And, as firm rock or castle roof Foiled his wild rage by steady skill; IX "Now yield thee, or by Him who made 220 The world, thy heart's blood dyes my blade!” "Thy threats, thy mercy, I defy ! Let recreant yield, who fears to die." Like adder darting from his coil, Like wolf that dashes through the toil, 235 The Chieftain's gripe his throat compressed, From blood and mist to clear his sight, Then gleamed aloft his dagger bright! The stream of life's exhausted tide, For, while the dagger gleamed on high, Reeled soul and sense, reeled brain and eye. SIR WALTER SCOTT. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY Which of the combatants has your sympathy? Why? Has the poet shown his preference? Where? Which was the braver man? The more gallant? What made it possible for King James to win? Was it a battle of superior skill against force? What common quotations do you find in the poem? Explain "yawning hill," line 28; "warlike birth," line 63; "wont and tempered flood," line 93; "vain carpet knight," line 172; "I have sworn." etc., line 178. 240 245 250 FRANCIS PARKMAN (1823-1893) Parkman is one of the few really great historians that America has produced. His writings are limited in the main to the accounts of the early history of the country, including Canada. Upon the writings of Parkman we rely almost wholly for our knowledge of the struggles between France and England for the possession of America. THE OGALLALLAH VILLAGE This sketch is interesting as a description and as preserving for us characteristics that are fast disappearing from the North American Indians. The buffalo have already gone, and, while the Indians are increasing in numbers, they are gradually learning to follow the ways of civilization. Such a narrative as this is hardly the place for portraying the mental features of the Indians. The same picture, slightly changed in shade and coloring, would serve with very few exceptions for all the tribes that lie north of the Mexican territories. But 5 with this striking similarity in their modes of thought, the tribes of the lake and ocean shores, of the forests and of the plains, differ greatly in their manner of life. Having been domesticated' for several weeks among one of the wildest of the wild hordes that roam over 10 the remote prairies, I had extraordinary opportunities of observing them. I flatter myself that a faithful picture of the scenes that passed daily before my eyes may not be devoid of interest and value. These men were thorough savages. Neither their 15 manners nor their ideas were in the slightest degree modified by contact with civilization. They knew 1 1 Having been domesticated, having lived. nothing of the power and real character of the white men, and their children would scream in terror at 20 the sight of me. Their religion, their superstitions, and their prejudices were the same that had been handed down to them from immemorial1 time. They fought with the same weapons that their fathers had fought with, and wore the same rude 25 garments of skins. Great changes are at hand in that region. With the stream of immigration to Oregon and California the buffalo will dwindle away, and the large, wandering communities who depend on them for support 30 must be broken and scattered. The Indians will soon be corrupted by the example of the whites, abased by whisky and overawed by military posts; so that within a few years the traveler may pass in tolerable security through their country. Its danger 35 and its charm will have disappeared together. As soon as Raymond and I discovered the village from the gap in the hills, we were seen in our turn; keen eyes were constantly on the watch. As we rode down upon the plain, the side of the village 40 nearest us was darkened with a crowd of naked figures gathering around the lodges. Several men came forward to meet us. I could distinguish among them the green blanket of the Frenchman Reynal. When we came up, the ceremony of shaking hands 45 had to be gone through with in due form, and 1 Immemorial, beyond memory. |