--- title: The Feast of the Virgins., part 4 — Legends of the Northwest · full text with trees description: The Feast of the Virgins., part 4, «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Till the red Harvest Moon [71] he remained in the vale of the swift Mississippi. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/11/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/) / The Feast of the Virgins., part 4 # The Feast of the Virgins., part 4 The Feast of the Virgins., part 4 of «Legends of the Northwest» by Hanford Lennox Gordon: the whole text, 108 sentences and 2620 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/11/page/2/) Till the red Harvest Moon \[71\] he remained in the vale of the swift Mississippi.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The esteem of the warriors he gained, and the love of the dark eyed Winona.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") He joined in the sports and the chase; with the hunters he followed the bison, And swift were his feet in the race when the red elk they ran on the prairies.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") At the Game of the Plum-stones \[77\] he played and he won from the skillfulest players; A feast to Wa'tánka \[78\] he made, and he danced at the feast of Heyóka.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") \[16\] With the flash and the roar of his gun he astonished the fearless Dakotas; They called it the "Máza Wakán" --the mighty, mysterious metal. "'[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Tis a brother," they said, "of the fire in the talons of dreadful Wakínyan, \[32\] When he flaps his huge wings in his ire, and shoots his red shafts at Unktéhee."[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") \[69\][7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") The Itancan, \[74\] tall Wazí-kuté, appointed a day for the races.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") From the red stake that stood by his tee, on the southerly side of the Ha-ha To a stake at the Lake of the Loons \[79\] --a league and return--was the distance.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") On the crest of the hills red batons marked the course for the feet of the runners.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") They gathered from near and afar, to the races and dancing and feasting.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Five hundred tall warriors were there from Kapóza \[6\] and far off Keóza; \[8\] Remnica, \[a\] too, furnished a share of the legions that thronged to the races, And a bountiful feast was prepared by the diligent hands of the women, And gaily the multitudes fared in the generous tees of Kathága.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") The chief of the mystical clan appointed a feast to Unktéhee-- The mystic "Wacípee Wakán" \[b\]-- at the end of the day and the races.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") A band of sworn brothers are they, and the secrets of each one are sacred.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") And death to the lips that betray is the doom of the swarthy avengers, And the son of tall Wazí-kuté was the chief of the mystical order.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] Pronounced Ray mne chah--the village of the Mountains situate where Red Wing now stands.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] Sacred Dance--The Medicine dance--See description infra.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") On an arm of an oak hangs the prize for the swiftest and strongest of runners-- A blanket as red as the skies, when the flames sweep the plains in October.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") And beside it a strong, polished bow, and a quiver of iron tipped arrows, Which Kapóza's tall chief will bestow on the fleet-footed second that follows.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") A score of swift-runners are there from the several bands of the nation; And now for the race they prepare, and among them fleet-footed Tamdóka.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") With the oil of the buck and the bear their sinewy limbs are anointed, For fleet are the feet of the deer and strong are the limbs of the bruin, And long is the course and severe for the swiftest and strongest of runners.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Hark!--the shouts and the braying of drums, and the Babel of tongues and confusion\![22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") From his teepee the tall chieftain comes, and Duluth brings a prize for the runners-- A keen hunting-knife from the Seine, horn-handled and mounted with silver.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The runners are ranged on the plain, and the Chief waves a flag as a signal, And away like the gray wolves they fly --like the wolves on the trail of the red deer; O'er the hills and the prairie they vie, and strain their strong limbs to the utmost, While high on the hills hangs a cloud of warriors and maidens and mothers, To behold the swift runners, and loud are the cheers and the shouts of the warriors.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Now swift from the lake they return, o'er the emerald hills and the heather; Like grey-hounds they pant and they yearn, and the leader of all is Tamdóka.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") At his heels flies Hu-pá-hu, \[a\] the fleet --the pride of the band of Kaóza, A warrior with eagle-winged feet, but his prize is the bow and the quiver.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Tamdóka first reaches the post, and his are the knife and the blanket, By the mighty acclaim of the host and award of the chief and the judges.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Then proud was the tall warrior's stride, and haughty his look and demeanor; He boasted aloud in his pride, and he scoffed at the rest of the runners. "[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Behold me, for I am a man\![29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] my feet are as swift as the West wind.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") With the coons and the beavers I ran; but where is the elk or the cabri?