The Indians[9] were in the habit of frequenting rivers with high, wooded banks, or ravines with precipitous sides where reverberations could be heard for miles, until they would die away in the distance. There they would stand for hours shouting and listening to the echoing shouts as they leaped from shore to shore, or from hill to mountain, and from mountain to valley—on and on into silence; always firmly believing that the words were called from one to another of the faithful spirits until they reached the ears of their loved ones, and finally the Great Spirit himself. “The Way of the Gods” describes a god of the infinite sky as the beginning of all things. HYMN TO THE DAWN (_From the “Rig Veda”_) The radiant Dawns have risen up for glory, in their white splendor live the waves of waters. She maketh paths all easy, fair to travel, and rich hath shown herself, benign and friendly. We see that thou art good: far shines thy lustre; thy beams, thy splendors have flown up to heaven. Decking thyself, thou makest bare thy bosom, shining in majesty, thou goddess Morning. Red are the kine and luminous that bear her, the blessèd one who spreadeth through the distance. The foes she chaseth like a valiant archer, like a swift warrior she repelleth darkness. Thy ways are easy on the hills: thou passest in windless calm, self-luminous! through waters. So lofty goddess with thine ample pathway, daughter of Heaven, bring wealth to give us courage. Dawn, bring me wealth: untroubled, with thine oxen thou bearest riches at thy will and pleasure; Thou who, a goddess, child of Heaven, hast shown thee lovely through bounty when we called thee early. As the birds fly forth from their resting-places, so men with store of food rise at thy dawning. Yea, to the liberal mortal who remaineth at home, O goddess Dawn, much good thou bringest. [Illustration: Athēne: Brandisher of the Spear. _Capitol, Rome._] THE LOVER’S VISION OF THE HAPPY ISLAND There was once a very beautiful girl, more beautiful than all the Indian maidens of her tribe, who died suddenly, on the eve of her marriage to a handsome young chief; and, although her lover was brave, his heart was not proof against his loss. He mourned as one without hope. After her burial he sat near the spot where her remains were deposited, without speaking, musing and dreaming of her he had lost. War and hunting had no charms for him. He pushed aside his bow and arrows, for his heart was dead within him. He had heard the old people say that there was a path that led to the Land of Souls, and he determined to follow it. With this resolution he left the remains of his beloved, and, after making some preparation for the journey, set out at an early hour of the morning.