Chapter 11

There was dancing and feasting at night, and joy at the presents he lavished. All the maidens were wild with delight with the flaming red robes and the ribbons, With the beads and the trinkets untold, and the fair, bearded face of the giver; And glad were they all to behold the friends from the Land of the Sunrise. But one stood apart from the rest-- the queenly and silent Winona, Intently regarding the guest-- hardly heeding the robes and the ribbons, Whom the White Chief beholding admired, and straightway he spread on her shoulders A lily-red robe and attired with necklet and ribbons the maiden. The red lilies bloomed in her face, and her glad eyes gave thanks to the giver, And forth from her _teepee_ apace she brought him the robe and the missal Of the father--poor René Menard; and related the tale of the "Black Robe." She spoke of the sacred regard he inspired in the hearts of Dakotas; That she buried his bones with her kin, in the mound by the Cave of the Council; That she treasured and wrapt in the skin of the red-deer his robe and his prayer book-- "Till his brothers should come from the East-- from the land of the far _Hochelága_, To smoke with the braves at the feast, on the shores of the Loud-laughing Waters. [16] For the 'Black Robe' spake much of his youth and his friends in the Land of the Sunrise; It was then as a dream; now in truth I behold them, and not in a vision." But more spake her blushes, I ween, and her eyes full of language unspoken, As she turned with the grace of a queen and carried her gifts to the _teepee_.

Far away from his beautiful France-- from his home in the city of Lyons, A noble youth full of romance, with a Norman heart big with adventure, In the new world a wanderer, by chance DuLuth sought the wild Huron forests. But afar by the vale of the Rhone, the winding and musical river, And the vine-covered hills of the Saône, the heart of the wanderer lingered,-- 'Mid the vineyards and mulberry trees, and the fair fields of corn and of clover That rippled and waved in the breeze, while the honey-bees hummed in the blossoms. For there, where th' impetuous Rhone, leaping down from the Switzerland mountains, And the silver-lipped, soft-flowing Saône, meeting, kiss and commingle together, Down winding by vineyards and leas, by the orchards of fig-trees and olives, To the island-gemmed, sapphire-blue seas of the glorious Greeks and the Romans; Aye, there, on the vine-covered shore, 'mid the mulberry-trees and the olives, Dwelt his blue-eyed and beautiful Flore, with her hair like a wheat-field at harvest, All rippled and tossed by the breeze, and her cheeks like the glow of the morning, Far away o'er the emerald seas, as the sun lifts his brow from the billows, Or the red-clover fields when the bees, singing sip the sweet cups of the blossoms. Wherever he wandered-- alone in the heart of the wild Huron forests, Or cruising the rivers unknown to the land of the Crees or Dakotas-- His heart lingered still on the Rhone, 'mid the mulberry trees and the vineyards, Fast-fettered and bound by the zone that girdled the robes of his darling. Till the red Harvest Moon[71] he remained in the vale of the swift Mississippi. The esteem of the warriors he gained, and the love of the dark-eyed Winona. He joined in the sports and the chase; with the hunters he followed the bison, And swift were his feet in the race when the red elk they ran on the prairies. At the Game of the Plum-stones[77] he played, and he won from the skillfulest players; A feast to _Wa'tánka_[78] he made, and he danced at the feast of _Heyôka_.[16] With the flash and the roar of his gun he astonished the fearless Dakotas; They called it the "_Máza Wakán_"-- the mighty, mysterious metal. "'Tis a brother," they said, "of the fire in the talons of dreadful Wakinyan,'[32] When he flaps his huge wings in his ire, and shoots his red shafts at _Unktéhee_."[69]

The _Itáncan_,[74] tall Wází-kuté, appointed a day for the races. From the red stake that stood by his _tee_, on the southerly side of the _Ha-ha_, O'er the crest of the hills and the dunes and the billowy breadth of the prairie, To a stake at the Lake of the Loons[79]-- a league and return--was the distance. They gathered from near and afar, to the races and dancing and feasting; Five hundred tall warriors were there from _Kapóza_[6] and far-off _Keóza_;[8] _Remnica_[Y] too, furnished a share of the legions that thronged to the races, And a bountiful feast was prepared by the diligent hands of the women, And gaily the multitudes fared in the generous _tees_ of _Kathága_. The chief of the mystical clan appointed a feast to _Unktéhee_-- The mystic "_Wacípee Wakán_"[Z]-- at the end of the day and the races. A band of sworn brothers are they, and the secrets of each one are sacred, And death to the lips that betray is the doom of the swarthy avengers, And the son of tall _Wází-kuté_ was the chief of the mystical order.

