lay the customed offering-glade.
There at a pile of faggots dry.
Heaped with dew-bespangled forest flowers,
Just gathered from their sylvan bowers,
(The Atotarho standing by,)

As the sun showed its upper rim,
The grey-haired priest, with upturned eye.

To Hah-wenne-yo raised the hymn.
The sun-fired calumet he bore.
Sending its light smoke-offering o'er.

IMI

KRONTKNAl ,

" Hiili-wou-no-yol Mij^hly Spirit!

lliiinMr tliimks to thoc; wo rendi'i*.
I Iiiliwcii-no-yo ! Spirit vast !
'I'lmt t<> our loved AtoUirho,
Atotiirlio, great und high,

Thou hust liet'u a kind defender
In the wur-piith that is puyt,

War-patli stained with deepest dye.
And that safe, () wise (Jroator!
Wise Creator, dwelling o'er !
He retunis to us once more.

Yah-hah ! to us onco more,
He returns to us once more.

i !

*' Hah-wen-ne-yo ! Mighty Spirit!

Thou art to our League a father,
Hah-wen-ne-yo ! Spirit good I
And around our Atotarho,
Atotarho, chief of fame,

Thou dost robe of safety gather
In the war-path past of blood.

War-path tilled wth blood and flame.
And thus safe, wise Hah-wen-ne-yo !
Wise Creator, dwelling o'er !
He returns to us once more.

Yah-hah ! to us once more.
He returns to us once more."

nit: i>.\N( K u»- TUi: uhi:at mimhh,

;»l

It.
lit! onw««d — struck stfol iiiid tliiit, uiul lir«J
Strouinoti in r»)(l sj)iirk« \xiwu tlu; pyro ;
Thon, Its tlio otVoring sent its sinukn
On hi^h, the llruvcs their diinco uwoko,
Wliilst 'ro-no-suh-lmli liy tlio lUino,

The rocking sUuiiping ring within,
I'niiscd rttill th(! Iluh-wrn-ntvyo's name,

Aniidist tho rudo gii-nu-juh's * din.
But, QH pasHod oft" the morning's shade,
Tho sacrificial rites were stayed
Until the sunset's dipping light,

When Thuronserah, at tho head
Of all his Braves, would, in its sight,

The dance of Hah-weu-ne-yo tread.

III.
Pleasure meanwhile ruled every soul.

The bird-like ball swift soared on high ;
The straining racers sought tho goal.

And mocking war-whoops rent the sky.

I '
' I

THE DANCE OF THE GREAT SPIRIT.

IV.

But now the sun, in its descent,

Its rich and stretching radiance bent ;

The On-on-dah-gah name for the Indian drum.

*.)'Z KRONTENAC.

Suddenly To-ne-sahhah beat

A great drum, planted in the scjuare :

("eased war-whoop shrill, paused flying feet,
The ball no longer whirled in air ;

And as once more together came

The village throng,, his lodge from out,

Amidst a general joyful shout

Stepped Thurenserah s graceful frame.

The close white robe was o'er his breast ;

The snowy plume beside b^" :est;

His right hand grasped a bow sketched o'er

With deeds ; his left an arrow bore.

I i
1 i

He strode with slow majestic pace

To where his Hoh-se-no-wahns * stood
Armed like himself ; then all the place

Left for the sacrificial wood.
Heading the long and dusky file,
At length the Atotarho checked
His footstep in the glade now decked
With the soft sunset's sinking smile.

VI.

The women lined in groups the scene,
Fastening upon the Braves their sight

As they, upon the floor of green,
Prepared to celebrate the rite ;

* Chief w.oiTiors in On-on-dah-craii.

THE DANCE OF THE GREAT SPIRIT.

Whilst age and childhood sought the shade
That thickly edged the sylvan glade.

\):\

VII.

The Braves, with arrow and with bow

In either hand, gazed steadfastly
Upon the sun, whose parting glow

Streamed down the glade's green vista free.
And as the west's rim felt its flame
The Atotarho forward came,
(^uick swinging in a dance his frame ;
And in the mil', and mellow blaze,
Where a soft golden carpet shone.
Began, in quavering guttural tone.
The Hah-wen-ne-yo's hymn to raise.

i ■ 1

" Mighty, mighty Hah-wen-ne-yo ! Spirit pure and mighty!

hear us !
We thine own Ho-de-no-sonne, wilt thou be for ever

near us !
Keep the sacred flame still burning ! guide our chase ! our

planting cherish !
Make our warriors' heai'ts yet taller ! let our foes before us

perish !
Kindly watch our waving harvests ! make each Sachem's

wisdom deeper !
Of our old men, of our women, of our children be 'the

Keeper !
Mighty, holy Hah-wen-ne-yo ! Spirit pure and mighty !

hear us !

FRONTENAC.

17
1 1

We thine own Ho-de-no-8onne, wilt thou be for ever

near us !
Yah-hah ! for ever near U8 ! wilt thou be for ever near us I

" Mighty, mighty Hah-wen-ne-yo ! thou dost, Spirit purest,

greatest !
Love thine own Ho-de-no-sonne, thou as well their foemen

hatest !
Panther's heart and eye of eagle, moose's foot and fox's

cunning,
Thou dost give our valiant people when the war-path's

blood is running ;
But the eye of owl in daylight, foot of turtle, heart of

woman,
Stupid brain of bear in winter, to our valiant people's

foemen !
Mighty, holy Hah-wen-ne-yo! Spirit pure and mighty!

hear us !
We thine own Ho-de-no-sonne, wilt thou be for ever

near us !
Yah-hah ! for ever near us ! wilt thou be for ever near us ! "

VIII.

As ceased the strain, the warrior band.
Arrow and bow reared high in baud.
Arranged their files, and wildly dashed
Into a dance with eyes that flashed :
Now toward the west, and now o'erhead,

KAH-KAII.

Tnuui^ their chauntings to their tread ;
Whilst frequently the war-whoop rung
In thrilling cadence from their tongue ;
The dull dead drum-stroke souufling low.
Like the deep distant partridge-blow.

IX.

With mingled grace and dignity

The Atotarho led the dance ;
To Hah-wen-ne-yo now the knee

Bending, with lifted reverent glance,
Now springing to his feet, with eye

FLxed where the sun had fall'n below,
Leaving within the cloudless sky

A spot of tenderest, yellowest glow.

IvAH-KAH.

The rite was o'er — the throngs were gone ;
The lovely sylvan glade was lone.
Upon the dr a delicate glimmer,
Twilight s first veil, began to shimmer ;
The sassafras commenced to mingle

With the soft air-breaths fluttermg round,
(-)"erpowering, with its fragrance single,

The other odours of the ground ;

FRONTENAC.

Whilst a young moon, with timid glauce,
Looked down from heaven's undimmed expanse ;
Her touch so faint on all beneath,
It seemed 'twould vanish at a breath.

XI.

ill

Along Kun-da-qua's * grassy side,

An arrow's passage from the glade.
In melting tints the waters dyed.

The beautiful Jiskoko strayed.
Oh, did she come of him to dream
Beside the solitary stream !
Her sighs to mingle with the breeze
That crept so softly through the trees !
She heard the river's murmuring flow.
Filling the spot with music low ;
She saw the branches by the wind

In light and graceful motions moved.
And all were blended in her mind

With him so fondly, deeply loved.
The sound was like that voice her ear
Oft bent in breathless joy to hear ;
The softly swaying branch o'erhead
Was like that lithe and springing tread ;
Yet ah ! in vain, in vain, she knew
Love o'er her heart its witchery threw ;
The eagle, with his soaring crest,
Disdained the robin's lowly nest.

The On-on-dah-gah name for the On-on-dah-gah River or Creek.

KAH-KAH.

XII.

As thus she mused, from out the wood
Sudden a Brave before her stood.
Hatchet, fusee, and knife he bore,
With the red cloak his shoulders o'er :
His brow was frowning, yet a smile
Seemed called upon his face the while.
Like a pale straggling moonbeam shot
Within some wild and gloomy spot.

XIII.

She started, and a scream suppressed,

Then lifted high her form, and turned ;
But in her path, with labouring breast

And a fierce eye like fire that burned,
The warrior planted firm his tread.
And in soft honied accents said :
" Jiskoko seeks to leave in fear

One who has loved her deep and long ;
Will ne'er in Kah-kah's raptured ear

The Robin trill responsive song ? "
" Has not Jiskoko, Kah-kah oft

Told that she cannot love ?"

" Her heart
At Thurenserah's glance is soft ! "

" Cease, cease, Jiskoko will depart ! "
" Not till she Kah-kah hears ! — that slave,
That Atotarho ! that mock Brave !
That coward dog ! who does not dare

" .i

!)S

FllONTENAC

Like us to leave his bosom bare,
But ever with that robe of white
Keeps it close hidden from the sight,
As if ho feared an eye should see
The deer-like heart within him — he
Shall not .Tiskoko have ! "

" Away,
.liskoko will no longer stay !"
The warrior's strong grasp stayed her path,
His shape dilated with his wrath ;
He clenched his hand as if to beat
Her trembling frame beneath his feet ;
Then swept the frenzied tempest o'er,
And in soft tones he spoke once more :
" Listen ! thou know'st a moon ago
We young men went to strike a blow
Against the distant Cherokees.
Look ! beautiful Jiskoko sees
This little flower ! their grassy floor
Of open woods is covered o'er
With blossoms thick as Night's bright eyes,
And brilliant as the glorious dyes
Of Hah-wen-ne-yo's bow, when he
Makes Tah-won-ne-whus * backward flee.
Their breath scents every wind that blows,
Like that Jiskoko 's lips unclose ;
The moon is like Jiskoko 's face,

The morn and eve her blushing cheeks.

* Tah-won-ne-whus means " lightning " in Iroquois.

KAH-KAII.

And birds the liours with niusir chase,

Sweetly as that Jiskc^ko speaks ;
Look ! my Kah-we-yah >!= floats below,
Jiskoko will with Kah-kah go
To that bright land."

" Unclasp thy hold,
How darest thou ! Set Jiskoko free !
She will not go, fierce Brave, with thee ! '"
" Then Kah-kah takes thee ! " In the fold
Of his strong arm her trembling frame
He swept, and toward the river strode.
Jiskoko shrieked, and forth the name
(The deepest in her bosom shrined,
The foremost ever in her mind)
Of Thurenserah loudly flowed.

XIV.

As if that cry his presence woke.
Out from the woods a figure broke.
One hand a glittering hatchet clenched.
The shrieking maid the other wrenched
From the base Kah-kah, who, thus foiled
In his dark purpose, back recoiled
With burning rage, yet abject dread.
Stamped wildly on his visage red.
And gazed in fixed affi'ighted stare
On Thurenserah towering there ;
Wlio looked on him in turn, his form
Loftily swelling with a storm

• Kah-we-yah, i. e. " canoe " in Iroquois.

F 2

m-.

100 FRONTENAC.

Of high disdain, yet bursting wrath,

As if the reptile in his path

He 'd crush ; but from his features passed

The anger, and lie said at last,

Lifting his figure to its height,

With eye that shed disdainful light,

^.nd pointing his contemptuous finger

Before him, " Why does Kah-kah linger ! "

Then, as the wretch shrank, cowering low,

As if he would, yet dared not spring,

He felt he was so base a thing,

The Atotarho uttered " Go ! "

And looked at him so stem and high

That, shuddering from his searching eye,

The savage turned ; and when again,

In accents of more deep disdain.

The Atotarho his command

Spoke, sweeping out liis pointing hand.

With a low cry of rage, yet mien

Weighed down by fear, he left the scene.

XV.

The Atotarho, with a look

Of deep and pitying kindness, took

The hand of the half shrinking maid.

With pleasure blushing, trembling now,
Longing to thank him, yet afraid

To lift her moist eyes to his brow.
Or speak, lest glance or word betray
How deep within her heart his sway ;

THi: EXPEDITION.

Then left the river — passed the glade
And belt of wood — and trod the nmize
By one of its four quartering ways
All steeped in dusk, until he made
The glimmering palisades — then straight
Both entered at the closing gate.

101

THE EXPEDITION.

XVI.

Along the Castle's gallery,

Over the verge of the rock outspread,
Whence the vision roamed far and free,

On passed Frontenac s hasty tread.
Back in golden and sapphire blaze
The river reflected the sunset rays ;
Beneath were the roofs of the warehouses bright,
In straggling and long-reaching pensiles of light.
Though dim were the streets, with forms dwarfed small
Creeping between the buildings tall ;
Down the vale of St. Charles shot a mellow beam,
But hid in the depths of its bed was the streau) :
Above it a pinion of hovering mist
By the soft yellow sun into splendour was kissed ;
Between, broad meadow and level grain
Smiled in the hour's enchanting reign ;
Whilst on the basin's lake-like breast
Was the long spread island in lustre dressed,
Dividing the flood that but parted to meet.
And sink like a vassal at Ocean's feet.

,f',. I

104

FRONTENAC.

XVII.

It was II sweet and placid hour,

When purest feelings and thoughts had powrr.

And the stern old soldier felt his hreast

Hushing itself into holy rest;

But the cares of his rule again hore sway —

The angels Hew from his heart away —

A figure approached him : " Ha, liUvergne I

Welcome I for thee is a duty stern !

IJand thee together a hundred men !

Hasten and sweep eveiy hill and glen

Where'er thou canst meet with the Iroquois foe,

And scourge them with bloody unsparing blow !

Take too this Kah-kah to be thy guide,

The Indian who joined us last even-tide ;

1 think we may trust him ! Some wrongs, he said.

The proud Atotarho had heaped on his head.

Away, and when next thy face I see,

Thou knowest what tidings will gladden me ! "

THE BIVOUAC.

XVIII.

The moon in glorious beauty glowed ;

The heavens were one resplendent sheet,
And her white lustrous mantle flowed

Over the forests at her feet.

TIIK HIVOUAC.

Hut only hero nntl there ii ray

Of silver pierced a Hiiiikcii ghni
O'orhuiig hy trees, senrco light hy iliiy,

In which were hid ii thronj,' of men.
Coureurs do hois with hunting-shirt,

lilue-girdlod Ilurons of Lorette,
And pikenien hi their hutV-coiits girt.

Were in this gloomy hollow met.
Armed with their different weapons all,
As if prepared for instant call.
A youth, beneath a hemlock's height.
Stood with plumed hat, and cuirass bright,
With an old pikeman at his side.
Erect and grim in martial pride.
Each viewing the wild bivouac round ;
Some stretched at ease upon the ground ;
Some busy at their sylvan meal ;
Some causing fragrant wi'eaths to steal
Their hatchet-calumets from out ;
With others, chattering, grouped about.
At length he spoke : " No more delay,
Le Croix ! this moon will guide our way !
We-an-dah (such our captive's name).
Doubtless a chief of power and fame.
So high his pride, by morning's light

May by his tribe be missed, and thus
Lingering near Thurenserah, might

To my small force prove dangerous.
And Kah-kah ! he is gone, I hear.
The dog ! his treacheiy too I fear I

'< 1

101

KRONTKVAC.

Ilasto, Imsto Lc Croix ! pn-piirc tho men I
This instant must we Icuvo the glen."

TIIK AnnUCTION.

XIX.

Tho same hroiul moon — night's radiant queen !

Was sraiUng on a clilToront scene.

The On-on-dah-gah maize-lields gleamed,

The river Ihished, the woods were brighi.
And the low rounded lodges seemed

Great silver helmets in the light ;
Great as those casques tho forms of stoue
Displayed — forms terrible, unknown !
Told by the sires with shuddering fright.
That came m their destroying might,
Till pitying Hah-wen-ne-yo cast
Destruction oti their heads at last.

XX.

Within the slanting picket's shade,
Outside the gate, Jiskoko strayed
In all her sorrowing beauty's pride,
Her 'nend, 0-tait-sah,* ai ht r side;
In silence botli were 1 m;- — ae one
Was dwelling on her being's sun,

* " A flower" in the On-on-dah-gali tongue.

TIIK audictios.

Whoso kind, km. I lookn nml words, whoii liust
My his her tirm' footstep |iuA«ed,
Hud deepened love within her heart.
Which only (;oiihl with lif*- dopiirt ;
With Kulikiih rising like a cloud,
liver that hour's sweet light to shroud :
The other, in her sympathy,

Mute in her speech, hut with (piiik view
Noting the distant stream ; — the tree

At hand, the mai/o, the moon, the dew.
And thinking with delight, perchance.
Upon some future feast-day dance,
Or on some youth whoso deeds had wove
Around her heart tlie net of love.

1 0.*>

XXI.

The two alone disturbed the scene.
Sleeping beneath the dreamy sheen ;
The sunset breeze had sank to rest
Upon the forest's leafy breast ;
Whilst the field-cricket's silvery trill
Made the deep silence deeper still.

XXII.

Hut as they passed a thicket, dashed
An Indian out, — his hatchet flashed, —
0-tait-sah fell in blood ; — he caught,
Swooning Jiskoko, — then like thought
Hushed through the maize, and struck the woods,
And skimmed the moonlight solitudes

Kk;

FIIONTENAC.

1-.

With a fleet foot that, as it sped,

New strength seemed drawing at each tread,

Till a short league had flown, and then

r^ntered a gloomy, shaggy glen,

Through a wild throng unheeding passed.

Who seemed in preparations fast

About to leave the shadowy dell ;

And, striding where a moonbeam fell

Upon a plumed and cuirassed youth,

" Kah-kah," exclaimed, " would prove his truth !

See, Brave of Yon-non-de-yoh ! here " —

Down placing at his feet the maid
Who, now recovering, looked in fear

Bewildered round, while accents strayed
Hurried and broken from her lips,
Betokening the mind's eclipse,
" Is Thurenserah's pulse of life ! "
Then his fierce eye more venomous grew.
He hissed the words his clenched teeth through,
" Hooh ! Yon-non-de-yoh has a knife ! "

THE RESCUE AND DEATH.

XXIII.

Up mountahi street's steep whiding track,
As evening's mists began to curl.

Two of the guards of Frontenac
Went with a stag-like Indian girl.

THE RESCUE AXD DEATH.

L'pon their left, in glimpses seen.
The low and straggling huts between.
The rock, where stood the castle, stooped
Sheer down, then sloped with thickets grou})ed.
The battery flanking it they passed,
Kntered the Place d'Armes spreading vast.
Thence, through the opened sallyport.
And, crossing the broad castle court.
Said to the sentry at the door,
" Speech of the noble Governor I "'

XXIV.

Within a room, the gallery next,

Where hung a cresset from its beam.
Sat Frontenac, his forehead vexed

With musing, in the ruddy gleam
That faded gradually away.

Till lost in nooks and places low.
Save where glanced back by antlers grey,

Or where a breastplate caught a glow.
Upon a map his eye was placed,
On which were lakes and rivers traced,
With Indian trails all o'er that wound.
And Indian castles scattered round.
Bearing the well-known names that showed
There made the Iroquois abode.

- ';"

-..: , H

%■•"• 1 ^

^ :l

XXV.

He struck the floor — a guardsman came.
" Meux ! tell the Count Lavergne I claim

lOS

FRONTENAC.

His presence here in two hours' space I "
And down once more he bent his face.

!•:

XXVI.

A rap ! — the door at his command

Opened — the bending guards there stood,
The Indian girl erect, at hand.

" Your errand speak ! "

" Within the wood
That stretches by St. Charles's flow,

Where he had gone to hunt the deer,
Kah-kah was fouud an hour ago

Dead, by the young Carignan Pierre.
Scarce had Pierre told to us the tale,

Meeting us by the waterside.
When o'er the basin, from a veil

Of shadow a canoe we spied.
This Indian girl alone it bore,
And near our post it found the shore ;
She Yon-non-de-yoh sought, she said,
And here direct we bent our tread ! '
Frontenac waved his hand — " Depart ! "

Upon the girl then glanced his eye;
Still reared erect, her Indian heart

Shown in her presence proud and high.
Her features wore a lighter hue
Than that her forest sisters knew.
But her full eye was dark and clear
As the orbed splendours of the deer,

THE RESCUE AND DEATH.

From her dark hair a feather sprung,
Behind, the usual roller hung ;
Whilst fell a light loose dress of skin
Down to her hroidered moccasin.

109

XXVII.

"What seek'st thou ? " — the deep voice was kind.

And slight the girl her head inclined,

Answering in tones so soft and low

That Frontenac scarce heard their flow.

" Jiskoko's voice is very sweet,

Like the bird's flight her glidhig feet,

Her eye is like the star which ne'er

Moves from its lodge within the air ;

But now that voice no more is heard

Where late each heart to joy it stirred ;

No more those light feet make the ground

Burst into laughing flowers around ;

The eye no more is sparkling bright,

Tis filled with tears, and dark with night ;

Will not great Yon-non-de-yoh's ear

Jiskoko's sorrowing sister hear ?

So great a warrior will not keep

The fawn to tremble and to weep !

He will not let the Robin's trill

Be longer moan of whippoorwill !

No ! he '11 restore the bird its tree,

He '11 set the poor Jiskoko free ! "

" Never ! " fierce shouted Frontenac,

Whilst his eye flashed, his brow grew black,

110

FRONTENAC.

I I!

h !

" Girl ! (laughter of a hated race !
How hast thou dared to seek this place !
How, bold one, how ! art not afraid ?

Thou scek'st thy sister ! know'st not thou
That Thurcnserah loves the maid ?

Th(3 dog ! who, could I clutch him now,
I 'd tread beneath my feet, and make
His death-song echo at the stake ! "
A wild light glanced his features o'er,
And sternly stamped he on the floor.
Whilst the girl's eye with sidewise lift
Glared with a furious fire, and swift
Glided her hand within her dress.
Downcast the eye, hand motionless
Again, as Frontenac his glance
Turned once more on her countenance :
•• But yet I will not harm thee, girl ! "
His eye grew soft, his features caught
A shade of pensive struggling thought :
" There 's something that subdues the whirl
Of passion in me as I gaze.
Leading me back to former days ! "
"Then Yon-non-de-yoh will set free
Jiskoko ! " flashed the wild fire back
Into the face of Frontenac :
" Not till thy Atotarho's knee
Is bent, acknowledging my sway ! /'

Again the maiden's cowering eye
Shot its keen, furtive, sidewise ray

Like some fierce serpent's crawling nigh ;

THE RESCUE AND DEATH.

Again, within, quick glanced her hand,
Then all once more was still and bland :
" My Canada lather then will let

Jo-gwe-yoh on Jiskoko look ! "
Frontenac's eye the maiden's met,

The wrath his face once more forsook ;
His dirk a cuirass struck — with speed

Entered a guard — with softened tone :
•' This maiden to Jiskoko lead.

Let them remain an hour alone ! "

XXVIII.

The guardsman through the gallery led,

Until he reached and oped a door.
And when passed in the maiden's tread,

He locked and barred it as before.
Jiskoko on a couch was leaning,
Her long black hair her features screening ;
A single lamp with feeble light
Yielding the bleak bare walls to sight ;
But as the maid with noiseless tread
Approached, and soft " Jiskoko ! " said,
Up to her feet she instant sprung
With a wild cry upon her tongue ;
Amazement, deep amazement took
Possession of her staring look ;
Then joy in brightest flash shot o'er
Her face, and then a blush it bore,
A blush so deep, brow, neck, and breast
The rich and radiant tint confessed ;

111

r:i

I'll

112 FRONTENAC.

She tremlded, shrank, as half afraid,

When took her timid hand the maid ;

Her bosom heaved with quick delight,

Then down she dropped her sparkling sight,

With heart and soul all wrapped to hear

The low tones whispering in her ear :

*' Listen ! when Kah-kah's hatchet fell ! "

(Jiskoko here suppressed a cry.)

" Thy friend, the Blossom, did not die

At once — she lived her tale to tell.

(By her poor sorrowing mother found,

At mom stretched bleeding on the ground.)

Ka-hais-kah * on a deer's trail, — then

Saw thee with Yon-non-de-yoh s men ;

With speedy foot and heart in flame,

Hither the Atotarho came

Garbed as thou see'st him, with a band

Of his best Braves to aid his hand.

He met the base dog Kah-kah, — low

He brought him with one hatchet-blow ;

But e'er black Hah-no-gah-ate-geh f

Bade the foul spirit to him flee,

The Atotarho made him tell

Where was the sorrowing Piobin's cell ;

And, now the Atotarho 's here,

Jiskoko will no longer fear ;

Ere Kah-qua^ brings another day.

* Ka-hais-kah means " the arrow " in On-ou-dali-gah.
t The " Evil Spirit" in On-on-dah-gah.
X Kah-qua " the Sun " in On-on-dah-gali.

THE RESCUE AND DEATH.

113

With Thurenserah, far away
Will fly the Robin, and again
Will Ou-on-dah-gah list her strain !

XXIX.

Jiskoko listened, — every word
Delicious joy within her stirred ;
That he, the Atotarho, he

The worshipped of her every thought
Should dare so much to set her free,

Perilling life ; — her heart was fraught
With deeper, tenderer love, imbued
With warmest, holiest gratitude.
Ah, did he also love ! her eye

Was raised a moment to his face,
But glowing kindness, with a sigh,

She there could only, only trac6 ;
The same that always lit his brow.
But sweeter, stronger, livelier now !
Away with him — she did not ask
The means — she knew, fond maid, she knew
That Thurenserah told her true ;
He would perform his promised task,
And nerved to strength her drooping frame,
To act when time for action came.

XXX.

The warrior oped his dress, unwound
A deer-skin line of braided strength

114 FRONTENAC.

Knotted to scores of feet in length,
Close swftthed his slender form around,
Then grasping it in folds, he drew

His knife, approached the massive door,
And stood ; the faint lamp fainter grew,

At last its flickering liglit gave o'er ;
A plaintive wind commenced to sweep.
The room was fdled with darkness deep,
Save where the loopholes, pierced on high.
Let in some glimmerings of the sky.

XXXI.

At length they glared, and fell the bar,

(Juick rattled in the lock the key.
Opened the door with sullen jar,
A gasp — a fall — and instantly
The Atotarho, with a stamp.
Extinguished the slain guardsman's lamp ;
Across the jutting gallery thence
Drew him with hur: ied violence ;
And, heaving with convulsive strength.
Lifted him o'er the rails at length,
Into the chasm, — one murky frown, —
Then pitched the body headlong down,
Lashed to the rails the line, and then
Hushed to Jiskoko's side again.
He took the maiden's hand : " Fear not ! "
He said, then bore her from the spot.
" Now cling to me ! " The maiden clung.
And soon upon the line they swung ;

THE RESCUE AND DEATH.

115

Tlio trembling girl gave one swift glance —

Round was a rainy Mack exjianse ;

Above, dark outlines on the air

Told that the castle's mass was there ;

Near to the left, with shuddering awe

The batteiy's frowning lino she saw.

The muzzles tilled she knew with death,

And scarce she drew her very breath ;

By swept the wind with rushing sound,

Dashing the rain upon their forms,

In one of May's most furious storms.

Far swung they out, swift whirled they round ;

She closed her eyes again, her cling

Drawn closer with each whirl and swing ;

And yet, e'en yet, her sore affright

Yielding at times to wild delight.

Though blushing shame, that she, most blest,

Was clinging, clinging to his breast.

Down still, nought hearing but the wind ;

Still down, down, through the darkness blind ;

At last they touched the lesser steep,

Where scarcely could Jiskoko keep

Her foothold, though her stumbling tread

Was by the Atotarho led.

And slowly worked their labouring way

Down the rough sloping rocks that lay

Toward the dim huts in straggling rank,

Between thera and the river bank.

The shrieking, howling, sweeping blast,

The rain in dashes on it cast.

110

FRONTENAC.

Keeping bcneatli caeli recking roof
All from the miry street aloof.
Iteiiching the marge, the warrior drew
Out of the thickets a canoe,
And, placing quick witliin the maid.
The paddle seized ; hut e'er the hlade
The water struck, ho glanced around,
His ear hcnt down — no sight, no sound.
But the slant rain, the dwellings grouped.
And hlast that like a warrior whooped.
Ho stood an instant — muttered low,
" Should Thurenserah strike the blow
To Yon-non-de-yoh's heart, how bigh

Would rise the League s triumphant head !
How Hah-wen-ne-yo from his sky.

His glorious smiles would on us shed !
He '11 go ! but yet " — he looked to where
The maiden sat — ' she claims my care I
Still did not Yon-uon-de-yoh boast,
That underneath his feet he 'd tread
Me, Thurenserah ! me, a Brave ! "
His knife here glittered in the wave.
" The Atotarho of the dread
And proud Ho-de-no-sonne host !
He '11 go ! the Robin will not wait,

But seek the other side — she '11 find
There well-known Braves. Let Te-yo-ayt

Bring the canoe again : the wind
Has ceased, its rush of fury o'er ! "'
He said, and bounded from the shore.

THE RESCUE AM) DEATH.

117

XXXII.

On midst the scattered roofs ho went,
Lights, sparkling in the cnsenicnts, lent
(^uick gloamings to tho rainy street,
Mut none were there to stny his feet.
Winged with fierce speed he shot iJoug,

Whilst a low cahin here and there
Gave forth some swinging hunter-song,

With shout and laughter on tho air.

XXXIII.

He clambered up tho bushy steep,
With tug and scramble, pull and leap.
Until he reached the cliff ; still swung

The line within the dying blast.
Once more the Brave upon it hung,

Climbing the gloomy darkness fast.
He saw a black stripe drawn on air :
The battery's dreaded guns were there.
Which into death-winged lightning broke,
And with stern voice of thunder spoke ;
The wind but uttered feeble howl,
But still the heavens showed sable scowl,
And the rain beat. Up, up he went,
His steady eye above him bent,
Foothold receiving from the knots
Set on the line in bulging spots.
The castle blackened now the air,
But one bright spot was glittering there ;

! i

lis FIIONTKNAC.

It sliono ill timt huuw ruoiii \vhorc ho

Stood Ity liis Imtoil fiit'iiiy,

iVnd hoiird tlioso tliroiifs tImt niiulo his Iro

nin/o into linrro fliou;^h sinothoivd (ire.

Still up he went ; the j^'iillcrv now

Hmko fortli, tlirn h;vol witli his brow;

Over the rails) Ih' Icapod — his troad

Skimmrd now the sjmoo hencntli him spread ;

Ho glanced within the casfmiont, there

i"'rontenac witii his fiico of care

Over the map still howed his frame;

Ho struck the door, tlie i)idding came ;

He entered. " J fa ! iigain, sweet maid ! "

Said Frontenac with rising glow.

The Indian crouched his figure low,

As doth the panther when arrayed

For his dread leap upon his prey.

•' Did not great Yon-non-de-yoh say

That he would underneath his feet

The Atotarho tread ? Hooh ! look !
I am the Atotarho I " Fleet

As a deer's hound his leap he took
Full at the throat of Frontenac ;
But e'er the destined blow could fall,
A form, unseen before, with call
For lielp loud ringing, thrust him back,
And drew a sword, whilst too the hand
Of Frontenac found ready brand.
The Indian gave one ciy of wrath,
When thrust thus backward in his path ;

THE IlKSt (E AND UKATII.

