The Fire Bird   By: Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924)

BOOKS BY GENE STRATTON PORTER

Nature Books

THE SONG OF THE CARDINAL FRIENDS IN FEATHERS BIRDS OF THE BIBLE MUSIC OF THE WILD MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST MORNING FACE HOMING WITH THE BIRDS

Nature Stories

FRECKLES A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST AT THE FOOT OF THE RAINBOW THE HARVESTER LADDIE MICHAEL O'HALLORAN A DAUGHTER OF THE LAND HER FATHER'S DAUGHTER THE FIRE BIRD

[Illustration:

" Medicine Man, O Medicine Man, Make for me a new, a sure medicine That will ease my scorched heart Of the fire of a flaming red bird And take from my tortured hands Their burden of moon white lilies. " ]

THE FIRE BIRD

GENE STRATTON PORTER,

ILLUSTRATIONS BY GORDON GRANT

DECORATIONS BY LEE THAYER

GARDEN CITY, N. Y., AND TORONTO DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY 1922

COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY GENE STRATTON PORTER

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N. Y.

First Edition

TO

EDWARD SHERIFF CURTIS

BLOOD BROTHER TO THE INDIANS BY CEREMONIAL SPIRIT BROTHER TO HIS FELLOW MEN BY BIRTH

CONTENTS

PART I PAGE THE LOVE DANCE OF PRINCESS YIADA 1

PART II COÜY OÜY AND MOUNTAIN LION 22

PART III YIADA'S FLIGHT TO THE MANDANAS 49

ILLUSTRATIONS

Princess Yiada and the Medicine Man Frontispiece FACING PAGE Coüy oüy and Mountain Lion 22

Star Face and Dove Eye 49

THE FIRE BIRD

PART I

THE LOVE DANCE OF YIADA

Medicine Man, O Medicine Man, Make for me High Magic. I, Yiada, daughter of White Wolf, Mighty Chief of the Canawacs, Mate of Star Face, Brave of the Mandanas, I of your blood, I have said it!

From the roots of the white toluache lilies Make me a strong medicine That will drown my scorching spirit fire And empty my hands of their fulness. Beat your sacred turtle drums Loud and threateningly. Drive back to the fear peopled forest Of the far and dread Shadow Land The flaming ghost of the fire bird And the white flower of the still water. Heal me of the dread head sickness Like the midsummer madness Of foaming mouthed quiota.