The crusted leagues of Winter, stride by stride.

A camp-dog barks; the hollow world outside

Brims with the running howl of many curs.

Now wide-awake, half risen in the furs,

The youth can hear low voices and the creak

Of snowshoes near the lodge. His thin, wild shriek

Startles the old folk from their slumberings:

“He comes! The Black Robe!”

Now the door-flap swings,

And briefly one who splutters Piegan, bars