Chapter 4
While the glow of colors deepened, The proud Weroance Win-gin-a, Chief of Das-a-mon-gue-pue land, Made a feast for all his people; Called them forth with bow and arrow To a test of skill and valor. He was weary of the mysteries Whispered of the famous White Doe, Whose strange courage feared no hunter, For no arrow ever reached her. "Ha!" said he, "a skilful hunter Is not daunted by a white doe; Craven hearts make trembling fingers, Arrows fail when shot by cowards. _I_ will shoot this doe so fearless, Her white skin shall be my mantle,[AA] Her white meat shall serve for feasting, And my braves shall cease from fearing. From the fields the maize invites us, Sturgeons have been fat and plenty. We are weary of fish-eating, We will feast on meat of white deer."
Messengers of invitation Sent he to the other nations, Saying, "Come and hunt the White Doe, Bring your surest, fleetest arrows; We will eat the meat of white deer, We will drink the purple grape-juice, Burn the uppowoc in pipe-bowls, While we shame the trembling hunters."
But the Cro-a-to-ans kept silence, Sent no answer to his greeting. They believed the charmèd White Doe Was Wi-no-na Skâ's pure spirit, Who in freedom still was happy, And they would not wound or harm her, They would shoot no arrows at her, Nor help feast upon her body.
Then O-kis-ko answered boldly; "I will go and hunt this White Doe, I will shoot from my own ambush, I will take my fleetest arrow." And the men and women wondered, For they knew his former loving.
But O-kis-ko kept his secret, Showed no one his new-made arrow; 'Round his shoulders threw a mantle Made of skins of many sea-gulls, So that he could hide his arrow, And no mortal eye could see it Till he sent it on its mission Winged with magic, fraught with mercy.
Thus he went to Ro-a-no-ak, Love, and hope, and faith impelling, Conscious of his aim unerring, Trusting in the arrow's power.
From Po-mou-ik came Wan-ches-e, For the hunt and feast impatient, Boasting of his skill and valor, Saying in his loud vainglory: "I will teach the braves to shoot deer, Young men now are not great hunters, Hearts like squaws they have within them, Nothing fears them but a papoose."
Wan-ches-e had crossed the water[AB] In the ships with wings like sea-birds, And the Pale-Face Weroanza, Whom he saw in her own country, Him to please and show her friendship, Gave an arrow-head of silver To him as a mark of favor.
This he now brought proudly with him, As of all his arrows fleetest; Bearing in its lustrous metal, As he thought, some gift of power From the mighty Weroanza Which would bring success unto him; And the warriors all would praise him As around the feast they gathered, Saying as he walked among them: "There is none like brave Wan-ches-e, He can bend the bow with firmness, He has arrow-points of silver, And the White Doe falls before him." And he polished well the arrow Which he thought would bring him praises.
Where the deer were wont to wander All the hunters took their stations, While the stalkers sought the forest, From its depths to start the deer-herd.
Near the shore Win-gin-a lingered That he first might shoot his arrow, And thus have the certain glory Of the White Doe's death upon him.
By a pine-tree stood Wan-ches-e With his silver arrow ready; While O-kis-ko, unseen, waited Near by in his chosen ambush, Where he oft had watched the White Doe, Where he knew she always lingered.
Soon the stalkers with great shouting Started up the frightened red deer; On they came through brake and thicket, In the front the White Doe leading, With fleet foot and head uplifted, Daring all the herd to follow.
Easy seemed the task of killing, So Win-gin-a twanged his bow-string, But his arrow fell beside her As she sprang away from danger.
Through the tanglewood, still onward, Head uplifted, her feet scorning All the wealth of bright-hued foliage Which lay scattered in her pathway. Up the high sand-dunes she bounded, In her wake the whole herd followed, While the arrows aimed from ambush Fell around her ever harmless.
On she sped, towards the water, Nostrils spread to sniff the sea-breeze; Through the air a whizzing arrow Flew, but did not touch the White Doe; But a stag beside her bounding Wounded fell among the bushes, And the herd fled in confusion, Waiting now not for the leader.
