"The WEN-DI-GO" by George Copway
And of that savage host the last
Hath thrown himself upon the ground
And his accustomed slumber found.
Close by their side the captives slept,
And watch or guard there none was kept,
For hand and foot securely tied,
Vain were the effort, had they tried,
To shake from off their limbs the thong
Which bound them in its folds so strong;
Vain, did I say;—no, one was there,
Who, though the bands he knew to wear,
While eye of foe was on him bent,—
And to his skill a caution lent,—
When watchful eyes were sunk to rest,
And measured breathings heaved the breast,
Could tear those shackles from his flesh,
As easy as the spider's mesh.
The frosts of many winters sped
Had left their traces upon his head,
His life, which passed in constant wars,
Had marked him with a thousand scars,
But every iron muscle told
That vigor had not yet grown old.
He might have lost youth's spring and grace,
But strength had well supplied their place,
Whether by force or magic spell
He burst his shackles, none could tell,
Yet never, but for one brief hour,
Had they upon his limbs a power.
Among his native brethren famed
For many years he had been named
For feats of strength and wondrous art,
The WEN-DI-GO OF ICY HEART.
In the day's strife of ancient foes,
To which this night had brought a close,
His heavy blows, which fell like rain,
Had worked his way with heaps of slain.
Through yielding ranks he held his place,
Till like a rock at whose firm base
The ocean breaks in murmurs hoarse,
ME-GI-SI checked his onward course.
As springs the tiger on his prey
When pressed by hunger, so sprang they;—
Reckless of all that might oppose,
They rushed upon each others blows,
And grappled with a force they feel
To which the grasp of vice of steel
Would be an infant's touch. The knife
Then flashes quick in deadly strife.
They fought as though on them alone
The fortunes of the day were thrown.
They fought as if they proudly felt
On no mean foe their blows were dealt.
Each nerve to its last tension wrought—
Like meeting thunder-bolts they fought.
The WEN DI GO's superior strength
O'ercame youth's suppleness at length,
And while ME-GI-SI freely bleeds,
He of the icy heart succeeds;
His blade is raised to strike the blow,
The last he need to strike, when lo!
His threatening arm all sudden stops,
And down as by a palsy drops;
He stood a moment fixed and still,
Then yielded at ME-GI-SI's will;
And captive now and captor keeping
Side by side are calmly sleeping.
Midnight had passed, and there they lay
In rest unbroke, that warrior band;—
The powerful conflict of the day
.fe Had now relaxed each iron hand.
The moon, too, now had sunk to rest
Behind the hills which skirt the west,
And damp mists from the river rose,
And o'er the banks in circles close.
A silence deep was over all
Except the noisy waterfall,
That, indistinct by distance, fell
Alternately in ebb and swell,
When hush! a careful hand is pressed
Upon the brave ME-GI-SI's breast.
The touch a woke him quick as thought;
He sprang upon his feet and caught
Within cne hand his ready blade,
The other on the foeman laid;
But when he saw in what calm mood
The WEN-DI-GO before him stood,
He did not strike, but for a space
They looked within each other's face,
ME-GI-SI with a blended feeling
Of awe and wonder o'er him stealing,
And which he could not all conceal
By the dim light the stars reveal,—
Sternness and dignity alone
Upon the other's features shone.
The WEN-DI-GP the silence broke,
As scarce above his breath he spoke,
"Youth are you brave! 'Then follow meh;"
Thus saying, turning carefully,
And with a step that had no sound,
To wake the foemen sleeping round,
He passed—and striding on before,
Pursued tho winding trail that bore
Through wild grass of a growth most rank
Along the river's sloping bank.
ME-GI-SI for a moment cast
His eyes upon him as he passed,—
Irresolute then quickly sped
Along the track the other led,
And now by the dim starlight they
Together hold their silent way.