THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE DOE

I

THE REFUGEES

In the Land-of-Wind-and-Water, Loud the sea bemoaned its sameness; Dashing sh.o.r.eward with impatience To explore the landward mysteries.

On the sand the waves spread boldly, Vainly striving to reach higher; Then abashed by vain ambition, Glided to their ordained duty.

There the pine-tree, tall and stately, Whispered low the ocean's murmur; Strove to soothe the restless waters With its lullaby of sighing.

There the tall and dank sea-gra.s.ses, From the storm-tide gathered secrets Of the caverns filled with treasures, Milky pearls and tinted coral, Stores of amber and of jacinth, In the caves festooned with sea-weed, Where the Sea-King held his revels And the Naiads danced in beauty.

In this Land-of-Wind-and-Water, Dowered with the sunshine's splendor, Juicy grapes grew in profusion, Draping all the trees with greenness, And the maize grew hard and yellow, With the sunshine in its kernels.

Through the forest roamed the black bear, And the red deer boldly herded; Through the air flew birds of flavor, And the sea was full of fishes, Till the Red Man knew no hunger, And his wigwam hung with trophies.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Land-of-Wind-and-Water]

There brave Man-te-o, the Faithful, Ruled the Cro-a-to-ans with firmness, Dwelt in peace beside the waters, Smoked his pipe beneath the pine-tree, Gazed with pride upon his bear-skins Which hung ready for the winter.

Told his people all the marvels Of the Land-of-the-Pale-Faces; Of the ships with wings like sea-birds Wherein he had crossed the water;[M]

Of the Pale-Face Weroanza[N]

Whom he saw in her own country; Of her robes of silken texture, Of her wisdom and her power; Told them of her warlike people And their ships which breathed the lightning.

How he pledged with them a friendship, Hoping they would come to teach him How to make his people mighty, How to make them strong in battle So the other tribes would fear them.

And the dream of future greatness Filled the Cro-a-to-ans with courage; And their hearts grew warm and friendly To the race of white-faced strangers.

When bold white men came among them, To the isle of Ro-a-no-ak, Man-te-o, the friendly Weroance, Faithful proved to all his pledges.

Smoked with them the pipe of friendship, Took their G.o.d to be his Father; Took upon his swarthy forehead Their strange emblem of salvation,[O]

Emblem of the One Great Spirit, Father of all tribes and nations.

Man-te-o, the friend and brother, Bade them fear the false Wan-ches-e, And the Weroance Win-gin-a, Whose hearts burned with bitter hatred For the men they feared in combat, For the strangers who defied them.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Man-te-o, a chiefe lorde of Roanoak]

When the Pale-Face, weak and hungry, Feeble from continued labor, Shivered in the blasts of winter Which blew cold across the water, Then Wan-ches-e planned their ruin, With Win-gin-a sought to slay them.

To the isle of Ro-a-no-ak, Where the Pale-Face slept unguarded, Sped the swift canoes of Red Men, Gliding through the silent shadows.

As the sky grew red with dawning,[P]

While they dreamed of home and kindred, Suddenly with whoop of murder Wily Indians swarmed around them.

Skill of Pale-Face, craft of Red Man, Met in fierce, determined battle; While within the Fort called Ralegh Many arrows fell, like raindrops.

Arrows tipped with serpent's poison, Arrows tipped with blazing rosin, Winged with savage thirst for murder, Aimed with cruel skill to torture.

Threatened by the blazing roof-tree Then the Pale-Face crouched in terror; Saw the folly of resistance, Feared his doom, and fled for safety.

Man-te-o, alert for danger, From afar saw signs of conflict; Saw the waves of smoke ascending Heavenward, like prayers for rescue.

Swift, with boats and trusty warriors, Crossed he then to Ro-a-no-ak; Strong to help his Pale-Face brothers, Faithful to his friendly pledges.

As the daylight slowly faded, Hopeless of the b.l.o.o.d.y struggle, Stealthily the Pale-Face warriors Fled with Man-te-o's brave people.

Left they then the Fort called Ralegh, Left the dead within its stockade; Sought another island refuge, Hoping there to rest in safety.

Man-te-o sought for the mother,[Q]

She with babe there born and nurtured 'Neath the shadow of disaster, In the Land-of-Wind-and-Water.