On again, with leaping footsteps, Tossing head turned to the sea-shore; For one fatal minute standing Where the White Man's Fort had once stood; In her eyes came wistful gleamings Like a lost hope's fleeting shadow.
While with graceful poise she lingered, Swift, Wan-ches-e shot his arrow Aimed with cruel thought to kill her; While from near and secret ambush, With unerring aim, O-kis-ko Forward sent his magic arrow, Aimed with thought of love and mercy.
To her heart straight went _both_ arrows, And with leap of pain she bounded From the earth, and then fell forward, Prone, amidst the forest splendor. O-kis-ko, with fond heart swelling, Wan-ches-e, with pride exultant, To the Doe both sprang to claim it, Each surprised to see the other.
Suddenly, within the forest, Spread a gleaming mist around them, Like a dense white fog in summer, So they scarce could grope their pathway. Slowly, as if warmed by sunbeams, From one spot the soft mist melted, While within its bright'ning dimness, With the misty halo 'round her, Stood a beautiful white maiden,-- _Stood the gentle, lost Wi-no-na_.
Through her heart two arrows crosswise Pierced the flesh with cruel wounding; Downward flowed the crimson blood-tide, Staining red the snow-white doe-skin Which with grace her form enveloped, While her arms with pleading gesture To O-kis-ko were outstretching.
As they gazed upon the vision, All their souls with wonder filling; While the white mist slowly melted, _Prostrate fell the wounded maiden_.
Then revealed was all the myst'ry, Then they saw what had befallen. To her heart the magic arrow First had pierced, and lo! Wi-no-na Once more breathed in form of maiden.
But while yet the charm was passing Came the arrow of Wan-ches-e; To her heart it pierced unerring, Pierced the pearl-inlaid triangle, Struck and broke the shark's tooth narrow, _Charm and counter-charm undoing_; Leaving but a mortal maiden Wounded past the hope of healing.
Woe to love, and hope, and magic! Woe to hearts whom death divideth! While upon her bleeding bosom Fatal arrows made the Cross-Sign, Wistful eyes she turned to Heaven; "O forget not your Wi-no-na," Whispered she unto O-kis-ko, As her soul passed to the silence.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote AA: See Appendix, Note _p_.]
[Footnote AB: See Appendix, Note _l_.]
VI
THE SILVER ARROW
Fear seized on the bold Wan-ches-e When he saw the Pale-Face maiden Standing where had poised the White Doe, Where the White Man's Fort had once stood. He knew naught of magic arrows, Nor O-kis-ko's secret mission; He saw only his own arrow Piercing through her tender bosom, Never doubting but the wonder Which his awe-struck eyes had witnessed Had been wrought by his own arrow, Silver arrow from a far land, Fashioned by the skill of Pale-Face, Gift of Pale-Face Weroanza To a race she willed to conquer.
All his hatred of the Pale-Face, Fed by fear and superstition, To him made this sudden vision Seem an omen of the future, When the Red Man, like the White Doe, Should give place unto the Pale-Face, And the Indian, like the white mist, Fade from out his native forest. All his courage seemed to weaken With the dread of dark disaster; And with instincts strong for safety Fled he from the place in terror.
Love hath not the fear of danger, And O-kis-ko's faith in magic Kept him brave to meet the changes Which had each so quickly followed. For he saw the human maiden Where had stood the living White Doe; And he knew his hazel arrow, Charmed with all We-nau-don's magic, Had restored the lost Wi-no-na To reward his patient loving.
But the conflict of _two_ arrows, Bringing death unto the maiden, Was a deep and darksome myst'ry Which his ignorance could not fathom. All the cause of his undoing Saw he in the silver arrow; So with true love's tireless effort, Quick he strove to break its power.
From her heart he plucked the arrow, Hastened to the magic water, Hoping to destroy the evil Which had stilled the maiden's pulses. In the sparkling spring he laid it So no spot was left uncovered, So the full charm of the water Might act on the blood-stained arrow.
