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THE CHIEFTAIN'S DAUGHTER.
They stopped and listened, and the chieftain's browGrew dark with fear, as to his child he said,—It is the pale-faced dwellers of the plain."E'en while the chieftain spoke, they nearer came.Flight could not be; one shout triumphant toldThat they were wholly in their cruel pow'r.In vain the cries and prayers of Sunny-Eye;In vain defensive words the chieftain spoke."For vengeance seek we! Now shalt thou be bound,And on the morrow thou shalt suffer death!And this thy daughter shall a captive be."These words aroused still more the maiden's soul."I am a chieftain's daughter!" then she cried,A proud light flashing in her earnest eye."I who have roamed, through many girlhood days,As free as winds that o'er my pathway playedWill willingly with my brave father die;But, oh, a captive I can never be!" The white men heard in silence; then they said,—"One only thing can save thee: wilt thou tellWhere dwells the tribe o'er which thy father ruled?Speak, then, and thou'lt be free, thy father free;If thou a mother, sister, brother hastRemaining with the people of thy tribe,They safe shall be. Say quickly, wilt thou tell?"Her dark eye flashed with an indignant light,Her proud look changed to one of noble scorn.
