8 ST NICOTINE 



pursued them ; they were overwhelmed in one mighty mass 

 and their bodies were' converted into the red sandstone 

 rock of the mountain, therefore is it good medicine. 



'Yet one escaped the flood. A maiden, Kwaptahw, 

 finding herself bereft of kindred, lay disconsolate on the 

 mountain ridge. Then it came to pass that espying her 

 from afar, the great war-eagle came to her side. She clung 

 to the lord of the air, and he carried her to a place of 

 safety high up on an adjacent cliff. 



' Then like the murmur of distant waters, the voice of 

 the great spirit gradually melted away. 



" The Master of Life ascending 

 Through the opening of cloud curtains, 

 Through the doorways of the heaven, 

 Vanished from before their faces, 

 In the smoke that rolled around him 

 The pukwana of the peace-pipe." ' 



The shadowy form of great Elizabeth's gallant courtier 

 gives place to the Shepherd of the Muse, who, as he passes, 

 beams upon his friend a countenance of supernal sweetness. 

 Then in a voice of dreamy reverie the genius of the 

 Faerie Queene addresses the Olympian deity after this 

 manner : 



' While musing on the loves and adventures of chivalrous 

 knights and ladies fair, away from the busy haunts of men 

 in the wilds of Kilcolman, 



Under the foot of Mole, that mountain hoar, 

 Keeping my sheep among the cooly shade 



Of the green alders, by the Mulla's shore ; 

 There a strange shepherd chanced to find me out ; 



Whether allured with my pipe's delight 

 Whose pleasing sound yshrilled far about, 



Or thither led by chance, I know not right ; 



