But at a word and gesture from Atollo, Wakatta lowered his weapon again, and the men on both sides paused in their hostile demonstrations, while their leaders once more engaged in conference.
Atollo now seemed to make some proposition to Wakatta, which was eagerly accepted by the latter. Each then spoke briefly to his followers, who uttered cries of the wildest excitement, and suddenly became silent again. The two next crossed together to the opposite shore, and while we stood gazing in a bewildered manner at these proceedings, and wondering what could be their meaning, the natives also crossed the brook, and formed a wide circle around their chiefs, on an open grassy space at the edge of the forest. We still kept with Wakatta’s party, who arranged themselves in a semicircle behind him.
“What does this mean!” inquired Morton of Arthur, “it looks as though they were about to engage in single combat.”
“That is in fact their purpose,” answered Arthur.
“And will that settle the difficulty between these hostile parties?” said Morton, “will there not be a general fight after all, whichever leader is victor?”
“I rather think not,” answered Arthur, “the party whose champion falls, will be too much discouraged to renew the fight—they will probably run at once.”
“Then our situation will be no better than before, in case the old warrior should prove unfortunate. Can’t you speak to his followers and get them to stand ready to attack their enemies if their chief falls.”
“I will try what I can do,” answered Arthur, “and let us be ready to act with them.”
Meantime the two principal parties had completed their preparations for the deadly personal combat in which they were about to engage. Atollo took from one of his followers a long-handled curving weapon, the inner side of which was lined with a row of sharks’ teeth, and then placed himself in the middle of the open space, first carefully 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.