IK. n. with M face all lliimo that ^c\\,

|.i'(i|)til like II wiM cat on thn two,

With j^nitshiii^ tO(;th and ^^'larinj,' cyo.

And knifo nnd hatihoi llourishcd hi^'h ;

I'ld itonac's thrust he pniTicd, stayed

Tiic other's ({uick dcsoonding blade.

With furious violence for life,

Now here, now there, then waged the Htrife;

The Indian's fonn seemed plumed with wings,

So swift his rushings, high his springs ;

In Hashes of quick light, his blows

lie rained ui)on his j)ressing foes,

Till, in his blitid haste, Frontcnac

Stumbled and headlong past him fell.

The savage gave one smothered yell,

And, as the other crossed his track.

Sank his keen hatchet in his head,

And toward the Yon-non-de-yoh sped ;

But wide an inner door now swung.

And in the room two guardsmen sprung.

The Atotarho wheeled ond flew

Like light the outer portal through ;

Swift to the galler}''s end he went,

And down the line commenced descent.

His knife between his teeth, and slung

His tomahawk upon his arm ;
But as in middle air he swung.

The castle bell rang out alarm.
Stem clanged the tones along the air ;

Down past him dropped a torch's light

' 1

\ \

120 FRONTENAC.

Tossed from the gfilleiy ; quick a glare
Burst from the hattery on his sight,
Smiting into a splendour keen
All the stem features of the scene :
Instant a ball above him screeched —
Echoed a deep and stunning roar ;
Still down, still down he gliding bore,
But now the line was severed o'er,
And with sUght shock the slope he reached.

XXXIV.

Out still the bell's stern clangor rung,

As down the slope himself he flung ;

Before, amidst the scattered way

Of roofs through which his pathway lay,

He heard loud calls, and saw the glow

Of torches passing to and fro.

He paused — long, deep, full breaths he drew.

His knife and hatchet grasped anew ;

Then, like an eagle in its wrath.

He dashed along his forward path.

Hunying and bustling forms were there,

Scores of red torches fired the air,

Gleaming on halberd, gun and knife,

Hastily snatched for unknown strife ;

The coureur wild, the keen-eyed scout.

Hunter, batteau-man, trader, all

The dwellers of the suburb, call

On one another, peer about,

Wondering what enemy so bold

THE RESCUE AND DEATH.

The castle's tongue of iron told
Within their strong and guarded hold.

121

i '

XXXV.

Near and more near, with flying frame,
The fierce and desperate Indian came ;
Near and more near, each sinew strung,
Each thought on fire, still, still he sprung,
And now within the space he rushed
Where bright the flaring torches blushed ;
Shouts rang out boldly on the night.
And gathered all to bar his flight.
Swinging his w'eapons right and left,

On, on, the Atotarho dashed.
x\midst the crowd his path he cleft,

Forms dropped, cries pealed, and weapons clashed.
On, on, the Atotiirho on.
Right, left, his weapons swinging yet.
And, ere a blow his form had met,
His pathway through the throng was won.
On, on, the Atotarho still ;
There was his bark, a figure light
Grasping the margin bushes tight.
With vigorous and determined will,
The buoyant basswood shape to keep
Steady for the approaching leap.
With one keen whoop the leap he takes,
The slight Kah-we-yah rocks and shakes ;
He grasps the paddles — from his bow

Swifter his arrow never flew,

I ■ '

122

FRONTENAC.

Than o'er the Catamqui's flow

Shot Thurenserah's winged canoe.
IJut quick a rifle rang — with cry
Jiskoko dropped — a gasp — a sigh.
Poor loving maid ! poor loving maid !
His mandate she had not obeyed,
But with an anxious heart had staid
The watch herself for him to keep,
Poor loving maid ! to look and weep,
Alive to every sound and sight.
Hearing the tumult with affright ;
And Thurenserah, as the bark
Turned round Cape Diamond's profile dark,
Projecting boldly from the beach,
Where not a shot the place could reach,
Beheld, as down he bent his head,
By the faint radiance of the stars
Breaking from out the floating bars
Of parting clouds that told the sway
Of the fierce storm had passed away.
But the locked features of the dead.

END OF CANTO FOURTH.

a 2

< I

CANTO FIFTH.

1 !

THE INN OF THE
CANOE.

WE-AN-DAH.

THE SUMMONS.
THE ENCAMPMENT.
THE MARCH.

iji

I ti-

CANTO FIFTH.

THE INN OF THE CANOE.

At the rude suburb's western end

A little inn of logs was set,
Where oft, a social hour to spend,

Batteaumen, hunters, coureurs met.
Above the porch, in rough daubed hue,
Outside, was painted a canoe ;
Within, a table stretched mid floor.

With benches ranged at either side ;
Whilst shelves, in one paled comer, bore

Flagons in glittering tints that vied.
The carcass of a slaughtered deer

Carelessly at one side was flung ;
A bow, a pouch, a fishing-spear

And Indian paddle, round were hung.
As afternoon its shadows wrought,
The customed throng the tavern sought ;
The coureui" rude, his coarse blue check
Spread from his bare and sunburnt neck ;
The hunter in his green-fringed skirt.

To match the forest leaves in hue ;

^y 'I

I ■ I

; I

l-Zi't

FRO>fTE\AC.

■

And tlic l»attoauman in liis sliirt

Of red, and tassclled c-aj) of blue.
Glasses wore in each hand, whilst rung
In loud confusion every tongue.

II.

'' Ho, HanitF! " a coureur said, " how now I
Wiiy dost thou show so grave u brow ?
A moon ago I saw thee track
The Huron Islands — thy canoe
Heaped up with blankets, and thy crew
So jovial ! Did the Hurons back
Without a barter turn thee ? "

" No !
But when their usual haunt I gained.
The Bell-rock, empty huts to show-
Where they had been alone remained.
At last, as close we searched about,
We found an aged sire ; he said,
Whilst shook his aged frame with dread,
That the fierce Iroquois were out
Upon the war-path, and were near,
And off his tribe had fled in fear.
He told us then to strike the rock,
And, short time after, to its sound,
Sending o'er isle and wave its swell,
We saw the frightened warriors flock

From all the neighbouring coverts round,
Their safety-sign that rocky bell.
To quiet then their fears we tried,

Till: INN OF THE CANOE

127

Hut iVoiu their hearts had vanished pride :

And linding talk of barter vidn,

We with our load turned buck again ! "

" And others," a batteauman said,

•' Ciui of the Iroquois owu dread !

Late at the setting of the sun,

Within the Thousand Islands Lake,
( lur crew had landed upon one,

Our fires to light and suppers take :
But e'er we "d struck a flint in brush,
I chanced to look between a bush,
And there I saw p. great canoe
Filled with the fiends, swift paddling through.
With Thurenserah glancing — look.

The curst young Atotarho ! round ;
Close our batteau was in a nook,

But never gave we sight or sound.
And the whole band passed through th^ same.
In wisdom as the demons came ! "
" How strange that Bell-rock ! Oft 1 've heard ' •
Thus thrust another in his word :
" The Hurons say, a towering form

Is seen beside, its stand to take,
Foretelling, though the winds are warm.
And skies are blue, that some fierce storm

Upon the scene is soon to break ;
And then he wakes a sound so clear
And loud, it pierces every ear,

Warning his children on the wave
To hasten homeward, ere the blast

I I

^i I

\:IH FllOXTENAC.

Upon their lingering bnrks is cast,

Too quick und fierce for skill to save.
13ut I have, comrades ! heard its tone

When up the thunderstorm was coming.
And, paddling near, have seen some crone

Or sire upon it loudly dmmming ;
And, for that matter, I its sound
Have heard when not a cloud I found,
And when, for days succeeding, nought
Of storm the soft bright weather brought ! "
Exclaimed a hunter, " As I went

Basquet ! along St. Charles's side
This morn, I saw thy rifle bent

To shoulder."

" A huge panther died
Beneath my aim, whose whine all night
Plunged me, the beast ! in sleepless plight.
Fiends are these Indians to the core ! "
Spoke the batteauman giving o'er
A draught, and deeply breathing — "Hush!
We-an-dah there is lying ! " —

" Tush
For him, the drunken wretch ! so low
He 's fall'n, he 's man no longer ! ho !
Here 's drink for thee We-au-dah ! sleep
No more ! " With swiftest, eagerest leap,
An Indian left a nook, and flew
To where the glass was held to view.
Quickly the rosy stream he quaffed,
Then with delirious pleasure laughed.

• !

THE INN OF THE CANOE.

" ("lood, good, firo-water's good ! " — his rlutcli
Another cup held toward him gained,
And then a third one wild ho drained —
" We-an-dah lovtjs the Pale-face much ! "
Then staggering back, his knife he drew.
And in a dance his limbs he threw,
Whilst the rough concourse round him stood
And mocked him in their reckless mood ;
" See ! ha ! ha ! see him as he bounds !
And hark ! his war-whoop now he sounds !
Ha ! ha ! ha ! mark him reel ! look. Fleer !
Look, Vaux ! a great Brave have we here !
A valiant warrior ! hear him shout,
' More, more fire-water ! ' Give it out.
Good landlord I fill it to the brim.
It vanishes at his lips as fast
As rain-drops on the water cast.
Ah ! that has proved too much for him ! "
And headlong on the floor he fell
Stretched out, relaxed, insensible ;
And as beneath their feet he lay.
They spurned him to a nook away.
Ah, forest Chieftain ! noble Brave !

Wert thou, indeed, so mean a thing !
Better have filled a warrior's grave,

Thou Eagle with a broken wing !

120

A*-

i i

! (

. \

III.

Now, round the table, each one held
A goblet, whilst a coureur swelled

1:^0

iMU)N"ri;NA( .

His rougli fiTf soiif,', all joininj^' in
The ciionis with tumultuous din

" Over the waters now we dash,

Ever sing merrily, boys, sing merrily I
Ripples around our paddles Hash,
Onward so merrily, thus go wt? !
Round let the bowl lly,

(^uafV, boys, quairi
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
Laugh, boys, laugh ! "

A hunter then took up the strain,
And pealed it till all rang again.

" Through the thick forests now we tread,
Ever sing merrily, boys, sing merrily !
Crack goes the rifle ! the game falls dead.
Onward then merrily, thus go we !
Round let the bowl fly,

(iuaff", boys, quaff"!
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
Laugh, boys, laugh I "

Then a batteauman passed the song,
RolUng a volume full along.

" L^p, up the waters pole we now,

Ever sing merrily, boys, sing merrily !

Tramp, tramp, tramp on each side of our prow.
Onward so merrily, thus go we !

WE-AN-I)AII.

Kouiid let the bowl lly.

t)imtT, boys, quutVI
Ha! Im: Im ! ha!

Jiauj,'h, boys, lauj^h ! "

' t

And thon all joined their tones so deep,
The very glasses seemed to leap

" Thus with our padcllo, our rille, and pole,

Ever sing merrily, boys, sing merrily
We go through life, with the grave for our g(.al,

f :

\»

• I

Onward so merrily, thus go w
Round let the bowl fly,

(^uaff, boys, quatf I
Ha! ha! ha! ha!
Laugh, boys, laugh ! "

. I

WE-AN-DAH.

IV.

Frontenac, in his usual room,

Sat with a brow of deepened gloom :

June's sunshine lay upon the tloor.

Through the oped casement came the breeze,
And the broad transverse gallery o'er

He saw the distant tops of trees.
A dark ancestral portrtiit glowed

V'i'i KKONTENAC.

As, sonrfhitif,' out each liidlcn ilyo.
The suiili^'lil i)\v llif .surface lloweil,

Ami wok<; to life brow, (liiok, ami eye.
Hesidi! 11 tal»lo where ho Mat,
A woh'-iiouml crouched upon u iimt,
Whilst parchnieiits, maps, uiul voluincis lay
.Around in neyligent array.

At lenf,'th he rose, his threshold passed,
And on the gallery stood, where vast
The prospect opened to his view.
Steeped in the sunshines golden hue.
Beneath him was the chasm of air

Where the clifV fell ; thence sloped the steep.
Rocky and grouped with thickets, where

Browsed the quick goats with many a leap.
The lower city's chimneys rose

Along the marge in long array,
Whilst, in its calm and smooth repose.

Like air the broad curved river lay.
A brigantine was creeping round,
W^ith its one sail, Cape Diamond's bound ;
By Orleans' Island a batteau
Was, like a lazy spider slow,
Crawling — the boatmen, spots of red,
Pushing their poles of glimmering thread.
Whilst field, roof, forest filled his gaze,
Till vanishing in the soft gray haze.

WE-AN-DAII.

\'M\

VI.

Hut nought was tlicro to clinrm his oye,

Uis tnind gave (hirkiifsn to iho sky ;

A hruodiii},' sliailo was o'er the scene,

So gloriDiis in its summer mion.

Again his gloomy rooni lie sought,

His hrow o'crsproaJ with (hcurier thought : —

" Poor, poor Lav(M-gno I poor youth ! that he

Should die, hnivo boy ! defending mo I

And by that bloody demon too !

That Thurenserah ! " — Deeper hue

Fell on his visage like a pall.

" The sire, and now the son, to fall

Beneath the tomahawk ! '" — Again

That dark deed of the distajit past

Was on his shuddering memorv east ;

Lavergne's dead form — his harrowing pain —

His loneliness — the evening gloom

Darkening within this self-same room —

The li st Lucille — that radiant child !

And she, the young, the perished mother,
Loved with such depth of passion wild,

Slain, slain, and, heaven ! by her own brother,
And he an Iroquois ! That trick
Of Thurenserah 's too ! Thus mocked I
Cheated ! Jiskoko's cell uidocked
liefore his very eyes, and he
Attacked by his fierce enemy
Ln his own room. — " Without there, ho ! '

1 34 . FRONTENAC.

A guard obeyed. " Ta-weu-deh, quick ! " —
The usual strides went to and fro
Until the Huron runner came.
" Ta-wen-dch ! " — with an eye of flame —
" Thy foot be now the eagle's wing !
Take the war-wampum ! my command
Bear, that the hatchet through the land
Unburied be against my foe, .

The Iroquois ! This arm shall bring
At last these haughty nations low ! "
Ta-wen-deh vanished, and once more
His tread he to the gallery bore.

VII.

At length in Mountain Street he spied
We-an-dah, with his sauntering stride.
Across him seemed to flash a thought ;
His room regained he. " Ho, Allaire ! "
Again the guardsman entered there.
" Haste I let We-an-dah here be brought ! "

VIII.

The Indian came — his flushed swell 'n face
Of deep debauch showed wildest trace.
His scalp-lock down neglected hung ;
Round him a blanket soiled was flung ;
His once rich leggings now were torn ;
His moccasins to tatters worn ;
Ah, forest Chieftain ! noble Brave !
Wert thou, indeed, so mean a thing !

WE-AN-DAH.

l3o

Better have filled a warrior's grave,
Thou Eagle with a broken wing I

IX.

'Twas but one fleeting week ago
That, capturing him in chase, Lavergne
To Frontenac the Chief had brought,
Soaring in soul, unbowed in thought.
Reared before Yon-non-de-yoh stern
And fierce, a foe, a fearless foe !
Taunting him as a Brave should taunt,
A Brave whom danger ne'er could daunt.
Yea ! hui'ling scorn, as if he stood
Within his native forest, free,
Frontenac captive at liis side.
Showing, through all, such glorious pride,
That Thurenserah's self, had he
Been in his place, had not defied
With sterner, higher, haughtier mood
Or loftier wrath, his enemy.

That very night, as with his wound
Lavergne's sword gave him in the fray,
Fainting within his cell he lay.
The guardsman, as his hurt he bound.
Offered, alas ! the fatal draught.
Which for the first time now he quaffed.
As the fell fire within him ran.
He sank at once to less than man ;

136

FRONTENAC.

He chattered in delirious glee
Amidst his feverish agony ;
And, as the first delicious glow
He felt, first poison of the foe !
He thought the white man, that could make
Such draught as this, his thirst to slake.
Had greater power and skill to lift
The soul on soaring wing, than even
Great Hah-wen-ne-yo, who had given
Only his tame and tasteless gift.
Hour after hour he drank the flame ;
More strong the horrid thirst became ;
More eager did he grasp the bowl ;
Deeper and deeper sank his soul ;
Whilst Frontenac, with scornful smile,
Marking by what a weapon he
Could strike down his red enemy,
One of the hated race, in guile
Hour after hour the stream supplied,
Then, for a time, withheld the tide,
Until the Brave ! the warrior proud !
The strong-winged Eagle of the cloud !
An On-on-dah-gah ! — he that late
Dared Yon-non-de-yoh in his state,
And would have strode to fiery death
With the stem war-song on his breath.
He, he ; oh, shame ! oh, shame ! subdued !
Slave-like ! scourged hound-like ! lowly sued
At the contemptuous guardsman's foot,
That Yon-non-de-yoh still should give

WE-AN-DAII.

The stream by which he ceased to live,
Save as aii abject, grovelling brute,
Till Frontenac, in deep disdain,
Yielded the devilish draught again,
And, in pure scorn then made him free
To roam Quebec at liberty.
The mark — the sneer — the jest of all —
How could an Iroquois so fall !
Ah, forest Chieftain ! noble Brave !

Wert thou, indeed, so mean a thing !
Better have filled a warrior's grave.

Thou Eagle with a broken wing !

137

XI.

But now before stem Frontenac,
The Chief seemed struggling sore to call
Some of his ancient spirit back ;
He strove to lift his figure tall
To its full height, and make his mien
Show the proud warrior he had been ;
B \t ah, in vain, in vain, his eye,
From Frontenac 's now lenient gaze,
When he would seek its glance to raise,
Cowering and dim, away would fly,
And there he stood, an humbled slave,
Not a Ho-de-no-sonne Brave.

XII.

" We-an-dah ! " Up the Chieftain rolled
His eye at the commanding tone,

13S FRONTENAC.

" A sweeping cloud of midnight fold

Within thy people's sky has growi
And Yon-non-de-yoh 's in the trail
Between us, sharp thick briers prevail,
And soon will Yon-nor-de-yoh's tread
I3e on the war-path stern and dread ;
But thou ! thou art my brother, Brave !
We 've buried in one common grave
The hatchet, trodden it down deep,
And still between us will we keep
The chain of friendship ! thou wilt go,
My friend and guide against my foe ! "

XIII.

Ill

" Hooh ! " and the warrior reared his frame
Proudly, whilst flashed his eye with flame,
" Hooh ! " and he flung his arm on high,
As if he 'd soar up to the sky,
" Does Yon-non-de-yoh " — and his look
Was lofty and sublime, as down

On Frontenao it wildly flashed,
Then changed it to a mighty frown.
His lip with rage impetuous shook,

And on the floor his foot he dashed —
" Think that We-an-dah is a dog ! " —
He clutched his knife with fury, " Rather "'-
Grated his teeth, — " my Canada father
" Back to his cell the Brave shall flog.
Than he will lift the hatchet red
Against his tribe or League ! " And dread

WE-AN-DAII.

131)

Kang his shrill whoop, so loudly pealed,
It seemed all objects round him reeled.

XIV.

Froutenic started as at first
This fierce defiance on him burst.
Then, smiling in derision grim,
Signed to Allaire close by, who took
A cup and flagon from a nook,
And filled the goblet to the brim ;
The Indian threw one eager glance

On it, in proud restraint then turned,
x\nd with majestic aspect stood ;
Then viewing it again askance,

He clutched it, whilst his features burned,
And drank it as a wolf does blood.
Another draught then down he flung,

And then another, still another,
Then reeling up, with stammering tongue,

Said, " Yes ! We-an-dah is the brother
Of Yon-non-de-yoh ! whitemen tdl
His brothers are ! the Brave feels tall !
His heart feels big ! fire-water 's good !
It fills his veins with leaping blood !
He '11 go where Yon-non-de-yoh goes !
His foes shall be We-an-aau's foes !
Whoop ! whoop ! fire-water 's good ! more, more !
And down he pitched upon the floor.
Ah, forest Chieftain ! noble Brave !

Wert thou, indeed, so mean a thing !

I M' FROXTEN'AC.

1»

lictter have filled a warrior's rjrave,
Thou Eagle with a broken wing I

THE SUMMONS.

XV.

Ho ! ho ! to the war-path ! with high lifted head,

The Huron unburied the tomahawk red ;

The bowed Adirondack looked up with the knife

Gleaming keen in his hand for the merciless strife ;

The Ottawa's wild war-paint glowed fresh on his cheek,

As he came the fierce hatred of ages to wreak ;

The rough hardy boatman left river and lake ;

The trapper the beaver ; the woodman the brake ;

The noble clasped cuirass of steel on his breast,

For the glory that gave to existence its zest ;

The artisan closed his dim workshop, and took

His arquebuse rusting for years in its nook ;

The soldier, who followed on Hungary's plain

Carignan's spread flag, grasped his musket again ;

The husbandman, singing gay Normandy's songs

Amongst Canada's grain-fields, rose too with the throngs ;

The axe 'midst the stumps of the clearing was tlung ;

No longer the hunter's sharp rifle-crack rung ;

The village was empty ; deserted the glade ;

All came where the banner of France was displayed ;

Ho, ho, to the war-path ! stem Frontenac's tread

Is to dash to the earth the leagued enemy's head.

THE KNCAMrMLXT.

THE ENCAMPMENT.

XVI.

The summer sun was sinking bright

Behind the woods of Isle Perrot ;
Back Lake St. Louis gleamed the light

In rich and mingled glow ;
Tiie slanting radiance at Lachine
Falls on an animated scene.
Beside the beach, upon the swell

Scores of canoes were lightly dancing,
With many a long batteau, where fell

The sun, on pole and drag-rope glancing.
Throngs were upon the gravelly beach
Bustling with haste, and loud in speech ;
Some were placin;;;^ rocky batteaux

Cannon and mortars and piles of grenades ;
Some were refitting their arrows and bows,

Others were scanning their muskets and V'ades ;
Some were kindling their bivouac fire ;
Others were blending

Their voices in song ;
Whilst others, contending
With utterance strong.
Scarce kept from blows in their reckless ire.

XVII.

Scabbard touched hatchet, and scalp-lock plume ;
Wheeling platoons here and there forced room ;

142

FROXTENAC.

Tho Indian with girdle and knife was here ;

There was the bufT-coated musketeer ;

The pikemau's steel breastplate here flashed in tiie sun.

By the swarthy Canadian's rude halberd and gun ;

The nobles gay mantle and sabre passed there,

By the hunter's rough deerskin and long shaggy hair ;

Coureurs de bois and batteaumen, made gay

By their sashes and caps, swell'd the mingled aiTay ;

Whilst guttural accents and laughter loud,

Mixed with the tones of stern command ;

Loudly arose upon every hand

From the ouick, busy, and eager crowd.

XVIII.

r '

O'er a fur-trader's cabin, spread broadly on high,
France's white standard saluted the eye ;
Beneath were the griffins of Frontenac gleaming
In gold, on the breast of a pennon outstreaming.
Before the threshold the sentries went,

Two of the guardsmen grim and tall ;
There were the steps of the leaders bent,

In and out of the audience-hall.

XIX.

The sunset tints from the lake withdrew.
And now on the broad expanse was seen,
West — rough Ottawa's tawny hue ;
East — Cataraqui's splendid green
Onward flowing, disdaining to mingle,
Either colour distinct and single ;

THE ENCAMrMF.VT.

U;j

Aud not till league on league were passed,
Did the hues, so separate, blend at last.

XX.

As the twilight darkened round,
Flame on flame existence found ;
Stir and bustle ceased, and all
Welcomed night's slow gathering pall.

XXIc

ill

Circlir ■ a fire up merrily streaming,

A group of pikemen aud musketeers
Sat with their corslets and weapons gleaming

Red in the light.

" 'Tis a sight that cheers
My bosom, to see this warlike host
Cooped so long in one dreary post ! "
Said old Allaire.

•' Yes ! well say est thou,
Answered Le Croix. " I 've vowed a vow
To holy St. Ursula, that this pike
Shall ten of the whooping demons strike !"
" Ten, say est thou ! should there be but one,
And he Thurenserah, thy prowess were done ! "
" What know'st thou of my prowess ! "

" Nought.

But if thou the Iroquois often hadst met.
Less wouldst thou boast ! De Nonville sought

Our Seneca foemen ! I cannot forget
The combat we waged mid the thickets and trees,

\»

I v\

144 FRONT FN AC.

With our iimpping find Horpcnt-likc enemies.

Their Imllcts putlen d like hull about ;

And then their hideous battle shout,

It clcavea the brain like a fiery dart :

In many a fij,'ht have I bonio a j>art,

At Lamden and Stecnkirk I battled, but ne'er

Strove I Iteforc with empty air.

And death all about me ! "

" Alliure was in fear,
Methinks ! " said the pikeraan, around with a sneer.
** In fear ! base hound ! "

" Nay, nay ! " outbroke
The others, " Lecroix was but in joke !
Men should not aet like thoughtless boys ;
Sing us, Allaire, the soldier's joys ! "

xxn.

Allaire had started to his feet,

Clencliing his hand, whilst the other stood
Smiling, yet holding his arm, as tliough
To intercept a threatened blow;

But quicldy calmed the old guardsman's blood,
And again on the grass he took his seat;
And, clearing his voice with an effort, sang
In tones that aloud o'er the bivouac rang.

" Banners all around us flying !
Trumpets all around us ringing !

THE ENCAMPMENT.

Weapons gloaming ! olmr^'ers springing !
('omradcs ! who 's afraid of dying !
Forward march ! quick on we go,
Gladly, freely, breast to foe;
Forward, forward, on we go,
Such the joys we soldiers know.
Honour bright to fleeting breath,
Give us victory or death ;
With our bosoms to the foe.
Such the joys wo soldiers know !

145

" When is past the conflict gory.
And our veins have ceased their leaping,
Then the watch-fire redly heaping,
Round fly merry song nnd story ;
Frowning care behind we throw
As our gleaming glasses glow ;
Backward march we bid it go !
Such the joys we soldiers know !
Ever ready for the field,
Ever ready life to yield ;
Onward, onward, breast to foe.
Such the joys we soldiers know ! "

XXIII.

In the room of a lonely roof that stood
Beside the rapid and sounding flood.
Around a board with glasses set,
A joyous company were met ;
The noble leaders of the array

\U> FRONTKNAC.

Sprodiijjj II iVw hri^ht liuiii-s awiiy.

HfTP sat \U' (inihund Vamlroiul ; tlierp

(alliiros iiml H«!kaii(ourt inockiiif' at care.

Sparkling' jrst iiiid witty ^'Irain

Shot o'er the wiiuTup's ruildy htmim ;

And fitorv, d«^bato, uud legend old,

With fiV(|Mrnt song time onward rolled.

Hark! a voice sounds merrily :

'Tis Bekitncoiirt suiging in light-henrted glee.

" Lovely i^'ranre I my native Franco !

At thy name ray bosom bomula !
To ray eye sweet visions dance !

In my ear soft music sounds !
Hail ! thy puq)le vineyards tlowing !
Hail ! thy bright-eyed daughters glowing !

Of my life thou seem'st a part,
Lovely France ! Ah, la belle l^'rauce,

Glorious France, how dear thou art I

" Lovely France ! ray native France !

Famous are thy battle-fields ;
And where points thy glittering lance,

Victor}' there her trophy yields.
Hail ! thy high historic story !
Hail ! thy legends rife with glory !

Shrine, where bends my willing heart I
Lovely France ! ah, la belle France !

Glorious France ! how dear thou art I "

THE r.Nt'AMPMKNT.

1^7

xxir.

As Mu\^^ the voice uix)ii the appliiudin^ throng,
riif' young I>c (trtLs tjikcs up the thread of snug.

What thouj»ht makes my heoi't with most tenderness swell "
lis the thought of thy heauty, my sweet (iuhrielle I
I'd th(! soft wind of summer swings lightly the tree,
Hul the glide of thy step is far lighter to me.

2.
" Oh! the sunshine around thee sheds riohor its glo?.,
And the breeze sighs more blandly when kissing th\ brow ;
The nightingale chaunts hor melodious glee,
Jlut the sound of thy voice is far sweeter tc me.

" Thou hast circled thy chain — thou hast woven thy spell

For aye round this bosom, my own Gabrielle !

The star of the evening is brilliant to see,

But the glance of thy eye is far brighter to me.

• In life, my loved angel, when struggling in death.
Thy dear name will dwell on my las' ebbing breath.
Heaven's bliss would be clouded and tl jk without thee,
The step, voice and eye, that make heaven to me."

H 2

FRONTEXAC.

THE MAPxCH.

XXV,

J)ay after day, on Cataraqui's breast,

The embattled host their upward pathway pressed.

All the noblest of the land

Mingled in that warlike band ;

Gallant men, whose blood had poured

Where'er France had drawn the sword.

XXVI.

i
i

In the bright midst was gray-haired Frontenac,

His fiery soul in arms for the attack.

Long had he burned his vengeful hate to shower

On the wild foes so scornful of his power ;

To crush and whelm them in one general doom

Of blood and flame, and now the hour was come.

XXVII,

On the flotilla passed — sword, pike, and gun
Traced on the wave, and glittering in the sun.

XXVIII.

Now by green islands, where the feeding deer
Looked, and was gone ere rifle quick could bear ;

Now by still coves, upon whose mirrors clear
The glossy duck seemed gliding through the air ;

Now o'er some lake, whose broad expanded breast.
As came the breeze, to white-capped waves was driven,

THE MARCH.

.\:ul on whose distant flood appeared to rest
The hazy softness of the summer heaven ;
Athwart the mouth of some fierce river, now
Hurling its tumbling foaming tribute in.
And marking with its stain its conqueror's brow,
Beheld for hours before the spot they win.
Merrily now some basin o'er.

Borne with paddle and oar quick dashing ;
Turning now to the tangled shore,
Where the cataract down came crashing ;
Aud whilst a part, with weary struggling care,
Across the portage wild the burthens bear,
The rest, waist-deep, midst whirling foam, drag slow,
Thus Ughtened of their loads, canoe and huge batteau.

Ul)

XXIX.

Now by smooth banks where, stretched beneath the shade,

The Indian hunter gazed with curious eye ;
Now catching glimpses of some grassy glade,

Rich with the sunshine of the open sky ;
Now by the vista of some creek, where stood

The moose mid-leg, and tossing high his crown,
Hazy with gnats, and vanishing in the wood,

Waking to showers of white the shallows brown.
Thus on they passed by day — at night they made
Their bivouac-fires amidst the forest shade.
Scaring the wolf and panther, till the reign
Of morning bade them launch upon the flood again.

END OF CANTO FIFTH.

