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'Then stately was this head, and dark this hair,

That now is white as Appalachia's snow;

'But, if the weight of fifteen years' despair,

And age hath bow'd me, and the tort'ring foe,

'Bring me my boy-and he will his deliverer

know!'

XIII.

It was not long, with eyes and heart of flame,

Ere Henry to his lov'd Oneyda flew:

'Bless thee, my guide!'-but, backward, as he came,

The chief his old bewilder'd head withdrew,

And grasp'd his arm, and look'd and look'd him

through.

'Twas strange-nor could the group a smile controul

The long, the doubtful scrutiny to view:--

At last delight o'er all his features stole,

'It is my own,' he cried, and clasp'd him to his soul.—

XIV.

"Yes! thou recall'st my pride of years, for then The bowstring of my spirit was not slack,

• When, spite of woods, and floods, and ambush'd men, I bore thee like the quiver on my back,

Fleet as the whirlwind hurries on the rack;

13

'Nor foeman then, nor cougar's crouch I fear'd, 13

For I was strong as mountain cataract:

And dost thou not remember how we cheer'd

Upon the last hill-top, when white men's huts ap

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'Since I have seen thee, and again embrac'd.'

1

And longer had he spent his toil-worn breath;

But with affectionate and eager haste,

Was every arm outstretch'd around their guest,

13 Cougar, the American tyger.

To welcome and to bless his aged head.

Soon was the hospitable banquet plac'd;

And Gertrude's lovely hands a balsam shed

On wounds with fever'd joy that more profusely bled.

XVI.

'But this is not a time,'-he started up,

And smote his breast with woe-denouncing hand

'This is no time to fill the joyous cup,

✦ 'The Mammoth comes, the foe,-the Monster

Brandt, 14

"With all his howling desolating band;

'These eyes have seen their blade, and burning pine 'Awake at once, and silence half your land.

'Red is the cup they drink; but not with wine:

'Awake, and watch to-night, or see no morning

shine!

14 Brandt was the leader of those Mohawks, and other savages, who laid waste this part of Pennsylvania.-Vide the note at the end of this poem.

XVII.

'Scorning to wield the hatchet for his bribe,

Gainst Brandt himself I went to battle forth:

"Accursed Brandt! he left of all my tribe

'Nor man, nor child, nor thing of living birth: 'No! not the dog, that watch'd my household hearth, 'Escap'd, that night of blood, upon our plains!

• All perish'd !-I alone am left on earth!

• To whom nor relative nor blood remains,

• No!-not a kindred drop that runs in human veins!

XVIII.

'But go!-and rouse your warriors;-for, if right • These old bewilder'd eyes could guess, by signs Of strip'd and starred banners, on yon height 'Of eastern cedars, o'er the creek of pines→→→

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'Some fort embattled by your country shines:

'Deep roars th' innavigable gulph below

'Its squared rock, and palisaded lines.

Go! seek the light its warlike beacons show;

'Whilst I in ambush wait, for vengeance, and the foe!*

XIX.

Scarce had he utter'd-when Heav'n's verge extreme Reverberates the bomb's descending star,

And sounds that mingled laugh,-and shout,-and

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To freeze the blood, in one discordant jar,

Rung to the pealing thunderbolts of war.

Whoop after whoop with rack the ear assail'd;
As if unearthly fiends had burst their bar;

While rapidly the marksman's shot prevail'd :

And aye, as if for death, some lonely trumpet wail'd.

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