Indian Legends of Minnesota Part 13

Gitchee Manito, bena-nin!

Nah, Ba-ba showain nemeshin!

Wahonowin!--Wahonowin!"

Ka-be-bon-ik-ka,[26] the mighty, He that sends the cruel winter, From the distant Thunder-mountain On the sh.o.r.e of Gitchee Gumee, On the rugged northern border, Sent his solemn, final warning, Sent the white wolves of the Nor'land.[31]

Like the dust of stars in ether-- In the Pathway of the Spirits,[32]

Like the sparkling dust of diamonds, Fell the frost upon the forest, On the mountains and the meadows, On the wilderness of woodland, On the wilderness of waters.

All the lingering fowls departed-- All that seek the South in winter, All but Shingebis, the diver;[33]

He defies the Winter-maker, Sits and laughs at Winter-maker.

Ka-be-bon-ik-ka, the mighty, From his wigwam called Kewaydin-- From his home among the icebergs, From the sea of frozen waters, Called the swift and hungry North-wind, Then he spread his mighty pinions Over all the land and shook them.

Like the white down of Waubese[34]

Fell the feathery snow and covered All the marshes and the meadows, All the hill-tops and the highlands.

Then old Peboan[35]--the winter-- Laughed along the stormy waters, Danced upon the windy headlands, On the storm his white hair streaming, And his steaming breath, ascending, On the pine-tops and the cedars Fell in frosty mists of silver, Sprinkling spruce and fir with silver, Sprinkling all the woods with silver.

By the lodge-fire all the winter Sat the Sea-Gull and the Red Fox, Sat and kindly spoke and chatted, Till the twain seemed friends together.

Friends they seemed in word and action, But within the breast of either Smoldered still the baneful embers-- Fires of jealousy and hatred-- Like a camp-fire in the forest Left by hunters and deserted; Only seems a bed of ashes, But the East wind, Wabun-noodin, Scatters through the woods the ashes, Fans to flame the sleeping embers, And the wild-fire roars and rages, Roars and rages through the forest.

So the baneful embers smoldered, Smoldered in the breast of either.

From the far-off Sunny Islands, From the pleasant land of Summer, Where the spirits of the blessed Feel no more the fangs of hunger, Or the cold breath of Kewaydin, Came a stately youth and handsome, Came Segun,[36] the foe of Winter.

Like the rising sun his face was, Like the shining stars his eyes were, Light his footsteps as the Morning's, In his hand were buds and blossoms, On his brow a blooming garland.

Straightway to the icy wigwam Of old Peboan, the Winter, Strode Segun and quickly entered.

There old Peboan sat and shivered, Shivered o'er his dying lodge-fire.

"Ah, my son, I bid you welcome; Sit and tell me your adventures; I will tell you of my power; We will pa.s.s the night together."

Thus spake Peboan--the Winter; Then he filled his pipe and lighted; Then by sacred custom raised it To the spirits in the ether; To the spirits in the caverns Of the hollow earth he lowered it.

Thus he pa.s.sed it to the spirits, And the unseen spirits puffed it.

Next himself old Peboan honored; Thrice he puffed his pipe and pa.s.sed it, Pa.s.sed it to the handsome stranger.

"Lo I blow my breath," said Winter, "And the laughing brooks are silent.

Hard as flint become the waters, And the rabbit runs upon them."

Then Segun, the fair youth, answered: "Lo, I breathe upon the hillsides, On the valleys and the meadows, And behold, as if by magic-- By the magic of the spirits, Spring the flowers and tender gra.s.ses."

Then old Peboan replying: "Nah![37] I breathe upon the forests, And the leaves fall sere and yellow; Then I shake my locks and snow falls, Covering all the naked landscape."

Then Segun arose and answered: "_Nashke_![37]--see!--I shake my ringlets; On the earth the warm rain falleth, And the flowers look up like children Glad-eyed from their mother's bosom.

Lo, my voice recalls the robin, Brings the bobolink and bluebird, And the woods are full of music.

With my breath I melt their fetters, And the brooks leap laughing onward."

Then old Peboan looked upon him, Looked and knew Segun, the Summer, From his eyes the big tears started And his boastful tongue was silent.

Now Keezis--the great life-giver, From his wigwam in Waubu-nong[38]

Rose and wrapped his shining blanket Round his giant form and started, Westward started on his journey, Striding on from hill to hill-top.

Upward then he climbed the ether-- On the Bridge of Stars[39] he traveled, Westward traveled on his journey To the far-off Sunset Mountains-- To the gloomy land of shadows.

On the lodge-poles sang the robin-- And the brooks began to murmur.

On the South-wind floated fragrance Of the early buds and blossoms.

From old Peboan's eyes the tear-drops Down his pale face ran in streamlets; Less and less he grew in stature Till he melted down to nothing; And behold, from out the ashes, From the ashes of his lodge-fire, Sprang the Miscodeed[40] and, blushing, Welcomed Segun to the North-land.

So from Sunny Isles returning, From the Summer-Land of spirits, On the poles of Panther's wigwam Sang Opee-chee--sang the robin.

In the maples cooed the pigeons-- Cooed and wooed like silly lovers.

