RETALIATION 



By IRENE POMEROY SHIELDS 



Oh ! the eagle's shriek rang out 



O'er the crag to his brooding mate, 

 And the loon's weird laugh of scorn 

 Woke the echoes around the lake 

 And the timid deer raised her head to hear, 

 From her covert in the brake. 



For a cruel, deadly foe 



Of the hated tribe of Men, 

 Was on the trail with fire and steel, 

 And a lust for blood of them. 



So the black bear shambled by, 

 To his lair in the forest dim, 

 While the wildcat flatly crouched 



On a sheltering hemlock, limb, 

 But the rabbit shook as he slyly took 

 One startled glance at him. 



Then the crafty fox lay low 



Where her kits were turned to stone, 

 And the lessening specks in the distant sky 

 Betrayed where the birds had flown. 



But the squirrel chattered loud. 



And laughed in such wanton glee. 

 That the bravest of the crowd 



Stole slyly back to see — 

 The trapper trapped. Ah, his futile wrath! 

 And his shrieks of agony. 



But the eagle screams that his hour is come, 



While the wolf's eyes glare and shine, 

 And a raven sits on a birchen limb 

 And calmly bides his time. 



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