[Y] Pronounced Ray-mne-chah--The village of the Mountains, situate where Red Wing now stands.

[Z] Sacred Dance--The Medicine-dance--See description _infra._

THE FOOT RACES.

On an arm of an oak hangs the prize for the swiftest and strongest of runners-- A blanket as red as the skies, when the flames sweep the plains in October. And beside it a strong, polished bow, and a quiver of iron-tipped arrows, Which _Kapóza's_ tall chief will bestow on the fleet-footed second that follows. A score of swift runners are there from the several bands of the nation, And now for the race they prepare, and among them fleet-footed Tamdóka. With the oil of the buck and the bear their sinewy limbs are annointed, For fleet are the feet of the deer and strong are the limbs of the bruin.

Hark!--the shouts and the braying of drums, and the Babel of tongues and confusion! From his _teepee_ the tall chieftain comes, and DuLuth brings a prize for the runners-- A keen hunting-knife from the Seine, horn-handled and mounted with silver. The runners are ranged on the plain, and the Chief waves a flag as a signal, And away like the gray wolves they fly-- like the wolves on the trail of the red-deer; O'er the hills and the prairie they vie, and strain their strong limbs to the utmost, While high on the hills hangs a cloud of warriors and maidens and mothers, To see the swift-runners, and loud are the cheers and the shouts of the warriors.

Now swift from the lake they return o'er the emerald hills of the prairies; Like grey-hounds they pant and they yearn, and the leader of all is Tamdóka. At his heels flies _Hu-pá-hu,_[AA] the fleet--the pride of the band of _Kaóza_,-- A warrior with eagle-winged feet, but his prize is the bow and the quiver. Tamdóka first reaches the post, and his are the knife and the blanket, By the mighty acclaim of the host and award of the chief and the judges. Then proud was the tall warrior's stride, and haughty his look and demeanor; He boasted aloud in his pride, and he scoffed at the rest of the runners. "Behold me, for I am a man![AB] my feet are as swift as the West-wind. With the coons and the beavers I ran; but where is the elk or the _cabri?_[80] Come!--where is the hunter will dare match his feet with the feet of Tamdóka? Let him think of _Taté_[AC] and beware, ere he stake his last robe on the trial." "_Ohó! Ho! Hó-héca!_"[AD] they jeered, for they liked not the boast of the boaster; But to match him no warrior appeared, for his feet wore the wings of the west-wind.

[AA] The wings.

[AB] A favorite boast of the Dakota braves.

[AC] The wind.

[AD] About equivalent to Oho!--Aha!--fudge!

Then forth from the side of the chief stepped DuLuth and he looked on the boaster; "The words of a warrior are brief,-- I will run with the brave," said the Frenchman; "But the feet of Tamdóka are tired; abide till the cool of the sunset." All the hunters and maidens admired, for strong were the limbs of the stranger. "_Hiwó Ho!_"[AE] they shouted and loud rose the cheers of the multitude mingled; And there in the midst of the crowd stood the glad-eyed and blushing Winona.

[AE] Hurra there!