As the blood-stains from it melted, Blood of Pale-Face shed by Red Man, Slowly, while he watched and waited, _All the sparkling water vanished;_ Dry became the magic fountain, Leaving bare the silver arrow.
Was it thus the spell would weaken Which had wrought his love such evil? Would she be again awakened When he sought her in the thicket? Must he shoot this arrow at her To restore her throbbing pulses? Must he seek again We-nau-don To make warm her icy beauty?
While he of himself sought guidance, Sought to know the hidden meaning Of the mysteries he witnessed; Lo! another mystic wonder Met his eyes as he sat musing.
From the arrow made by Pale-Face, As th' enchanted water left it, Sprang a tiny shoot with leaflets Pushing upward to the sunlight.
Did the arrow dry the fountain With the blight of death it carried? Or in going, had the water Left a charm upon the arrow? Did the heart-blood of the Pale-Face From the arrow in the water Cause the coming of the green shoot, Which reached upward to the sunlight?
All O-kis-ko's love and courage Could not give him greater knowledge. Savage mind could not unravel All the meaning of this marvel. Fear forbade him touch the arrow Lest he should destroy the green shoot; So he left the tender leaflets Reaching upward to the sunlight, Sought again the lifeless maiden For whose love his soul had hungered; Knelt beside her in the forest, With the awe of death upon him, Which in heathen as in Christian Moves the human soul to worship.
All his faith in savage magic Turned to frenzy at his failure; And the helplessness of mortals Pressed upon him like a burden; While a mighty longing seized him For a knowledge of the Unknown, For a light to pierce the Silence Into which none enter living. And unconsciously his spirit Rose in quest of Might Supernal, Which should rule both dead and living, Leaving naught to chance or magic; Which should seize the throbbing pulses Ebbing from a dying mortal, And create a higher being Free from thrall of earthly nature; Almost grasping in his yearning Knowledge of the God Eternal, In whose hand the earth lies helpless, In whose heart all souls find refuge.
But no light came to O-kis-ko; Still the burden pressed upon him, And a pall of hopeless yearning Wrapped his soul in voiceless sorrow As he gazed upon the maiden With death's mysteries enfolded. Then he made upon her bosom The strange Cross-Sign she had taught him; From his shoulders took the mantle Made of skins of many sea-gulls, Gently wrapped the maiden in it, Heaped the tinted leaves about her; Leaving all his own life's brightness With her where the shadows darkened.
* * * * *
Thus the ancient legend runneth, with its plaint of hopeless doom, Bearing in its heart the fragrance of the Truth's enduring bloom, Standing in the light of knowledge, where developed ages meet, We can read the mystic omens which O-kis-ko's eyes did greet. And to us they seem the symbols of what coming ages brought, Realization gives the answer, which in vain the Savage sought. For we know the silver arrow, fatal to all sorcery, Was the gleaming light of Progress speeding from across the sea, Before which the Red Man vanished, shrinking from its silvery light As the magic waters yielded to the silver arrow's blight. And the tiny shoot with leaflets, by the sunlight warmed to life, Was the Vine of Civilization in the wilderness of strife; With no friendly hand to tend it, yet it grew midst slight and wrong, Taking root in other places,[AC]--growing green, and broad, and strong, Till its vigor knew no weakness, with its branches flower-fraught, Till a prosp'rous land it sheltered where th' oppressed a refuge sought, Till its fruit made all who labored 'neath its shade both bold and free, Till a people dwelt beneath it strong to meet their destiny.
Now beneath its spreading branches dwells a nation brave and free, Raising glad, triumphant pæans for the boon of Liberty; Holding fast the Holy Cross-Sign,--Heirs of Duty and of Light,-- Still they speed the arrow, Progress, on its civilizing flight; Keeping bright the Fires of Freedom, where Man, Brotherhood may know, For God's breath upon the altar keeps the sacred flame aglow.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote AC: Jamestown and Plymouth Rock.]
