wers, 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.

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 w