Now afar o'er the plains of the west walked the sun at the end of his journey, And forth came the brave and the guest, at the tap of the drum, for the trial. Like a forest of larches the hordes were gathered to witness the contest; As loud as the drums were their words and they roared like the roar of the _Ha-ha._ For some for Tamdóka contend, and some for the fair, bearded stranger, And the betting runs high to the end, with the skins of the bison and beaver. A wife of tall _Wází-kuté_-- the mother of boastful Tamdóka-- Brought her handsomest robe from the _tee_ with a vaunting and loud proclamation: She would stake her last robe on her son who, she boasted, was fleet as the _cabri_, And the tall, tawny chieftain looked on, approving the boast of the mother. Then fleet as the feet of a fawn to her lodge ran the dark-eyed Winona, She brought and she spread on the lawn, by the side of the robe of the boaster, The lily-red mantel DuLuth, with his own hands, had laid on her shoulders. "Tamdóka is swift, but forsooth, the tongue of his mother is swifter," She said, and her face was aflame with the red of the rose and the lily, And loud was the roar of acclaim; but dark was the face of Tamdóka. They strip for the race and prepare,-- DuLuth in his breeches and leggins; And the brown, curling locks of his hair down droop to his bare, brawny shoulders, And his face wears a smile debonair, as he tightens his red sash around him; But stripped to the moccasins bare, save the belt and the breech-clout of buckskin, Stands the haughty Tamdóka aware that the eyes of the warriors admire him; For his arms are the arms of a bear and his legs are the legs of a panther.

The drum beats,--the chief waves the flag, and away on the course speed the runners, And away leads the brave like a stag,-- like a bound on his track flies the Frenchman; And away haste the hunters once more to the hills, for a view to the lakeside, And the dark-swarming hill-tops, they roar with the storm of loud voices commingled. Far away o'er the prairie they fly, and still in the lead is Tamdóka, But the feet of his rival are nigh, and slowly he gains on the hunter. Now they turn on the post at the lake,-- now they run full abreast on the home-stretch: Side by side they contend for the stake for a long mile or more on the prairie They strain like a stag and a hound, when the swift river gleams through the thicket, And the horns of the riders resound, winding shrill through the depths of the forest. But behold!--at full length on the ground falls the fleet-footed Frenchman abruptly, And away with a whoop and a bound springs the eager, exulting Tamdóka Long and loud on the hills is the shout of his swarthy admirers and backers, "But the race is not won till it's out," said DuLuth, to himself as he gathered, With a frown on his face, for the foot of the wily Tamdóka had tripped him. Far ahead ran the brave on the route, and turning he boasted exultant. Like spurs to the steed to DuLuth were the jeers and the taunts of the boaster; Indignant was he and red wroth at the trick of the runner dishonest; And away like a whirlwind he speeds-- like a hurricane mad from the mountains; He gains on Tamdóka,--he leads!-- and behold, with the spring of a panther, He leaps to the goal and succeeds, 'mid the roar of the mad acclamation. Then glad as the robin in May was the voice of Winona exulting; Tamdóka turned sullen away, and sulking he walked by the river; He glowered as he went and the fire of revenge in his bosom was kindled: Dark was his visage with ire and his eyes were the eyes of a panther.

THE WAKAN-WACEPEE, OR SACRED DANCE. [81]

Lo the lights in the _"Teepee-Wákan!"_ 'tis the night of the _Wákan Wacépee_. Round and round walks the chief of the clan, as he rattles the sacred _Ta-shá-kay_; [81] Long and loud on the _Chán-che-ga_ [81] beat the drummers with magical drumsticks, And the notes of the _Chô-tánka_ [81] greet like the murmur of winds on the waters. By the friction of white-cedar wood for the feast was a Virgin-fire [20] kindled. They that enter the firm brotherhood first must fast and be cleansed by _E-neé-pee_;[81] And from foot-sole to crown of the head must they paint with the favorite colors; For _Unktéhee_ likes bands of blood-red, with the stripings of blue intermingled. In the hollow earth, dark and profound, _Unktéhee_ and fiery _Wakínyan_ Long fought, and the terrible sound of the battle was louder than thunder; The mountains were heaved and around were scattered the hills and the boulders, And the vast solid plains of the ground rose and fell like the waves of the ocean. But the god of the waters prevailed. _Wakín-yan_ escaped from the cavern, And long on the mountains he wailed, and his hatred endureth forever.