"Hah!--hah!" laughed the crow derisive, In the pine-top, at their folly-- Laughed and jeered the silly lovers.

Blind with love were they, and saw not; Deaf to all but love, and heard not; So they cooed and wooed unheeding, Till the gray hawk pounced upon them, And the old crow shook with laughter.

On the tall cliff by the sea-sh.o.r.e Red Fox made a swing. She fastened Thongs of moose-hide to the pine-tree, To the strong arm of the pine-tree.

Like a hawk, above the waters, There she swung herself and fluttered, Laughing at the thought of danger, Swung and fluttered o'er the waters.

Then she bantered Sea-Gull, saying, "See!--I swing above the billows!

Dare you swing above the billows-- Swing like me above the billows?"

To herself said Sea-Gull--"Surely I will dare whatever danger Dares the Red Fox--dares my rival; She shall never call me coward."

So she swung above the waters-- Dizzy height above the waters, Pushed and aided by her rival, To and fro with reckless daring, Till the strong tree rocked and trembled, Rocked and trembled with its burden.

As above the yawning billows Flew the Sea-Gull like a whirlwind, Red Fox, swifter than red lightning, Cut the thongs, and headlong downward, Like an osprey from the ether, Like a wild-goose pierced with arrows, Fluttering fell the frantic woman, Fluttering fell into the waters-- Plunged and sunk beneath the waters!

Hark!--the wailing of the West-wind!

Hark!--the wailing of the waters, And the beating of the billows!

But no more the voice of Sea-Gull.

In the wigwam sat the Red Fox, Hushed the wail of Waub-omee-mee, Weeping for her absent mother.

With the twinkling stars the hunter From the forest came and Raven.

"Sea-Gull wanders late," said Red Fox, "Late she wanders by the sea-sh.o.r.e, And some evil may befall her."

In the misty morning twilight Forth went Panther and the Raven, Searched the forest and the marshes, Searched for leagues along the lake-sh.o.r.e, But they found no trace or tidings, Found no track in marsh or meadow, Found no trail in fen or forest, On the sh.o.r.e-sand found no footprints.

Many days they sought and found not.

Then to Panther spoke the Raven: "She is in the Land of Spirits-- Surely in the Land of Spirits.

High at midnight I beheld her-- Like a flying star beheld her-- To the waves of Gitchee Gumee Downward flashing through the ether Thus she flashed that I might see her, See and know my mother's spirit; Thus she pointed to the waters, And beneath them lies her body, In the wigwam of the spirits-- In the lodge of Nebe-naw-baigs."[41]

Then spoke Panther to the Raven: "On the tall cliff by the waters Wait and watch with Waub-omee-mee.

If the Sea-Gull hear the wailing Of her infant she will answer."

On the tall cliff by the waters So the Raven watched and waited; All the day he watched and waited, But the hungry infant slumbered, Slumbered by the side of Raven, Till the pines' gigantic shadows Stretched and pointed to Waubu-nong[38]-- To the far-off land of Sunrise; Then the wee one woke and, famished, Made a long and piteous wailing.

From afar where sky and waters Meet in misty haze and mingle, Straight toward the rocky highland, Straight as flies the feathered arrow, Straight to Raven and the infant, Swiftly flew a snow-white sea-gull-- Flew and touched the earth a woman.

And behold, the long-lost mother Caught her wailing child and nursed her.

Thrice was wound a chain of silver Round her waist and strongly fastened.

Far away into the waters-- To the wigwam of the spirits-- To the lodge of Nebe-naw-baigs-- Stretched the magic chain of silver.

Spoke the mother to the Raven: "O my son--my brave young hunter, Feed my tender little orphan; Be a father to my orphan; Be a mother to my orphan-- For the crafty Red Fox robbed us-- Robbed the Sea-Gull of her husband, Robbed the infant of her mother.

From this cliff the treacherous woman Headlong into Gitchee Gumee Plunged the mother of my orphan.

Then a Nebe-naw-baig caught me-- Chief of all the Nebe-naw-baigs-- Took me to his shining wigwam, In the cavern of the waters, Deep beneath the mighty waters.

All below is burnished copper, All above is burnished silver Gemmed with amethyst and agates.

As his wife the Spirit holds me; By this silver chain he holds me.

"When my little one is famished, When with long and piteous wailing Cries the orphan for her mother, Hither bring her, O my Raven; I will hear her--I will answer.

Now the Nebe-naw-baig calls me-- Pulls the chain--I must obey him."

Thus she spoke, and in the twinkling Of a star the spirit-woman Changed into a snow-white sea-gull, Spread her wings and o'er the waters Swiftly flew and swiftly vanished.

Then in secret to the Panther Raven told his tale of wonder.

Sad and sullen was the hunter; Sorrow gnawed his heart like hunger; All the old love came upon him, And the new love was a hatred.

Hateful to his heart was Red Fox, But he kept from her the secret-- Kept his knowledge of the murder.

Vain was she and very haughty-- Oge-ma-kwa[42] of the wigwam.

All in vain her fond caresses On the Panther now she lavished; When she smiled his face was sullen, When she laughed he frowned upon her; In her net of raven tresses Now no more she held him tangled.

Now through all her fair disguises Panther saw an evil spirit, Saw the false heart of the woman.