fully kicking out of the way a number of fallen branches which strewed the ground. His manner was confident, and clearly bespoke an anticipated triumph. Wakatta was armed with the massive club, set with spikes of iron-wood, which he carried when I first saw him upon the shore. He advanced deliberately towards his adversary, until they stood face to face, and within easy reach of one another's weapons. The men on both sides remained perfectly quiet, eyeing every movement of their respective champions with the intensest interest. In the breathless silence that prevailed, the gentle murmur of the brook sliding over its pebbly bed, and even the dropping of a withered leaf, could be heard distinctly. Glancing over to the islet, I saw that Browne, although his hands appeared to be bound behind him, had rolled himself to the edge of the brook, from which he was watching what was going forward. Each of the two combatants regarded the other with the air of a man conscious that he was about to meet a formidable adversary; but in Atollo's evil eye there gleamed an assured and almost exulting confidence, that increased my anxiety for his aged opponent; his manner, nevertheless, was cautious and wary, and he did not suffer the slightest movement of Wakatta to escape him. They stood opposite each other, neither seeming to be willing to commence the conflict, until Wakatta, with an impatient gesture, warned his adversary to defend himself, and then swinging up his ponderous club in both hands, aimed a blow at him, which the other avoided by springing lightly backwards. And now the fight commenced in earnest. Atollo made no attempt to guard or parry the blows levelled at himwhich would indeed have been idle-but with astonishing agility and quickness of eye he sprang aside, or leaped back, always in time to save himself. He kept moving And now the fight commenced in earnest. Atollo made no attempt to guard or parry the blows levelled at him, but with astonishing agility and quickness of eye he sprang aside, or leaped back, always in time to save himself.--Page 522 |