When _Unktéhee_ had finished the earth, and the beasts and the birds and the fishes, And men at his bidding came forth from the heart of the huge hollow mountains,[69] A band chose the god from the hordes, and he said: "Ye are the sons of _Unktéhee_: Ye are lords of the beasts and the birds, and the fishes that swim in the waters. But hearken ye now to my words,-- let them sound in your bosoms forever: Ye shall honor _Unktéhee_ and hate _Wakinyan_, the Spirit of Thunder, For the power of _Unktéhee_ is great, and he laughs at the darts of _Wakinyan_. Ye shall honor the Earth and the Sun,-- for they are your father and mother; [70] Let your prayer to the Sun be:-- _Wakán Até; on-si-md-da oheé-neé_."[AF] And remember the _Táku Wakán_[73] all-pervading in earth and in ether-- Invisible ever to man, but He dwells in the midst of all matter; Yea, he dwells in the heart of the stone-- in the hard granite heart of the boulder; Ye shall call him forever _Tunkán_-- grandfather of all the Dakotas. Ye are men that I choose for my own; ye shall be as a strong band of brothers, Now I give you the magical bone and the magical pouch of the spirits,[AG] And these are the laws ye shall heed: Ye shall honor the pouch and the giver. Ye shall walk as twin-brothers; in need, one shall forfeit his life for another. Listen not to the voice of the crow.[AH] Hold as sacred the wife of a brother. Strike, and fear not the shaft of the foe, for the soul of the brave is immortal. Slay the warrior in battle, but spare the innocent babe and the mother. Remember a promise,--beware,-- let the word of a warrior be sacred When a stranger arrives at the _tee_-- be he friend of the band or a foeman, Give him food; let your bounty be free; lay a robe for the guest by the lodge-fire; Let him go to his kindred in peace, if the peace-pipe he smoke in the _teepee_; And so shall your children increase, and your lodges shall laugh with abundance. And long shall ye live in the land, and the spirits of earth and the waters Shall come to your aid, at command, with the power of invisible magic. And at last, when you journey afar-- o'er the shining "_Wanágee Ta-chán-ku_,"[68] You shall walk as a red, shining star[8] in the land of perpetual summer."

[AF] "Sacred Spirit! Father! have pity on me always."

[AG] Riggs' Takoo Wakan, p. 90.

[AH] Slander.

All the night in the _teepee_ they sang, and they danced to the mighty _Unktéhee_, While the loud-braying _Chán-che-ga_ rang and the shrill-piping flute and the rattle, Till _Anpétuwee_ [70] rose in the east-- from the couch of the blushing _Han-nân-na_, And thus at the dance and the feast sang the sons of _Unktéhee_ in chorus:

"Wa-dú-ta o-hná mi-ká-ge! Wa-dú-ta o-hná mi-ká-ge! Mini-yâta ité wakândè makú, Atè wakán--Tunkánsidân.

Tunkânsidân pejihúta wakán Micâgè--he Wicâgè! Miniyáta ité wakándè makú. Taukánsidan ité, nápè dú-win-ta woo, Wahutôpa wan yúha, nápè dú-win-ta woo."

TRANSLATION.

In red swan-down he made it for me; In red swan-down he made it for me; He of the water--he of the mysterious face-- Gave it to me; Sacred Father--Grandfather!

Grandfather made me magical medicine. That is true! Being of mystery,--grown in the water-- He gave it to me! To the face of our Grandfather stretch out your hand; Holding a quadruped, stretch out your hand!

Till high o'er the hills of the east _Anpétuwee_ walked on his journey, In secret they danced at the feast, and communed with the mighty _Unktéhee_. Then opened the door of the _tee_ to the eyes of the wondering Dakotas, And the sons of _Unktéhee_ to be, were endowed with the sacred _Ozúha_[82] By the son of tall Wazí-kuté, Tamdóka, the chief of the Magi. And thus since the birth-day of man-- since he sprang from the heart of the mountains,[69] Has the sacred "_Wacépee Wakán_" by the warlike Dakotas been honored, And the god-favored sons of the clan work their will with the help of the spirits.

