Thus many moons arose, and waning,
Gave place to other moons,
Till one night o’er the Lake a lone star reigning
Swung low,—and then eftsoons
Came again that Voice through the dim air falling—
Well understood by one,
And Wenonda went at its mystic calling
To the land of the setting sun.
VIII.
Now, the waiting long and the anguish ended,
Came Oneydo o’er the tide,
And ere two moon’s again ascended
Claimed Alissa as his bride.—
Then each day sped on, as an angel golden
Had passed with beaming eyes,
While yet in whose rich-dyed robes are holden
The airs of paradise!
IX.
At length from the land of ocean currents,
Where mists were born of old,
From beyond the twin streams’[D] mighty torrents,
Came a stranger chieftain bold.
Of giant form, and with dark eye glancing,
And visage grim and sere,—
The somber plumes o’er his dun brow dancing,
Dropped shadows boding fear.
X.
To Oneydo he came as some dreaded token,
For which naught can win surcease;
Few deeds were done, few words were spoken,—
They smoked the pipe of peace.
But over that vale passed an unseen power
Three times with the setting sun,—
Then by that still lake at the midnight hour,
A murderous deed was done.