Told in the Firelight 



Through the Northland arctic demons 

 Rode the frozen ice-bound ranges; 

 Through the Southland fiery dragons 

 Scourged the earth with blazing horrors. 

 Then the drifting to the death-traps! 

 Hopeless struggling of the helpless ! 

 Herds a-wreck from drouth and famine! 

 Bleaching bones to tell the story! 



As the spear by shield is shattered, 

 As the shore turns back the waters, 

 As the rock resists the torrent, 

 So the wild enforced her mandates, 

 Claimed her tribute of the reckless, 

 Taught the lesson of the ages. 

 Nature brooks not mad defiance! 



But the earth renewed its fruitage. 

 Sunbeams dancing on the ranges, 

 Waters from the purple mountains, 

 Soft airs from the western ocean, 

 Called the grasses from their slumbers, 

 Clothed again the world with verdure. 

 And again the herds were gathered, 

 Not with folly in the councils, 

 Not with blind chiefs in the saddles. 

 Children scorched by fire have wisdom. 



On the trails that led not backward 

 Once again the cattle entered; 



[99] 



