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 see the swift-runners, and loud
are the cheers and the shouts of the warriors.
Now swift from the lake they return
o'er the emerald hills of the prairies;
Like grey-hounds they pant and they yearn,
and the leader of all is Tamdoka.
At his heels flies _Hu-pa-hu,_[AA]
the fleet--the pride of the band of _Kaoza_,--
A warrior with eagle-winged feet,
but his prize is the bow and the quiver.
Tamdoka 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.
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.
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