THE

A-GA

CAYl

THE

CANTO SIXTH.

THE WAR-HATCHET.
THE WILDERNESS.
THE CATARACT.
THE SENEGAS.
A-GA-YEN-TEH.
CAYUGA LAKE.
THE CAYUGAS.

THE ONEIDAS.
THE STRAWBERRY

DANCE.
THE CANOE VOYAGE.
THE MOHAWK'S SCALP

DANCE.

Ab
I
Aloi
II
An
S
The
Glei
Upo
His
Hat
His
Whi
Sat,

Wit!
Behl

CANTO SIXTH.

THE WAR-HATCPIET.

Upon a gorgeous woodland scene,

Whose limits mocked the eagle's sight,
A billowy sea of differing green,

The sun looked doNvnward from his height.
Along an Indian trail, that traced

Its deep seam through these forests vast,
A narrow furrow, midst the waste,

S\viftly the Atotarho passed.
The wai'-paint's black and crimson streaks
Gleamed fiercely on his brow and cheeks ;
Upon his usual robe were spread
His battle deeds in tints of red ;
Hat^.het, fusee, and knife he wore,
His shaven head the war-tuft bore ;
Whilst a roused spirit, fierce yet high.
Sat, like couched flame, within his eye.

>. ^ .- i-

II.

With a red girdle round his frame,
Behind the Hah-yah-do-yah came.

H 3

1.54

FRONTENAC.

Nodded a crimsoned eagle plume
Over a brow of crimsoned gloom ;
No weapon bore he, save on high
A hatchet of vermilion dpt.

THE WILDERNESS.

in.

Innumerable viptas far
Extended, myriad trunks beiween.
Eye-tangling and irregular,
Till closed by hillock or ravine.
Trees, trees, a verdant world, were round.
Straight, crooked, sh-nt, each seeking light;
With some all splintered, bare, and white,
Telling the lightning's blasting bound.
And now and then was seen a path
Of prostrate trunks iu chaos cast,
With upturned roots, dark circles vast.
Signs of the fierce tornado's vsrrath.

IV.

Pines met the eye, all tasselled o'er ;
Hemlocks that fringy cones upbore ;
Oaks with their scallopped verdure ; beeches
Whose moss the northward pathway teaches ;
Poplars, light-hued and sensitive.

THE WILDKUNESS.

To every air-breath all alive :

Maples, their red-stemmcfl foliage tlickerin^

To downiest winds like streamlets bickt-ring

Striped dog-woods, birches sweet, that stood

The incense-bearers of the wood ;

Grim lurching firs and laurels green.

Showing the swamp's wet, clustered scene.

155

Through this gigantic roof, the light
Here, made some natural opening bright ;
Here, down a narrow vista swept ;
Here, underneath dense thickets crept ;
Here, broken, struggling being found,
Sprinkled like fire-fiies on the ground.
But scarce these colors few the swav
Broke of the general hue of grey.
That filled, subdued and soft, the aii.
Making a solemn twilight there.

VI.

This glorious sylvan scene showed rife

Each stage of vegetable life.

The downy sprout, the ground-bird trod

Elastic to the downy sod ;

The sapling with faint verdure crowned.

Low bendmg to the squirrel's bound ;

The tree, that, towering strong and high,

Spread its green standard to the sky ;

156

FRONTENAC.

Then, the dead top with hchens dressed ;
Then, the dark hollow in the breast ;
At last the dead prone log, with moss
Flung, like a shroud, its form across.

VII.

As by the Indians passed, its lay
The robin ceased and shot away ;
Off, like a flash, the red-bird flew ;
Its gambol scared, the rabbit threw ;
The crackling of the under-brush
Told of the deer's retreating rush ;
With heavy wing, and croaking hoarse,
The crow urged o'er the woods its course ;
Whilst now and then the eagle grey
Pointed his beak and soared away.

VIII.

O'er some green glad« now went their tread,
Spotted with strawberries pouting red ;
Now by a fountain clear as dew
Trickling its mossy chanDf,! through ;
Now in a broad and sweeping aisle ;
N ow in a deep and dark defile ;
And now across the jagged bridge
Of some tree fall'n from ridge to ridge,
Forming between the hollow black,
Where crept the sedgy streamlet's track.

THE CATARACT.

IX.

A steady sound, whose rumble deep

Had long been mingling with tlie air,
More loud and stern commenced to sweep,

Till on the ear it seemed to bear
A mighty load ; the woods it filled

With its grand volume of stem sound ;
Nature's most secret heart seemed thrilled,

And every other tone was drowned.
To the light wind the branches shook,
Down sparkled on its way the brook,
Flew in and out each merry bird.
But not a sigh, dash, chirp, was heard.

157

Over the trees a form of snow
Was towering, by the sunny glow
Kiss'd into flashing diamonds ; bright
That silvery shape of glancing light,
Seeming, as changing, quivering there,
Some hovering spirit of the air.

XI.

Well, well the Atotarho knew
That shape, thus glittering to his view ;
Oft had he stood and on it gazed,
As in its noontide pomp it blazed ;

15H riU)\TKN.\C.

And whon tho iiiouiilij,'ht o'er it threw
Its delicate robe of silvery hue :
In contrast swoot and bright, tx) where
Tho crashing, flushing, plunging form
Of Hoods rush'd down in fearful storm,
One mighty curve upon the air.
The first seemed telling him to rise,
Until his fame should reach the skies ;
The last in thunder seemed to say,
Kneel, Atotarho ! kneel and pray !
Forget thy deeds, and with low brow.
Think of the Ilah-wen-ne-yo now !

XII.

'Twas 0-ni-ah-ga-rah there that hurled
Its awful grandeur down its rock ;

Dim sign of that dread shape a world
Heeling, shall see, when with fierce shock

He 11 plant His tread on sea and shore,

And swear that Time shall be no more.

Farther my harp is mute to tell

Of the Sublime— the Terrible.

THE SENEGAS.

XIII.

The westering sun shot slanting beam
Along a narrow winding stream,
Bathing the basswoods of the bank,
bending in interlacing fold,

V-OA-YKN-TKII.

159

Whose rich and ident cliistorH drank
Tho light, till r^ecmcd thoy wrought ui gold.

XIV.

An Indian castle clustered hy,
Girdled with palisadoes high.
Within a grassy spam that lay
Next to tho forest, an array
Of warriors in a circle sat,
Each crouched upon his hcar-skin mat.
Solemnly passed the wreathing pipe
Adorned with many a blazoned type ;
Whilst each fixed eye and rigid face
Of deep abstracted thought bore trace.

A-GA-YEN-TEH.*

XV.

At length a warrior rose, his breast
Bearing a snake, tattooed, its crest
And forked tonguo ready — with a brow
Where care had driven its furrowing plough.
And with a keen heart-searching eye
That flew around, each point to spy,
As if some danger near to find
Lurking beside him or behind.

• Meaning " to strike," in Seneca.

101)

FRONTKNAC.

XVI.
Twas A-ga yon-toh, chioftiiin fiiiiiod '
Who, midst tlio Lenguo's stern wnrriwrs, claimed
To Thurciiseriili iioxt, the meed
Of honour und authority
Hy th(! lierco Nations yielded free
To wisdom and to valorous deed.

XVII,

! !

Yet though in council eloquent

And wise, and on the war-i)ath brave,
To venomed envy's thraldom bent

Dark A-ga-yen-teh, veriest slave ;
And hatred fierce with envy came,
Kindling his breast with blended tlame.
'Twas Thurenserah's fame that fraught
With venom foul his every thought ;
His power and sway within his heart

Eankled in sleepless ceaseless ire,
But yet, so matchless was his art,

He veiled from all the fiendish fire.
Oft in the Union Feast would sneer
Or gesture of disdain appear
When Thurenserah met his eye,
But with such quickness passed they by
That scarcely could the sight descry.
He seemed a shadowy scorn to throw

Upon the Atotarho's state
By quick grimace — eye's sidewise glow.

A-OA-YEN-TEII.

Or tone's slight Hiimusra — yet liis hato
Was ne'er dispkyed in ojMjn word ;
And all these signs so slightly stirred
The mind, none heeded at the time ;
And still, 80 lurking was the slime,
Thut memory by unwitting spell
On those strange shrugs and smiles wuuld dwell,
Ikit then some action high and proud
Of the young Atotarho far
Swept every doubt, as from a star
The strong blast sweeps the transient cloud.

XVIIl.

For a brief instant silently

Like a tall form of bronze stood he,

Then rearing more erect his head

And stretching out his arm, he said ; —

101

XIX.

" Sachems and warriors ! each his eye
Cast round ; the sun about to die
Once more, sends out his loveliest blaze
Lighting our lodges, graves, and maize.
Where these stand now, ye oft have heard
(Brothers 1 this heart holds every word)
In time of snows our old men tell.
How by our sires the Kah-kwahs fell ;
Their sons will ne'er then slumber long

De-o-se-o-wah's huts within ;
Rouse warriors ; to the war-path throng !

162 FRONTEXAC.

Here, gloiy Braves ran never win !
Our tomahawks are thirsty ! see

How bright they are ! we '11 let them drink
Deep of the blood of Illini !

Will any of my young men shrink ?
No ! Nun-do-wah-gahs never fail
When points Agreskone* the trail.
Never the war-path did they shun !
Sachems and warric ^j ! I have done ! "

XX.

A loud '• yo-hah ! " burst out, but e'er
Another could his mind declare,
A form strode in with lofty tread,
A crimson hatchet in his cling.
Glanced for a moment round the ring,
Then waved the weapon o'er his head.

XXI.

" The Atotarho ! " pealed on high ;
Each Brave leaped upward with the cry ;
" The Atotarho ! " every head

Was bent ; again arose the shout
" The Atotarho ! " quick it spread

Till every quarter pealed it out ;
" The Atotarho ! " matrons, maids.

Children, old men, youths, warriors, all

The War-God of the Iroquois.

A-GA-YEN-TEII.

Came rushing from the palisades,

Housed by that loved and well-known call,
Whilst the lean dogs that glanced about
Joined their loud barkings to the shout.

XXII.

Grim A-ga-yen-teh's eye flashed fire,
As Thurenserah first strode in
And burst on high the joyful din,
Then lost his brow all trace of ire.
And, bo^Ning, he stood waiting till
He heard the Atotarho s will.

163

XXIII.

Slow Thurenserah swayed around
The hatchet, hushing every sound.
Whilst every eye to his was turned ;

And, by the crimson hatchet woke
To flame anticipating, burned

Flashing more fierce as now he spoke :
" Braves ! Yon-non-de-yoh comes to slay

And burn ! hooh ! Nun-do-wah-gah Braves !
To On-on-dah-gah ! up ! away !

Fly warriors ! for your fathers' graves !
Let every young man seek the trail ! "
Out burst the warwhoop's quavering wail.
Forth knives and hatchets flashed, once more
The whoop, keen echoing, trembled o'er,
Lodges and palisadoes rung.
Each tree seemed gifted with a tongue,

164

FRONTEXAC.

Each face grew wild, the very air
Gleamed with the weapons wielded there,
Till twilight, soft and gentle, drew
Across the scene its shimmering hue.

CAYUGA LAKE.

XXIV.

Another lovely sunset beamed

Upon Gwe-u-gwe's glassy breast,
Which in responsive lustre gleamed

As if there glowed a second west.
The forests on the Eastern shore
Half robes of golden radiance bore ;
Harsh sights and sounds with melting day

Had from the lovely scene been driven,
Nature seemed kneeling down to pray

In praise and gratitude to Heaven.

XXV.

Sweet sylvan lake ! in memory's gold
Is set the time, when first my eye
From thy green shore beheld thee hold

Thy mirror to the sunset sky !
No ripple brushed its delicate air.
Rich silken tints alone were there ;
The far opposing shore displayed,
Mingling its hues, a tender shade ;

CAYUGA LAKE.

165

A sail, scarce seeming to the sight
To move, spread there its pinion white,
Like some pure spirit stealing on
Down from its realm, by beauty won.
Oh, who could view the scene nor feel
Its gentle peace within him steal,
Nor in his inmost bosom bless
Its pure and radiant loveliness !
My heart bent down its willing knee
Before the glorious Deity ;
Beauty led up my heart to Him,
Beauty, though cold, and poor, and dim
Before his radiance, beauty still
That made my bosom deeply thrill ;
To higher life my being wrought.
And purified my every thought,
Crept like soft music through my mind,
Each feeling of my soul refined,
And lifted me that lovely even
One precious moment up to heaven.

XXVI,

Then, contrast wildj I savv- the cloud

The next day rear its sable crest,
And heai'd with awe the thunder loud

Come crashing o'er thy blackening breast.
Down swooped the Eagle of the blast.

One mass of foam was tossing high,
Whilst the red lightnings, fierce and fast,

Shot from the wild and scowling sky,

166 FRONTENAC.

And burst in dark and mighty train
A tumbling cataract, the rain.
I saw within the driving mist

Dim writhing stooping shapes — the trees
That the hist eve so softly kissed,

And birds so filled with melodies.
Still swept the wind with keener shriek,

The tossing waters higher rolled,
Still fiercer flashed the lightning's streak,

Still gloomier frowned the tempest's fold.

XXVII.

Ah such, ah such is Life, I sighed.
That lovely yester-eve and this !
Now it reflects the radiant pride

Of youth and hope and promised bliss,
Earth's future track an Eden seems
Brighter than e'en our brightest dreams.
Again, the tempest rushes o'er.
The sky's blue smile is seen no more,
The placid deep to foam is tossed,
All trace of beauty, peace, is lost,
Despair is hovering, dark and wild.
Ah ! what can save earth's stricken child !

XXVIII.

Sweet sylvan lake ! beside thee now.
Villages point their spires to heaven.

Rich meadows wave, broad grain-fields bow,
The axe resounds, the plough is driven ;

CAYUGA LAKK.

167

Down verdant points come herds to drink,
Flocks strew, like spots of snow, thy brink ;
The frequent fiirm-house meets the sight,
'Mid fallinj^ harvests scythes are bright,
The watch-dog's bark comes faint from far.
Shakes on the ear the saw-mill's jar,
The steamer like a darting bird

Parts the rich emerald of thy wave.
And the gay song and laugh are heard,

But all is o'er the Indian's grave.
Pause, white man ! check thy lifted stride !
Cease o'er the flood thy prow to guide !
Until is given one sigh sincere
For those who once were monarchs here.
And prayer is made, beseeching God
To spare us his avenging rod
For all the wrongs upon the head
Of the poor helpless savage shed ;
Who, strong when we were weak, did not
Trample us down upon the spot,
But weak when we were strong, were cast
Like leaves upon the rushing blast.

XXIX.

Sweet sylvan lake ! one single gem

Is in thy liquid diadem.

No sister has this little isle

To give its beauty smile for smile ;

With it to hear the blue-bird sing :

" Wake leaves, wake flowers ! here comes the Spring ! "

168 FRONTENAC.

With it to weave for Summer's tread
Mosses below aiid bowers o'erhead ;
With it to flash to gorgeous skies
The opal pomp of Autumn skies ;
And when stem Winter's tempests blow
To sliriuk beneath his robes of snow.

XXX.

Sweet sylvan lalie ! that isle of thine
Is like one hope through gloom to shine
Is like one tie our life to cheer ;
Is like one flower when all is sere ;
One ray amidst the tempest's might ;
One star amidst the glooDi of night.

XXXI.

Back to the evening of my strain I
Back to the sunset hour again !

THE CAYUGAS.

XXXII.

Amidst the lake's rich jewelled hues

Moves a flotilla of canoes

Toward the green shore ; the sinking light

Pair:;^ Ko-lah-ne-kah's lodges low;
Makes clustered apple-orchards bright,

And maize-fields bathes with rosy glow.

rilK CAYUOAS.

1U'.>

XXXIII.

From the pure gra.ss-grceu depths all day
The young men had been drawing prey ;
'J'he greedy pike in mottled vest,
i'he perch in golden armour drest,
The glossy trout with spotted side,
The hass with silver streaks supplied ;
And now, as homeward course they take,
Thev raise their anthem to the lake.

(iwe-u-gwe the lovely ! Gwo-u-gwe the bright I
Our bosoms rejoice in thy beautiful sight ;
Thou bear'st our Kah-we-yahs, we bathe in thy flow.
And when we are hungered thy bounties we know.

In peace now is spread the pure plain of thy waves,
Like the maidens that cast their Itind looks on their Brave.s
But when the black tempest cornes o'er with its sweep,
Like the Braves on their war-pa' h fierce rages thy deep.

riiou art lovely, when morning breaks forth from the sky.
Thou art lovely, when noon hurls his darts from on high.
Thou art lovely, when sunset paints brightly thy brow,
.\nd in moonlij'bt and starlight still lovclv art thou.

170

niONTKNAC.

(iwo-u-gwo ! ( j we-u-gwo ! how sad would we be,
Wore the gloom of our forests not brightened by thee ;
Hah-wen-n(!-yo would seem from his sons turned awiw
<iwe-u-gwe ! Gwe-u-gwe ! then list to our lay.

XXXIV.

As the Kah-we-yahs touched the shore,
A band of other warriors came

b'rom the thick rank of woods before,
iJcnding beneath their forest game ;

Tiie slender deer, soft, ebon-eyed,

As if in sorrow he had died ;

The long-Ofivd rabbit dangling down,

The partridge in its mottled brown,

The shaggy bear in sable coat

(iaping with white-fanged crimson throat,

The wild-cat with its eyes' green gleam.

And wolf with jaws one foamy stream.

XXXV.

Pausing upon a little glade

That edged with grassy stripe the shade.

In one great pile their game they threw,

Around it in a circle drew,

Then in wild dance their forms they flung,

Whilst one, the ring that headed, sung :

THE IAYU(JA.S.

" Kind Kiih-huh-goh !♦
*>ui' glud yviu^i' to tlioc we .send,
'I'hou art the (ivvc-u-f^wos* friend.
Saying, ' Warrior, bond tiiy bow !
liook, liravo, look ! the hear is low ! '
Saying', ' Warrior, aim tliy gun !
liOok ! the deer's swift course is run I '

Kind Kah-hah-goh!
Thus our praise to thee wc send.
Thou art the Gwe-u-gwos' friend !

" Kind Kah-liali-goh !
In thy robe of summer green
Thou dost o'er our ambush lean.
Saying, ' Warrior, grasp thy axe.
Hush ! the foe is on thy tracks ! '
Hush ! Whoop ! now in blood he lies I
"Wave his scalp before his eyes !

Kind Kali-hah-goh !
Thus our praise to thee we send,
Thou art the Gwe-u-gwes' friend !"

XXXVI.

Ceases the deep and droning strain.
The hunters claim their loads again,

• " The Spirit of tlic Forest," in the Cayuga language.

I 2

KRONi liN M.

.loiniri'.' tlio Mravcs tliou from the lake.
All to the rastl'\ i)ath\viiy Uike.

xxxvn.
lUit words that told hii' jHl-jf! mid iiwe,
]{iu>»t iVorn tho iVoiit, iiiul rudi one saw
I'lMiii 11 nakrd mound that stood
I-iko a gnen bastion from the woofi,
Af,'!iinst tlie background rich and warm,

I n posture of supremo command
Reared to full height — a warrior form,

A hatchet lifted in his hiuul,
liod as the blushing clouds that throw
I'jton the lake their gorgeous hue.

XXXVIII,

A moment's silence fell about.
Twas broke by Ka-i-na-tra's * shout,
" The Atotarho ! " one quick yell

IJurst then from every warrior there, —
'• 'Jlie Atotarho ! " far the swell

I lolled on the soft and slumbering air ;
" The Atotarho ! " deep the woods
Thrilled to their inner solitudes ;
" The Atotarho ! " e'en the lake
Seemed into that one sound to break ;
Then the shout fell, as, flashing, sped

The comer's eye across the crowd,

* " The Knife " in Cayuga.

THE ()Ni:in\s.

Ami witli Ills hatchet o'or his hrad,

He sp)ko in ti»ncs that ning aloud
To every bosom, " Ho, yo IJraves I
The Moody Yoii-non-dt yoh ('omes
To seek us in our forest-homes I
Warriors I lovo yo your fathers' graves '''
To On-on-duli-guh, Hnivos ! hasto I huste !
Kach foot upon tho tniil Im^ placed,
Gwe-u-gwcs, rouse ! like Magics go I
Warriors, all haste ! all the foe ! "

173

THE ONEIDAS.

XXXIX.

Morning had winged its radiance down,
Bathing one half the hemlock's head,
Tipping the dogwood's lowlier crown,
The laurels then beneath it spread.
The mist had furled its plumes on high.
Blue robed the late flushed, varied sky,
And the glad birds their chorus gay
Had ceased, to flit from spray to spray ;
The deer had left the grassy glade
And crouched again within the shade,
And the whole forest realm once more
A summer day's rich lustre wore.

XL.

Ku-na-wa-lo-ali's lodges too

Were glittering in the golden hue ;

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174

FRONTENAC.

The circling palisades were bright

And the short lanes were streaked with light.

XLI.

As the great orb on tiptoe stood
Upon a neighbouring knoll of wood,
The Prophet, a black bearskin spread
Around his form, with solemn tread
Came to the Council House, reaied low

And long amidst the trodden square ;
Pealed out a cry drawn shrill and slow.

And as the echo died in air.
Warriors in pomp of paint and plume,
Sires in bright robes that decked their gloom,
Matrons and maids displaying bead
And crimson skirt, round every head
Thick strawberry-leaves in garlands spread
The rich ripe fruit amongst, with speed
The narrow ways came thronging through.
And in the square their numbers drew.

XLII.

There the young Yu-we-lon-doh * proud,
Whose deeds were on the war-path loud.
Stood in his plumaged, painted pride.
With the grim Prophet a4; his side.

• Meaning « Wind " in Oneida.

THE STRAWBERRY DANlE.

175

THE STRAWBERRY DANCE.

XLIII.

Now must the Council Square's expanse
Echo the usual Strawberry Dance,
And thanks each bosom render there
To Fire and Water, Earth and Air.

xuv.

The file, the Council House around

Was ranged : — first, Yu-we-lon-doh high,
Looking the Brave, his actions showed ;

The bear-skinned Prophet next him frowned.
Upon the Orient fixed his eye ;
And then, with sight that eager glowed,

The stalwart warriors ; then the sires,

Burning with all their manhood's fires ;

And last the women, every glance

Flashing impatient for the dance.

XLV.

Beside the Council Building's door
The rude bowl-drum a patriarch bore,
Whilst took a youth beside him stand,
With the gus-tah-weh-sah* in hand.

* The Indian rattle — a gourd filled with dry beans.

170

FRONTENAC.

Upon them, from the Eastern sky,
Looked Hah-wen-ne-yo's Mazing eye ;
His azure breast was o'er them gleaming

With clouds in wreaths of spotless hue,
A band of his good genii seeming

The coming grateful rite to view.

XLVII.

Around, the brilliant sunshine streamed
On round-topped lodge and palisade ;

In rising quick pulsations gleamed

On the domed maize-fields round arrayed,

And flashed upon the leafy dress

Of the surrounding wilderness.

1 1

xLvin,
First, Yu-we-lon-doh bowed his head
To where the sun its splendour shed.
Then waved his arm — the drum awoke,
The rattle into clatterings broke ;
And forward, with his rocking feet.
The Chief began the ground to beat.
Swelling his guttural anthem strain,
Followed by all the stamping trair,
Each joining in at every close
Where Hah-wen-ne-yo's praise arose ;
Whilst the long ring the square around.
Like a slow coiling serpent wound.

.■-!.-_;.r,in-.-*j'.-..i^!ere^.t»ff-- .

'.-iT'.jAir-i^^'-^.S^ .^.'

THE STRAWBERRY DANCE.

177

" Earth, we thank thee ! thy great frame
Bears the stone from whence we came,
And the boundless sweeping gloom,
Of our glorious League the home ;
Thou the strawberry's seed dost fold,
Thou its little roots dost hold,
First of all the fruits that raise
Gifts for us in summer days.

Thanks, too, thanks we give thee, lowly,
Hah-wen-ne-yo, great and holy !
Maker, wise ! of all the sire,
Earth and Water, Air and Fire I

" Water, thanks ! we safely glide
On thy bosoms long and wide ;
In thy rills their way that take
Through sweet flowers our thirst we slake :
Thou dost give the strawberry-vine
Drink, when hot the sunbeams shine.
Till its leaves spread fresh and bright,
And its buds burst forth in white.

Thanks, too, thanks we give thee, lowly,
Hah-wen-ne-yo, great and holy !
Maker, wise ! of all the sire.
Earth and Water, Air and Fire !

I 3

178

PRONTENAC.

" Air, we thank thee ! for the breeze

Sweeping off the dire disease ;

Thou dost bring the gentle rains ;

Thou dost cool our feverish veins ;

Thou dost kiss the strawberry- flower

Nestling in its grassy bower,

Till its little wreath of snow

Swings its fragrance to and fro.

Thanks, too, thanks we give thee, lowly,
Hah-wen-ne-yo, great and holy !
Maker, wise ! of all the sire,
Earth and Water, Air and Fire !

" Fire, we thank thee ! for thy ball
With its gloiy brightening all,
And the blaze which warms our blood,
Lights our weed and cooks our food.
To thy glance the strawberry swells
With its ripening particles.
Till the fruit is at our tread
In its beauty rich and red.
Thanks too, thanks, we give thee, lowly,
Hah-wen-ne-yo, great and holy !
Maker, wise ! of all the sire.
Earth and Water, Air and Fire ! "

THE CANOE VOYAOF.

17'.»

XLIX.

'J" he last loud strain had scarcely died,

When a light form, ^vith hurried trea<l,
JStrodf to the panting chieftain's side,

Extending high a hatchet red.
A look — a pause of silence brief,

And then " The Atotarho ! " rung
In voice of thunder from the chief —

Forth, warrior, sire, maid, matron, sprung ;
" The Atotarho ! " echoed high ;
It filled the woods, it filled the sky.
With manhood's shout, and woman's crj'.

" Hark, Oneotas ! "* loud and clear
Now swelled on every listening ear
The Atotarho's clarion tones —

" Hark ! Yon-non-de-yoh comes to tread
Into the dust your fathers' bones ;

Up, warriors ! ere the day be sped !
To On-on-dah-gah as for life,
Agreskoue calls out for strife ! "

THE CANOE VOYAGE.

LI.

Two Indians, in a bark canoe,

Went skimming up a rapid stream

* The Oneidas.

1, .r.

IHI)

FRONTENAC.

That lay in many a winding gleam,
riio (lark primovu) forest through.
Here, on the brushwood-tangled banks.
Hose the tall trees in column'd ranks;
Whilst slanting, there, they closely wove
A thick and bowery roof above.
Trequcnt some great elm, undermined,
^^'lthin the wave its boughs incluied,
( Causing the water, sliding dark,
To wheel and fret in flashing spark.
I )ead jagged logs lay all about,
lilack from the shores protmding out ;
The tips light tilting as the furrow
Caused by the paddles on them bore.
Or, as the musk-rat scampered o'er,
Scared by the dashing to its burrow.
Now the stream slumbered in a mass
Of shade, like polished sable glass :
And now it fluttered o'er its stones,
In hollow and seolian tones.

ui.

The Hah-yah-do-yah at the prow

With his quick dips the waters spuni.

Whilst, with deep thought upon his brow,
Sits Thurenserah at the stem.

Each side the climbing laurels spread

Their pink-tinged chalices o'erhead ;

And now and then the thickets fling
So low across their sylvan bowei-s.

THE CANOE VOYAGE.

Tlie Hah-yah-do-yah's feathers bring

The spangled dogwood's creamy llowers
Showered, like a sudden fall of snow,
Upon the wrinkled glass below ,
Whilst in some sweeping aisle of green,

The tasselled chestnut on their sight,
Where a long sunbeam casts its sheen.

Sends flashes quick of golden light.
The broken, glancing rift from out.

At the white moth low quivering o'er,
Leaps like a flying-fish the trout,

Then falls with echoing plash before :
As threads the prow some channel narrow.
The snipe darts from it like an arrow ;
To his deep den of knotted roots
The otter, a swift shadow, shoots ;
Startled from his o'erhanging limb.

The blue kingfisher leaves the flood ;
Wades from the marge the heron slim.

The gorgeous sheldrake seeks the wood.

181

■ I

LIII.

But thickets, spotted all around.
Dividing into threads the course.

Till scarce a struggling way is found.
Proclaim them near the river's source ;

And scarce the shallow waters now

Float e'en their bubble of a prow.

They seek the marge, the bark they lift

182 PttONTKNAC.

O'er Doo-wain-Rta * tread they swift.
Throa(linf» the solemn trees that rise
In shapes majestic to the skies ;
And in the stooping light they glide
Down wild 0-wah-nah-dah-gah's f tide,
That steals, with hroader hreast, between
The same eloso wilderness of green.
( » »• this wide magnificence,

Liu-ed by the bright meandering streak,
Solitnde broods unbroke, intense,

Save when some speeding eagle's shriek
Startles the air, or howl of wolf
Issues from some black bordering gulf.

uv.

Now liquid alleys pass they through.

Midst sylvan islets set so near
That, frighted by the swift canoe,

From one another leaps the deer.
From tree-top to its opposite
They see the flying-squirrel flit
Slant on its membrane wings across
The narrowed strip of ruffled gloss,
Then, down the sparkling frothing rift.
The quivering bark shoots free and swift,
The Hah-yah-do-yah's ready skill

* Dco-wain-sta is the Iroquois name for the portage between Woo^i
Creek and the Mohawk River,

+ 0-wah-nah-dah-gah is the Iroquois name for the Mohawk River.

THE CANOE VOYAOE.

Wielding tlio frail light thing at will ;
The pointed rock avoiding now,

Foam, like sonio angry bear's tusk, churning
In its blind pathway, then the prow.

As if by instinct, safely turning.

183

LV.

As sunset flushed the sky with red,
They came to where a lakelet spread.
With domes of clay 'twus spotted o'er,

Where beavei-s plunged and skimmed the wave,
Whilst others, busily on the shore,

The sapling gnawed, or dragging, gave
Its leafy honours to the tide,
Toward the twined dam their prize to guide ;
But as the bark amidst them passed.
The sentry struck his blow, and fast
Amidst a shower of strokes all vanished,
Till every sight and sound were banished
Of the late bustling scene to tell.
With silence settling like a spell,
Whilst passed the prow the lakelet calm,
And, bowing, crossed the crashing dam.

LTT.

Then, as the night its shadows wrought,
The dim tree-slanted brink they sought,
Where some wide spruce above them bent
Its bristling branches for a tent ;

184

FRONTKNAC.

And Kliimborcd till the morning rnmo
Firing tlio hcftvons witli chocrfiil flame,
And sent them oncf- more on thoir way,
With woods and waters glittering gay.