APPENDIX
NOTE _a_.--"We viewed the land about us, being where we first landed very sandy and low towards the water side, but so full of grapes as the very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them, of which we found such plenty, as well there as in all places else, both on the sand and on the green soil, on the hills as in the plains, as well on every little shrub, as also climbing towards the tops of high cedars, that I think in all the world the like abundance is not to be found."--_First voyage of Amadas and Barlowe, 1584. From Hakluyt._
NOTE _b_.--"The second of July we found shoal water, where we smelled so sweet and so strong a smell as if we had been in the midst of some delicate garden abounding with all kinds of odoriferous flowers, by which we were assured that the land could not be far distant."--_First voyage of Amadas and Barlowe, 1584._
NOTE _c_.--"Deer, in some places there are great store: near unto the seacoast they are of the ordinary bigness of ours in England, and some less: but further up into the country where there is better feed, they are greater."--_Harriot's Report._
NOTE _d_.--"The Governor (John White) with divers of his company, walked to the north end of the island, where Master Ralph Lane had his fort, with sundry necessary and decent dwelling houses, made by his men about it, the year before, where we hoped to find some signs, or certain knowledge of our fifteen men. When we came thither we found the fort razed down, but all the houses standing unhurt, saving that the neather rooms of them, and also of the fort, were overgrown with melons of divers sorts, and deer within them, feeding on those melons; so we returned to our company, without hope of ever seeing any of the fifteen alive."--_Hakluyt._
NOTE _e_.--"At our first landing they seemed as though they would fight with us, but perceiving us begin to march with our shot towards them, they turned their backs and fled. Then Manteo, their countryman, called to them in their own language, whom, as soon as they heard, they returned, and threw away their bows and arrows, and some of them came unto us embracing and entertaining us friendly, desiring us not to gather or spoil any of their corn, for that they had but little. We answered them that neither their corn nor any other thing of theirs should be diminished by any of us, and that our coming was only to renew the old love, that was between us and them at the first, and to live with them as brethren and friends; which answer seemed to please them well, wherefore they requested us to walk up to their town, who there feasted us after their manner, and desired us earnestly _that there might be some token or badge given them of us_, whereby we might know them to be our friends," etc.
"And also we understood by them of Croatoan, how that the fifteen Englishmen left at Roanoak the year before, by Sir Richard Grenville, were suddenly set upon by thirty of the men of Secota, Aquoscogoc, and Dasamonguepeuc, in manner following. They conveyed themselves secretly behind the trees, near the houses where our men carelessly lived, and having perceived that of those fifteen they could see but eleven only, two of those savages appeared to the eleven Englishmen, calling to them by friendly signs that but two of their chief men should come unarmed to speak with those two savages, who seemed also to be unarmed. Wherefore two of the chiefest of our Englishmen went gladly to them; but whilst one of those savages traitorously embraced one of our men, the other with his sword of wood, which he had secretly hidden under his mantle, struck him on the head and slew him, and presently the other eight and twenty savages shewed themselves; the other Englishman perceiving this, fled to his company, whom the savages pursued with their bows and arrows so fast that the Englishmen were forced to take the house, wherein all their victuals and weapons were; but the savages forthwith set the same on fire, by means whereof our men were forced to take up such weapons as came first to hand, and without order to run forth among the savages, with whom they skirmished above an hour. In this skirmish another of our men was shot into the mouth with an arrow, where he died; and also one of the savages was shot into the side by one of our men, with a wild fire arrow, whereof he died presently. The place where they fought was of great advantage to the savages, by means of the thick trees, behind which the savages through their nimbleness defended themselves, and so offended our men with their arrows, that our men, being some of them hurt, retired fighting to the water side where their boat lay, with which they fled towards Hatorask. By that time they had rowed but a quarter of a mile, they espied their four fellows coming from a creek thereby, where they had been to fetch oysters; these four they received into their boat, leaving Roanoak, and landed on a little island on the right hand of our entrance into the harbor of Hatorask, where they remained awhile, but afterwards departed, whither as yet we know not."--_Hakluyt._
