Then with quivers filled with arrows,
Arrows tipped with hint and jasper,
Sought they for the deer and roebuck,
O'er the hills and through the valleys.
And they brought the grouse and plover
And the fishes from the river;
Brought they, too, the luscious berries
For the hoary Arrow-Maker.
And the stalwart, brave Kos-su-ka,
Spoke of love to young Tee-na-nay,
Daughter of the Arrow-Maker.
Bowed the head with raven tresses;
Murmured she of dusky mother,
Dim remembered through long summers.
Quoth the stalwart, brave Kos-su-ka:
"I will make for you a wigwam,
Make it of the pine and fir-tree,
Make it warm with fur of beaver,
Make it down beside the Merced,
Where a little dusky maiden
Tripped beside the icy waters,
Happy, beauteous young Tee-na-nay."
Then they roamed the flowery hillside,
Sang at eve beside the wigwam;
Sang they too as shadows gathered,
Vying with the trill of wood-birds.
In their birch canoe they paddled,
Paddled 'neath the drooping willows,
Gathered too the water-lilies,
Lilies on the pearly waters.
Arrows tipped with hint and jasper,
Sought they for the deer and roebuck,
O'er the hills and through the valleys.
And they brought the grouse and plover
And the fishes from the river;
Brought they, too, the luscious berries
For the hoary Arrow-Maker.
And the stalwart, brave Kos-su-ka,
Spoke of love to young Tee-na-nay,
Daughter of the Arrow-Maker.
Bowed the head with raven tresses;
Murmured she of dusky mother,
Dim remembered through long summers.
Quoth the stalwart, brave Kos-su-ka:
"I will make for you a wigwam,
Make it of the pine and fir-tree,
Make it warm with fur of beaver,
Make it down beside the Merced,
Where a little dusky maiden
Tripped beside the icy waters,
Happy, beauteous young Tee-na-nay."
Then they roamed the flowery hillside,
Sang at eve beside the wigwam;
Sang they too as shadows gathered,
Vying with the trill of wood-birds.
In their birch canoe they paddled,
Paddled 'neath the drooping willows,
Gathered too the water-lilies,
Lilies on the pearly waters.
Spake the hoary Arrow-Maker:
"Do not leave me, O my children.
In the valley, 'twixt the mountains,
Snowy mountains grim and lonely,
All my people gone forever,
Gone into the glowing sunset,
To the Land of the Hereafter."
Spake the ancient Arrow-Maker:
"Come and share my humble wigwam;
None beside you made so welcome,
None beside you of my people."
Then Kos-su-ka and Tee-na-nay
Spake the words that brought him comfort,
Comfort to the Arrow-Maker:
"We will share with thee thv wigwam,
Bring to thee of deer and plover,
Bring to thee of luscious berries,
Bring to thee of speckled fishes."
Ere the sun touched spire-like summits,
Quiver filled with feather arrows,
Arrows tipped with flint and jasper,
Clambered high the young Kos-su-ka,
Clambered he the heights of Homo;
Sought he for the deer and plover,
Nuptial feast for the to-morrow!
Thus spake he to sweet Tee-na-nay:
"Sit you by the foot of Homo;
List above for twang of bow-string:
For when all the game is slaughtered,
By that sign I will apprise you."
"Do not leave me, O my children.
In the valley, 'twixt the mountains,
Snowy mountains grim and lonely,
All my people gone forever,
Gone into the glowing sunset,
To the Land of the Hereafter."
Spake the ancient Arrow-Maker:
"Come and share my humble wigwam;
None beside you made so welcome,
None beside you of my people."
Then Kos-su-ka and Tee-na-nay
Spake the words that brought him comfort,
Comfort to the Arrow-Maker:
"We will share with thee thv wigwam,
Bring to thee of deer and plover,
Bring to thee of luscious berries,
Bring to thee of speckled fishes."
Ere the sun touched spire-like summits,
Quiver filled with feather arrows,
Arrows tipped with flint and jasper,
Clambered high the young Kos-su-ka,
Clambered he the heights of Homo;
Sought he for the deer and plover,
Nuptial feast for the to-morrow!
Thus spake he to sweet Tee-na-nay:
"Sit you by the foot of Homo;
List above for twang of bow-string:
For when all the game is slaughtered,
By that sign I will apprise you."
30