THE MOHAWK'S SCALP DANCE.

tvii.
At lost, OS in the glowing west
The sun once more rolled down its crest,
They came to where a creek laid down,
At the broad stream, its subject crown.
Upon the bank, with maizeficlds green,
An Indian palisade was seen ;
Between it and the brink, a ring

Of painted Braves e'en now was forming ;
As sought the bark a bush — the swing

Began, the dance each moment warming ;
Till, while the drum gave measured stroke.
The scalp-song of the warriors woke.

" Whoop the whoop ! dance the dance !
Let the knife and hatchet glance !
Peal aloud, aloud, the strain !
Pequod dogs ! they mourn their slain !
Whoop ! whoop ! the Pequod dogs,
How they seek the clustered bogs !

TIIK MOIIAWK'h «(\L»' I>ANCK.

Wave their Idoody sculps on hij^h!

Pequod dogs ! huw Idw tiny lie!

Whooj) ! whoop I tlj«' ground is rod I

Poijuod dogs ! lh(>y mourn their dead !
Great Agroskonu ! to tlieo
Swells our song of victory !

1S5

•' See our war-path ! far it winds,
Pequod hunting-grounds it finds ;
Scarce our murk on earth we make ;
Now we glide as glides the snake.
Pequod dogs are slumbering deep,
Near, still near, more near we creep :
Now we climb the palisades ;
Not a sound the air invades.
Whoop, whoop ! crash, crash !
In the lodges now we dash !
Whoop ! whoop ! our hatchets fly,
Gleam our knives ! They die ! They die !
Whoop ! whoop ! their scalps we wrench !
Blood in streams their castle drench !
Pequod dogs, like leaves around —
See ! they pile the very ground !
See ! they bend like women now !
Whoop ! our foot is on their brow !

Great Agreskone ! to thee

Swells our song of victory !

186

FttONTENAC.

LVIII.

Ere the last shrill-toned echo sank,
A figure climbed the shelving bank,
Holding a tomahawk on high,
Gleaming in deepest vermeil dye.
" The Atotarho ! " loudly sounded
From every lip, and toward him bounded
Yean-te-kah-noh.*

" Mohawks, hear ! "
The Atotarho uttered shrill —
" Your battle-whoops peal louder still,
To red Agreskone sc dear. ,

Braves ! Yon-non-de-yoh comes ! His feet
Are on the war-path ! Men of blood !
To On-on-dah-gah like a flood
This Matchi-Manitou f to meet !
Away ! stem Braves ! in all your might,
Ere on ye dawns again the light !

* Ye-an-te-kah-noh means a " War-club " in the Mohawk tongue,
t Matchi-Manitou, « Bad Spirit."

END OF CANTO SIXTH.

A >

CANTO SEVENTH.

THE MARCH.
THE WAR DANCE.
THE COUNCIL.

THE QUARREL.
THE PRIESTESS.
THE SACRED FLAME.

Dayi

The

Upt

With

One:

A SOI

Bann

Unwi

Upor

Out 1

With

Fortl

Quid

Back

The

As tl:

Ha!

The

Drav

Thoi

CANTO SEVENTH.

THE MARCH.

Days sped along, the rude flotilla traced
The shoreward waters of Ontario's waste.
Up the Oswego's narrow rapid tide
With struggling efforts the invaders glide ;
On either hand the crowded forests gave
A sombre darkness to the rushing wave ;
Banner and cannon, pike and cuirass cast
Unwonted glitterings as the foemen passed ;
Upon the oak-tree's scaly breast they flashed.
Out with a scream the startled eagle dashed,
Within the thicket's depths a gleam they flung ;
Forth with a snort the brown bear awkward sprung,
Quick slid the otter down the shelving brink.
Back shrank the doe and fawn about to drink,
The beavers plunged within each mud-built hut,
As through their dam of trees a path was cut.
Ha ! look, proud Frontenac ! upon yon tree
The haughty savage still casts scorn at thee I
Drawn on its naked wood in tints of red
Thou, with the warriors of thy host, art spread ;

190

FRONTENAC.

Whilst at the roots the bundled rushes show
The stern defiance of thy tawny foe.

II.

Broader gloamings upon them break,

Through the thick forest—" The lake, the lake ! "'

Over its wide and lucid glass

Gallantly, swiftly, now they pass ;

Dash and ripple, and ripple and dash,

How the depths tumble, and sparkle, and flash !

Hushed so the silence, at every somid

Echo is up and away at a bound ;

Solitude tangible seems to their gaze,

Starting from sleep to shrink back in amaze ;

Hundreds of water-fowl rise from the sheet,

Screaming and soaring on pinions fleet ;

In the deep waters of purest green.

Fishes in myriad swarms are seen ;

Along the margin, a tract of white

Glitters like silver beneath the light.

A shout went up, — were the old dreams true ?

Was treasure there flashing its dazzling hue ?

Boat after boat to the margin shot,

Numbers thronged to the sparlding spot ;

And the salt-springs shone to their curious eye.

Mantling all over their pearly dye.

But away at last the sunbeams shrank,

And the whole fleet moored to the marshy bank.

THE WAR DANCE.

191

in.

Night closes round, the splendid moonlight beams ;
Tlie leaf-roofed tents are chequered with the gleams ;
Beneath the gorgeous diadem of the skies
The whole wide scene in delicate beauty lies ;
One blaze of silver Gar-noh-gwe-yoh glows,
Its bosom hushed in beautiful repose ;
Midst the grand woods the light its quiet weaves,
Save where the watch-fires gleam in crimson through the
leaves.

THE WAR DANCE.

IV.

The mellow sunset glow that lay
On Frontenac's debarked array,
The On-on-dah-gah Hollow too,
Suffused with soft and lovely hue.
The maize-fields wore a roseate flush.
The placid stream displayed a blush,
While the surrounding forests seemed
As if with slanted spears they gleamed.

Swarms of dark figures roamed around
Within the castle's spacious bound.
The •warriors of the League had all
Obeyed their Atotarho's call.
The Mohawk, oldest brother, keeping

192 PRONTENAC.

Watch the Long House's east porch o'er;
The fierce, wild Seneca, unsleeping,

Making liis breast the western door ;
The Oneida, ofTspring of the stone,
The mother, now alas, left lone ;
And the Cayuga from that flood,
Whose hue seemed from the summer wood.

VI.

Of the eight Totems, one each breast

Displayed, in blue tattoo impressed.

Here crawled the Tortoise, glared the Bear;

The Wolf there lurked within his lair ;

The Crane on slender limb stood here,

Here bowed the Snipe, there leaped the Deer ;

The Beaver here made waddling walk.

And high in air there soared the Hawk.

While frequently was seen the mark

Of the Ho-NONT-Koii next the other,

Which none decyphered but a brother ;

Order mysterious, secret, dark !

Each making (all save this unknown,

And this by only actions shown,)

The other's weal or woe his own.

The Atotarho was its head :

And through the League its members spread.

The head Chiefs of the other nations

Holding within next highest stations ;

Save A-ga-yen-teh who kept free,

From craftiest, basest policy.

THE WAR DANCE.

103

VII.

All at their backs the hatchet bore,
The curved knife keenly gleamed before.
War-paint on every face was spread,

Though showed the form the naked skin.
Save the blue waist-cloth, legging red,

And the rich quill- worked moccasin.
Fusees were in each hand, each eye

Was Hashing fierce with swarthy fire ;
All showed that danger threatening nigh,

Had roused their deepest martial ire.
Whilst womanhood, age, childhood lay

Within tlie Oneidas' neighbouring woods,
Until the storm should sweep away,

Now rising o'er their solitudes.

VIII.

In the broad square a post was placed
With stripes of red — war's hue — arrayed.

Save in one spot where, rudely traced,
Was the Lease's coat of arms displayed.

Five Braves that in a circle stood

With hands tight grasped in one another's —

A heart amidst them — Tribal brothers,

Banded in one firm brotherhood.

IX.

The broad moon's sweet delicious light
Began to bathe the summer night ;

194

F RON TEN AC.

I 'poll their domes the niai/.o-plants glowed,
The stream a track of diamonds showed,
And the still, windless forests stood
Kntranccd within the pearly flood.

As the sky kindled to the moou's rich flame,

Within the area throngs of warriors came ;

Around the post in mazy file they wound,

Then couched in rings successive on the ground.

Within, two gaunt and withered figures sat,

With drum and rattle, each upon his mat,

Whilst upward streamed in one high niddy spire '

13eside the post the usual war-dance fire.

The dusky ring wore looks of fixed repose,

Until at last a tall young warrior rose ;

With hatchet, knife, and war-club armed was he,

A snowy mantle falling to his knee

Upon liis breast the totem of the Bear ;

The Ho-nont-koh stripe too, placed conspicuous there

Midst record of his deeds, one crimson blaze,

Dress worn alone on most momentous days !

'Twas the young Atotarho ! slow and grave

He reached the fire, and then one whoop he gave,

And, as his brow grew dark, and wild his glance,

He broke into a stamping swinging dance ;

From right to left he went, the hollow beat

Of the ga-nu-jah echoing to his feet

Chaunting in measure to his rocking frame.

Whilst from the two old forms a ceaseless droning caiiK .

Tin: WAR DANCE.

195

•' Thurenserah smiles to henr
AgreskoiK; within his enr
Whisper, ' Warrior, foes are near ! '
I 11 eat their flesh, I '11 drink their blood !
Eagle, there '11 be dainty food
When thou stoopest to the wood !
Thurenserah smiles to know,
Blood shall at his hatchet How ;
Blood, blood, a crimson flood ;
Thurenserah smiles to hear
Agreskone within his ear
Whisper, ' Warrior, foes are near ! '
Hooh ! whoop ! foes are near !
Whisper, ' Warrior, foes are near ! '

ironing came

" Bends Agreskonu his crest
At the deeds upon my breast.
Fifty death-screams have I woke !
Fifty scalps are in my smoke !
1 '11 eat their flesh, I '11 drink their blood !
Frenchmen will be plenteous food
For the eagle in the wood ;
Thurenserali listens low,
In the grass he hears the foe.
Quick he seeks the ambush ! see !
Now he 's aiming the fusee !
Now he fires — the foe is dead —
Off his dripping scalp is shred —
Now beside the lodge he creeps —
Hush ! within, the foeman sleeps —

K 2

i'^j

I tin

MIONTENAC.

Whoop ! he duhhes down the door I

Whoop ! tlic foemuii drops in gore !

^^'lloop ! the wife beside him dies !

WJjoop ! beside the hifant lies !

Wh()(ti» ! >vhoop ! whoop ! the torch is gleaming !

8oc I whoop ! see ! the lodge is streaming !

1 '11 eat their llesh ! I "11 drink their blood !

IJlood, blood, a crimson flood !

Thureuseruh smiles to hear

Footsteps sounding in his ear,

Telling that the foe is near ;

Hooh I whoop I the foe is near !
Telling that the foe is near."

XI.

■^1

Thus far the strain had made advance.

When forth dark A-ga-yen-teh bounded.
And joining in the stamping dance,

His war-song too he loudly sounded.
Then Yu-we-lon-doh at his back,
And Ka-i-na-tra in his track,
Ye-an-te-kah-noh following him,
And then Ska-nux-heh fierce and grim,
Till the first ring of Braves was springing
Wildly around, all wildly singing ;
Their limbs in strange contortions flinging.
Plunging their knives, their hatchets swinging,
Whilst rose the chaunt, and thrilled the yell,
And on the post the war-club fell.

TIIL COINCIL.

l'.»7

XII.

AikI now the miinic fight begun ;
They strike, they scalp, they meet, they shun.
They creep on the eiirth, and they hond ou the knee.
Tonmhawk launching, and aiming fusoe,
I'oaling their war-whoops, and striking their hlows.
As in eye to eye, hand to hand, strife with their toes
The shake of the rattle, the drum's rapid heat,
nicnding with weapon clash, war-shout and feet :
Till, faint with exhaustion, they reel from the ring,
Wliilst others impatient, in place of them spring.
( )n went the war-dance — the beautiful moon
Poured down the sweet quiet smile from her noon ;
Ou went the war-dance — she stooped to the west ;
On went the war-dance — she shrouded her crest ;
And not till the east was made bright with the sun.
Did the lone silent spot tell the war-dance was done.

THE COUNCIL.

XIII.

The glorious day resumed its bright dominion ;
Hues, such as tremble o'er the flashing pinion
Of the archangel nearest to the throne,
Along the rim of the horizon shone.
Now the rich colours deepen in the sky.
Now the hill-pines have caught a golden dye,

19H FllONTKNAC.

And now (I (^'lorious l»iuNt of lif^'ht

M(ik<s tlio wliolf sylvan liiiidsciipc lirij^'ht ;

Li.'tives ill tlu' (lo\vMy\vinj,'p(l hroozcs (juivor ;

Mist curlrt up from tlio dimpling' river ;

And out breaks dow-spaiiglcd tliickoi and tree

Into a chorus of harmony.

XIV.

Now was displayed to many a gaze

An Indian coming through the maize.

A nearer view, '• We-an-dali ! " liigh

Arotso the joyful welcome cry ;

The warriors rushed to meet him, each

With outstretched hand and kindliest speech,

For, towering in the tribe, stood he

A Brave of wide authority ;

His a strong heart that nt '> i had droopt^d,

His a proud soul that ne'er liad stooped.

XV.

He strode along with hasty tread

And in his cowering look was dread,

Dread blent with shame as if he strove

To lift his heart the fear above,

But could not ; still, whii v^ welcomes warm

(jave the glad warriors, crowding nigh.

He, for the instant, reared his form,

As in his past days flashed his eye,

Ar?o, '^ith his usual mien, he gave

? iluto rti iura to every Brave.

THK (orscii,.

Ami gniip tlio ci'uven sign tlmt mu«»t

\t tln' lirst ^i«,'lit liiiv*' ruiiMotI (listni-t

Had th«>y not in the unluokt'd-for iii<>etiii:'

( )f' iiMtliiii}^ tliniij^ht Imtjtty nf j»n'fiing,

l"'()r oil VVc-im-iliih rvcry lirt'iLsl

llcposed in full implicit rest;

And Jill weri lill'd with deep (l(li<»ht

'riiiit h.,, (hvUjjiMj.^ iiom tho foo,

Had ouino to aid them with his mi<,'ht

Ai Vcm-non-tle-yoh's threatened blow.

Ah, forest (Jliieftain ! nohle 13ravo !

Wrrt thou indeed so mean a thing !
lietter ha\ e filled a warrior's grave

Thou Eagle with a broken wing !

XVI.

Where the grim war-dance lately whirled around
Once more the warriors crouched upon the ground ;
The tints retouched on every thoughtful face
And every weapon quiet in its place ;
Sachems, and those in years and wisdom old
Whose thoughts in council had been often told,
And Braves whose deeds amidst their enemies
Were traced in crimson < n the annal-trees,
And by tl-e old men of the nations laid
i-ii memory deep for song, the circles made ;
Whilst gathered throngs around these circles, some
Striking the war-posr, but in council dumb ;
Some neither known for wisdom or for deed,
The others, youths, who glowed for glory s meed.

200

FRONTEXAC.

XVII.

Upon a rich beaver-skin was set

The gorgeous pride of the cakimet ;

As the light touched its feathers, like sunlit dews,

It glittered all over with flashing hues.

Beside, shone the flame of the council, its gleams

Ghastly and pale in the morning's beams.

XVIII.

Head of the circle, on a rich stained mat

With his proud look, the Atotarho sat.

At length a sign he gave, and forward came

The Hah-yah-do-yah with a torch of flame ;

He seized the calumet, and with the weed

Filled the red bowl and kindled it ; as through

The air meandered the light wreaths of blue,

He pointed toward the sun the feathered reed.

Then toward the earth, and then around in air ;

The first imploring Hah-wen-ne-yo's care,

The next to sooth dark Hali-ne-go-ate-geh,

The last to make all evil Genii flee ;

To Thurenserah then the pipe he gave.

Toward heaven, on earth, the smoky volumes wave ;

Then to We-an-dah next the Chieftain seated,

Who the same solemn offering act repeated ;

To A-ga-yen-teh then, the next beside.

Till the rich bauble passed the circuit wide.

Then rose We-an-dah, now his mien was high.

THE COUNCIL.

■2itl

Yet quick and restless oped and shut his eye,

And as with dignity liis arm he spread

" We-an-dah greets the Atotarho I " said.

" In Yon-non-de-yoh's dungeon dark and lone,

We-an-dah languished like a toad in stone,

Until he blinded Yon-non-de-yoh's eyes,

For the fox learned We-an-dah to l>e wise ;

He sang a song in Y'on-non-de-yohs ear,

For oft he 's stopped the mocking-bird to hear :

He spun a web meant only to beguile.

For oft he 's watched the cunnhig spider's toil ;

On Y^'on-uon-de-yoh smiled liis lips, not heart.

Until he bade him from his cell depart,

Placed him a brother at his hated side,

And of his host then wished him to be guide ;

We-au-dali would not lead their bloody tread,

x\nd when night filled their eyes with slumber, fled

Great Atotarho ! 'tis We-an-dah speaks !

A warrior's paint is glowing on his cheeks.

He in the dance a warrior's deeds has sung.

He is no snake ! lies sit not on his tongue !

We-an-dah says then, fly ! wait not the foe !

lu crushing wrath will fall his dreadful blow.

See'st thou yon leaves ? — as tliick his warriors crowd

With their great guns that speak such thunder loud ;

Bdls too that falling burst in flames, and dash

Destruction round them lilie the lightning's flash :

Stockade and lodge will shrivel at their breath,

And every warrior find a speedy death."

K 3

^i!)

rt'i
Hi

■>()■>

FRONTENAC.

XIX.

He ceased — low guttural sounds ran through

The startled circle ; eye sought eye
In doubt ; each thoughtful visage grew

Darker, as though the very sky
Had with a sudden drop let fall
Over the scene a shadowy pall.
That he, We-an-dah, thus should speak,
The valiant warrior, just and true !
Whose spirit like an eagle Hew,
It made their hearts turn faint and weak,
Glances began to falter round,
Ears bent as if on distant sound,
And, midst the outer dense array.
Movements began to gather way.
As though to scatter in dismay.
But Thurenserah rose, his arm
He waved ; it was as if a charm
Held the assemblage ; every eye

Was fixed upon him as he stood,
And looked around him proud and high.

As though to shame their fearful mood ;
Then, striding in mid-ring, he spoke
In tones that fire in all awoke.

XX.

" Sachems and warriors ! can it be

You tremble at an enemy ?

What ! Ongue-Honwee crouching low

THE COUNCIL.

203

In fear before the threatened blow I
Shall a few paltry words of air
Down to the dust your courage bear'.'
Have you not grasped the hatchet red '.'
Have you not struck the battle-post '.'
Scarce have you ceased your war-dan(,'e tread I

Scarce echo of your songs is lost !
Shame, warriors of the Long House I shauie I
Scorn Yon-non-de-yoh's thunder-ilame.
Have you forgot that here is burning

The pure Ho-de-no-sonne fire ?
llather than, from its splendour turning,
Leave it to Yon-non-de-yoh's spurning.

Around it glad should all expire I
See ! its smoke streams before your eye
Like Hah-wen-ne-yoh's scalp-lock high !
Remember, fiir as step your feet
From Winter's snow to Summers heat,
Scatter the tribes like frightened deer ;
And e'en where'er we turn our brow,
The boldest warriors shake with fear,

The W'Oods as though with tempests bow.
Senecas ! in the month of snows

Our old men chaunt that time of pride.
When the last Yon-non-de-yoh rose.

To dash beneath his wrathful stride
Ye — the strong, the fast-closed, mighty door
Of our Long House, within to tread ;
No Ho-ne-ho-ont baselv lied,
Uut bloody Yon-non-de-yoh tore

■«ii

204 FRONTENAC.

His flesh amidst your briers, till lame,
Wearied, and frightened he became ;
And like a footsore dog he turned
From a few huts and cornfields burned,
Back on his war-path, whilst ye hung
Your pole with scalps — your songs ye sung.

XZl.

" Gwe-u-gwes ! often have ye fought

Beneath your Atotarho's eye !
Glorious have been the deeds you 've wrought,

Gwe-u-gwes ! Braves ! ye will not fly !

XXII.

" Oft Oneotas ! on your path
The Atotai'ho 's seen your wrath.
When breast to breast the foe you 've met.
He ne'er has seen ye falter yet.

XXIII.

" Mohawks ! stem men of blood ! ne'er ye

Have fled before your enemy !

From Hah-rah's drift-wood stream, to where

The Pequods on the salt waves sail,
Your scalp-whoops oft have filled the air,

There oft has led your bloody trail.
Fierce Bears ! shall Yon-non-de-yoh say
' Women ! ' to ye, ' away, away ! '

THE COUNCIL.

205

XXIV.

" Last, On-on-dali-gahs ! always true !

Proud people of the hills ! to you

Your Atotarho speaks ; — the knife

Of Yon-non-de-yoh gleams above

This your own castle ; let your love

Be shown for it in deadliest strife.

llemember ! in yon palisade

Your fathers' sacred bones are laid,

Oft has De-kan-e-so-ra's voice

Of music made your souls rejoice.

If from Sken-ec-ta-da his speech

Upon the wind your ear could reach,

How would it echo to your heart ?

My On-on-dah-gahs ! act your part

As should ye, when upon his path

Comes Yon-non-de-yoh in his wrath.

And his stem hand with torch of red

Is raised above your castle's head.

Heart of the League ! which holds the glow

Of the pure Flame ! ye 11 brave the foe I

1 >*' i !

XXV.

" Grasp all then tomahawk and knife.
Amidst the leaves like serpents hide,
As Yon-non-de-yoh comes in pride ;
Then leap like wild cats to the strife,
And our deep forest's frowning gloom
Will rest on Yon-non-de-yoh's tomb."

;i(IU

FRONTKNAC.

XXV!.

He ceased — the wild " yo-huh " burst out
From the whole crowd in blended shout,
Their flushing weapons waved about ;
Away their sudden panic bore,

Up rose their faltering hearts again,
And their stern native pride once more

Rushed back to all its former reign.

XXVII.

Next, Skan-an-do-ah * slowly went
Within the ring, looked slowly round —
Each weapon fell, sunk every sound.
And every eye was on him bent.
The Atotarho, whilst the thrall
Of childhood Thurenserah claimed.
High as a chieftain was he famed.
Wise too and just, and loved by all.

xxvm.
" Sixty long years have in their flight
My scalp-lock streaked with threads of white.
But never," said he, " have these eves
Beheld a chief so great and wise
As Thurenserah ; to his words
Listen ; they come like songs of birds
In time of blossoms to my ear,

" The Deer " in the On-on-dali-trah toni»ue.

THE QUARREL.

207

My ami to nerve, my soul to cheer.
Dread Yon-uon-de yoh's thunder I who

Will in this ring of warriors stand,
And own his lieart e'er fainter grew

At death ; shall Yon-non-deyoh's hand
And here his stern and Hashing eye
Rolled round the ring in scornful glow,
'* Scare us with his uplifted blow
From where our fathei*s' ashes lie '.'
No ! let his great guns shake our woods.
We '11 crouch within their solitudes ;
And, as comes on his haughty tread.
From tree and bush our shots ^^'ill gleam,
And in his bosom's dearest stream.
Our knives and hatchets will be red ! '

THE QUARREL.

XXIX.

At the brave Slian-an-do-ah's close.

Again the deep " yo-hah ! " arose.

But whilst each savage eye was beaming

With thoughts that for a time had slept.
And knife and tomahawk w-ere gleaming.

Up frowning A-ga-yen-teh stepped.
In all its foulest venom now
His soul sat coiled upon his brow ;
Away had vanished caution's power

That held his face and tongue alike,

208 FRONTENAC.

For now he thought had come the hour,
The Atotarho down to strike.

XXX.

" Brothers ! when frowns the tempest-cloud,

And lightnings gleam as air grows black,
The very eagle fierce and proud,

Sweeping high up in boundless track,
Turns his keen pinions to the peak.
Ere the wild storm its wrath shall wreak.
When the red flame with flash and roar.

Wrapping the craclding woods is near,
The famished panther tlies before,

E'en though beneath him lies the deer ;
Brothers ! stem Yon-non-de-yoh's wrath
WUl, like the tempest, sweep our path,
Like the red flame will bum his eye ;
A bird is singing in my ear,
' Death and destruction hover near,
Wait not the foe ! fly, brothers, fly ! '"

XXXI.

" Coward ! " a fierce keen voice rang out.
And Thurenserah with his shout.

High bounding to his warrior sped ;
In frenzied fury blazed his loolt.
For rage tlie very hatchet shook.

He held above his head ;
" Back ! am I not, base creeping thing.
Thy Atotarho, and thy king ?

THE QUARREL.

liack from my sight ! " terrific flame
From A-gii-3'en-teh's eye-bulls ciime.

" He will not back ! he scorns thy pride ! "
" Then die, foul dog ! " the hatchet fell,
And headlong with a broken yell

The traitor fell and died.
Up to their feet the circle sprung,
The outer crowd a moment hung
Bewildered, then tumultuous swung.

Like some great billow in ;
Voice upon voice contending rose,
Eye flashed to eye like mortal foes,
And now and then came sound of blows,

But, pealing o'er the din.
The tones of Thurenserah bore :
" Braves ! Yon-non-de-yoh is before !
Your Atotarho calls once more,

To ambush for the foe ! "
A crowd of warriors round him pressed,
The Ho-nont-koh stripe on every breast,
Fierce eye, spread nostril, towering crest,

Showing their martial glow.
Just then, from out the jostling throng,
A rapid hatchet whirled along
Close to his ear, and bounded nigh
A warrior with a whoop, and cry —
" Revenge ! "— 'Twas A-ga-yen-teh's brother ;
On sprang another — then another —
And still another ; flame on wind

Not sooner wraps the withered wood.

209

An\

iU)

FRONTKNAC.

Than tlirouf^h tlio untamed Indian mind

llusli passion and desire for blood.
We-an-duh's words had soon (juiek seeds,
Wliicli Thunniserah's utmost skill
Had hut sufficed to check, not kill,
And now they bore their fruit in deeds.
Dark A-ga-yen-teh's wily art
Mad also gained him many a heart,
;\nd when they saw him in his gore,
And heard the lirave, his brother, call
For vengeance, then, forgetting all.
Those wild hearts boiled in frenzy o'er.

I !

XXXII.

Brave Skan-an-do-ah at a stride

Stood bv the Atotarho's side.

" Ho-nont-kohs ! Brothers ! " shouted he,

" Peal out your whoops ! " and loud and free,

The Brothers swelled the piercing sound.

Crowding the Atotarho round.

Ye-an-te-kah-noh sent his ciy,

Shrill echoed Yu-we-lon-doh's by,

And Ka-i-na-tra pealed his high,

All save Ska-nux-heh — (though by none

Beloved, he too, through courage rare
So prized by Indian minds, had won

At length a slow admission there,
And yet scarce trusted) —

Struggling through
Toward Thurenserah and his band,

THE QIAURKL

211

liravc's sout back whoops at every huiitl.

Wilder the wild contention grew,

Forth in each grasj) keen weapons How,

Forms struggled, hatciiet.s whizzed in air,

In lifted clutches knives were hare,

Fusees were aimed, shots rang around,

Heads dropped, blood gushed u^jon the ground,

And death-screams blent with war-whoops rose
Frequent from these unnatural foes ;

Ye-an-te-kah-noh fell — beside,
Brave Ka-i-na-tra also died ;

In vain the Atotarlio sprung.

From point to point his arms outflung.
As if to court the blow.

" Slay me, but oh, these murders cease I " —

The strife seemed only to increase,
Brave upon Brave sank low ;

Whilst Skan-an-do-ah clung beside.
Seeking each threatened blow to ward,

As if all danger he defied,
His Atotarho's life to guard.

'ii

XXXIII.

Ska-nux-heh, in his hand his knife.
Was qui t midst the desperate strife,
But following, following, following still

Where 'er the Atotarho went,
truggling to come more near — until

Above his back the knife was bent ;
It fell, but in the opposing breast

;!12 FROVTKVAC.

Of SIoui-mi-(lo-ali who hi I pressed
Botwceii, 118 down 'twas sent ;

Dead fidl tho good oM rliiof ; iiml on

The unmnscious AtoUirho won
Still midst tho crowd his wiiy,

Whilst glancod Ska-iiux-hcli swiftly round,

And ther. onco more with stealthy l)()und
IMungod jifter through the fray.

THE PUIESTESS.

XXXIV.

liut as the storm of whoop and hlow
Ilagod wildest — shrieked a voice in air,
lu wild and thrilling tones, " Forbear ! "
And reared on the Tcar-jis-ta-yo
Where a small platform crossed its height,
A woman's form met every sight
With rolling eye and outstretched head
And hair — a black veil o'er her spread.
" The Priestess ! " burst with loud exclaim
Around, and at the dreaded name
Ceased whoop, and blow ; and every frame,

Quickly so motionless had grown.
Some with a limb advanced — with arm
Uplifted some — it seemed a charm

Had changed them into stone.
In attitude of stem command.
Toward the fixed throng she stretched her hand,

THE pRirsrisssi.

•2ia

And cried u^'uiii muro shrill. " I'orln^nr I

Like the Mind riitth'-snukc will ye,
With yotir sharp lungs your own lU-isli teur,

When neiir ye frowns the enemy!"
As though borne doviiwurd hy a Hpell.
Knch form hent low. eijch weapon fell ;
On went the voice, *' I see a cloud

< >'er the Hodc-no-soime head I
Is every warrior's spirit rowed'.'

Is ev(fry wanior's courage dead ""
Up Thurenserah's hatchet rose,

Up Yu-we-lon-doh's at his side
The Jiraves of the Ilo-nont-koh close

Around with looks of flasliing pride,
Hearing their tomahawks, and then
Burst from tiiese stern devoted men
The thrilling war-whoop, rolling keen
Far o'er the distant forest scene,
Causing the eagle hovering near,
With a fiuick flap to disappear.

-■%'

XXXV.

The Priestess raised her smiling face.
But the loud whoop no echo finds
Amongst the rest ; deep, deep the trace
Both by We-an-dah (who from sight
Had vanished in the late wild fight,)

And A-ga-yen-teh left in minds
Untaught, impulsive ; then the breath
Of the great guns that winged such death

214 FRONTENAC.

With terror ever had been fraught,
Within their simple savage thought ;
The combat also had renewed

Suspicion of the Ho-nont-koh sway
Which A-ga-yen-teh had imbued,

Thinking this too might open way
"Gainst Thurenserah ; and the pain
Of their fresh wounds, friends, kindred slain,
Old rankling wrongs, and private feud,
Jealousy, envj% all the brood

Of passions wakened in their might,
Spread their fierce withering influence now,
And each bent eye and sullen brow

Told of submission, or of flight.

\ti

XXXVI.

