Page:Flint and Feather (1914).djvu/46

 O! evil, evil face of them they sent

With evil Huron speech: "Would I consent

To take of wealth? be queen of all their tribe?

Have wampum ermine?" Back I flung the bribe

Into their teeth, and said, "While I have life

Know this—Ojistoh is the Mohawk's wife."

Wah! how we struggled! But their arms were strong.

They flung me on their pony's back, with thong

Round ankle, wrist, and shoulder. Then upleapt

The one I hated most: his eye he swept

Over my misery, and sneering said,

"Thus, fair Ojistoh, we avenge our dead."

And we two rode, rode as a sea wind-chased,

I, bound with buckskin to his hated waist,

He, sneering, laughing, jeering, while he lashed

The horse to foam, as on and on we dashed.

Plunging through creek and river, bush and trail,

On, on we galloped like a northern gale.

At last, his distant Huron fires aflame

We saw, and nearer, nearer still we came.

I, bound behind him in the captive's place,

Scarcely could see the outline of his face.

I smiled, and laid my cheek against his back:

"Loose thou my hands," I said. "This pace let slack.

Forget we now that thou and I are foes.

I like thee well, and wish to clasp thee close;

I like the courage of thine eye and brow;

I like thee better than my Mohawk now."