"Come," said he, "the darkness falleth, All your people must flee henceward; Wan-ches-e will show no mercy, You must not become his captive.

Take the papoose from thy bosom, Call the white chief whom thou lovest, Haste with me upon the flood-tide To my wigwam on Wo-ko-kon."

Noiseless, she amid the conflict Sought her heart's mate to flee with her; Useless all the strife and courage, Useless all the rude home-making; Shrine for worship, fort for safety, Hope of future peace and plenty, All were vain; yet life we cherish, Far above all boons we hold it: So she hastened on her mission For the life of self and loved ones.

As they neared the island border, Pale-Face husband, child, and mother, Man-te-o in silence leading, Every sense alive to danger, Suddenly the Pale-Face father Thought him of the parting caution Given by their absent leader: If they fled in search of safety On a tree to leave a token, Whereby he might surely find them, In the land which gave them shelter, When he came again to seek them.[R]

By his side a st.u.r.dy live-oak Spread its green, protecting branches; Quick he strove to carve the token Which should speak to all who followed.

C. R. O., in bold, plain letters[S]

Cut he in the tree's firm body, When a random, poisoned arrow Pierced his heart, and he fell lifeless.

With a smothered cry of horror, In an agony of sorrow, She would fain have lingered near him, But that Man-te-o urged onward.

If discovered, flight was futile, Weakness now meant worse disaster; She must save her helpless baby Though her heart be rent with anguish.

Frantic with love's desolation, Strong with thoughts of home and father, With a woman's wondrous calmness When great peril calls for action, Safe she placed the sleeping infant 'Cross the brawny arms of Man-te-o, While with knife drawn from his girdle Carved she on another live-oak Plain, the one word "CROATOAN"[T]

As a sign to all her people.

Trusting all to savage friendship, Cutting hope with every letter, Praying G.o.d to guide her father To the haven she was seeking.

Trust is woman's strongest bulwark, All true manhood yields unto it.

As her sad eyes turned upon him Man-te-o was moved with pity For the brave and tender woman, Friendless in the land without him.

On the brow of Pale-Face baby First he made the Holy Cross-Sign; Then upon the sad-eyed mother Traced the sign her people taught him; Then again the sacred symbol Outlined on his own dark forehead; And with open hand uplifted Sealed his promise of protection; Linking thus his pledge of safety With her faith in Unseen Power.

Mute with grief, she trusted in him; In his boat they crossed the water, While the night fell like a mantle Spread in mercy to help save them.

When in Cro-a-to-an they landed, There they found the few survivors Of that day of doom to many, Glad once more to greet each other.

Man-te-o within his wigwam From the cold wind gave them shelter, Shared with them his furry bear-skins, Made them warm, and warmth gave courage To meet life's relentless duties.

Then he summoned all the people, Called the old men and the young men, Bade the squaws to come and listen, Showed the papoose to the women.

They gazed on its tender whiteness, Stroked the mother's flaxen tresses; "'Tis a snow-papoose" they whispered, "It will melt when comes the summer."

Man-te-o said to the warriors: "Ye all know these Pale-Face people Whom Wan-ches-e sought to murder, They have often made us welcome.

Brave their hearts, but few are living, If left friendless these will perish; We have store of corn and venison, They are hungry, let us feed them; They have lightning for their arrows, Let them teach us how to shoot it.

They with us shall search the forest, And our game shall be abundant; Let them teach us their strange wisdom And become with us one people."

And the old men, grave in counsel, And the young men, mute with deference, While the uppowoc[U] was burning, Pondered on his words thus spoken, And to Man-te-o gave answer: "All your words are full of wisdom; We will share with them our venison, They shall be as our own people."

From the isle of Ro-a-no-ak Thus the Pale-Face fled for succor, Thus in Cro-a-to-an's fair borders Found a home with friendly Red Men.

Nevermore to see white faces, Nevermore to see their home-land, Yet to all the future ages Sending proof of honest daring; Forging thus a link of effort In the chain of human progress.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote M: See Appendix, Note _l_.]

[Footnote N: Queen Elizabeth.]

[Footnote O: See Appendix, Note _f_.]