" And can it be " the Priestess said,

That the League's Braves would to the tread

Of Yon-non-deyoh leave the Flame ! "
A breathless silence reigned around.
Each clouded look was on the ground

And motionless each frame.

XXXVII.

Once more extended she her hand
And said in tones first winning, bland,
Then rising loudly on the air
Till like a trumpet rang they there,
" From yon tall pine the feeblest eye
Can view the waters of the Lake

THE PRIESTESS.

Where the three Wise Ones formed the Tie

Which, foud, they trusted nought would hreak ;

Whose records ye at Feasts have heard

Ho-no-we-na-to oft repeat !

( De-kau-e-so-ra I tongue of bird !

How often has thy music sweet

In praise too of that League been given.

Ah why, when darkness now is driven

O'er the Ho-de-no-sonne day

Art thou and he both far away !)

Warriors ! ye will not brealv that Tie

And from stern Yon-non-de-yoh fly.

As if he was the 0-yal-kher black

Coming on his devouring track !

No ! when he comes, ye '11 be, oh Braves I

Like that bold creature from the waves,

That rose and made the enemy

Fierce as he was, back, bleeding, flee.

215

•I.

XXXVIII.

Still from them not a voice was heard,
Still no one from his posture stirred ;
Although the Ho-nont-kohs with quick breath
Clutched weapons, and fi.xed eyes of flame.
Shoulder to shoulder every frame
Stood the Tcar-jis-ta-yo beneath,
Looking mute scorn at those so base
Who still, like cowards, held their place

'■'!(!

216 FRONTENAC.

XXXIX.

I Jut once more was the silence broke,
As once more thus the Priestess spoke,
" Braves ! hear again the words of dread
By bright To-gan-a-we-tah said
A hundred hundred moons ago,
' When the White Throats shall come, if ye
Shall separate, then yourselves will throw
The Long House down, destroy the Tree
Of Peace, and trample out the Flame ! '
Must now this doom om' people claim ? —
Must ye with fierce and wicked will
This awful prophecy fulfill ? "

XL.

Then the Grand Sachem rose, a sire

Of wisdom ! — " 0-kah* will not linger

Until the blasting Thunder-fire

Of Yon-non-de-yoh comes ; the finger

Of Hah-wen-ne-yo points the way

Into the deepest woods ; delay

Brothers, no longer ! I have said ! "

And down once more he bent his head.

Next rose Ot-koh-yahf — " Scarce has moved

Yon thin white cloud an arrow's flight

Since I, the only friend I loved.

Saw perish ; hooh ! I will not fight ! "

* " Snow" ill On-on-dah-gah.
f " Wampum " in the language of tlic Cayugas.

THE PRIESTESS.

Kul-ho-au* then : " I ever thought
That the Ho-nont-kohs evil wrought ;
A warrior's heart is open ! I
Wait not ; my counsel is to fly ! "
Then Eenof : " From his hunting-grounds

The voice of A-ga-yen-teh falls
Within me ! ' Brother ! ' low it sounds,

' Fight not where Thurenserah calls ! ' "
On-yar-heh| last : " A Mohawk Brave
You know am I, and yet " — his teeth
He ground till foam flew forth — " heneath
The knife of yon Ho-nont-koh slave
Who from me stole fair Min-na-soh
(But I 've repaid her with my blow)
In the late strife I bleeding fell.
Hooh ! whoop ! I will not fight ! " — his yell
High bui'sLing forth in fiendish swell.

" Then " — and the loud indignant tongue

Thrilling agaui — " let warriors fly ;
" I, a weak woman " — and she flung

Her arm toward hea fen and raised her eye —
" Come Yon-non-de-yoh's scorned array,
Beside the sacred flame will stay ! "
Again she tossed her arm in air,
And the slight platform then was bare.

* " Kul-ho-an " means " Forest " in Oneida.
+ •' Eeno " means " Lightning " in the tongue of the Senecas.
J " On-yar-heh '' is a " Snake " in Mohawk.
L

mi\

218

I'ROXTENAC.

XLII.

A^vay at length the warriors filed

To plunge within the neighbouring wild ;

Some bending underneath their dead ;

Some with turned look and lingering tread,

As if, had not forbidden pride,

Back to their Atotarho's side

Would now have come their willing stride.

XLIII.

Sorrowing 'midst his Ho-nont-koh band
Bent Thurenserah, brow on liand,
Whilst stood the dark Ska-niix-heh near,
Foremost of all with scornful sneer
And jibe at their mean dastard tread,
Who from their Atotarho fled.

XLIV.

But now from the Tcar-jis-ta-yo
The Priestess stepping slow, came nigh ;
Gone was proud front and fiery eye,
Nought, nought was there but deepest woe ;
She paused at Thurenseiah's side.

And placed her hand upon his head,
And in soft tones of tender pride,

" Come to thy lodge, my son ! " she said.

XLV.

They entered, and her arms she pressed
Around him : " Child, my dearest child !

THE PRIESTESS.

211)

Tliy mother loves thee now, far more

Than when thy infant form she bore
Weeping and helpless in her breast ;

How bravely" — and she fondly smiled
flpon him — " hast thou done to day,

My own true noble child ! but still
Thou must with thy bold band away,

Though I — 'tis Hah-wen-ne-yo's will,
I — Priestess of the flame must stay."
" But Yon-non-de-yoh, mother ! " — low,
Instant the Priestess bent her brow :
" He will not harm me ! Safely round
Will Hah-wen-ne-yo's arm be found.
Though e'en should death soon claim its prey,

' T\j»uld come like that swift bird of snow,
By the Great Spirit sent to say
To Hah-yoh-wont-hah, • Come away ! '

And glad, oh glad, as he I '11 go —
But thou must Yon-non-de-yoh flee.
He is thy deadliest enemy !
Yes, thou must flee him — thou, who late" —

She shuddered deep — " didst raise the knife
Against him, thou hast roused his hate !

Yes, thou must go, but at his life
Thou ne'er again, my child, must aim,
For" — once more dropped her eye beneath —
" Late Hah-wen-ne-yo's whispered breath
I heard whilst kneeling at the flame.
It said, * Ho-de-no-sonne hand

Ne'er Yon-non-de-yoh 's blood shall shed ;

L 2

/.?i;.

220

FRONTENAC.

;My arm shall deal with him ! * — a brand
Broke in the depths — the whisper lied.
Go ! but I do not say thy wrath
Shall hover not, aromid his path.
From ambush deep the ball to wing,
Upon his strafTgling young men spring,
And on them in their wearied sleep
With thy still wild-cat tread to creep ;
I might as well bid life depart
From thy Ho-de-no-sonne heart.
At night let thy unslumbering eye
Be like the owl's ; thy feet by day
Be like the tireless moose's way ;
And Hah-wen-ne-yo, from his sky,
( )h ! may he be for ever nigh !
And when again thy feet shall come
To thy loved On-on-dah-gah home,
Once more, she trusts, thy mother's voice
Will glad thine ear — the sacred flame
Bum bright as ever in its frame,
To bid the League again rejoice ! '
Fhe ceased — both left the lodge — and bore
Their footsteps to the band ones more.

XLVI.

The other victims of the fight,
By the deserters left, were laid

Within the burial-place — the rite
Hasty, and short, and simple paid.

THE PUn:STESS.

.1.)]

And then was every naiTow mound
By the rude sorrowing emblems crowned.
Then Yu-we-lon-doh at the head,
And the sad Atotarho's tread
Heavy and oft-cliecked in the rear,
B'iled the Ho-uout-kohs from the scene.
Each stepping in the other's track.
And Thurenserah paused when near
The forest, gazed long lingering back
On the lone mother — then between
The thronging trunks his figure light
Was hidden from her loving sight.

XLVII.

The Priestess glanced her thoughtful eye
Above, around ; within the sky
The sacred smoke was curling high ;
One pearly cloud was melting there

Like Hah-yoh-wont-hah's white canoe,
When up, up through the summer air.

He vanished from his people "s view
Amidst the sky's triumphal strain.
Its welcome to his home again.
The sun threw soft and reddened flood
O'er huts, stockade, maize, stream and wood,
As if the expanded flame was ahed

By Hah-wen-ne-yo's kind command,
Protection o'er the scene to spread.

From the approaching spoiler's hand ;
The river's voice was in her ear,

!l:'

2il'2 FRONTENAC.

Seeming To-gan-a-we-tali's own,
Thus to her heart : " Thou art not lone,
True Priestess ! I am with thee liere ! '
She stood a moment, turned, then slow
Ke-entered the Tcar-jis-ta-vo.

THE SACRED FLAME.

XLVIII.

A hollow shaft of stone stood there

Upon a hearth in spaces hewed.
Hollowed beneath, through which the air

Unceasing gushed, a furnace rude.
From the barred hearth, the sacred blaze
Streamed up in broad and splendid rays ;
Before it reached the shaft, it showed
A spot that like an eye-ball glowed,
So keen, away recoiled the sight
Before the fierce and searing light.
A low deep rumble from it came.
The voice mysterious of the flame ;
As though To-gan-a-we-tah wise.
Ere went he to his native skies,
Had left, with deep and tender care.
His warning voice for ever there.
Each union feast it seemed to speak

To the crouched ring of warriors neai :
' Never the League, my children, break,

If Hah-wen-ne-yo's frowns ye fear ;

THE SACllKI) FLAMi:.

And never let uiy glenining eye,
Kindled by the red lightning first,
When on the niountain-pinc it burst,
And dashed it into atoms, die ! "

XLIX.

Deep to the floor her brow she bent,

A glance imploring npward sent,

And then took down her tufted mat.

Passed out and 'gainst the portal sat.

Down shed the sunshine greater strength.

The shades commenced to shrink in length,

Shut were her eyes, scarce flowed her breath,

She seemed as though reclined in death.

Not e'en the slightest muscle stirred ;

Around her tripped and searched the bird.

Leaped to her knee and then her head.

And then unscared its pinion spread ;

Still lightly rose the sacred smoke.

And in the soft wind gently broke.

And o'er her wreathed, as if to bear

Away her spirit through the air.

Noon passed — the building's shadow deep

Began around her fori i to creep ;

A fresher wind allayed the heat,

The sun sent beam more mild and sweet ;

Farther the shadow stole — its trace

Was now all o'er the area's space ;

Beside her lit the butterfly.

The sounding bee went swerveless by,

' 1.

1 ■.

221

FRONTENAC.

And e'en tlio huniminghird, most shy
Of till winged things, whizzed fearless nigli.
Until at lost her raven hair
Turned golden in tiie sunset glare.

£ND OF CANTO SEVENTH.

I'/?

CANTO EIGHTH.

■ ^ >

THE MARCH.
THE MEETING.
THE MARCH.

THE moccas:n-

PRINT.
THE NIGHT-WATCH.

riu

Til.
I'ut
Aim

' I
Tl

Tl
[i

CANTO EIGHTH.

TlIK MAIUII.

(»N Froiitonae's camp the groy morning arose,

Ami iho (Irum-nittlc broke on its heavy repose.

The Indian wu.s wrenching red scalps in his dream :

Tilt' hardy hatteauiuan was hatthng the stream ;

I'ame peahid in the ear of the noble her strain ;

And the pikenian was swelling his chorus again :

Up sjirang the tierce Indian and felt for his knife ;

!'[) s[)rang the batteauman all armed for the stnfe ;

The noble donned sabre and corslet once more ;

And the pikeman again his long \' < upon upbore ;

The tents disappeared, and the warlike array,

In their splendour and rudeness, passed slow on their way

II.

Strange was the sight ! rough trunks between.
Beneath fresh boughs, deep thickets through.

Musket and cuirass cast their sheen.
Mantle and flag displayed their hue.

Now on some low hemiock s cone,

Arquebuse an instant shone ;

FRONTENAC

Now against a streak of light

( jrlanced the uniform of white ;

And some tawny buff-coat now

Gleamed upon the streamlet's brow.

On the forest earth were feet

Bloodiest battle-fields had beat,

And had bounded in the dance,

Midst the gay saloons of France ;
Instead of the trumpet and shout of blood.
Was the soothing peace of the quiet wood ;
Instead of rich arras and wax'd floor's gloss.
Were the fleece-like leaves and the silk-like moss ;
And instead of soft voices and footsteps gay,
Were the song of the bird, and the dance of the spray.

III.

Upon their creaking wheels the cannon rolled,

-lolthig o'er roots, or sinldng in the mould ;

In a carved chair behind, amidst a throng

Of nobles, Frontenac was borne along.

Whilst in the van We-an-dah slowly went.

His deep-flushed brow upon his bosom bent.

Passed was the pine reared proudly in the air.

Whose top the eagle claimed — whose trunk the bear ;

Passed was the mining streamlet flowing deep

Beneath its alder roof with sullen creep ;

Passed were wet hollows, dry and mossy knolls,

And grassy openings set with pillared bolls ;

Passed great prone trunks with emerald coats o'erspread.

And swamps where trees stood lichened, gaunt and dead ;

THE MARCH.

Passed sunlit vistas reaching far away,

And glades spread broadly to the golden day ;

" Onward ! " shouts Frontenac, as here and there

His numbers hesitate the depths to dare ;

Thus was each mile of struggling labour won ;

Up to its noon arose the fervid sun,

Then it commenced the curve of its descent,

And grew more golden as it downward went ;

Still on they struggled, ranks and files were lost,

And as chance willed it, strode the motley host ;

The pikeman lagged amidst the speckled gloom,

And sang the vineyard melodies of home.

Whilst the grave Indian passed with stag-like stride,

Nor deigned a glance in his majestic pride.

229

IV.

" See in yon covert where those maples meet.
That startled deer ! how fiercely doth he beat
With his black hoofs the earth — hark, hark, how shrill
His whistle ! now he darts behind the hill.
Yon partridge by that bush, a mottled speck,
He 's upon tiptoe ! view him stretch his neck !
List to his startling clap ! he shoots away.
Hear that black scpirrel hissing on the spray !
View master hawk ! what long sharp yellow claws !
He whets liis beak ! he's off! Those deafening caws
Tell of the crow ! yes, there they swift retreat.
Warned by their sentry of our coming feet !
That snort and blow ! off Bruin waddles there —
You 're a strong wrestler, Merle ! a chance so rare

■ii-

230

FRONTENAC.

You 11 have but seldom ! Head him ! show your hug !

He seeks yon windfall through the hollow dug

By the tornado. Haste ! or 'midst jammed bough

And root he '11 hide ! e'en so ! he 's vanished now ! " —

" Why dost thou start thus backward, Meux '? with fear !

The rattle-snake ! beware ! the monster 's here !

Here in this nook ! hark now the note he springs,

His warning, like the song the locust sings I

Ha ! the coiled monster ! see his tongue of flame !

His flattened head ! his striped and swelling frame !

Back flies his jaw ! that missile mark him strike,

Falling beside him ; thrust him with thy pike !

Well done, Meux ! how he darts ! give thrust once more

He sinks ! he writhes ! h?s mischief now is o'er !

Though hours he '11 linger. Hark ! that distant song 1

It is the thrasher's thrilling thus along.

How sweet the warble ! now so high its shake,

It seems its fine-drawn delicate thread will break ;

Now in full ring comes on its liquid swell,

Like the rich music of some silver bell ;

And now the strain drops low, yet full and round,

The listening soul dissolving with its sound !

Is it not sweet, Allaire ? "

'* Ah yes. Merle, yes !
How oft when eve commenced on day to press,
I from the gallery at Quebec have heard
The soft pure flute of this enchanting bird.
And thought of home upon the smiling plain
Beside the Loire, and I was young again ;
My boy came bounding toward my homeward feet.

THE MEETING.

My wife was there her weary one to greet,

Whilst the low vesper bell was on the air,

And all things round me seemed to whisper prayer.

Oh, then I lived in long departed years,

My eyes were filled with sad delicious tears.

And not until that woodland strain was o'er

Did the dream pass and leave me old once more I "'

Such was the talk the hardy bands exchanged,

As through the woods in broken ranks they ranged.

^.-^l

THE MEETING.

The afternoon br .a. c-^ cool amidst the shades,
And sunset now was streaming through the glades.
The western leaves flashed out in golden gloss,
And sifted sprinklings on the grass and moss ;
Now the grim cannon in quick sparklings shone,
Passing some thicket densely overgrown ;
Now, where some hollow poured its slanting rays.
Gun, flag, and corslet all were in a blaze.
On, on they pressed, but patches now of hght
Gratefully cheered their gloom-accustomed sight ;
Broad glitterings through the trees, and murmurs low
Blent with the wood's hum, told a river's flow ;
And now, before, a slender thread of smoke
On the sky's rich and golden back-ground broke.
The stealthy snakelike scouts crept shrouded on,
And mutely signified the goal was won.

FRONTENAC.

A brightness passed across each wearj' brow,

Ilauks were reformed, and all was order now.

Swift they approached the opening glimmering wide,

Kun-da-qua''^ ripples glancing l)y their side.

They left i^a woods, the maize-fields spread their green,

And On-on-dah-gah castle there was seen.

Whoops burst out wildly from the Indian throng.

Like famished wolves they howled and leaped along,

All save We-an-dah, — with averted gaze

He crept and hid amidst the puulanxed maize.

On through the oped gate of the palisade,

On throi-gh the lonely lanes their way they made,

Until at last they burst upon the square ;

The long high-roofed Tcar-jis-ta-yo was there ;

That shrine so famed amongst the Red-mou ! shrine

Which held the flame so hallowed, so divine !

Known through all tribes by legends strange and dark,

Of mystery, wonder, dread, yet hate, the mark !

On toward the porch they sprang, but who sits there

With such composed and yet majestic air !

Ta-wen-deh, leader of the savage bands,

Stops, looks, advances, stops, extendL^ his hands.

" Back, slave ! touch not the Priestess ! back ! " — with awe

That rising form the startled Indians saw.

And not a weapon stirred or war-whoop rung ;

It seemed as if a spell was o'er them flung.

The mastery of the mind ; once more she spoke :

" Lead me to Yon-non-de-yoh ! " — just then broke

The throng for Frontenac ; she met his eye ;

He bounded from his chair with one wild cry :

THE MEETING.

233

• Ha ! " — then ho checked himself with elTort strong ;
•' Ta-wen-deh ! take from hence thy warrior throng !
(}uards, draw around ! " — then to the Priestess tuniing,
" Enter ! "

" Not where the sacred flame is burning ! "
Grasping her arm, yet gently, then he led
Swift within Thurenserah's lodge her tread.

VI.

" Sa-ha \;ee ! Can it, can it be

My loved, my long lost ! " — and he threw

His ai'm around her passionately ;

But up her slender form she drew,

And with a sternly frowning brow

Broke from his arm, and waved him back :

" Sa-ha- wee is the Priestess now ;

0-nah-tah * is fierce Frontenac,

Red Yon-non-de-yoh ! " — but he still

Exclaimed in tones of tenderest thrill,

" Oh do not, do not turn from me !

Long years have passed, how drear and long,

My bird ! since last I heard thy song ! "

And once more to his bosom he

Her form caught wildly ; in his face

Sa-ha-wee looked with softening eye,

A moment stood in his embrace,

Then breached a quick and yielding sigh,

Whilst wakened feeling on her cheek

Commenced in rising hue to speak ;

* "The Pine-tree" in On-on-dah-gah.

234

FRONTENAC.

And then a second rush of thought
A deeper kindhcr color brought,
Although a lingering stcnniess yet
Within her eye the softness met.
" Bu 3W, Sa-ha-wee ! dearest, how,

H. he t thou risen thus from the dead '.' "
The Priestess swept from off her brow

The long Mack hair across it spread,
And there displayed a deep-marked scar :

" Ta-yo-nee's hatchet did not slay !
But when Sa-ha-weo woke, afar

In her "wn lodge once more she lay
At On-on-dah-gah ; the stern mood

Of the steru brother soft was made
When by his arm he saw, in blood,

His once loved, only sister, laid.
Long were the hours 'twixt life and death

I hung; 0-nah-tah seemed to stand"
(And a soft loving eye she now
Turned on his earnest listening brov/)

" My head oft holding with his hand,
And words of love upon his breath ;
But always, always was my child
Around — my neck her little arm
Now circling, now her kisses warm
Touching my lips as sweet she smiled.
I rose ; Ta-yo-nee by my side
Had kept a never ceasing watch
Lest other ears the tale should catch
My ravings told ; he wished to hide,

TFIE MEETINC;.

:2.{r)

He said, my hurning shame that 1,
The daughter of Ska-je-ah-no, *
His sister, shouki have fallen so low
In Yon-non-de-yoh's breast to lie
Unwedded ; I deserved to die !
He told that I had been the wife
Of a French soldier lately o'er

In the new Yon-non-de-yoh's train,
From where the last one basely bore^
Myself and sire ; my husbands life

He'd watched, and him at last had slain
In our own lodge ; by accident

One of the blows his arm had dealt,
Had from my husband's head been bent,

And thus my brow the weight had felt
All this time, constant in my ear
Ta-yo-nee was low whispering, till
Against my strong and struggling will.

The tall 0-nah-tah, loved so late,"
(Here on his hand a kiss she pressed,
And strained it fondly to her breast,)
" To Yon-non-de-yoh changed, and fear

Chased love away, then blent with hate.
But still my child, so swcet, so bright,
Was never absent from my sight ;
In thought by day, in dreams by night,
I saw her, and so deep my pain,
Ta-yo-nee left to pluck my flower

" The Ekgle '' in the On-on-dah-gah tongue.

hmmmmmm

2:JG

mONTENAC.

From liatcd Yon-non-dc-yoh's bower ;
Ho brought her and I smiled again ! "
" What ! doth she live ? " in quickly broke
Hero FroDtenac. Sa-ha-wee's face
An instant's painful thought bore tra'.^e,
She bowed and hid it — then she spoke :
" No, no, 0-nah-tiih ! she is dead ! "
Frontenac bent his silvered head :
" 'Tis as I deemed ; my scouts I sent
On every side ; but first they went
To On-on-dah-gah, for I thought
Ta-yo-nee too this deed had wrought ;
They bore back tidings he had died

In some late war-path " —

" True, most true,
The very night that by my side

My child he placed, the war-path drew
(With Ku-an, Atotarho then)

My brother's warrior tread away
To a far Adirondack glen.

And both Braves perished in the fray ! "
Frontenac 's eye a moment flamed :
" Heaven took the vengeance tliat I claimed ;
But let him rest in peace. No word
Of my lost little one I heard
Through thy Long House, my scouts in vain
Made search, no tidings did they gain.
Till hope at last I ceased to feel,

And the blind fruitless search gave o'er ;
Since then I 've only thought Lucille,

THE MKKTING.

Like thoo, Sa-ha-wic, was no more.
My scouts too tolil nic in their tale,
When at thy village ceased their trail,
It was a clay of feast and glee

For the new Priestesis of the flame.
Ah ! little did I deem that she

And thou, my lost one, were the same."

237

VIT.

He ceased — and each a moment stood
In silence, by deep thoughts subdued :
Then low the Priestess bent her frame.
And, taking in both hers his hand,
Exclaimed in tones of music bland,
" One boon, one boon, the sacred flame
Spare, spare, 0-nah-tah ! "

" For thy sake,

Thy sake, Sa-ha-wee ! — ha ! that glare,
Those whoops ! " — they saw a fierce light breaK

O'er the dim space of twilight air,
Through the smoke-opening overhead.
And both rushed forth with startled tread.
Alas, poor Priestess ! one keen glow
Wrapped thy loved shrine Tcar-jis-ta-yo,
Whilst wildly round the red expanse,
Writhing in fast and frantic dance,
Ta-wen-deli and his Hurons went.
And high triumphant whoopings sent
That with the fire's loud craf^klings blent ;
Alas, poor Priestess ! fiercely sprung

hmmm

23H

FIIOXTKXAC.

Frontc'tuic forwiinl, iitTcily luii^'
Kis loud Imi'bh tones : " Wimt (luring hatul
Has done ihii di-cd without comniand '.' "
Tlio PrifstOHS ga/c'd — tlmt llanie so long
Watched o'or hy lier with love so strong,
For whose loved sake she 'd sought this hour
To save it by O-nah-tah'a power,
The stiu* to which the nations turned.

Sign of the League ! so deeply cherished I
VVhich for uniuuiil)ered years had humed,

And which she hoped would ne'er have perished
Eye of the Long I f ouse ! kindled there
By Ilah-wen-ne-yo's loving care,
To bo extinguished, spurned beneath
The feet of foes most scorned, who fled
Before her people's very tread
Ere this — she reeled — she gasped for breath,
And, 'midst the wild and stunning swell
Of savage joy, she, swooning, fell ;
And, (puck his kindling rage forgot,
Frontenac bore her from the spot,
And his old, faithful, staid Allaire
Meeting, consigned her to his care.

Tin; M.vKcii.

•2:5!»

TlIK MAllCH.

Vtll.

13cfort,' the tent of Frontcniic

Pitched in tlio square, tho sontry Merle
Saw, striding in his weary track,

Slowly the wings of dirkness furl.
The watch-fires tliat aniuiid liiiu burned
Wasting, to ghastlier colour turned ;
The tent, bathed late in ruddy light,
Stood in its graceful folds of white ;
A crimsoned object in advance
('hanged to the snowy ilag of France ;
The lodges, where the whole array
(Save the disdainfuMicd skins) lay
In slumber, through the shimmering air
Their usual shapes commenced to wear ;
Its redly-tlickering, chetiuering shade,
Threw off the neighbouring palisade ;
Spectres, that back and forward ranged,
To brother sentinels were changed ;
The barky o;nblems, shapes grotesque,

Upon the mounds of l-'U'ial placed,
In the wild lighi so picturesque,

Were in the brightness fully traced.
A shadow, wavering motions making
To the wind-moulded watch-fire's shaking,
Shrank to the drum that, near, had found
Again its native figure round,

•

nnnnn

'ZU) KHONTKNAC.

Displftyiiif^ con tho life wiilmi

ItH ring of bciiten tnwny skin ;

A criniHon ilusb, that uft had Hhot

Into Merle's e}t'S ns pnst tho spot

Ho strode, to steely gleams turned now

I'pun u Itreast-pliite eitst helow ;

The huglo lying by it, sliuig

Upon its strap, a glitter ilung ;

The casque, thrown near, keen rays flashed out ;

Dark brands of fires showed, strewed about ;

Whilst numerous figures round the scjuarc

Told that the wild men of the host,
Scorning all roof but sky, ^Yere there

In sleep, weighed down by orgies, lost.
Spots, in the area's midst, deep gleaming
Eyeballs of lurking monsters seeming
Within Merle's wandering, idle dreaming,
Mammoth or serpent terrible.
These forests' former habitants.
Of which he'd heard the Hurons tell.
Devouring all within their haunts.
Turned to pale coals ; whilst, 'midst them reared,
A tall and blackened shaft appeared,
The sole memorial left to show
Where stood the shrine Tcar-jis-ta-yo.
Not this alone, but his keen eye,
Once by a shoot of scarlet light
Sent by the watch-fire, chanced to spy
A crouching figure : through the night
He oft had thrown his curious look

Tlir. MARCH.

I poll that Itlark ami frowning nook
Where saw ho first the fonn, a gleam
Would now and then across it 8troaiu
And still he saw the figure there
Bent as if irushed down \>y despair.
No foe he deemed it, yet 'twa.H strange
There without motion, without ehimgo,
Hy the red glow which o'er would flit
He viewed that weird-like figure sit.
The dawning light disclosed at last
The drooping Priestess who, while fast
Allaire, toil-spent with marching, slept,
Away with stealthy step had creytt
In her unsluniheriug grief to brood
Amid the wrecks around her strew'd ;
Wrecks of what lately was the frame
Of its, she thought, undying Flame,
Flame of her glor}' ! having place

Next Thurenserah in her heart,
Which, woe most deep ! most foul disgrace !

Had seen its last faint Hash depart.
Flame of her glory ! oh, how prized !
Amidst the foes the most despised !
Never again to show its light
Unless in pity to the night,
Shrouding the Long House from his eye
Should Hah-wen-ne-yo cause to fly
The lightning as in days of yore,
And give the sacred light once more.
That would once more with sparkling power

242 PRONTENAC.

Make summer of the winter bower,
^lakc daylight of the midaight hour,

With its rejoicing blaze
And gladness, through the Long House shower.

As in its brightest days,
Ere treacherous counsels had prevailed,
Ere craven terror had assailed,
Or evil passions had burst out,
Scattering their awful fruits about,
Causing the Long House now to lie
In gloom beneath a gloomy sky.

Still, still the east horizon grew "

More soft and clear and bright in hue ;

The clouds displayed a dappled mien ;

The forests changed from dark to green ;

Whilst in full joyous chorus there

Burst warbles on the dewy air ;

At last the clouds with light were laced,

On gold and pearl the woods were traced.

The Orient seemed of rainbows wrought,

Gold seemed across the trees to run.
And then, like some majestic thought

Kindling the brain. Merle saw the sun.

As on the hill-top's loftiest pine it glowed,
The wide encampment stir and bustle showed ;
Frontenac, restless, with a picked array

THE MOCCASIN-PKINT.

Of pikes and muskets, quick his vengeful way
(The Adirondack and the Huron band,
Fiercest of all his tribes ! to aid his hand)
Was now, amidst the endless woods to push,
The Oneidas in their fastnesses to crush,
Leaving his ordnance, and remaining train
At On-on-dah-gah till he come again.

XI.

Seated within his chair of state once more
Frontenac takes his pathway as before ;
Sa-ha-wee, still the object of his care.
Near him is placed, protected by Allaire ;
The yet soft sunbeams of the morning strike
Again on moving musket, flag and pike,
And once more do the numbers onward press
Amidst the vast and solemn wilderness.

.;i!

THE MOCCASIN-PRINT.

,ir!^'i|

' !i

ZII.

Noon's burning eye was now refulgent o'er.

Sprinkling with light the varying sylvan floor ;

The hemlock's myriad particles of green

In tiny flashes, glinted back the sheen ;

The long-leaved polished laurels to the sight

Sent rapid glances of keen dazzling light ;

The beech's moss was turned to golden fringe,

And the air's grey suffused with emerald tinge ;

M 2

illiti

Hii FRONTENAC.

The Straggling numbers still their path pursued
Amidst the crowded columns of the wood,
The deep-trod trail they followed, winding, here,
Around some swamp extending wild and drear,
Bristling with tamaracks and hemlocks dead.
And with one sea of laurels overspread,
And seaming, there, some swelHng ridge's back
With yawning hollows either side the track.
Unceasing on the air arose the beat.
Upon the forest earth, of trampling feet,
With rustle, brittle snap of twig, and crush
Through the dry leaves and tangled underbrush ;
Shrill chirping voices, sudden whirring wings,
Told the quick flight of fleeing woodland things,
Whilst the musquito, ever hovering near
With its fine twanging, teased the shrinking ear,
We-an-dah, near the head of the array,
With cowering footstep stalked upon his way ;
His shrinking figure, and his drooping crest.
Showing he wished no eye on him to rest ;
Sorrow and conscious guilt upon his face,
In furrows sunken deep, had left their trace :
But sudden flashed his dim blank countenance.
Round him he cast a quick and furtive glance ;
A pike nan, treading near, was making bai'e
His forehead from his iron pot, for air ;
Another, with low-bended back had stopped
To lift the long buff gauntlet he had dropped ;
Another, making of his sword a staff.
Was joining in a fourth one's careless laugh ;

THE MOCASSIX-PRINT.

