But the fox is sly and his words were low.
But I heard her answer her father--"Never!
I will stain your knife in my heart's red blood,
I will plunge and sink in the sullen river,
Ere I will be wife to the fierce Red Cloud!"
Then he spake again, and his voice was low,
But I heard the answer of Little Crow:
"Let it be as you will, for Wakawa's tongue
Has spoken no promise,--his lips are slow,
And the love of a father is deep and strong."

Mah-pi-ya Duta, they scorn your love,
But the false chief covets the warrior's gifts.
False to his promise the fox will prove,
And fickle as snow in Wo-ka-da-wee, [37]
That slips into brooks when the gray cloud lifts,
Or the red sun looks through the ragged rifts.
Mah-pi-ya Duta will listen to me
There are fairer birds in the bush than she,
And the fairest would gladly be Red Cloud's wife.
Will the warrior sit like a girl bereft,
When fairer and truer than she are left
That love Red Cloud as they love their life?
Mah-pi-ya Duta will listen to me
I love him well,--I have loved him long:
A woman is weak, but a warrior is strong,
And a lovelorn brave is a scorn to see.

Mah-pi-ya Duta, O listen to me!
Revenge is swift and revenge is strong,