Where thy waters foam and glisten o'er the rugged, rocky walls,
Till some spirit of the olden, mystic, weird, romantic days
Shall emerge and pour her golden tales and legends through my lays.

Then again the elk and bison on thy grassy banks shall feed,
And along the low horizon shall the plumed hunter speed;
Then again on lake and river shall the silent birch canoe
Bear the brave with bow and quiver on his way to war or woo:
Then the beaver on the meadow shall rebuild his broken wall,
And the wolf shall chase his shadow and his mate the panther call.
From the prairies and the regions where the pine-plumed forest grows
Shall arise the tawny legions with their lances and their bows;
And again the cries of battle shall resound along the plain,
Bows shall twang and quivers rattle, women wail their warriors slain;
And by lodge-fire lowly burning shall the mother from afar
List her warrior's steps returning from the daring deeds of war.


[Illustration: THE GAME OF BALL]


THE FEAST OF THE VIRGINS[1]

A LEGEND OF THE DAKOTAS


In pronouncing Dakota words give "a" the sound of "ah",--"e" the sound
of "a",--"i" the sound of "e" and "u" the sound of "oo;" sound "ee" as
in English. The numerals refer to _Notes_ in appendix.