Page:What cheer, or, Roger Williams in banishment (1896).pdf/78

 LIII.

"Ten summers since, on yonder margin green," He thus continued in a sadder tone, "A strong old hunter—Keenomp he had been Of many deeds—dwelt with his daughter lone: She, like the bright-eyed fawn, whose beauteous mien  So charms the hunter that he stands like stone; He, like the brawny stag, with burning eye And antlers broad, and sinews that defy

LIV.

"The well-aimed shaft. Then Waban was a boy; And, lonely, loved to go, by moonlight dim Or dewy morn, to see, all life and joy,  The Bright-Eyed Fawn. But ah! it chanced to him One morn to seek her at her home's employ—  And, O! what havoc there!—what horrors grim! The old man lay in gore!—his daughter gone! His lodge in ashes! But the dewy lawn

LV.

"Showed prints of hostile feet. Waban is true— He followed on the trail—a devious route; Far up the winding stream the morning dew  Betrayed their steps, and hers with theirs; here out They turned—leaping from rock to rock, they drew  Still onward far, until a thrilling shout, From far Woonsocket, died on Waban's ears: He pauses—listens—and again he hears—

LVI.

"The Pequot's yell! My Sachem sure has seen The well-drawn arrow leave the red man's bow; So Waban went—the steps he made between  Him and his foes no memory left—e'en now