Chamflain. 3^3
��CHAMPLAIN— A BALLAD OF 1609. By Mary II. Wheeler.
The Hiirons were on the war-path,
For around their council fires They had vowed to revenge on the Iroquois
The "wrongs of themselves and sires. The Hurons were on the war-path,
And from Ottawa river down, On the tide of the broad vSt. Lawrence
They came to the new French town.
In the ears of their new-made allies
Their plans for the march were told, While armed with their bows and arrows
Stood the waiting warriors bold ; And the hawk's and the eagle's feathers
Did the well trained scalp-locks deck Of the Indian braves and sachems
On the war-path from Qiiebec.
Then down by the Soi-el river,
Champlain and his chosen few Followed the guiding red men.
Till the great lake came in view ; And on fair Saranac* water
They rowed in the sunset glow, Ere on its green shore landing
To fight with a savage foe.
Fierce were the fighting Mohawks,
And the Iroquois were strong : With the Hurons and Adiroudacks
They had been at warfare long : But fearful was the slaughter
And furious was the flight. When first the white man's fire-arms
Were heard in the Indian fight !
From their hunting-grounds the Hurons
Have passed away forever. And never a tribe of the Iroquois
Roams now by the Hudson river. And no monument remaineth
To tell of the warriors slain ; But the long lake still retaineth
The name of the good Champlain.
- Saranac, Indian name of Lake Champlain.
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