Forth into the forest straightway All alone walked Hiawatha Proudly, with his bow and arrows; And the birds sang round him, o'er him, Sang the blue-bird, the Owaissa, In and out among the branches, Coughed and chattered from the oak-tree, Laughed, and said between his laughing, 66 Do not shoot me, Hiawatha!” And the rabbit from his pathway Half in fear and half in frolic, Saying to the little hunter, But he heeded not, nor heard them, For his thoughts were with the red deer; And as one in slumber walked he. There he waited till the deer came, Saw two eyes look from the thicket, As the deer came down the pathway. Scarce a twig moved with his motion, Scarce a leaf was stirred or rustled, But the wary roebuck started, Stamped with all his hoofs together, Listened with one foot uplifted, Leaped as if to meet the arrow; Ah! the singing, fatal arrow, Like a wasp it buzzed and stung him! Dead he lay there in the forest, By the ford across the river; Beat his timid heart no longer, But the heart of Hiawatha Throbbed and shouted and exulted, Hailed his coming with applauses. Made a cloak for Hiawatha, From the red deer's flesh Nokomis All the guests praised Hiawatha, Called him Loon-Heart, Mahn-go-taysee! IV. HIAWATHA AND MUDJEKEEWIS. OUT of childhood into manhood Now had grown my Hiawatha, Skilled in all the craft of hunters, Learned in all the lore of old men, In all youthful sports and pastimes, In all manly arts and labors. Swift of foot was Hiawatha; He could shoot an arrow from him, And run forward with such fleetness, That the arrow fell behind him! Strong of arm was Hiawatha; He could shoot ten arrows upward, |