WINONA'S WARNING.

'Twas sunrise; the spirits of mist trailed their white robes on dewy savannas, And the flowers raised their heads to be kissed by the first golden beams of the morning. The breeze was abroad with the breath of the rose of the Isles of the Summer, And the humming-bird hummed on the heath from his home in the land of the rainbow.[AI] 'Twas the morn of departure. DuLuth stood alone by the roar of the _Ha-ha_; Tall and fair in the strength of his youth stood the blue-eyed and fair-bearded Frenchman. A rustle of robes on the grass broke his dream as he mused by the waters, And, turning, he looked on the face of Winona, wild-rose of the prairies, Half hid in her dark, flowing hair, like the round, golden moon in the pine-tops. Admiring he gazed--she was fair as his own blooming Flore in her orchards, With her golden locks loose on the air, like the gleam of the sun through the olives, Far away on the vine-covered shore, in the sun-favored land of his fathers. "Lists the chief to the cataract's roar for the mournful lament of the Spirit?"[AJ] Said Winona,--"The wail of the sprite for her babe and its father unfaithful, Is heard in the midst of the night, when the moon wanders dim in the heavens."

"Wild-Rose of the Prairies," he said, "DuLuth listens not to the _Ha-ha_, For the wail of the ghost of the dead for her babe and its father unfaithful; But he lists to a voice in his heart that is heard by the ear of no other, And to-day will the White Chief depart; he returns to the land of the sunrise." "Let Winona depart with the chief,-- she will kindle the fire in his _teepee_; For long are the days of her grief, if she stay in the _tee_ of Ta-té-psin," She replied, and her cheeks were aflame with the bloom of the wild prairie lilies. "_Tanke_[AK], is the White Chief to blame?" said DuLuth to the blushing Winona. "The White Chief is blameless," she said, "but the heart of Winona will follow Wherever thy footsteps may lead, O blue-eyed, brave Chief of the white men. For her mother sleeps long in the mound, and a step-mother rules in the _teepee_, And her father, once strong and renowned, is bent with the weight of his winters. No longer he handles the spear,-- no longer his swift, humming arrows Overtake the fleet feet of the deer, or the bear of the woods, or the bison; But he bends as he walks, and the wind shakes his white hair and hinders his footsteps; And soon will he leave me behind, without brother or sister or kindred. The doe scents the wolf in the wind, and a wolf walks the path of Winona. Three times have the gifts for the bride[55] to the lodge of Ta-té-psin been carried, But the voice of Winona replied that she liked not the haughty Tamdóka. And thrice were the gifts sent away, but the tongue of the mother protested, And the were-wolf[52] still follows his prey, and abides but the death of my father."

[AI] The Dakotas say the humming-bird comes from the "Land of the rain-bow."

[AJ] See Legend of the Falls, or Note 28--Appendix.

[AK] My Sister.

"I pity Winona," he said, "but my path is a pathway of danger, And long is the trail for the maid to the far-away land of the sunrise; And few are the braves of my band, and the braves of Tamdóka are many; But soon I return to the land, and a cloud of my hunters will follow. When the cold winds of winter return and toss the white robes of the prairies, The fire of the White Chief will burn in his lodge at the Meeting-of-Waters;[AL] And when from the Sunrise again comes the chief of the sons of the Morning, Many moons will his hunters remain in the land of the friendly Dakotas. The son of Chief Wází-Kuté guides the White Chief afar on his journey; Nor long on the _Tânka Medé_[AM]-- on the breast of the blue, bounding billows-- Shall the bark of the Frenchman delay, but his pathway shall kindle behind him."

[AL] Mendota--properly Mdo-te--meaning the out-let of a lake or river into another, commonly applied to the region about Fort Snelling.

[AM] _Tanka-Mede_--Great Lake, i.e. Lake Superior. The Dakotas seem to have had no other name for it. They generally referred to it as _Mini-ya-ta--There at the water_.