24.')

Slow sauntering onward went a musketeer,

His huge piece slung within his bandoleer ;

Whilst a young noble, pausing at a tree.

His gorget was adjusting busily ;

The rest were hidden in the trail that wound

Its crooked way midst thickets grouped around :

He looked again on what his eye first met,

And then his moccasin upon it set,

Turned round a laurel-clump, and, bending low.

Surveyed the slope with glances keen and slow ;

Again, — but 'twas a faint, a scarce-marked trace,

And nearly hid beneath a dock-leaf's face,

A moccasin's light print, — so faint, so light,

Nought but an Indian could have caught the sight.

Eagerly glanced he further down, — a brook

Its rushy way along the bottom took,

A wide leap's distance from the print, but not

Another foot-trace marked the tangled spot ;

He lifted every spreading plant, he drew

Aside each thicket, cluster, bush in view.

He lightly scooped the dead fall'n leaves away.

But nothing more did his close search repay ;

If other trace remained, with such deep care

And cunning was it hid, that in despair

We-an-dah, noted for his eyesight keen,

Reframed his search and turned him from the scene.

Climbing once more the ridge, the eye he caught

Of Merle by passing " Ha I what hast thou sought

In those thick laurels, Redskin ? I '11 be bound

Fire-water cannot in those depths be found —

311

*«: :ifi:iTJ

u i ,

Z'iG FRONTEN'AC.

Here, in these never ending woods I — but look ! '
And, lifting up his buff coat-flaps, he took
From his trunk-hose a flask of blushing hue,
And held it smil'r » to the Indian's view ;
" What, Red-ski ?, ! dost thou turn away ? wilt not
The flagon taste '* tliou ! why, We-an-dah, what,
What has got in thee, man ! that eye of thine
I 've never seen vfith such sharp glances shine !
Thy form seems loftier too ! thy native woods
Have given thee one of thy best warrior moods !
What has got in thee, man ! I thought thy throat
Long as my pike when wine was down to float ! "
Thus as the gay and reckless soldier talked,
Mute by his side We-an-dah proudly walked ;
His figure, lowly bent for many a day,
Seemed towering now, beneath the wakened sway
Of some strong feeling, whilst around his eye
In subtle glances never ceased to fly.

XIII.

Thus hours passed on, until the sinking sun

Told that the long day's march was nearly done.

They now another ridge were crossing o'er,

On either side deep hollows as before.

Sudden We-an-dah's roving eye beheld

On R steep hill, that, scarce a gunshot, swelled

Beyond the hollow on whose edge he went,

A moving object ; keener search he sent, —

A snowy feather from behind a tree

Was thrust, and then a dark face j^autiously

THE MOIIT-WATni.

247

Peered forth ; upon the bands was tixed its gaze,
Seeming with anger and disdain to bhize ;
i3ut, as he looked, back shrank the head, and there
Again the pine-tree reared its column bare.
We-an-dah cast round furtive glance once more :
Distant, short way, two pikemen strode Ijefore,
Their back-plates, casques and pikeheads glancing back
liays of keen radiance in the sunset's track ;
Another, pausing, was refitting, nigh.
The thick plume in his skull-cap jerked awry :
Another, loud protesting he would melt.
Was loosening the broad buckle of his belt ;
Whilst Merle, low humming some familiar song,
Strode with his heavy jack-boots slow along.
Stamping his prints upon the fern and grass.
The air thus flavouring with crushed sassafras.
None heeded him, he tm-ned a thicket near.
And down the ridge-side urged his fleet career.

THE NIGHT-y^^ATCH.

XIV.

Night, in its earliest watch, was glowing now.
And on a lofty summit's wooded brow
The Atotarho stood : the cloudless arch
Glowed with its stars in their majestic march.
Here sketching outlines, — strewed, disordered there-
Some quick pulsating, others fixed in glare,
Whxist through the whole, in gorgeous broad array
Sprang, linked in snow-whit? light, the Milky Way,

3 1 1

•«.:*t ^r wiziwirn

248

IKONTENAC.

rv.

As Thurenscrah viewed the lovely sky,

It looked, to his wild fu* icy-shaping eye,

Like holy Hah-w. a-ne-yo's bosom, bright

With his thick crowded deeds, one glow of light —

And his rich belt of wampum broadlv hound.

White as his pure and mighty thougiiis around.

XVI.

But othf!)' feelings came, and sad his view

He turn ;■. belcny ; there stood in glimmering hue

Fruntenac's 'eMts, wluist, ilaming keen and red,

Watch tires i>ei.ieath the wood's lopped boughs were spread,

In which the pike and musket ruddy glowed,

As slow athwart each blaze the sentries strode.

Frequent loud song and careless laughter broke

From the encampment in commingled strain,
Whilst cricket, owl, and whip-poor-will awoke

The nigh^wood's stillness round him holding reign.
As there the frowning Indian gazed, he thought
Of all the bitter scene beneath him brought ;
Of that strange Pale-face race which, years ago.

Were seen on Cataraqui's heaving breast,
As the Great Bird with spreading wings of snow.

Bearer of grief and evil, upward pressed ;
First, creeping on the earth, with whispered words
Small in his race's ear as chirp of birds.
Then, rearing high their haughty fronts, and loud
Speaking their will, as speaks the thunder-cloud.

THE NIGHT-WATCH.

249

First, stretching trembling hands of feeblest clasp.

Extending then their pity-granted bounds,
Until they threatened, with insatiate grasp,

\I!, all, yes, all the Red-man's hunting-grounds.
Aiil Vsre, oh burning, burning thought! below
\\m 'on-non-de-yoh, that detested foe !
Here, in the forest's most profound retreat I

Whilst of the host of warriors he had won
','ogetvier, this proud enemy to meet,

Ail but his tnie and brave Ho-nont-kohs gone,
AnJ they, and he, close hiding in their fear
As from the prowling panther hides the deer.
His mother too, whose bent and weary tread
He 'd seen near Yon-non-de-yoh, cantive led ;
And then, those cunning, base and treacherous arts
Which in their net had trapped his warriors' hearts.
Vile A-ga-yen-teh ! here he grimly smiled ;
We-an-dah ! clutched his fingers fierce and wild,
His tomahawk in vengeful, deadly wrath,

He whom he 'd marked throughout the livelong day.
As close he hovered round the invader's path.

Guiding, and he an Iroquois ! their way ;
Oh could his thirsty hatchet drink his blood !

But just then from a neighbouring thicket sprun<
A figure, and before him, cowering, stood

We-an-dah ! high his tomahawk he swung,
Bat still with spreading hands and head bent low,

Motionless stood bis recreant chieftain there.

The Atotarho stayed the falling blow,.

1 1

3 11

■^'P

250

FRONTENAC.

He could not strike at that meek, otroriiig air,
But in his sternest tones of anger said,

" Why comes fork-tongued We-an-dah here ? " The Chief
Answered, but lifted not his humbled head —

*' As the last sun was pouring his hot sheaf

Of arrows from mid-sky, We-an-dah caught

A print which he the Atotarho's thought.

And keeping watch, as neared the sun his grave,

IJeheld the Atotarho's white plumo wave

From the pine's ambush, as he viewed the way

That Yon-non-de-yoh took with his array.

This foot has tracked, eye dwelt on him, since then,

And when We-an-dah saw him leave the glen,

He followed to yield up his wretched life

To his wronged Atotarho's vengeful knife."

" We-an-dah ! " — lowlier bent the Indian's head —

'* The Chieftain and the Warrior ! he whose whoop
Had rung so often on the war-path red,

Suffered his crouching broken soul to stoop.
The burning fire-water's slave to be ;
The crawling serpent loftier far than he ;
That made him coward, woman, when his word
Of warning fear was in thy council heard ;
We-an-dah meant not treachery ! no ! he felt
His prostrate soul within his bosom melt
With fright at Yon-non-de-yoh's numbers ! he
Spoke as he felt — he wished the Braves to flee,
To save them from the lifted arm whose blow
He thought would lay the League for ever low ;

THK NIGHT-WATCH.

251

iJiit when they fought amongst themselves, in droatl

Some knife might roach his quailing heart, he tletl ;

His fierj' thirst its reign claimed also o'er,

And Yon-non-de-yoh thus he joined once more.

" Hut," here he lifted up his frowning brow,

" We-an-dah s all Ho-de-no-sonne now,

His warrior heart once more has come to him :

His blinded eyesight is no longer dim ;

Great Atotarho, listen then I again

Will the next sun light Yon-non-de-yoh's train.

Threading our people's forests in their pride,

We-an-dah still their seeming friend and guide.

Listen ! as shuts that sun once more his eye.

The Atotarho with his faithful baud
In the * Wolf's throat ' like lurking snakes will lie,

Hatchet, fusee, and knife in every hand ;
And when We-an-dah, Yon-non-de-yoh there
Conducts, the Atotarho 's whoop in air
Will burst and pierce his ears with fiercest wrath.
Whilst glad We-an-dah by another path
Than the up-cavern's, found one day by him,
Chasing a fleeing wolf, will with swift limb
Leave Yon-non-de-yoh trapped, and scale the height
To join his valiant brothers in the fight ! "
Within the thicket once again he sprung,
As the last words fell rapid from his tongue ;
And slowly down the hill's opposing side
The Atotarho bent his thoughtful stride,
And plunged within the tangled glen beneath.

252

FRONTENAC.

Whero the night's silcnco brooded, hushed as death ;

l^ut, ns if wakened by his gliding tread,

From some black bush would rise a frequent head,

Until he reached a grape vme's arbor vast,

And there, as if for sleep, his form he cast.

END OF CANTO EIGHTH.

death ;
tead,

CANTO NINTH.

THE BATTLE.
THE TORTURE.
THE DEFIANCE.

THE DEATH.
FRONTENAC.
MASS FOR THE DEAD.

T^^'^m

♦■

{•

CANTO NINTH.

THE IJATTLi:.

The sunset was pouring its yellow flood
In a long deep glen of the boundless wood.
A precipice sought on one side the sky,

The wall on the other arose less steep
With great rocks broken, and ledges high.

With tall trees clustered and thickets deep ;
Twas the dark *' Wolfs throat," and slept it still,
Nought heard but the tap of the woodpecker's bill,
And nought in the narrow vista seen
But birds in and out of their dwellings green.

II.

Now slow from a bush on the sloping side
Was thrust a savage's plumaged head ;
Along the passage his eye he sped.
And " Yu-we-lon-doh ! " he quickly cried.
Another grim Indian arose from his lair,
And instantly then were uplifted in air,
From jutting rock and from hollow trunk.
From the head of the hemlock downward sunk,

♦m

256

FRONTENAC.

Froiu bush of cedar and mossy mound.
Scalplocks bristling in scores around ;
Tht next all vanislied, rock, bush, and tree,
Resuming once more their tranquillity.

III.

Next snapping of twig and careless song,
And beating of steps from a trampling throng.
Waving of feather and shining of brand,
Frontenac with his approaching band.

IV.

Through the hollow they crowding tread,
Which seems a torrent's abandoned bed,
With rock and gravel to form its floor.
And spotted with pools and thickets o'er.
Birds from the bushes lotid chirping dart,
Rabbit and squirrel affrighted start ;
Save these, deep silence and solitude
Seem o'er the gloomy scene to brood.
Still in they tread, till a rocky wall
Blocks up the passage with sudden fall.

At once the air is filled with cries
That from the broken steep arise.
Pealing and echoing to the skies,
Whilst on the startled crowd,
From rock, and tree, and bush, and mound,
Comes one quick simultaneous sound ;

THE HATTLE.

2:)7

Though not an enemy is found ;

All is confusion loud I
Down sinks the dying musketeer,
The pikeman stands aghast with fear,
The Indian seeks the thicket near,
Hut keen in every deafened ear

The warwhoops rise once more ;
Again rock, tree, and thicket gleam,
Again the shots upon them stream,

Again forms drop in gore ;
Frontenacs voice calls out in vain,
" Stand to your aims ! " — the wildered train
Hear the stem warwhoops ring again.
And feel once more the leaden rain.

Fall back, sway to and fro.
All gaze around, but nought they see
But rock, and bush, and bank, and tree,
Whence shoots the flame of the fusee.
And deadly balls shower fearfully ;

No mark for aim or blow.
Save now and then a plumaged head,
A tawny arm, a legging red,
A muzzle bent, an eye of dread,
An instant seen, an instant fed.

Ere gun or pike could bear.
Although six hundred gallant men
Were gathered in that narrow glen,

All yielded to despair ;
Veterans of many a bloody field,
Whose creed, to mortal foe than yield

riM

) 1

2Si ■

♦I (f^

;i58 FROXTENAC.

Was witli stern pride to die ;
And Iled-men, burning to oppose
Their fierce hereditary foes,
With wild and craven terror shook,
And cast round many an anxious look

Where, where to hide or lly :
Destruction seemed to hover round,
Though such their numbers, scarce was found

lloom for the fall'n to lie.

VI.

Ta-wen-deh, with his eager hand

On his fusee, defying stand

Had taken, where in crowded band

Had paused his tawny host,
All cowering, as amongst them came
Death borne upon the frequent flame,

Forgotten song and boast.
When, lo ! a thicket, clustering dense
Upon the side, was scattered thence
(Planted by mocking art), and there

(Ah, treachery ! ah, treachery !)
Was grim Ska-imx-heh, pointing where

A slanting cavern opened free
A passage up the rugged steep
Then leading way with struggling leap ;
Safe from the death all round that fell,
Ta-wen-deh entered with a yell.
And echoing it with piercing swell
Each Red-man leaves the fatal dell.

TIIK BATTLE.

259

Following Ska-nux-hf^h, up they went,
The cavern's roof above them bent,
Till sutldenly it ceased, and round
Ledges and trees were only found ;
Jiut, still Ska-nux-heh for their guide,
They turned their bosoms to the side.
Now to the pine's great roots they clung,
Now to the elm's drooped branches hung,
Now by the hemlock up they swung.
And now from rock to rock they sprung,

Till all firm footing made ;
Then each one sought his bush and tree,
And sent the deadly bullet free
In turn upon the enemy.

Whose coverts were betrayed.
Then shrub and grass shot startled look.
Then rose plumed heads from many a nook,
Trees with descending figures shook,
Wild warriors crouching lairs forsook.

And sought each open space ;
Then closed the foes in desperate strife,
With hatchet, clubbed fusee and knife,

Fierce struggling face to face.

VII.

From the impending death relieved,
The soldiers new-born hope received,
And, shaming of their late despair,
With bracing strength they upwards bear.
Climbing the cavern high ;

260

FRONTENAC.

The fray above fills eye and ear,

Now far — now nigh — now there — now here,

Shot, clash, and groan and cry.
IJetween the trees quick figures dash,
Echo fusees and hatchets flash,

Blood, pattering, falls from o'er;
The dead and dying now and then
Roll past them downward to the glen,

Marking their path with gore.
Still up they climbed, and now their sight
Embraced in widening scope the fight.
Here on the ground writhed, snake-like, foes ;
There, face to face, exclianged they blows ;
With aimed fusee, here, crouching deep.
There, bounding on with hatchet's sweep ;
One shout for France, the air that rent,
The flushed and eager soldiers sent,
And in the furious combat blent.
(J'ermatched in numbers now, and caught
In their own ambush, wildly fought
The brave Ho-nont-kohs, but for nought ;

Hemmed in on every hand,
Ee Ji desperate effort only brought

Thicker the knife and brand.

VIII.

At the first burst of the attack,
From his spurned chair had Frontenac
Sprung to his feet, and round, on high,
Had swept his fierce uuquailing eye.

THE BATTLE.

201

Vuci sent his loud and stem command
Amongst his rooking, jostUng band,
To brave the worst, unllinchiug stand.

As still within the glen he stood,
lie saw, above, a swaying throng.
Passing a broad-spread ledge along,

Bare from the usual cloak of wood,
Where pikes and blades and hatchets rose,
Darted and fell, one storm of blows ;
That instant broke the clustered strife.

And a young warrior met his sight,
Hewing his way through with hatchet and knife,

Pikemen and Indians surrounding his flight ;
Another savage beside him clung,
And fiercely his knife too and tomahawk swung ;
Foe after foe about them fell,

But pike and hatchet still barred their path,
The young Brave's struggles were terrible,

Whilst battled the other with dogged wrath ;
The face of that other met Frontenac's eye,
He started, and pointing his sword with cry,
" We-an-dah ! base wretch ! slay the treacherous hound !
Sprang toward the cavern with feeble bound.
But just then came flashing a tomahawk's blow,
On the head of We-an-dah who dropped below,
Whilst broke the young Brave with a mighty bound
From the cluster of foes that were pressing him round.
Fro7L. thicket to thicket, from ledge to ledge,

Now seen and now lost, dashed the warrior free,
Leaping now from some dizzy edge.

^iT

Ti^

202

FROXTENAC.

Swin^'ing now l»y some hanging tree ;
liullets cut brancheH beside his head,
Hatchets whirled past him, but still he fled ;
At length through the caveni that opened at hand

Emerged the lierce savage by Frontenac's side ;
The veteran Hashed at his breast his brand,

But on, without check, went the wariior's stride
Forward through the hollow's gloom,
Like a white bird skims his plume, —
But the foremost of those that came,
After him bounded Ska-nux-heh's frame ;

Onward, onward through the dell
Fleet the Atotarho went,
But now Ska-nux-heh's fusee was bent,
The bullet in Kab.-kah's revenge was sent.

And, midst the father's triumphant yell.

The Atotarho headlong fell.

THE TORTURE.

IX.

Night was around, the moon eerene

Shed o'er all objects her beautiful sheen ;

On the tents, through the boughs of the forest she beamed ;

On the weapons up-piled, and round scattered, she gleamed

In a small hollow, a pillared blaze

Blotted the silver with ruddy glaze ;

Scowling Hurons a stake stood round.

Where, branches piled round him, We-an-dah was bound.

THE TORTURE.

^G3

Hundreds were crowded to view the sight.
The buff-coat and corslet were bathed in light
Home by the pikeman and musketeer ;
And in the radiance ruddy and clear,
The face of the wild Adirondack was keen
As he waited impatient the torture-scene ;
Whilst loftily in his chair placed high,
Ir'rontenac sat with a gleaming eye.

XI.

Shouting and leaping the Hurons went,
Wildly and fiercely their limbs they bent ;
As each one passed he thrust his knife

Deep in the stem We-an-dah's flesh,
Who, though all over were womids from the strife,

Though at each thrusting burst out afresh
In torrents the smoking and purple gore,
Unflinching, unshrinking, the torture bore.
As peeled from his body the skin in strips
The Death-song rose to his scornful lips,
Kose to his lips, while his haughty eyes
Sought the pure depths of the rosy skies.

XII.

At length from the stamping circle bounded
Ta-wen-deh, head of the savage band,

Close to We-an-dah ; his whoop resounded
As he kindled the pile with a fiery brand.

♦I

2G4

FHONTENAC.

liut 08 shot a red streak the doomed Chieftain around,

lie leaped with a mighty convulsive bound,

The shrivelled thongs parted — swift forward he sprung,

From the belt of Ta-wen-deh the hatchet he tore,
One moment in air the keen weapon he swung.

And headlong the Huron fell dead in his gore.
Then, with a staggering faltering force
He cast the red hatchet ; in wavering course
It circled by Frontenac's head so near,
That he sprung from his chair with a look of fear,
Then plunging down, with his arms outspread,
Prone on his face lay We-an-dah dead.

THE DEFIANCE.

xni.

Again rose the mom ! From the pine-top she bent

Her rich golden glory on Frontenac's tent ;

The Griffins were drooping the canvas o'er,

Two of the Guardsmen were striding before :

Within sat Frontenac ; on each hand

His leaders, arrayed with plume, mantle, and brand.

Ska-nux-heh, the traitor ! was cowering nigh, .

With gratified hate in his sullen eye.

Full in Frontenac's flashing view

Thurenserah, the hapless, stood,
A bandage displaying in ruddy hue.

Where the fell bullet had drunk his blood

THE DblFIANCE.

Strove ho to rise to his fullest height,

Yot ovor his slender and graceful frame,
Swaying it with u fearful might,

Droopings and totterings frequent came.
" Wolf! " burst Frontenac out at length,
" Caught at last in thy den of strength !
Prepare to howl thy death-son f^ now,
No more wilt thou seek mo witli murderous blow !
And yet " — less stem grew his gleaming eye —
" I know not, but scarce would I have thee die !
Answer ! Why didst thou my young men slay ? —
Why didst thou keep on thy vengeful way,
With hatchet and torch, when I wished my hand
Knit with thine own in friendship's band ?"

JJ65

XIV.

The Atotarho manned his frame

And said, whilst glowed his eye with flame,

" From Yon-non-de-yoh's lodge of pride.

The Cataraqui swift beside.

To where the birds for ever sing,

And flowers their sweets unceasing fling.

The Ongue Honwee sway the knifo

Won by long years of bloody strife ;

The streams our swift ka-we-yahs skim,

Our war-whoops wake the forests dim,

The vales and mountains hold our game ;

And should the tribes lift hatchet red,
Their lodges melt in midnight flame.

Heaped are their war-paths with their dead,

•» ■• TTJ

♦I

•• A

H'A)

FKONTENAl .

Yet Yon-noii-«l(-yuh to llie hky
Lifts liin proud front, ciist-s round his eye,
Ami suyH, ' TIk'm! huiitiuf,' <^'vounds are mine ! '
And bids his doiidly lightnings fihine ;
Hears his stone huts witliiu our woods,
Sends his winged pirogues o'er our Hoods,
And tiireatens in his hurning wrath
To sweep e'en Corlear from his path.
Does not the panther guard uis den '.'

Nav, does not e'en the timid deer

Ti.rn when the hunter comes too near?
And shaii not Thurenserah, then,
With his hest blood pi< »tect the earth
Owned by his People, whence their biitli '.'
Anu did not Yon-non-de-yoh spread

In Thui'cnserah's path a snare.
E'en whilst the calumet he bore ?

Sa-ba-it\ev! loo ! " — a look of care
Dwelt irensiont on his features red,

Thcji «prew they calm and high once more.
" And has not Yon-non-de-yoh come,

With all his warriors in array,
To Thurenserah's forest-home,

His huts to burn, his People slay ?
Where are his brave Ho-nont-kohs ! those,

Who round their Atotarho stood
When friends proved false, and threatened foes ;

liow lie they in their blood.
And Y'u-we-lon-doh 1 of the band

The loftiest ! in the ' Wolfs throat ' too

THK DK.VTir.

iln lies: and gone Wo-iiii-(liih. win*.

Mitlst the sfdmed Huron dogs uptUnv,
To IIiih-won-ne-yo'n Spirit-land.
Mul yft, tliMii^'li Yon-non-de-yoh's knilV
Points ut tho Atnturho's life,
rhough Hah- wen ne-yo's smiles depart,

Though stonns upon his head have hurst,
Cp Thurenserah lifts his heart,

And proud and lofty as when lirst
He hraved tho White man's power and art,

Dares Yon-nou-de-voh do his worst I "

•^rt?

XV,

" Ha ! Speak'st thou words like these to me ?"
i-'rontenac thundered. " Dar'st thou, slave?

Ska-nux-heh, bear him to the stake !
We '11 see if there he '11 tower so brave —

If flame will not his spirit break.
Haste! let us from his prate be free ! "

THE DEATH.

XVI.

In a green opening by Frontenac's tent,
Circling a stake, in their varied mien.

Again was the throng of the army blent,
Seemingly waiting a coming scene.

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268 FRONTENAC.

Suddenly shrill whoops rent the sky,

And midst an advancing Indian host,
The Atotarho met each eye.

Treading in majesty toward the post.
Beside him Ska-nux-heh, the Bloody, came
With a pine-torch flaring in smoky flame ;
Louder and louder the whoops pealed out,
Wildly flashed hatchets and knives about,
But calmly his way Thurenserah took,
Forward he gazed with a steadfast look.
That look from all traces of passion exempt,
Save that of freezing and lofty contempt.
Trampling beneath e'en the weakness and pain.
So late before Frontenac claiming their reign.

XVII.

Now to the stake is bound his waist,

Leaves and branches are round him placed ;

Then as ceases the whooping din,

Ska-nux-heh's revilings and taunts begin.

" Kooh ! dog and coward ! he fears to die I

He cannot look in a warrior's eye !

Kooh ! trembling deer ! when he comes to his pain,

His moans will echo, tears fall like rain !

That the great Atotarho ! shame !

I see but a coward who fears the flame !

That Thurenserah proud and high !

I see but a coward who fears to die ! "

THE DEATH.

269

XVIII.

Down in disdain the young warrior gazed,
At first on Ska-nux-heh ; his brow then he raised,
As if lifting his soul o'er the jeer and taunt,
And forth rushed his death-song in free bold chaunt,
liinging more loud, as his foe more fierce
Hurled his scorn, till Ska-nux-heh pressed
Close to his victim, to tear from his breast
The close white robe, that his knife might pierce
The naked flesh e'er he kindled the fire,
Where the proud Atotarho was doomed to expire.

XIX.

Forward across his tent and back,
With hurried stride went Frontenac.
Deepest determination now
Was seated on his frowning brow ;
Doubt wavered then within his eye —
" So young, so gallant ! thus to die !
And yet ! " — his face again grew stern,
Until it worked with passion's strife —
" Did not his hatchet seek my life ?
Did it not strike down young Lavergne ?
And " — here his wrinkled brow was fraught
With weblike lines of crafty thought —
" Daring and wise ! he 's formed to lead
The Iroquois to greatest deed ;

270

PRONTENAC.

i >

Esca[)ing now, he '11 tread some hour

Upon my neck to loftiest power.

He dies ! " — .Just then a figure dashed

Within the tent, '• Sa-ha-wee ! " — wild
Her starting eyeballs on him flashed.

" Fly ! save her ! haste ! my child ! our child I
0-nah-tah, hear'st thou ! ours ! she dies ! " —

"Who, who, Sa-ha-wee ! "—

••She! Lucille!—
The Atotarho ! ' Shrill her cries

On his bewildered senses peal.
" Lucille ! the Atotarho ! quick.

Explain — quick, woman ! " —

From her tongut

The rapid words in torrents sprung.
Although with anguish hoarse and thick,

Whilst at his feet her form she flung ;
" When Ku-an— Atotarho — fell,
Had not Ta-yo-nee died as well.
He would the dignity have "*

By our law's course, and l .. , my child,
Had she — thou hear'st — a son been bom ;

A thought flash? i o'er me quick and wild !
When came Ta-yo-nee with her, night
Wrapped all, none saw, her life knew none,
And at first tidings of the death
Of him and Ku-an, with loud breath
From the Tcar-jis-ta-yo's dread height, *
As Priestess, armed thus in my might,

Her life I told, but as a son.

THE DEATH.

•i71

AH their young Atotarho hailed,

The Union Feast approved tlie claim,
And, whilst his boyish years prevailed,

Bade Sken-an-do-ah bear the name ;
Still stand'st thou here to see her die !
Fly ! on my knees I ask it ! fly ! " —
" Woman ! thou told'st me she was dead ! " —

" J did ! my secret still to keep ! " —

Bewilderment, amazement deep,
Yet Frontenac's pale visage spread.
" Knows she, Sa-ha-wee, I 'm her sire ? "
" No ! like the League she only knew
Her father in the Paleface Brave,
In his false tale Ta-yo-nee slew —
Haste, haste, they 11 kindle soon the fire ;
Will not his child a father save ?
Fly, fly! 0-nah-tah! flyl"—

A shout
Broke just then from the crowd without —
A shout of wonder wild — he sprung,
The tent's front folds he open flung,
There, Heavenly Powers ! St. Francis ! there !
There, with a woman's breast made bare
By the recoiled Ska-nux-heh's hands.
The mighty Atotarho stands.
Stands with a shrinking drooping frame.
As if crushed down with deepest shame ;
But as looked Frontenac, like thought

Lucille leaned forward, stretched her arm,
The torch from froze Ska-nux-heh caught

272

PRONTENAC.

And fired the pile; ia mad alonn
I' orward the father leaped with cry
Of " pluck him thence ! " yelled shrill and high,
" Ho ! pluck him thence ! " his hair streams out,
His arms he stretches, — but the shout
None of the crowd wild-rocking hears ;

All is confusion clamorous there,

Eyes forward fixed, tongues rending air,
The fire's dread crackling fills his ears.
And on he struggles, " pluck him thence ! "

None heed, obey none, still he calls,
Till darkness sweeps o'er every sense.

And, fainting, midst the throng he falls.
A form springs past with frantic force.
Through the dense crowd it cleaves its course.
" The Priestess ! " on — down gleams her knife,
Ska-nux-heh yields his groaning life ;
Into the fire she dashes now,

And, nerved with all her mad despair,
One flashing wreath around her brow.

Around her form one blazing glare,
She breaks from out the scattered flame,
And forth she drags a blackened frame.
Which, staggering wildly to its knee.

An arm throws proudly to the skies,
Sounds a low war-whoop brokenly,

Then drops and, strugglmg faintly, dies.
Turned into stone, with frenzied gaze.
The talons of the ravenous blaze
Keen in her flesh, the Priestess kneels

PRONTENAC.

Beside her child, a shriek then peals,
A shriek of agony, so shrill,
It made the hearts all round her thrill,
Then swift as light, her knife she sheathed

Within her breast, her blood gushed red.
And as •• I come, Lucille ! " she breathed.

She fell across her daughter, dead.

273

FRONTENAC.

^ I

XX.

Years, alas ! how fast they fly !
April's clouds along the sky !
Bubbles on the gliding stream !
Dyes that in the rainbow gleam !
Leaves that autumn's tempests sever !
Thus they fly, and fly for ever !

■|

XXI.

Five rapid years have passed away.

And on Quebec's embattled height
The sunset sleeps with mellow ray.

Making the mountain soft and bright.
Rich rose is on Cape Diamond's head.
Glints, here and there, the river's bed,
While to the voyageur's rude eye,
Paddling along his birch canoe,

M 3

274

FRONTENAC.

A streak of silver, curving high

The gold enamelled folit^e through,
Tells the tall Montmorenci's leap
From its sunk valley down the steep.

XXII.

The wide Place d'Armes in shade was cast,

And on it was a concourse vast, •

Batteauman, hunter, coureur, scout,

Noble and monk, were grouped about,

Whispering and pale as if in fear

That some calamity was near.

