Saw the fiery eyes of Pauguk, Saw the eyes of Death glare at him, Lifeless lay the great Pearl-Feather, Called the Mama, the woodpecker, Of the melancholy pine-tree, And, in honor of his service, Stained with blood the tuft of feathers On the little head of Mama; Even to this day he wears it, Wears the tuft of crimson feathers, As a symbol of his service. Then he stripped the shirt of wampum From the back of Megissogwon, As a trophy of the battle, As a signal of his conquest. On the shore he left the body, Half on land and half in water, And above him, wheeled and clamored Sailing round in narrower circles, From the wigwam Hiawatha Bore the wealth of Megissogwon, Furs of bison and of beaver, Furs of sable and of ermine, Wampum belts and strings and pouches, Quivers wrought with beads of wampum, Filled with arrows, silver-headed. Homeward then he sailed exulting, Homeward through the black pitch-water, Homeward through the weltering serpents, With the trophies of the battle, With a shout and song of triumph. On the shore stood old Nokomis, And the very strong man, Kwasind, Made a joyous feast, and shouted: He has slain the great Pearl-Feather, Him, who sent the fiery fever, Sent the white fog from the fen-lands, Sent disease and death among us!" Ever dear to Hiawatha Was the memory of Mama! And in token of his friendship, As a mark of his remembrance, He adorned and decked his pipe-stem With the crimson tuft of feathers, With the blood-red crest of Mama. All the trophies of the battle, 127 X. HIAWATHA'S WOOING. "As unto the bow the cord is, So unto the man is woman, Though she bends him, she obeys him, Though she draws him, yet she follows, Useless each without the other! Thus the youthful Hiawatha Said within himself and pondered, Of the lovely Laughing Water, In the land of the Dacotahs. |