[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") \[80\] Come!--where is the hunter will dare match his feet with the feet of Tamdóka?[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Let him think of Taté \[c\] and beware, ere he stake his last robe on the trial." "[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Ohó\![34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Ho\![35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Hó-héca!"[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") \[d\] they jeered, for they liked not the boast of the boaster; But to match him no warrior appeared, for his feet wore the wings of the west-wind.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] The wings.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") \[b\] A favorite boast of the Dakota braves.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") \[c\] The wind.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") \[d\] About equivalent to Oho--Aha--fudge.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Then forth from the side of the chief stepped DuLuth and he looked on the boaster; "The words of a warrior are brief, --I will run with the brave," said the Frenchman; "But the feet of Tamdóka are tired; abide till the cool of the sunset."[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") All the hunters and maidens admired, for strong were the limbs of the stranger. "[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Hiwó\![44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Ho!"[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] they shouted and loud rose the cheers of the multitude mingled; And there in the midst of the crowd stood the glad-eyed and blushing Winona.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") \[a\] Hurra there\![47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Now afar o'er the plains of the west walked the sun at the end of his journey, And forth came the brave and the guest, at the tap of the drum, for the trial.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Like a forest of larches the hordes were gathered to witness the contest; As loud is the drums were their words and they roared like the roar of the Ha-ha.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") For some for Tamdóka contend, and some for the fair, bearded stranger, And the betting runs high to the end, with the skins of the bison and beaver.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") A wife of tall Wazi-kuté --the mother of boastful Tamdóka-- Brought her handsomest robe from the tee, with a vaunting and loud proclamation: She would stake her last robe on her son who, she boasted, was fleet as the Cábri \[80\] And the tall, tawny chieftain looked on, approving the boast of the mother.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Then fleet as the feet of a fawn to her lodge ran the dark eyed Winona, She brought and she staked on the lawn, by the side of the robe of the boaster, The lily-red mantle Duluth, with his own hands, had laid on her shoulders. "[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Tamdóka is swift, but forsooth, the tongue of his mother is swifter," She said, and her face was aflame with the red of the rose and the lily, And loud was the roar of acclaim; but dark was the face of Tamdóka.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") They strip for the race and prepare, --DuLuth in his breeches and leggins; And the brown, curling locks of his hair downward droop to his bare, brawny shoulders, And his face wears a smile debonair, as he tightens his red sash around him; But stripped to the moccasins bare, save the belt and the breech-clout of buckskin, Stands the haughty Tamdóka aware that the eyes of the warriors admire him; For his arms are the arms of a bear and his legs are the legs of a panther.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") The drum beats,--the chief waves the flag, and away on the course speed the runners, And away leads the brave like a stag, --like a hound on his track flies the Frenchman; And away haste the hunters, once more, to the hills for a view to the lake-side, And the dark-swarming hill-tops, they roar with the storm of loud voices commingled.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Far away o'er the prairie they fly, and still in the lead is Tamdóka, But the feet of his rival are nigh, and slowly he gains on the hunter.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Now they turn on the post at the lake, --now they run full abreast on the home-stretch; Side by side they contend for the stake, for a long mile or more on the prairie.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") They strain like a stag and a hound, when the swift river gleams through the thicket, And the horns of the rulers resound, winding shrill through the depths of the forest.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") But behold!--at full length on the ground falls the fleet-footed Frenchman abruptly.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") And away with a whoop and a bound, springs the eager, exulting Tamdóka.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Long and loud on the hills is the shout of his swarthy admirers and backers; "But the race is not won till it's out," said DuLuth, to himself as he gathered, With a frown on his face, for the foot of the wily Tamdóka had tripped him.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Far ahead ran the brave on the route, and turning he boasted exultant.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Like spurs to the steed to DuLuth were the jeers and the taunts of the boaster; Indignant was he and red wroth, at the trick of the runner dishonest; And away like a whirlwind he speeds --like a hurricane mad from the mountains; He gains on Tamdóka,--he leads! --and behold, with the spring of a panther, He leaps to the goal and succeeds, 'mid the roar of the mad acclamation.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/11/page/2/) - ← previous: [The Feast of the Virgins., part 3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/10/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/11/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Legends of the Northwest](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8122/)