NOTE _f_.--"The thirteenth of August, our savage, Manteo, by the commandment of Sir Walter Raleigh, was christened in Roanoak, and called Lord thereof, and of Dasamonguepeuc, in reward of his faithful services."--_Hakluyt._
NOTE _g_.--"The eighteenth, Eleanor, daughter to the Governor, and wife to Ananias Dare, one of the assistants, was delivered of a daughter, in Roanoak, and the same was christened there the Sunday following, and because this child was the first Christian born in Virginia, she was named Virginia."--_Hakluyt._
NOTE _h_.--"The twenty-second of August, the whole company, both of the assistants and planters, came to the Governor, and with one voice requested him to return himself into England, for the better and sooner obtaining of supplies and other necessaries for them; but he refused it, and alleged many sufficient causes why he would not.... The next day, not only the assistants, but divers others, as well women as men, began to renew their requests to the Governor again, to take upon him to return into England for the supplies and dispatch of all such things as there were to be done.... The Governor being at the last, through their extreme entreating, constrained to return into England, having then but half a day's respite to prepare himself for the same, departed from Roanoak the seven and twentieth of August in the morning, and the same day about midnight came aboard the Fly-boat who already had weighed anchor, and rode without the bar, the admiral riding by them, who but the same morning was newly come thither again. The same day both the ships weighed anchor and set sail for England."--_Hakluyt._
NOTE _k_.--"Our boats and all things filled again, we put off from Hatorask, being the number of nineteen persons in both boats; but before we could get to the place where our planters were left, it was so exceeding dark, that we overshot the place a quarter of a mile, where we espied towards the North end of the island the light of a great fire through the woods to the which we presently rowed: when we came right over against it we let fall our grapnel near the shore, and sounded with a trumpet a call, and afterwards many familiar English tunes of songs, and called to them friendly; but we had no answer, we therefore landed at daybreak, and coming to the fire we found the grass and sundry rotten trees burning about the place. From hence we went through the woods to that part of the island directly over against Dasamonguepeuc, and from thence we returned by the water side round about the north point of the island, until we came to the place where I left our colony in the year 1586. In all this way we saw in the sand the print of the savages' feet of two or three sorts trodden in the night; and as we entered up the sandy bank, upon a tree, in the very brow thereof, were curiously carved these fair Roman letters C. R. O., which letters presently we knew to signify the place where I should find the planters seated, according to a secret token agreed upon between them and me at my last departure from them; which was, that in any way they should not fail to write or carve on the trees or posts of the doors the name of the place where they should be seated; for at my coming away they were prepared to remove from Roanoak fifty miles into the main. Therefore at my departure from them in An. 1587, I willed them that if they should happen to be distressed in any of those places, that then they should carve over the letters or name, a cross † in this form; but we found no such sign of distress.... And having well considered of this, we passed towards the place where they were left in sundry houses, but we found the houses taken down, and the place very strongly enclosed with a high palisade of great trees, with curtains and flankers, very fort-like, and one of the chief trees or posts at the right side of the entrance had the bark taken off, and five feet from the ground in fair capital letters was graven CROATOAN without any cross or sign of distress.... I greatly joyed that I had safely found a certain token of their safe being at Croatoan, which is the place where Manteo was born, and the savages of the island our friends."--_From Governor White's account of his voyage in search of the colonists, after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Hakluyt, Vol. III._
NOTE _l_.--"We brought home also two of the savages, being lusty men, whose names were Wan-ches-e and Man-te-o."--_First voyage by Amadas and Barlowe._
NOTE _m_.--All authorities agree in the statement that the favorite time among the Indians for an attack on an enemy was at, or about, daybreak.
NOTE _n_.--"Into this river falls another great river called Cipo in which there is found great store of mussels in which there are pearls."--_Voyage of Amadas and Barlowe._
"In her ears she had bracelets of pearls, hanging down to her middle, and these were of the bigness of good pease."--_Voyage of Amadas and Barlowe._
"Sometimes feeding on mussels, we found some pearle, but it was our hap to meet with ragges, or of a pied colour; not having yet discovered those places where we heard of better and more plenty."--_Harriot's Report._