hich he was watching what was going forward.

Each of the two combatants regarded the other with the air of a man
conscious that he is 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 him--which 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 around the
old man, provoking his attacks by feints and half-blows, but making no
serious attack himself. There was a cool, calculating expression upon
his sharp and cruel countenance, and he did not appear to be half so
earnest or excited as his antagonist. I saw plainly that the wily
savage was endeavouring to provoke the other to some careless or
imprudent movement, of which he stood ready to take instant and fatal
advantage.

At length some such opportunity as he was waiting for, was afforded him.
The old warrior, growing impatient of this indecisive manoeuvring,
began to press his adversary harder, and to follow him up with an
apparent determination to bring matters to a speedy issue. Atollo
retreated before him, until he was driven to the edge of the brook,
where he paused, as if resolved to make a stand. Wakatta now seemed to
think that he had brought his foe to bay, and whirling round his club,
he delivered a sweeping blow full at his head with such fury, that when
Atollo avoided it by dropping upon one knee, the momentum of the
ponderous weapon swung its owner half round, and before he had time to
recover himself, his watchful adversary, springing lightly up, brought
down his keen-edged weapon full upon his grey head, inflicting a ghastly
wound.

And now Atollo's whole demeanour changed: the time for caution and
coolness was passed; the moment for destroying his disabled foe had
come. While his followers set up an