From chief to chief the calumet they past, Sitting, in silent solemn council, round; Each thrice inhaled, thrice forth the vapors cast,-- First to the power that bids the thunder sound, Then to the gods that ride the angry blast, Then to the fiends that dwell beneath the ground; These made propitious, they the hatchet gave, The bloody hatchet, to a peaceful grave. XXII. “Waban,” said Williams, “we may venture now, But pause ye short of the sure arrow’s flight;” Instant the red man drove the foaming prow Along the cleaving flood, and, at the sight Of the red hosts of men, the rose’s glow Fading at once left Mary’s cheek all white; And sudden fears her children’s breasts surprise, And, with their little hands, they veil their eyes. XXIII. Full in the front of that vast multitude, Beyond an arrow’s flight their skiff they stayed; A sudden silence hushed the listening wood; The crowds all paused, and with wild eyes surveyed The pale-faced group, which in like stillness viewed The wondering throngs. At length the woodland glade Moves with their numbers; down the banks they pour, Swarming and gathering on the dark’ning shore. XXIV. As when some urchin, with a heedless blow, The insect nations of the hive alarms, Down from their cells the watchful myriads flow, And earth and air grow black with murmuring swarms; So from the woods the wondering warriors go, So o’er the dark’ning strand their concourse forms; None save their haughty chiefs remain behind, And they the lofty banks and forest margin lined. XXV. Then silence reigned again--but still they stared; Some claspt their knives, and some their arrows drew; Then from his seat his form our Founder reared, The while beneath him rocked the frail canoe; His hand he raised and manly forehead bared, And straight their former friend the Sachems knew; “Netop, Whatcheer!” broke on the listening air; “Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” re-echoed here and there. XXVI. Then o’er and the o’er the words burst loud and clear, In shouts that seemed to seek the joyous sky; With open arms and greetings of “Whatcheer,” Lived all the shores, and banks, and summits high; “Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” resounded far and near, “Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” the echoing woods reply; “Whatcheer! Whatcheer!” swells the exulting gales, Sweeps o’er the laughing hills and trembles thro’ the vales. XXVII. “Speed! Waban, speed!” with haste our Founder cried, Soon as the hollow echoes died afar; With lusty arm the hunter clove the tide, The swift canoe seemed moving through the air; One instant more and Williams, from her side, Sprang on a rock, (thence giving it to share His deathless fame,) and straight around him stood, In cheerful throngs, the Indian multitude. XXVIII.