aid he knew one relating to this very spot, and accordingly
commenced:

"In the old times, before the foot of the white man had startled the
beaver from the stream, or his axe sent the eagle screaming with rage
from his aerie on the lofty pine tree, there dwelt a tribe by these
waters, an offshoot of the powerful Mohawks. They were called the tribe
of the Deer, and had for their chieftain "Os-ko-ne-an-tah," meaning also
the Deer. He had one daughter, beautiful as the day, who was named
"Jo-que-yoh," or the Bluebird, for the melody of her voice. Jo-que-yoh
was affianced to a young brave of her father's tribe named "To-ke-ah,"
or the Oak. They were tenderly attached to each other. Often when the
moon of the summer night transformed these rugged rocks to pearl and
this headlong torrent to plunging silver, did the two seat themselves by
the margin of this very basin, and while Jo-que-yoh touched with simple
skill the strings of her Indian lute, To-ke-ah sang of love and the
sweet charms of his mistress. In the war-path the young brave thought
only of her, and the scalps he took were displayed to her sight in token
of his prowess. In the chase, he still thought of her solely, and the
gray coat of the deer and the brindled skin of the fierce panther were
laid at her feet. The vest of glossy beaver fur which encompassed her
lovely form was the spoil of his arrow. And the eagle plume which rose
gracefully from her brow was plucked by his hand from the wing of the
haughty soarer of the clouds, that his unerring bow had brought to the
dust. Time passed on--the crescent of Jo-que-yoh's beauty was enlarging
into the full height of maiden grace, and the tall sapling of
To-ke-ah's strength maturing into the size and vigor of his manhood's
oak. Another moon, and he was to lead Jo-que-yoh as his bride to his
lodge. The happy day at length arrived, and as soon as the first star
trembled in the heavens, the joyous ceremonial was to take place. Sunset
came, steeping the scene around in lustrous gold, and Jo-que-yoh,
arrayed by the maidens of her tribe, sat in the lodge of her father
awaiting the star that was to bring her love to her presence. Blushing
and trembling she saw "Kah-quah" (the Indian name for the sun) wheeling
down into the crimson west, and now his light was hidden. Blushing and
trembling, she saw the sweet twilight stealing over the endless forests,
and now the star--the bright star of her hope, came creeping, like a
timid