" He 's dying. Merle ! " with sorrowing air ,

The young Carignan Pierre said low.
" How know'st thou?"

" The old Guard Allaire
Told me a brief half-hour ago ! "
" Has he not seemed to waste away.
Since the strange dreadful scene that day
Down in the On-on-dah-gah woods ? "
•* Yes ! all through those grim solitudes
Haggard his visage was and wild,
And since that hour he 's never smiled.
Well, mainly he 's been just and good,
Though fierce and hasty in his mood ;
The Holy Virgin waft his soul
Up to its pure and happy goal ! "
" Hark ! " just then came a deep stem swell

Along the air, a heavy clang :
It was the Castle's giant bell.

MASS rOR TIIK DKAl).

275

And loud, slow, sUirtling tolls it rung.
Clang, clang again — clang, (dang again —
It seemed to strike to every 1 train,
The low vibrating hum between
Quivering along the awe-struck scene.
Stiri'ed by one impulse stood the crowd
With brow uncovered, shoulders boweil :
They knew the tale that soknui bell.
The sorrowing tale 'twas swung to tell :
Quebec rang out in every street.
Cape Diamond back the volume beat,
The walls spoke forth in deep rebound.
The river's breast returned the sound ;
It needed not that grey Allaire,

With trembling voice and bended head.
Should from the sally-port declare

That noble Frontenac was dead.

.|i|

MASS FOR THE DEAD.

XXTII.

Sunset again o'er Quebec

Spread like a gorgeous pall ;
Again does its rich glowing loveliness deck

River, and castle, and wall.
Follows the twilight haze.

And now the star-gemmed night ;

276

FRONTENAC.

And out bursts the RecoUets' church in a blaze

Of glittering spangling light.
Crowds in the spacious pile

Are thronging the aisles and nave,
With soldiers from altar to porch, in file,

All motionless, mute, and grave.
Censers are swinging around,

Wax-lights are shedding their glare.
And, rolling mtyostic its volume of sound.

The organ oppresses the air.
The saint within its niche,

Pillar, and picture, and cross,
And the roof in its soaring and stately pitch *

Are gleaming in golden gloss.
The chorister's sorrowing strain

Sounds shrill as the winter breeze.
Then low and soothing, as when complain

Soft airs in the summer trees.
The taper-starred altar before.

Deep mantled in mourning black,
With sabre and plume on the pall spread o'er,

Is the cofl&n of Frontenac.
Around it the nobles are bowed.

And near are the guards in their grief,
Whilst the sweet-breathing incense is wreathing its cloud

Over the motionless chief.
But the organ and singer have ceased,

Leaving a void in air, ''

And the long-drawn chaunt of the blazon 'd priest

Eises in suppliance there.

KRONTENAC.

277

Again the deep organ shakes

The walls with its mighty tone.
And through it again the sweet melody breaks

Like a sorrowful spirit's moan.
A sudden silence now ;

Each knee has sought the floor ;
The priest breathes his blessing with upturn 'd brow,

And the requiem is o'er.

NOTES.

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NOTES,

CANTO FIRST.

STANZA I.

" 'Twas in June's bright and glowing prime,
The loveliest of the summer time.
The laurels were one splurdid sheet

Of crowded blossom everywhere ;
The locust's clustered pearl was sweet,

And the tall whitewood made the air
Delicious with the fragrance shed
From the gold flowers all o'er it spread."

The appearance of the American forests in June is truly
magnificent. The fresh leaves are so closely set, and are
so bright in hue, as to cause the branches to look as if
clothed in an emerald fleece. The laurel thickets are one
sheet of superb blossom, whilst the locust and the white-
wood display their white and yellow flowers in unison with
the dogwood, linden, and chestnut, as if the wood genii had
scattered gigantic bouquets among the green summits.

STANZA II.

" In the rich pomp of dying day
Quebec, the rock-throned monarch, glowed."

" Quebec is from ' Quebeio,' which in the Algonquin
language signifies 'contraction.'" — Charlevoix^ s New France.

^82

XOTKS.

*' The batteries rude that niched their way
Along the cliff."

The fortifications of Quebec at this period of our talc
(1672) were very incomplete, consisting of batteries scat-
tered along the edges and inequalities of the cliff, with Jicre
and there palisades between, and embankments of earth and
stone upon the landward end of the town.

" Beyond, the sweet and mellow smile
Beamed upon Orleans' lovely isle ;

Until the downward view
Was closed by mountain-tops that, reared
Against the burnished sky, appeared

In misty dreamy hue."

" The river itself (the St. Lawrence) which is between
five and six miles wide, visible as far as the distant end of
the Island of Orleans, where it loses itself amidst the moun-
tains that bound it on each side, is one of the most beautiful
objects in nature." — Weld's Travels in North America.

STANZA XIX.

" Reared on the cliff, at the very brink.
Whence a pebble dropped would sink
Four-score feet to the slope below,
The Castle of St. Louis caught."

The Castle of St. Louis was built upon the edge of a rock
which fell sheer down for about eighty feet, and then sloped
more gradually until within a short distance of the river
side. The narrow strip of level ground immediately along
the river, Avas in line with the rock, scattered with huts
and cabins of a rude description.

NOTES.

28.'5

STANZA XX.

" Opposite, in the soft warm light
The Recollets' steeple glittered bright ;
And tipped with gold was the Convent by,
Whilst both threw a mantle of raven dye

The broad Place d'Armes across,
That up to the massive curtain lay."

" The fortress of St. Louis covered about four acres of
ground, and formed nearly a parallelogram ; on the western
side, two strong bastions on each angle were connected by
a curtain, in the centre of which was a sallyport." — Boii-
chettes Canada.

The Castle of St. Louis stood within this fortress. " Care
should be taken," says Hawkins, in his Picture of Quebec,
" to distinguish between the ca%tle and the fortress of St.
Louis."

" Twenty paces further we arrive at two pretty large
squares or openings. That on the left is the Place d'Armes,
which is before the castle where the Governor- General
resides. The Recollets are opposite." — Charlevoix's Descrip-
tion of Quebec in 1731.

" The Recollets' Church is opposite the gate of the palace
on the west side, looks well, and has a pretty high-pointed
steeple." — Kalni's Travels in North America.

Both these authors wrote some time after the periods of
our tale, and probably the curtain and bastions which com-
posed the fort were removed before their visits.

" Immediately in front of the castle was an esplanade or
open space still called the Place d'Armes, on one side of
which stood the church and convent of the Recollets." —
Hawkins's Picture of Quebec.

28i

NOTES.

STANZA SXII.

" Wampum in varied colors strung. "

" Belts of wampum arc made of sheila found on the coasts
of New England and Virginia, which arc sawed out into
beads of an oblong form about a quarter of an inch long,
and round like other beads. Being strung on leather strips,
and several of them sewed neatly together with fine sinewy
threads, they then compose what is termed a belt of wam-
pum. " — Carver's TraveU.

STANZA XXIV.

" The Iroquois in their dread and might ,

Stood frowning in his mental sight. "

" The name of ' Iroquois ' is purely French, and has been
formed from the term ' Hiro ' or * Hero ' which signifies ' I
have said, ' and by which these savages terminate their dis-
course, as the Latins sometimes did by their ' dixi ;' and
from ' Koue, ' which is a cry as well of distress when it is
pronounced long, as also of joy when they pronounce it
shorter." — Histoire et Description de la Nouvelle France, par
le P. De Charlevoix.

" Nought in the woods now their might could oppose,
Nought could withstand their confederate blows ;
Banded in strength and united in soul,
They moved on their course with the cataract's roll. "

The Iroquois were formerly separate nations, and for a
long time not only warred amongst themselves, but were
driven from point to point by their common enemies, the

NOTES.

285

Adirondacks, the Ilurons, <kc. They at leni^th, however, for
the purpose of healing their own dissensions and to protect
themselves against their enemies, formed themselves into n
League or Confederacy. By thus concentrating their power,
they were not only enabled successfully to resist aggression,
but to drive, in their turn, their enemies before them, the
fire-arms given them by the Dutch assisting them materially
in so doing. When this League was formed is uncertain.
" Pyrlaus, a Missionary at the ancient site of Dionderoga or
Fort Hunter, writing between 1742 and 1748, states," says
Schoolcraft in his Notes on the Iroquois, " as the result of the
best conjectures he could form, from information derived from
the Mohawks, that the Alliance took place ' one age' or the
length of a man's life, before the White people came into the
country. Taking 1609, the era of the Dutch discovery,
and estimating ' a man's life ' by the patriarchal and scrip-
tural rule, we should not, at the utmost, have a more remote
date than 1539, as the origin of the Confederacy. "

l\\

STANZA XXV.

" Wherever the banner of France was reared,
The blood-thirsty hate of the Braves appeared ;
Kindled against Champlain when first
His lightning death on their sires had burst. "

" The progress of its (Quebec's) aggrandisement was slow,
for the new settlers, and indeed Champlain at their head,
were not only so impolitic as to encourage the prosecution
of hostilities between the two neighbouring nations of Algon-
quins (Adirondacks) and Iroquois, but even to join the former
against the latter. This interference drew upon the French
the hatred of the powerful Iroquois, and was the means of

28(;

NOTES.

involving the whole colony in a long &nd most dcstructivf
warfare, which at an early period rendered some defensive
fortifications necessary to protect Quebec from the enmity of
her new but implacable enemies. " — Bouchette a Canada.

STANZA XXIX.

" A captive brought to the shores of France
liy noble De Tracy with her sire. "

The Governors-General of Canada were accustomed in
those days to send or take with them as captives to France,
those of the native race who had fallen into their hands.—
Sec the Histories of the period.

CANTO SECOND.

STANZA II.

" Their Long House extended now, spacious and high,
The branches its rafters, its canopy sky,
From Co-ha-ta-te-yah's full oceanward bed.
To where its great bosom Ontario spread."

The term " Long House " was used by the Iroquois sym-
bolically, to denote the League they had formed, and also
to describe the continuity of their possessions or territory.
The Long House was constantly alluded to by their orators,
and also in conversation amongst themselves.

•' To the League which was formed on the banks of
Onondaga Lake," says Schoolcraft in his Notes on the
Iroquois, ' ' they in time gave the name of the Long House,
using the term symbolically, to denote that they were tied

NOTES.

•87

and braced together hy blood and lineage as well as political
bonds. This House, agreeably to the allusion so often made
by their speakers during our Colonial history, reached from
the banks of the Hudson to the Lakes."

" The tierce Adirondacks had fled from their wrath,
The Hurons been swept from their merciless path."

" The Iroquois, after they confederated, drove the Adiron-
(lacks from their ancient hunting-grounds around CJuebec,
and under its walls defeated the Hurons in a dreadful battle
beneath the very eyes of the French, who dared not leave
the protection of their embankments to assist their allies.
They destroyed the nation called the Erics on the borders
of the vast lake known by their name. They made the
Ottawas abandon their river, humbled the Lenni Lenape or
Delawares, once strong and powerful, to such an extent as
to force them to declare themselves women, and place them-
selves under the protection of theii haughty conquerors, and
at last carried the terror of their arms even amongst the
distant Illini, Pequods, and even Cherokees." — See Co/clei/'fi
History of the Five Nations, Schoolcraft's Notes on the Trof/itois,
and other Histories of the time.

" By the far Mississippi, the Illini shrank
When the trail of the Tortoise was seen on the bank ;
On the hills of New England the Pequod turned pale,
When the howl of the Wolf swelled at night on the gale ;
And the Cherokee shook in his green-smiling bowers,
When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers."

•* Each of these nations (the Five Nations or Iroquois) is
divided again into three tribes or families, who distinguish
themselves by three diflferent arms or ensigns — the Tortoise,

.1:
■i.

1 :

288

NOTES.

the Wolf, and the Bear." — Cohlcn'a H'mtory of the Fici>
NationH. (They are called the Five Nations by the English,
and the Iroquois by the French.)

There wore five other totems than those mentioned by
Golden, but these three were the most ancient and ihc
highest in rank, the totem of the Tortoise being the
highest of all, on account of the belief of the Iroquois that
the earth rested on the back of a tortoise.

The order of the eight totems resembled somewhat that
of the tribes of Israel, amongst which the tribes of Benjamin
and Judah occupied the highest grade.

♦' They (the Five Nations) carried their arms as far south
as Carolina, to the northward of New England, and as far
west as the river Mississippi, over a vast country which
extends twelve hundred miles in length from north to souih,
and about six hundred miles in breadth, where they entirely
destroyed many nations, of whom there are now no accounts
remaining among the English." — Coldena History of the
Five Nations.

STANZA V.

" The League's Atotarho."

The Atotarho is the head Chief of the Iroquois. The
history of this rulership is as follows : — Just before the
formation of the Confederacy, a most extraordinary and
formidable warrior was heard of amongst the Onondagas.
Living serpents composed the hairs of his head, which so
entangled and knotted themselves up in their motions, that
he acquired the name of "Atotarho," meaning "entangled."
Not only was his head a mass of writhing reptiles, but his
fingers and toes were terminated by them, hissing and

NOTES.

;JHD

launching out their tongues perpetually. So dreadful was
his aspect that the very sight of him caused instant death.
When the two other projectors of the Alliance, however,
visited him, protected by Ilah-wcn-ne-yo in their divine
mission, they approached and divested him of his snaky
trappings, unharmed. At the completion of the Alliance
he was made Grand Sachem of the Confederacy, his two
brethren supernaturally disappearing. He still preserved
the name of Atotarho, and when ho died his name and office
were continued. A long lino of Atotarhos thus succeeded,
extending down in a regular chain to the present day.

STANZA VI.

" 'Tvvas May ! the Spring with magic bloom
Leaped up from Winter's frozen tomb."

" Scarcely is the ground cleared of snow in Canada,
when vegetation breaks forth, not gradually as with us,
but with almost preternatural rapidity." — Murray s Britixh
America.

" The yacht, that stood with naked mast."

The yacht was a species of vessel much used in the
rivers and lakes of Canada at that period, and frequently
mentioned by the old writers. It had one high mast, and
much resembled the sloops that ply on the Hudson and
other rivers in the United States.

" The brown rosignol's carol shrill."

This is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, Spring
bu-d in Canada. It is of a brown colour, and sings
sweetly.

'I!

! ■

'21)0

NOTKS.

'• He saw th<! coltsfoot's golden head."

"The coltsfoot is the first flower of Spring. It is a
low, yellow, syngcnesious flower, much resembling the
dandelion." — (losHf'H Canadian Natnraliif.

STANZA VIII.

" The Huron runner of Lorette."

The Ilurons of Lorette were the fast allies of the Frcncli,
and resided in the little village of Lorette a few miles from
IJucbcc. A runner was a messenger, and selected for his
speed of foot and endurance of hunger and fatigue. These
runners would frequently travel from a hundred to a hun hod
and thirty miles between sun and sun.

" A wampum belt stretched Frontenac,
Of braided colours white and black."

" Wampum is of several colours, but the white and black
are chiefly used. Those given to Sir William Johnson were
in several rows, black on each side and white in the middle;
the white being placed in the centre was to express peace,
and that the path between them was fair and open." —
Long'n Travels.

" That Yon-non-de-yoh asks a talk."

Yon-non-de-yoh was the name given by the Iroquois to
the Governor-General of Canada. Hennepin says it signifies
" a fine mountain."

NOTES.

2t«l

" The tree of Feaco hetwecn to Hct."

" The tree of Peace is n symholii' metaphor for Teace
itself." — La JlonUiii.

STANZA X.

" Along the Castle's beaten 8(iuare."

The Indian villages arc callod Castles by the old writers.
" Their Castles," says Golden, " are generally a s(|unre
surrounded with palisadoes without any bastions or out-
works."

" The dread, renowned Tcar-jis-ta-yo
Extended its long log-built frame."

This is an Onondaga word signifying " The House of
the Sacred Flame."

'* Shrining within the Sacred Flame
Which burned with never-ceasing glow."

The Onondaga Canton was the central one of the Five
Cantons of the Iroquois. This Canton, from its position,
was the place of the general council fire, a seat of govern-
ment of the nations. The Castle or village in Onondaga
HoUow was the particular spot of this council fire. Here
it was kept, according to the histories of the period,
" continually hurning." This was probably a metaphorical
term to show the perpetuity of the Leogue, but I have
chosen, for poetical purposes, to consider it literal. I am
justified in this by the fact that amongst the Chippewayans
there was a fire kept perpetually burning, answering some-

2«2

NOTES.

what to tho vcHtnl firo of the Romans, and also tlint tho
Natchos nation proacrved a cuntinual firo in their sacred
tcmjdo.

** The F«'ast of Union cvpry year
Ilcncwinf,' l)y the radi/ince clear
The tie in each confederate's heart."

•' Tho Fcttfit of Union is a term used hy tho Iroquois to
signify tho renewing of tho alliance hetwcen the five
Iroquois nations. Every year the fivo Cantons send deputies
to assist at tho Union Feast, and to smoke in the grca
C'alumot or pipe of the fivo nations." — A« llontan.

STANZA XV.

\
" Once every year a glowing brand,

Whose sparkles from the flame had birth,
Was borne by To-ne-sah-hah's hand
To every On-on-dah-gah hearth."

It was a striking peculiarity of tho ancient religious
system of the Iroquois thot onco a year tho priesthood
supplied the people with sacred fire. •' For this purpose, a
set time was announced for the ruling Priest's visit. The
entire village was apprised of this visit, and the master of
each lodge was expected to be prepared for this annual rite.
Preliminary to the visit, his lodge firo was carefully put out,
and ashes scattered about it." — Schoolcrafi*s Notes on the
Iroquois.

"the br- ..' .u^de rod
By the whirled wheel."

The mode, as I was informed by a Cayuga Sachem, of

NOTES.

2i);j

supplying firo, wn» l>y nioaii of a wheel turned rnpitlly
round.

STA?rZA XV (I.
'* White fts the miiow the lake-m.irnh shed."

The salt nmrnhoH of tlic Onondaga lake, whitt with the
crystallised salt.

STANZA XVIII.

" His own rich pipe wa« hung below,
Its bowl and stem one general glow ;
From thickly pictured tints of red,
Telling of actions stern and dread."

The Iroquois warriors covered their garments, pipes, bows ,
and tomahawks with tlio emblems or representations of thoii
deeds on the war-path. These wore stained red, that being
the favourite war colour.

'* Broad sinewed snow-shoes ; girdles blue."

The snow-shoes which the Savoges used, were calculated
to bear their weight on the deep snows of a northern winter,
when chasing their game.

The girdle, or waistcloth, was a stripe of cloth or skin,
twined around their loins, and used by the warriors both on
their war-paths and in their villages.

When made of cloth they were generally of a blue colour.

" Whilst from the floor a sapling sprung,
With human scalps upon it strung."

It was the custom of the Iroquois to plant a long pole in

294

NOTES.

their lodges, and string upon it the scalps they had taken i.i
the war,-path.

8TANZA XXIII.

" Whene'er he struck the battle-post,
She hung delighted on his boast."

The Iroquois warrior on the eve of an expedition always
danced his war-dance around the war-post, boasting of his
exploits, and striking at the same time the post with his
tomahawk or war-club.

STANZA XXVII.

" Upon the pleasant outside green,

Two shouting bands, the gates between, \

With their broad rackets sent on high
The ball, now soaring to the sky."

Ball-playing was a favourite pastime amongst the Iroquois.

They played with rackets (which resembled the tennis
rackets or the battledores of the whites, only larger), fixing
two sticks upright in the earth several inches apart, and
then planting similar ones five or six hundred paces opposite.
These were called gates. The art of the play consisted in
keeping the ball by the aid of the rackets continually in the
air, and if it passed or fell beyond the gates, the party or
band whose duty it was to keep it within, lost the play.

STANZA XXVIII.

" Here through the alleys warriors bore
Short scarlet cloaks their shoulders o'er."

" Both the young and the old hang upon their backs, in

NOTES.

oq-,

a careless way, a covering of hide or scarlet, when they go
abroad to walk or make visits." — La Hontan.

STANZA XXXVIIl.

" A guttural quick ' yo-hah ! ' awoke
From the dark ring,"

" ' Yo-hah ! ' denotes approbation, being a loud shout or
cry consisting of a few notes pronounced by the Indians, in
tne nature of our huzzas."— Co Ww'? History of fhi' F'n-i-
Natiom.

STANZA XXXIX.

" Thence to the Castle roof descended,
And bathed in radiance pure and deep
The spires and dwellings of the steep.
Still downward crept the strengthening rays ;
The lofty crowded roofs below."

" Quebec is divided into the upper and lower city. The
merchants live in the latter for the conveniency of the
harbour, upon which they have built very fine houses three
stories high, of a sort of stone that is hard as marble. The
upper or high city is full as populous and well adorned as the
lower. Both cities are commanded by a castle that stands
upon the highest ground. The castle is the residence of
the governors." — La Ilontan's Bem'iption of Quebec in 1(181.

" And Catara(iui caught the glow."

Catara(|ui was the Iroquois namo for the river St.
Lawrence.

'* The scattered bastions — walls of stone
With bristling lines of cannon crowned."

*' A little above the bastion on the right, they have made

296

NOTES.

a bastion in the rock. There is a little square fort still
above this called the citadel. From the angle of the citadel
they have made an Orielle of a bastion, from whence they
have made a curtain at right angles." — Charlemix' a Ihncnp-
tioti.

*' As the place (Quebec) obtained consequence, and
became an object of desire to other and far more powerful
enemies than the native savages, it was in the last men-
tioned year (1691) fortified in a more regular manner by
works according to the rules of Art, built of stone, which
from that period have been attended to." — Bouchette>i
Canada.

" The basin glowed in splendid dyes."

The wide part of the river immediately below Quebec is
called the basin." — Weld^s Travels in Canada.

" And chequered tints of light and shade
The banks of Orleans Isle displayed."

" The Island of Orleans is seven leagues in length, and
three in breadth. It is surrounded with plantations that
produce all sorts of grain." — La Hontan.

STANZA XL.

" A brigantine her canvas spread,
And as her sailor-songs outbroke
Down toward the southern channel sped."

" A brigantine is a small vessel with one deck, built of
light wood, which plies both with oars and sails. It is
equally sharp at bow and poop, and is built for a quick
sailer." — La Hontan,

NOTES.

207

" At Quebec the river divides itself into two branches.
The ships sail through the South Channel, for the North
Channel is so foul with shelves and rocks, that the small
boats can only pass that way." — La Hofitan.

" From Skannadario's boundless blue."

" Skannadario was the Iroquois name for Lake Ontario,
meaning * a very pretty lake,' " — See lleuneim.

" And a batteau a sheltered nook
For its up-river path forsook,
The boatmen at their poles low bending."

The batteau was a long flat boat sharp at both ends, used
to transport heavy articles along the rivers and shores of
the lakes. They were propelled by long poles, against
which the boatmen placed their shoulders and pushed with
all their strength. In smooth deep places they used oars,
and in the broad breezy reaches hoisted a sail.

STANZA XLI.

" With pike and corslet, grim and scarred,
And measured step, on strode a guard."

Frontenac had a body of soldiers who were immediately
armed around his person, called his "guards." "Count
Frontenac," says Hennepin, " gave me two of his guards,
who understood very well how to manage a canoe, to carry
me to Quebec." La Ilontan also mentions them.

" Coureurs de bois loud chattering went,
Beneath their packs of peltry bent."

" Coureurs do Bois, i. e. Forest Rangers, are French or
Canadese ; so called from employing their whole life in the

29S

NOTES.

rough exercise of transporting merchandise goods to tho
lakes of Canada, and to all the other nations of the Conti-
nent in order to trade with the savages." They exchanfcd
their goods for heaver skins, and ran in canoes hundreds of
leagues up the rivers and lakes of the country. — Sec La
llonian.

" The half-blood scout, with footstep light,
Passed, glancing round his rapid sight."

Scouts were much employed by the French at that period
to track the forests. They were generally half-breeds.

" And rough batteaumen, grouped in bands."

The batteaumen constituted, as well as the €oureurs dc
Bois, a distinct class by themselves. They associated
together, and were rude in speech and manner.

STANZA XLII.

" ' St. Francis ! keep it far away,'
Exclaimed a passing Recollet."

The RecoUets were monks of the order of St. Francis.
They were the first Priests that settled in Canada, and were
employed as Missionaries generally amongst the Indians.—
See Hennepin, who belonged himself to the Order.

" A rough Carignan settler said."

" The Carignan Salieres were a French regiment whicli,
on its return from Hungary, was sent to Canada to make
war against the Iroquois, and the greater part of the regi-
ment, after the war, remained in the country and became
settlers." — Charkvoix's Noiax'lle France.

NOTES.

SIH)

;oods to the
of the Conti-
ly exchanged
i hundreds oi
ry. — See Jm

;ht,
»

at that period
f-breeds.

nds."

e €oureurs dc
ley associated

The descendants ^of this regiment were ever afterwards,
and are to this day, called Carlgnans.

" Hush, Merle, his Calumet behold ! "

" The savages make use of the Calumet for negotiations,
and state affairs ; for when they have a Calumet in their
hand they go whore they will in safety." — Jm HoiUan.

" One with the Calumet may venture amongst his
enemies. " — Marqucffi'.

It was, in fact, the Indian's flag of truce.

" Passed crouching hut and building grey."

Quebec in 1696 (the time of the greater portion of our
tale) consisted of houses built of grey stone, interspersed
with the sheds and cabins of the fur-traders, hunters, kc. «fcc.

St. Francis,
lada, and were
le Indians. —
rder.

.•liment which, |

nada to make I

,rt of the rcgi- f

y and became |

STANZA XLIII.

" On came the Atotarho's tread,

Leading the file of his tawny band."

The Indians always march in single file, so as to tread in
each other's footprint, and thereby conceal their numbers,
and also their trail, as much as possible,

" Whilst high he lifted in his hand
That sign of peace, the Calumet,
So sacred to the Indian soul,
With its stem of reed, and its dark red bowl,

Flaunting with feathers, white, yellow, and green."

" I must here speak of the Calumet, the most mysterious
thing in the world. The sceptres of our kings are not so

(

I!
I

aoo

NOTES.

much respected, for the savages have such a deference for
this pipe that we may call it the god of peace and war, and
the arhiter of life and death. They adorn it with feathers of
several colours. " — Marquette.

" The head is finely polished ; and the quill, which is
commonly two feet and a half long, is made of a pretty
strong reed. They tie to it two wings of the most curious
birds they find." — Ilennepbi.

*' The red Calumets are most esteemed. It is trimmed
with white, yellow, and green feathers, and has the same
effect amongst the savages that the flag of friendship has
with us ; for to violate the rights of this venerable pipe is
amongst them a flaming crime." — La Hontan.

•♦ The Calumet is a large smoking-pipe made of marble,
most commonly of dark red." — Colden.

STANZA XLIV.

" A short fusee his shoulders crossed."

" Short and light fusees are in use amongst the savages."
— La Hontan,

" His head the bristling scalp-lock bore."

" The Indian warrior shaves his head, with the exception
of a long lock upon the crown, to facilitate the taking the
scalp, should he fall into the power of his enemy.

" A heron plume of snow hung o'er,
Memorial of that bird that swept

Its way to Hah-yoh-wont-hah dread,
And whose pure plumage long was kept

To deck each bravest warrior's head."

Hah-yoh-wont-hah was one of the three projectors ..nd

NOTES.

301

makers of the League, or Confederation, of the Iroquois.
The other two were Atotarho and To-gan-a-we-tah. The
three were considered of preternatural origin, and possessed
of preternatural qualities. Ilah-yoh-wont-hali, however, had
dwelt long amongst them, choosing the Onondagas for his
nation, and Onondaga Lake for his residence. Here he
married and had a daughter, who was regarded almost as
divine. He instructed his people in the arts of hunting,
agriculture, and war, was deeply venerated, and at last pro-
posed, with the two others, the Alliance. Whilst standing
in the midst of the assemblage of the Five Nations which
was congregated on the shores of the lake to join in the
League, with his daughter by his side, a rushing sound was
heard, and a great white bird swooped from the heavens
and fell at the side of Hah-yoh-wont-hah, crushing his
daughter in its fall. The warriors around him rushed to
pluck the plumes from the wings of the bird to place by
their scalp-locks, and the feathers were preserved afterwards
to adorn the heads of the most valiant warriors of the Con-
federacy. When these feathers became destroyed the plumes
of the white heron supplied their places. In process of time,
the Atotarho alone acquired the right to wear the white
heron plume, in his capacity of head Sachem, as well as
head War -chief of the Confederacy.

The name of this bird was " Sah-dah-ga-ah " in Seneca,
and " Hah-googhs " in Onondaga. The meaning in both
dialects is " the bird of the clouds."

" Behind his mat hung, richly dyed."
The Iroquois warrior always hung his mat, stained with

302

NOTES.

rich colours, at his hack when equipped fully for his '* talks,
or ceremonial visits to the high personages of the white race.

" And, dangling loosely at his side,

His pouch of rabbit skin was seen."'

The pouch held the tobacco for his pipe. It was generally
made of the whole skin of some small animal — a rabbit, fox,
or the largest species of squirrel.

" His hatchet o'er his mat was slung,
Whilst his long knife before him hung,"

The hatchet, or tomahawk, was carried slung at the back,
with the handle up ready for the hand, and the scalping-
knifc, for the same reason, was placed in the wampum
belt before.

STANZA XLV.

" ' Hai ! hai ! ' they sounded oft and loud."

The cry '* Ilai ! hai !" in the Iroquois language is the
sign of peace. " There was an Iroquese captain," says
Hennepin, " who, one day wanting his bowl, entered into
the town of Montreal, in Canada, crying * Ilai I hai I '
which, in their language, is the sign of peace ; he was
received with many caresses of kindness."

" Thus down St. Louis' Street, that led
To the Place d'Armes, all slowly sped."

The long street that led from the walls of Quebec to the
square or Place d'Armes, was called in Frontenac's time, as
it still is, St. Louis-street.

NOTES.

303

STANZA XLVIII.

" What doth my Canada father say K"

The Governor-General was styled by the Irociuols " Canadii
father," as well as Yon-uon-dc-yoh.

STANZA XLIX.
" Why should the Ongue Ilonwee host."

" The Five Nations (or Iroquois) think themselves superior
to the rest of mankind, and call themselves 'Ongue llonvvce,'
that is, men surpassing all others.'' — Col'hii.

*• Why should our pathway with a cloud
The bravo Ho-de-no-sonne shroud I "

The confederated nations, although called Iroquois by the
French, never adopted the name. The name they bore
among themselves was the Ilo-de-no-sonne, meaning, "the
United People," or " the People of the Long House." They
took this name after they had formed themselves into the
League, so often alluded to. The term Ongue Honwee was
a phrase, not a name.

" From distant Missillimakinak."

" The Coureurs do Bois have a small settlement at Missilli-
makinak." — La Ilontan.

" We'll smoke the Calumet together."

