A splashing of waves and then silence,
By the gray rock an empty canoe;
And they rose in the wonderful cavern
That none but the young chieftain knew.
By the gray rock an empty canoe;
And they rose in the wonderful cavern
That none but the young chieftain knew.
It was fifty feet high at the center
And the widest part, fifty feet wide;
What foeman could ever there enter
To harm the young maid or her guide?
And the widest part, fifty feet wide;
What foeman could ever there enter
To harm the young maid or her guide?
And here the chief hid his brave lady
'Till the angry king gave up the chase
In the great cavern, silent and shady,
Lit but by the sea and her face.
'Till the angry king gave up the chase
In the great cavern, silent and shady,
Lit but by the sea and her face.
And here to her palace he carried
Costly clothing, food, mats and perfume,
And none knew what treasure was buried
In the great cavern's silence and gloom.
Costly clothing, food, mats and perfume,
And none knew what treasure was buried
In the great cavern's silence and gloom.
And here by his kindness and daring
His love to the maiden he proved
And won for his bride the fair damsel
Whom long without hope he had wooed.
His love to the maiden he proved
And won for his bride the fair damsel
Whom long without hope he had wooed.
Meanwhile he prepared for a voyage
With all of his tribe to depart
From the land of a cruel oppressor,
The islands still dear to his heart.
With all of his tribe to depart
From the land of a cruel oppressor,
The islands still dear to his heart.
At last they embarked all in safety
Unknown to the treacherous king,
He told them to wait in the shadow
And his bride from the sea he would bring.
Unknown to the treacherous king,
He told them to wait in the shadow
And his bride from the sea he would bring.
He dived at the foot of the bowlder,
His wondering tribe waited amazed
His wondering tribe waited amazed
[ 39 ]
