Winona, a Dakota Legend; and Other Poems. E. L. Huggins
cliffs of Redwing speeding back,
Like spectres melting from a cloudy wrack,
Melted from view in our dissolving track.
Kaposia’s village, clustered on the shore,
With sound of snapping poles and tipis riven,
Vanished like swan’s-down by a tempest driven.
Stung by our flight, the keen air smote us sore
As ragged hailstones; on, still on, we strained,
And fast and faster on the chase we gained,
But neck and neck the fierce pursuit remained,
Till close ahead we saw the rocky walls
O’er which the mighty river plunging falls,[10]
And at their base the Water-Demons lay:
The panting chase at last had turned to bay.
Then thrilled my nerves with more than mortal strength;
A breath of Deity was in the burst
That bore me out a goodly lance’s length
To meet the Water-Demon’s son accurst.
His evil horn clanged hollow on my shield
Just as my spear transfixed him through and through;
A moment towering o’er the foam he reeled,
Then sank beneath the roaring falls from view.
A dying yell that haunts me yet he gave,
And as he fell the crippled water coiled
About him like a wounded snake, and boiled,
leashing itself to madness o’er his grave.
We knew not where the parent Demon fled;
None of our spears might pierce his ancient mail,
Welded with skill demoniac scale on scale.
Some watery realm he wanders, and ’tis said
That he is changed and bears a brighter form,
And goodly sons again about him swarm;
And peace, ’tis but a hollow truce I know,
Now reigns between him and his ancient foe.
He hates me still, and fain would do me harm,
But neither man nor demon dares offend,
Who hath the cruel Thunder-Bird for friend.
PART II.
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