Smoking the Calumet together is, with the Indians, a sure
sign of friendship.

301

NOTES.

" This belt preserves my words."

" This collcr (bolt of wampum) confirms or contains my
words." This expression frequently occurs in the speeches
of Lu Barro and Garangula, in their celebrated interview,
as described by La Hon tan. '• Without the intervention of
these coliers," says La llontan, "there is no business to be
negotiated with the savages ; for, being altogether unac-
quainted with writing, they make use of them for contracts
and obligations. In regard that every colier has its peculiar
mark, they learn from the old persons the circumstances uf
the time and place in which they were delivered.''

" By deeds or singing-birds."
Singing-birds mean, figuratively, tale bearers.

" Fusees, to bring the fleet moose low ;
Rackets, to hunt him in the snow."

Fusees were most generally uuiongst the gifts to the
Indians. The snow-shoes were called, as well as the ball-
clubs, rackets by the French, and were used by the savages
to hunt the moose and deer in the deep drifts of the winter
forests.

STANZA L.

" When, in his snowy-winged canoe,
First Walking Thundar crept to view."

Walking Thunder was the name given to Champlain,
by the Iroquois, on account of the fire-arms he earned when
they first came in contact with him.

NOTES.

31)

" Th(; Adirondack dn^'s the knife
A|;ainst my ittxtjilt' lield in strife,
Ked ever with their blood."

(Jliatuplain, on his first arrival in Canada, fuund the
Adirondacks and Iroquois at war ; the former had driven
the latter from their hunting-grounds, and were generally
successful in their encounters with them.

" Beside that hroad and lovely lake,

Where dwells the I'rophet of the winds."

" There is a rock in this lake (Corlear's Lake, or Luke
Champlain, as it is now called), on which the waves dash and
tly up to a great height when the wind blows hard. The
Indians believe that an old Indian lives under this rock,
who has the power of the winds ; and, therefore, as they
pass it in their voyages over, they always throw a pipe or
some other small present to the old Indian, and pray a
favourable wind." — Coldni,

" Herding with those base dogs, the fires
Of Walking Thunder fiercely flashed
Against the bosoms of our sires,

And to the earth their bravest dashed,
Sudden, as when the lightning's bound
Cleaves the proud hemlock to the ground."

" Monsieur Champlain, the first Governor of Canada,
joined the Adirondacks in an expedition against the Five
Nations. They met a party of two hundred men of the
Five Nations in Corlear's Lake, which the French on this
occasion called by Monsieur Champlain's name, and both

;JUG

MOTRH.

»i«lcH w<!nt ashore to proparo for Imttlo, which proved to th«
(liHiulvantngj' of the Kivo Nations. The French hc^ati tn
ji»iii hnttio ; und their fire-nrniH Hur[iri8od tlie Five Nation.
rto much tl:;. they were iniinediutely put into confusion, fur
hoforo that time they had never soon such wettpon». "
Cohle,,.

" Warriors who only howed before
To Hah-wcn-no-yo."

Ilah-won-ne-yo is the name of the Iroquois ('roator, ui
Great Spirit.

HTAN'ZA LI.

" Hut the wise Charistooni came,
And gave the dust where slept the flame
To our awed sires." *

" Charistooni, or the Iron Workers. This was the nanu-
the Iroquois gave the Dutch, according to the Itev. .1.
Megapolcnsis, the first clergyman in Rensselaerwyck." —
See Munlton^s HUtory of New NetherhmJ.

It was from the Dutch that the Iroquois first received
fire-arms, from which time they began their conquests.

STANZA Lll.

" Then the good Charistooni placed
The chain in C'^rlear's friendly hands."

After the English conquered the Dutch in 1664, the latter
transferred the good-will of the Iroquois to the former. On
the 24th of September in that year, the first Convention
was held between the English and the Iroquois, and a treaty
of peace entered into at Albany.

NOTV>.

;i(i7

is Creutor, ui

" It wn» in lu'iHUir of Corlear. ii Ihitciimau, wlio was u
^roat favourite with tho Iiuliaiin, that tho (iovt-rnorH of Now
York woro named Corlear hy llic Iro<|UoiH." — Sco Smif/ts
/lis/ort/ of A '•//• / ork.

This nanio was soon cxtonchil liy thcin to tho Kiij;li;?h
generally.

Corlear was drowned whilst crossing the lake, ih»w known
as Lake Chaniplain. Tho Indians said, according to ('olden,
that ho was drowned for not only disregarding to make
the customary present to tho old Indian of the rock (see note
to Stanza l.), but absolutely mocking liim." The lake is,
however, to the present time called by his name by the
Iro(|uois.

1 I

" Have dug the hatchet from the ground."

Digging the hatchet from tho ground means, figuratively,
according to Indian ideas, to declare war.

" And, turaing, Thurenserah throws
His hatchet, with a look that glows
In glaring fury, at liis foes."

" Their (tho Iroquois) hatchet, in war time, is slung in
their girdle behind them ; and besides what use they make
of this weapon in their hand, they have a dexterous way of
throwing it, which I have seen them practise in their
exercises, by throwing it into a tree. They have, in this
Avay, the art of directing and regulating the motion, so that
though the hatchet turns round as it flies, the edge always
sticks in the tree, and near the place at which they aim it."
— CoJden.

.308

NOTES.

CANTO THIRD.

STANZA III.

" And now round flrme and war-post red."

A largo fire is always kindled whenever the wardance is
to be danced, and beside it a post is planted painted red, and
called the war-post ; and around these two objects the
Iroquois warriors perform the ceremony.

STANZA V.

"A moose, slow grazing, went."

The name moose is a corruption of the Indian appellation
" musee or wood-eater."

STANZA XX.

" Those maringouins ! swarm on swarm
Thronged all the night about my form ! "

Gnats found on the banks of the St. Lawrence in great
numbers. La Hontan mentions them as objects of great
annoyance, and so does Kalm. "The maringouins," says
La Hontan, " which we call midges, are insufferably trouble-
some in all the countries of Canada. We were haunted with
such clouds of them that we thought to be eat up."

STANZA XXXI.

" ' The Griffin,' says one, ' was strong and fleet.' "
This was the name, according to Hennepin, of the first

NOTES.

309

vessel of civilised man that navigated the great lakes. It
was fitted out for a voyage of discovery under the command
of the celebrated La Salle ; Father Hennepin (who was one
of the number that embarked with him) says, '♦ The ship was
called the Griffin, alluding to the arms of Count Frontenac."

CANTO FOURTH.

STANZA I.

" The sun-fired calumet he bore,
Sending its light smoke-oflFering o'er."

In the Iroquois dances of thanksgiving to Hah-wen-ne-yo,
it was customary for the presiding priest to present him,
according to La Ilontan, with pipes of tobacco lighted at
the sun.

STANZA 11.

" Until the sunset's dipping light,
When Thurenserah, at the head
Of all his Braves, would, in its sight,
The dance of Hah-wen-ne-yo tread."

" When the sun is almost down, the warriors march out
of the village to dance the dance of the Great Spirit." —
La Hontan.

STANZA XVI.

" Along the Castle's gallery,
Over the verge of the rock outspread,
Whence the vision roamed far and free."

" A fine gallery with a balcony runs the whole length of
the Castle. It commands the road (harbour), and the lower
city appeal's under your feet." — Charlevoix.

3in

NOTES,

" Whilst on the basin's lake-like breast,"
Was the long spread island in lustre dressed.

" The wide part of the river immediately below Quebec is
called the basin," — If^dd'a Travels in Canada.

" Between the city and the Isle of Orleans there is a
basin a full league in extent every way, into which the river
St. Charles discharges itself." — Charlcvolr.

STANZA XIX,

" Great as those casques the forms of stone
Displayed — forms terrible, unknown,"

There is a tradition amongst the Iroquois that their
ancestors were invaded a long while ago by giants covered
with garments made of stone. These invaders were caUed
the Ot-ne-yar-he, or the Stonish Giants. They were very
fierce and terrible, and moreover cannibals, devouring men,
women, and children, and depopulating in this way whole
villages. Against their stone armour, the arrows of the
Iroquois rattled harmlessly and in vain. At length Hah-
wen-ne-yo took pity upon their distress, and, assuming the
shape of one of these giants, pretended to lead them in
search of the Iroquois, and at night induced them to lie
down together in a hollow. Ascending then an eminence,
he rolled great rocks upon them, and buried them under-
neath.

STANZA XXVI.

" From her dark hair a feather sprung,
Behind, the usual roller hung."

The hair of the Iroquois women *' is rolled up behind

NOTES.

311

with a sort of ribbon," says La Hontan, "and that roller
hangs down to their girdle."

STANZA XXVIII.

" Rut ere black Hah-no-gah-ate-geh."

This is the Evil Spirit of the Iroquois. lie is the brother
of Hah-weu-ne-yo the Good Spirit.

" Ere Kah-qua brings another day."

Kah-qua means the sun. The Iroquois personify almost
every object in Nature of importance, such as the sun, moon
and stars, mountains, &c.

STANZA XXXI.

" The battery's frowning line she saw."

" By the side of the gallery of the Castle there is a
battery of twenty-five pieces of cannon." — CJiorhvoix.

STANZA XXXIII.

" Instant a bell above him screeched."

A cannon-ball in passing through the air gives a keen
screeching sound.

CANTO FIFTH.

STANZA II.

" The Bell-rock—

Sending o'er isle and wave its swell."
Upon the Island of La Cloche in Lake Huron, there is a
rock, which, when struck, yields a metallic sound like the
toll of a bell.

312

NOTES.

The Indians look upon the spot as subject to supernatural
influences, and have a great many superstitions and tradi-
tions connected with the rock.

STAN/A vr.

" Take the war-wampum ! my command
IJear, that the hatchet through the land
Unburied be against my foe ! "

The wampum belt is a sign of war as well as of peace,
and is sent by means of a runner amongst those who are to
be notified of the expected hostilities, so as to rouse them
against the common enemy. The sight of this mute
messenger is well understood.

It is also sent to the tribe against whom the hostilities
are to be directed, to inform them. The unburying the
hatchet is, as before explained, a figurative expression
denoting a declaration of war.

STANZA XII.

" in the trail

Between us sharp thick briers prevail."

" There are briers in the trail between us," is the
metaphorical expression of the savages to signify that
difficulty and trouble are between two tribes.

STANZA XV.

" His arquebuse rusting for years in its nook."

The arquebuse was a clumsy hand-gun, the pioneer of
our musket, and was used in the warb of that period.

NOTES.

.•U3

ms and tradi-

STAXZA XVI.

" The summer sun was sinking bright
Behind the woods of Isle Porrot ;
Hack Lake St. Louis gleamed the light
In rich and mingled glow."

Isle Pcrrot is situated in the upper or western part of
Lake St. Louis, where the Ottawa river empties into the
lake. The lake itself stretches its expanse to the westward
of Lachine, which is situated upon a small bay of the former.

" The slanting radiance at Lachine
Shone on an animated scene."

Lachine was the place where Frontenac assembled his
army, and whence he embarked on his expedition against
the Iroquois. — See the Histories of the period.

STANZA XVIII.

" Beneath were the griffins of Frontenac gleaming
In gold, on the breast of a pennon outstreaming."

" The arms of Count Frontenac have two Griffins for
supporters. " — Hennepin.

X .

STANZA XIX.

" The sunset tints from the lake withdrew,
And now on the broad expanse was seen,
West — rough Ottawa's tawny hue,
East — Cataraqui's splendid green."

This is a remarkable sight. The Ottawa dashes into
the St. Lawrence with such force and volume that the
discolouration of its waters is seen for a great distance, in
contradistinction to the pure beautiful green of the river

.51 I NOTES.

which receives it. It seems as if the latter shrank from the
contact, to protect its purity as long as possible from the
pollution of the stranger.

STANZA x.xi.

" De Nonville .sought
Our Seneca foemen ! "

Several years previous to Frontenac's e.vpcclition De
Nonville, the immediate predecessor of the former, made a
descent upon the Iroquois, which proved disastrous to him

CANTO SIXTH.

STANZA I.

" Along an Indian trail, that traced

Its deep seam through these forests vast."

The trails of the Iroquois, in the time of their power,
wound in every direction of their Long House, and, trodden
for centuries, were worn deeply in the earth. In some
places they were worn three or four feet deep, and were
quite narrow. Dr. Wilson, a Cayuga Chief, told me that he
has seen parts of these trails sunk knee-deep in the ground,
with large trees growing in them.

STANZA XV.

" At length a warrior rose, his breast
Bearing a snake tattooed, its crest
And forked tongue ready."

The Iroquois warriors were in the habit of tattooing upon
their skin their individual totem, which was generally the

NOTES.

:M5

sign of some beast, bird or reptile. This was in addition to
the totem of their clan or family.

STANZA XIX

" In time of snows our old men tell
How by our sires the Kan-kwahs fell.''

The Kah-kwahs were an Indian nation residing on the
banks of Butfalo Creek, which was called by the Iroquois
" Do-o-se-o-wah," or the "place of basswoods.' They
were defeated in a great battle near where their chief village
was situated, by the Senecas, who took possession of the
locality, reared their own village upon it, and made it the
seat of their government or council tire. " It is a site,"
says Schoolcraft, " around which the Senecas have clung as
if it marked an era in their national history."

" De-o-se-o-wah's huts within."
The Senecas called their village mentioned, De-o-se-'-wali.

\ li
•I

STANZA XXI.

" Quick it spread,
'Till every quarter pealed it out."
The Iroquois villages were divided into quarters or
districts.

STANZA XXXII.

" Makes clustered apple-orchards bright."

Remains of the apple-orchards of the Cayugas are still
seen in the neighbourhood of the village of Aurora, which
itself occupies the site of the chief village of the nation,
which was called Ko-lah-ne-kah. The trees are niossv,

.'ilc.

NOTES.

and gnarled, nnd not Inapt emblems of the race whose
fathers planted and reared them.

STANZA XLVIII.

" Farth, we thank thee ! thy great frame
Hears the stone from whence we came."

The Oncldas deduce their origin from a stone. They call
themselves Oncota-aug, people sprung from a stone.

" This stone," says Schoolcraft in his Notes on tlu
Iroquois, "is in Stockhidge, Madison County, Xew York.
It lies on a very commanding eminence, from which the
entire Oneida Creek valley, as far as the Oneida Lake, can he
seen in a clear atmosphere. There, in seclusion from their
enemies, the tribe expanded and grow in numbers. Time
and usage rendered the object sacred, and as they expaudoil
into nationality and power, while located around it, their
sages assorted with metaphorical truth that they sprung
from this rock.

" It is a large but not an enonnous boidder of syenite of
the erratic block groupe, and consequently, geologically
foreign to the location. There are no rocks of this species
In situy I believe, nearer to it than the Kayadorosseras, or
the Adirondack mountains."

STANZA LVIII.

" Men of blood ! "

The Mohawks were an exceedingly fierce and warlike
nation. They were a terror to their enemies for a great
distance, and were known by the appellation of " men of
blood." This title was a source of great pride to them.

NOTES.

■117

J race whose

" Away I stem licars! "

The word " Mohawk " ih supposed t > be derived tVuni the
Mohegnn word " Muk-wu," a hear.

The Mohawk Chiefs, in their speech at Alliany. in IG!H»,
syTiii)athisin;^ with the whites on the burning ofScheneetadv,
said, according to Golden, " Wo arc all of the raee of the
bear ; and a bear, you know, never yields while one drop of
blood is left. Wc must all be bears ! "

CANTO SKVENTH.

STANZA I.

" Tlie beavers plunged v/ithin each mud-built hut.
As through their dam of trees a path was cut.'"

" As we came down the river (Wood Creek) the dykes.
formed of branches and clay, which the beavers had made in
it, produced new difficulties. Wo could not get forward with
the boat till we had cut through them.' — Kalm's Trtin'/i 'm
North America.

I'.;

" Ha ! look, proud Frontenac ! upon yon tree
The haughty savage still casts scorn at thee I
Drawn on its naked wood in tints of rt d,
Thou, with the warriors of thy host, art spread ;
Whilst at the roots the bundled rushes show
The stern defiance of thy tawny foe ! "

" The army moved slowly along the Oswego ri\ or. They
found a tree as they passed along, on which the Indians had,
in their manner, painted the French army, and had laid by
it two bundles of cut rushes. This was a defiance in the

318

NOTES.

Indiftti manner, and to tell them by the number of tbo rusliors
tbivt fourteen hundred and thirty-four men would ujeet
them." — ('ijlile)i.

STANZA II.

" Hroader j,'leamiiij;8 upon them break,
Thrcnjgli the thick forest—* The lake, the lake ! ' "

This was Onondaga Lake, through which Frontcnac
])a8sed with his flotilla, and encamped upon its borders near
where the Onondaga Creek joins the lake, and close to
the celebrated salt licks.

" Along the margin, a tract of white
Glitters like silver beneath the light ;
A shout went up — were the old dreams true 1
Was treasure there flashing its dazzling hue ] "

" About this time (16G9) a party of Spaniards, consisting
of twenty-three persons, arrived at the village, having for
guides some of the Iroquois, who had been taken captives
by some of the southern tribes. They had been informed
that there was a lake to the north whose bottom was
covered with a substance shining and white, which they took
from the Indian's description to be silver. Having arrived
at Onondaga Lake and the French village, and finding
no silver, they seemed bent on a quarrel with the French,
whom they charged with having bribed the Indians, so that
they would not tell them where the silver might be found." —
Be Witt Clintons Memoir on the Antiquities of Western New
York.

STANZA III.

" One blaze of silver Gar-noh-gwe-yoh glows."
This is the Onondaga name for the Onondaga Lake,

NOTES.

.Til)

according to a Snclicm of tlio mmv nation, known to tlio
whites a& Colonel Silversniith. Ilin Indinn iirtni'.'. liow-
ever, is Ilo-no-wc-na-to, keeper of the reconls, which title he
hears in acconlanee with the laws of the Inxjuoia, which
make the sacheniships descend from father to son, like the
titles of nohllity amongst the whites. Ilo-no-we-na-to is a
respectahlc-looking, grey-haired man, introduced to me hy
my friend Dr. Wilson. In the course of our interview lu'
sang a war-.song for me.

STANZA V.

" The Mohawk, oldest brother, keeping

Watch the Long Mouse's east porrh o'er."

The Mohawks were considered, according to Cusick and
Schoolcraft, as the oldest hrothers, and were appointed to
keep a watch towards the sunrise. They were called hy
the rest of the Confederacy, with reference to their locality,
*• Do-dfco-gah," meaning •• Message-bearers."

" The fierce, wild Seneca, unsleeping,

Making his breast the Western Door."

The Senecas, according to Dr. Wilson, are not the
"Door-keepers of the Long House, but the Door itself. Tliey
were called " Swan-ne-ho-ont,' meaning " the door on the
hinge." A single Senera was called " //o-ne-ho-ont. "

■i

STANZA VI.

" Of the eight Totems, one each breast
Displayed, in blue tattoo impressed."

The Confederacy was subdivided into eight distinct clans
or families, without reference to the five tribal distinctions.

32U

NOTKM.

Those »ub«liviHion« wore diHlinj^uiRlicd by oij^ht totems,
viz. the Tortoise, Hoftr, Wolf, Craiu;. Sniinj. Doer. Heaver,
ftiul Hawk, of which tlie first tliree, uh before observed (set'
Stanza ii, Conto ii), were the highest in rank. Thc«e totem-*
woro tattooed, in addition to their individual ones, upon the
naked skin ; generally upon the breast.

" While frfi(|uently was seen the mark
Of the Ho-NoNT-Koii next the other,
Which none decyphered but a brother ;
Order myNterious, secret, dark ! "

The Ilo-nont-koh, or secret order of the Iroquois. This
was an order answorlTig to our Masonic Institution. It was
secret, the monibcrs bound by the closest tics. Its objects
have never transpired. Their sign, according to Dr. Wilson,
was a stripo tattooed upon the skin. \

STANZA VIII.

" Was the League's coat of arms displayed."

The coat of arms described in this stanza was given me
by my friend, Ely S. Parker, a young Seneca of great
intelligence and talent.

STANZA X.

" Upon his breast the totem of the Bear."

The Atotarho of the Confederacy belonged to the clan of
the Bear.

STANZA XL

" Till the first ring of Braves was springing
Wildly around, all wildly singing."

This was the " Was-sas-sa-o-nah," or " Osage war-

NorE«.

tlftnco ; " 8o calloil from ita havinj^ heon borrowed by tin?
Iru<(UoiH from the 0»ago nation. It in more cxprcHitivc tluiii
thnir own war-danco.

vas given mc

o the elan of

MTANZA XVI.

" And Urnves whoHo dt'ods iimidst thfir ♦•iioniieN
Wero tr;u'«'<l in crimson on the .'innal-trees."

The Iroiiuois represent on trees peeled of their bark, in
red colours, their expeditions, the deeds of their warriors, the
scalps taken, «kc. ** These trees," says ('olden, " are the
annals of the Five Nations. I have seen many of them, and
by them and their war-songs they preserve the history of their
achievements.

" Some
Striking the war-post."

tStriking the war-post means that those doing so arc fitted
to be warriors.

STANZA XXIII.

" From Hah-rah's drift-wood stream, to where
The Pequods on the salt waves sail."

*'Hah-rah," is the Mohawk name for Schoharie Creek,
meaning " drift-wood," from the quantities of floating
trees and branches that were in it.

The Mohawks extended their conquests to the sea-side in
an easterly direction, overcoming the Pequods, who wero the
largest and most formidable of the tribes in that direction.

■i

STANZA XXIV.

" Last, On-on-dah-gahs ! always true '
Proud people of the hills ! "

The Oaondiigas were called among tiie Confederacy, '• the

322

NOTES.

people of the hills," the word " On-on-dah-gah," meaning
literally in Iroquois, " on the hill."

" Oft has De-kan-e-80-ra's voice
Of music made your souls rejoice ;
If from Sken-ec-ta-da his speech."

De-kan-o-80-ra was an Onondaga Sachem, living at the
period of our tale, and was very celehrated as an orator.
Golden frequently mentions him, and said that " ho
resembled much the bust of Cicero." He generally repre-
sented the Onondagas at the conventions at Albany, between
the Iroquois and the English, and was very frequently there.
" Sken-ec-ta-da" was the Iroquois name for Albany.

" Heart of the League."
The Onondaga Canton was the central one of the Con-
federacy.

STANZA XXXIV.

" Like the blind rattlesnake, will ye
With your sharp fangs your own flesh tear ! "

The rattlesnake, at a certain period of the year, becomes
blind. It is then more ferocious than ever ; and, if attacked,
in rage at not being able to see its enemy, it will strike its
fangs into its own flesh.

STANZA XXXV.

" The combat also had renewed

Suspicion of the Ho-nont-koh sway."

The order of the Ilo-nont-koh was always regarded with
suspicion by those of the Iroquois who were not members of

NOTES.

3:23

3 of the Con-

it. To this day some of them assert, it was instituted for ,
wicked purposes.

STANZA XXXVII.

" From yon tall pine the feeblest eye
Can view the waters of the Lake
Where the three Wise Ones formed the Tie "

Onondaga Lake, from Avhich the chief village of the
Onondagas was situated only some five or six miles, was the
spot where the League was formed under the direction and
superintendence of Hah-yoh-wont-hah, Atotarho, and To-
gan-a-we-tah.

" Whose records ye at feasts have heard
Ho-no-we-na-to oft repeat."

The only records of events which the Iroquois, as a
people, possess, are the records of that, by far the most
important, epoch of their history, the formation of their
Confederacy. A Sachem of the Onondagas was appointed
to keep them, called Ho-no-we-na-to (meaning literally
"Keeper of the Records"), and at Feasts, and other im-
portant assemblages cither of the Nation or whole League,
he was accustomed to repeat them for the information of
his hearers, and to instil in them love and veneration for
the Confederacy itself and the objects of it.

" And from stern Yon-non-de-yoh Hy,
As if he was the 0-yal-kher black
Coming on his devouring track.
No ! when he comes, ye '11 be, oh Braves !
Like that bold creature from the waves,
That rose and made the enemy,
Fierce as he was, back, bleeding, flee."

" Rumours began to be rife of the appearance of an

:1
1 1

.'i24

NOTES.

extraordinary and ferocious animal in various places, under
the name of the great 0-yal-kher, or Mammoth Bear.
One morning while a party of hunters were in their camp,
near the banks of a lake in the Oneida country, they were
alarmed by a great tumult breaking out from the lake.
Going to see the cause of this extraordinary noise, they
saw the monster on the bank rolling down stones and logs
into the water, and exhibiting the utmost signs of rage.
Another great animal, of the cat kind, with great paws,
came out of the water, and seized the bear. A dreadful
fight ensued ; and in the end, the bear was worsted, and
retired, horribly lamed." — Schoolcraft's Notes on the Iroquois.

STANZA XXXIX.

" Braves ! hear again the words of dread, ,

By bright To-gan-a-we-tah said,
A hundred hundred moons ago ! "

To-gan-a-we-tah was regarded by the Iroquois as a
preternatural being ; he is described as a young man of a
remarkably beautiful person, so beautiful that Hah-wen-ne-
yo himself might envy him, — very good and very wise. He
was, as before stated, one of the three makers of the League,
and appeared suddenly amidst the people, just before the
agitation of the subject, no one knowing whence he came.
After the formation of the Confederacy, he uttered the
following extraordinary prophecy. Said he, — ** When the
White Throats shall come, then, if ye are divided, you will
pull down the Long House, cut down the Tree of Peace,
and put out the Council Fire."

These words (given to me by Dr. Wilson, an Iroquois
Chief, as before stated, as the literal prophecy) made a deep

.VOTES.

;i;>5

and lasting impression upon the minds of all who heard
tbcm. To-gan-a-we-tah, as soon as he had uttered the
prophecy, disappeared as suddenly as he appeared, avA was
seen no more, but his prophecy was remembered.

The Iroquois had never heard of the existence (tf the
Whites, and could not therefore understand what the tcrni
" White Throats " meant. They kept looking out, however,
from that time, during generations, for the appearance of
the objects described in the saying, and when the white men
came, they discovered at last the meaning of the words.
IIow the prophecy has been fulfilled, is now a matter of
history.

STANZA XLV.

"'Tvvould come like that swift bird of snow,
By the Great Spirit sent to say,
To Hah-yali-wont-hah, 'Come away! ' "

(See note to Stanza xliv., Canto ii.) This bird was sup-
posed by the Iroquois to have been sent by Ilah-wen-ne-yo
to tell Hah-yoh-wont-hah that his mission being accom-
plished, he must return to the happy hunting-grounds.

" thy feet by day,
Be like the tireless moose's way ;"

La Hontan relates that the Indians told him " the moose
could trot three days and nights without intermission."

STANZA XLVII.

" One pearly cloud was melting there

Like Hah-yoh-wont-hah's white canoe.
When up, up through the summer air,
He vanished from the people's view

326

NOTES.

Amidst the sky's triumphal strain,
Its welcome to his home again."

The traditions of the Iroquois concerning the three
framers of the League are exceedingly interesting and roman-
tic. After the accomplishment of the Confederacy To-gan-
a-we-tah, as before remarked, on the delivery of his extraor-
dinary prophecy, suddenly disappeared, and was supposed to
have returned to the heavens, whilst Ilah-yoh-wont-hah was
seen by the assembled multitude to ascend amidst bursts of
the sweetest melody, in a snow-white canoe which had
suddenly shot ucwn from the sky, rising higher and higher,
until he melted away in the upper distance. Atotarho alone
remained to place himself at the head of the Confaderacy,
and leave his name and authority to a long line of suc-
cessors.

CANTO EIGHTH.

STANZA III.

" Upon their creaking wheels the cannon rolled,
Jolting o'er roots, or sinking in the mould ;
In a carved chair behind, amidst a throng
Of nobles, Frontenac was borne along."

" The Count de Frontenac was carried in a chair directly
after the artillery." — Golden,

'' Still on they struggled, ranks and files were lost,
And as chance willed it, strode the motley host."

" It was impossible to keep order in passing through thick
woods, and in passing brooks." — Coldm.

XOTES.

;j27

\g the three
ig and roman-
sracy To-gan-
)f his extraoi-
iB supposed to
wont-hah was
idst bursts of
e which had
r and higher,
-totarho alone
Confaderacy,
: line of suc-

STANZA IV.

" That startled deer ! how fiercely doth he beat
With his black hoofs the earth— hark, hark, how shrill
His whistle !

The American deer, when suddenly startled, stamps with
his fore-feet violently, and gives birth to a shrill whistling
noise.

STANZA XII.

" Slow sauntering onward went a musketeer,
His huge piece slung within his bandoleer ;"

The bandoleer was a strap attached tc Ihe person, and
used to support the weight of the ponderous musket of thos«>
days. This name was also given to a strap slung around
the shoulder containing charges of ammunition.

. rolled,

uld;

ong

THE END.

3hair directly

3re lost,
y host."

hrough thick

LONDON:
DB4DBDRT AMD EVAMF, rRISTERS, ^^ HITEFRIARS.

I il

ERRATA.

Pago 8,

„ 2C

„ 30

„ 34

„ 40

,. 47

„ 48

„ 49

„ r.i

,. 71

,. 72

„ 78

„ 82

„ 85

„ 141

„ 144

„ 14C

„ 148

„ 162

„ 165

„ 167

,, 186

„ 200

„ 201

„ 208

„ 218

„ 245

„ 256

„ 262

line 20,/i»r Hcalplock read scalp-lock.

„ 21 „ rosxignol read rosignol.

„ 2 „ briars read briers.

„ 17 „ Its sculptured bowl and stem a glow
read
Its bowl and stem one general glow.

„ 18 „ With /carf From.

,, 11 ,, their broad rertrf wooden.

»»
>»
ti
<>
»

8
5

20
21
12
27
13

20 „ LcrffrtrfLa. Also page 103, line 22; page lOJ-
line 1 ; and page 143, line 16.

stag read elk.

the read each.

Nusillimakinak read Missillimakinak.

stars read trees.

shouting read shooting.

courier read courieur.

has read have.

6 „ They read Forms.

6 „ Falls read Shone.

13 „ LecroLx read La Croix.
2 „ Vandreiul read Vandreuil.

16 „ rifle quick read arquebuse.

7 „ Agreskon^ 7ead Agrekone. Also ptige 18S, lines .'>

and 25 ; page 186, line 11 ; page 195, line 2,
11, and 13.

13 ,, his react His.

11 „ lifted redd onward.

15 „ Braves read Bears.

11 „ He /-fad Who.

17 „ Put point after ^eaf.
7 ,, keen read swift.

1 „ at length the read the recreant.

26 „ Reframed read Refrained.

I „ Scalplocks rertrf Scalp-locks.

6 „ breast read bosom.

glow
flow.

nc 22; page 10l<
6.

kinak.

> pnge 185, lines '>
page 195, line 2,