🧚 In the Measure of Hiawatha, part 2

So from Sunny Isles returning, From the Summer-Land of spirits, On the poles of Panther's wigwam Sang Opeé-chee--sang the robin.1 In the maples cooed the pigeons-- Cooed and wooed like silly lovers. "2 Hah!--hah!" laughed the crow derisive, In the pine-top, at their folly,-- Laughed and jeered the silly lovers.3 Blind with love were they, and saw not; Deaf to all but love, and heard not; So they cooed and wooed unheeding, Till the gray hawk pounced upon them, And the old crow shook with laughter.4

On the tall cliff by the sea-shore Red Fox made a swing.5 She fastened Thongs of moose-hide to the pine-tree, To the strong arm of the pine-tree. like a hawk, above the waters, There she swung herself and fluttered,6

Laughing at the thought of danger, Swung and fluttered o'er the waters.7 Then she bantered Sea-Gull, saying, "See!--I swing above the billows!8 Dare you swing above the billows,-- Swing like me above the billows?"9

To herself said Sea-Gull--"Surely I will dare whatever danger Dares the Red Fox--dares my rival; She shall never call me coward."10 So she swung above the waters-- Dizzy height above the waters, Pushed and aided by her rival, To and fro with reckless daring, Till the strong tree rocked and trembled, Rocked and trembled with its burden.11 As above the yawning billows Flew the Sea-Gull like a whirlwind, Red Fox, swifter than red lightning, Cut the cords, and headlong downward, Like an osprey from the ether, Like a wild-goose pierced with arrows, Fluttering fell the frantic woman, Fluttering fell into the waters-- Plunged and sank beneath the waters!12 Hark!--the wailing of the West-wind!13 Hark!--the wailing of the waters, And the beating of the billows!14 But no more the voice of Sea-Gull.15

In the wigwam sat the Red Fox, Hushed the wail of Waub-omeé-meé, Weeping for her absent mother.16 With the twinkling stars the hunter From the forest came and Raven. "17 Sea-Gull wanders late" said Red Fox, "Late she wanders by the sea-shore, And some evil may befall her."18

In the misty morning twilight Forth went Panther and the Raven, Searched the forest and the marshes, Searched for leagues along the lake-shore, Searched the islands and the highlands; But they found no trace or tidings, Found no track in marsh or meadow, Found no trail in fen or forest, On the shore sand found no foot-prints.19 Many days they sought and found not.20 Then to Panther spoke the Raven: "She is in the Land of Spirits-- Surely in the Land of Spirits.21 High at midnight I beheld her-- Like a flying star beheld her-- To the waves of Gitchee Gumee, Downward flashing through the ether.22 Thus she flashed that I might see her, See and know my mother's spirit; Thus she pointed to the waters, And beneath them lies her body, In the wigwam of the spirits-- In the lodge of Nébe-nâw-baigs."23 [1024]24

Then spoke Panther to the Raven: "On the tall cliff by the waters Wait and watch with Waub-omeé-meé.25 If the Sea-Gull hear the wailing Of her infant she will answer."26

On the tall cliff by the waters So the Raven watched and waited; All the day he watched and waited, But the hungry infant slumbered, Slumbered by the side of Raven, Till the pines' gigantic shadows Stretched and pointed to Waubú-Nong--[1021] To the far off land of Sunrise; Then the wee one woke and famished, Made a long and piteous wailing.27

From afar where sky and waters Meet in misty haze and mingle, Straight toward the rocky highland, Straight as flies die feathered arrow, Straight to Raven and the infant Swiftly flew a snow white sea-gull.-- Flew and touched the earth a woman.28 And behold, the long-lost mother Caught her wailing child and nursed her, Sang a lullaby and nursed her.29

Thrice was wound a chain of silver Round her waist and strongly fastened.30 Far away into the waters-- To the wigwam of the spirits,-- To the lodge of Nébe-nâw-baigs,-- Stretched the magic chain of silver.31

Spoke the mother to the Raven: "O my son--my brave young hunter, Feed my tender little orphan; Be a father to my orphan; Be a mother to my orphan,-- For the Crafty Red Fox robbed us,-- Robbed the Sea-Gull of her husband, Robbed the infant of her mother.32 From this cliff the treacherous woman Headlong into Gitchee Gumee Plunged the mother of my orphan.33 Then a Nébe-nâw-baig caught me,-- Chief of all the Nébe-nâw-baigs-- Took me to his shining wigwam, In the cavern of the waters, Deep beneath the might waters.34 All below is burnished copper, All above is burnished silver Gemmed with amethyst and agates.35 As his wife the Spirit holds me; By this silver chain he holds me.36

When my little one is famished, When with long and piteous wailing Cries the orphan for her mother, Hither bring her, O my Raven; I will hear her,--I will answer.37 Now the Nébe-nâw-baig calls me,-- Pulls the chain,--I must obey him."38

Thus she spoke and in the twinkling Of a star the spirit-woman Changed into a snow-white sea-gull, Spread her wings and o'er the waters Swiftly flew and swiftly vanished.39

Then in secret to the Panther Raven told his tale of wonder.40 Sad and sullen was the hunter; Sorrow gnawed his heart like hunger; All the old love came upon him, And the new love was a hatred.41 Hateful to his heart was Red Fox, But he kept from her the secret-- Kept his knowledge of the murder.42 Vain was she and very haughty---43

Oge-mâ-kwa [1025] of the wigwam.44 All in vain her fond caresses On the Panther now she lavished; When she smiled his face was sullen, When she laughed he frowned upon her; In her net of raven tresses Now no more she held him tangled.45 Now through all her fair disguises Panther saw an evil spirit, Saw the false heart of the woman.46

On the tall cliff o'er the waters Raven sat with Waub-omeé-meé, Sat and watched again and waited, Till the wee one faint and famished, Made a long and piteous wailing.47 Then again the snow-white Sea-Gull From afar where sky and waters Meet in misty haze and mingle, Straight toward the rocky highland, Straight as flies the feathered arrow, Straight to Raven and the infant, With the silver chain around her, Flew and touched the earth a woman.48 In her arms she caught her infant-- Caught the wailing Waub-omeé-meé, Sang a lullaby and nursed her.49

Sprang the Panther from the thicket-- Sprang and broke the chain of silver!50 With his tomahawk he broke it.51 Thus he freed the willing Sea-Gull-- From the Water-Spirit freed her, From the Chief of Nébe-nâw-baigs.52

Very angry was the Spirit; When he drew the chain of silver, Drew and found that it was broken, Found that he had lost the woman, Very angry was the Spirit.53 Then he raged beneath the waters, Raged and smote the mighty waters, Till the big sea boiled and bubbled, Till the white-haired, bounding billows Roared around the rocky head-lands, Roared and plashed upon the shingle.54

To the wigwam happy Panther, As when first he wooed and won her, Led his wife--as young and handsome.55 For the waves of Gitchee Gumee Washed away the frost and wrinkles, And the Spirits by their magic Made her young and fair forever.56

In the wigwam sat the Red Fox, Sat and sang a song of triumph, For she little dreamed of danger, Till the haughty hunter entered, Followed by the happy mother, Holding in her arms her infant.57 Then the Red Fox saw the Sea-Gull-- Saw the dead a living woman, One wild cry she gave despairing, One wild cry as of a demon.58 Up she sprang and from the wigwam To the tall cliff flew in terror; Frantic sprang upon the margin, Frantic plunged into the water, Headlong plunged into the waters.59