Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-08

For the Nasi vile Patriot.
LEGENDS OF THE SOUTH--NO. HI
Legend of the Internal Pass,
BY vIRGIsIA FRENCH.
"About sixty miles south Of Santa Fe in the mighty
1f the Sierra Blanca there famous gorge, some hfe
miles through called III Canone Inferno, or the Infer
Pass where stupendous OF rock piled upon no
until the traveller sees at the top but narrow stp OF q
while around him all is involved in chaotic gloom.
white seed alluded in the tradition is stu said to be Sc
interv as by The warriors Of the Camanches. He rep
ented as OF TX ecng beauty and vgor, but Of such sw
ness that notwh Standing the daring efforts OF those
renowned in tie capture Of the wild horse he has never
ceen brought within range Of the lariat.
In the white mans tent, on the far frontier,
At the fall Of the faded leaf,
Mid the pale-faced followers Of the deer,
Sat an cid Camanche chief;
And the sigh Of the wailing wind swept by,
Through the troubled Autumn sky.
They had passed thro' the " Canone " wild that di
And they noted solemn spell,
As they entered the tosome, darkling way,
Ger the red mans features fell,
For sound came up through the raYines gray,
Like wild steed'S shrlly neigh.
The men eaped up at the thrilling sound,
For their toilins mules moved slow;
But the chief cast a wary glance around,
And his guarded tone was low,
As he babe them haste, while the kindly sun,
Looked down in the gorges dun.
And then, when the evening camp was set,
And the hunters rest had found
When all Ia the deer-skn lodge had met,
They asked OF this mystic sound;
And the chief, while bis bronzed cheek grew pale,
Thus told them the fearful tale:
"Paie sons of the eastern oceans foam,
Twas before your fathers came,
To take for their own the red mans home,
And to give his hills their name,
That the bold CAmanche held this land
With high and mighty hand.
biy nation dwclt on the prairie-plain-
Their wigwam fires shone bright;
Their children played in the waving cane,
And the mothers hearts we're light,
And the fathers soul Ike the Blended bow
On the hills Of long ago.
In those old days, by the snake-like pass
That down through the mountain creeps,
Where grows the spotted and sunless grass,
That a dew Of poison weeps,-
In a huge cave. cleft of the rifted stone,
A stranger dwelt alone.
None knew the name Of his fathers race,
Or from what far land he came;
lie went not forth on the hunters chase,
Or the warriors path Of fame.
But often the cavern rocked and rang
To a hammers sounding clang.
He roamed through the savage glens that lie,
Mid the giant rocks up-piled,
Where shining from the sun-gods eye,
Lies hid in the ravines wild;
AM the towering, misty shadows form
The midnght's believing storm.
Like some tall tree on the waste alone,
Was his stern and lofty mien;
1t told Of power not yet o'erthrown,
And it suited that desert scene.
And his voice like a trumpet, seemed to roll,
From fathomless gulfs Of soul.
He loved maid Of my kingly race,
And he sought her for his bride,
But the Red bird shrank from his dark embrace,
And his den on the mountain side.
From his offered love she turned and fed,
For her heart grew sick with dread.
Her sire looked on with a knitted brow,
Full scornfuIy he smiled
And said, shall the cawing carrion crow,
Be mate for the eagles child?
In our eyrie fallen, we know not whence
Let the children drive him hence
But vengeance vow on the wind had passed
A flame the night had shone,
And the hoofs Of snow white steed struck fast
On the mountain pathway lone,
And they say that steed from the cavern won
Was the MAoHISIros son
His neigh to the wind rose wild and high
(Thou rider bold take heedO
With the stags feet foot he bounded by,
That beautiful demon.steed
But the glare Of his eye the soul had shook,
With its terrible human look
The camp was reused at the break Of day,
BY frantic shrek upborne
On the passing wings Of the dawning gray,
Through the silent hush of morn.
And the warriors armed them for the fight
By the morning stars pale light
Away away IT'S the demon steed,
And his trampng shakes the grove
Afar aflr at fearful speed
The night hawk bears the dove
But the eagle brood on his route,
With fierce, triumphant shout.
Der hi DER vale, for many Il mile,
By hundred braves pursued,
The steed and rider fed the while,
With a courage unsubdued,
The mailens friends may toll aud strain,
But the dark mouthed pass they gain.
The rider here at his utmost need,
When the goal was almost won,
Half-cheeked in mid career, his steed
Still steadily bounding on;
And shook his sp ar at his gathering foes,
That over the summit rose.
An arrowy fight on the darkened air
A shrek, and a fearful bound,-
The dart thrilled deep In her bosom fair,
And the Red-bird fell Around
Her lover the fre.darts fall like rain,
The prize he may not regain.
For the steed dashed that hinty door
Had been son strewn with flowers,
HIS nostIils smoke, and the red flames pour,
Around in burning showers;
Away away from his fling breath,
Away for he speeds to DEATH
'ris DER boli riderl and dlda thou shrink
From his neighlng wild, and loud,
whea Thy snow white s,eed on the hOrrd brink,
Dissolved in a snoE-white cloud?
Prom the black eorSe n mad'ning yell
A down through the gulf IL felt
They found the sweet Red. bird pale and cold,
Aud softly her maiden grace,
They laid TO rest in the fiower-orovDed mould,
BY the graves Of her ancient
Where bright DER her bosom the Wild rose springs
And the wood-doye sits and sings.
Yet, o1"n !, In that drcaTy glen,
Where the suabeams dare not play,
Have heard the shouts Of pursuing men,
And wild sseeds startling neigh
And hasted with a n4msess fear,
Prom the danger proving near.
Some b ID cAmanche Who skins TIE plain
On tbs prairie oOurser's track,
In his camp may ne'er be seen again
Prom the chase he comes not back.
Woe voc . 10 him whom the spirits lead
To foloS the path Of the phAnton-steedl