XXV.
Oft from the vacant air came bitter jeer
In gibberish strange, and oft from under ground
A hellish mockery smote the hunter's ear,
And he would start; but if he glanced around
And Williams saw, he banished every fear;
For well he knew his Sachem could confound
Such diabolic phantoms,—he who slew,
In Potowomet's glade, the serpent manittoo.
XXVI.
Then taking courage he would seek the brake,
Cull the straight haft, and arm it with the bone
Or tooth of beaver, and the plumage take
From Neyhom wild to wing and guide it on
Straight to its mark, or with nice handling make
Of sinewy deer the bowstring tough, or hone
His glittering scalping-knife, and grimly feel
How sharp its point, how keen its edge of steel.
XXVII.
At length, no longer heedful of disguise,
Upon the opposing bank the wizard stood,
With meet compeer—both armed; their battle cries
And challenge fired brave Waban's martial blood;
Scorning all counsel, to the marge he flies,
And shoots his arrows o'er the severing flood;
To taunts and jeers his bow alone replies,
And soon their hostile missiles span the skies.
XXVIII.
From tree to tree the champions fly and fight,
Driving or driven from the sheltering screen,
Each change, each movement, yielding to the sight
Their swarthy members through the foliage green;
