Page:Iracéma, the honey-lips (1886).djvu/42

reached her ear, Iraçéma ran towards the forest, fleet as a doe pursued by the hunter: she never drew breath till she had reached the clearing, which lay in the wood like a long lake.

The first thing that met her eye was Martim, sitting tranquilly upon a Sapopema^[1] bough and eyeing all that occurred. Opposite him a hundred Tabajára warriors with Irapúam at their head formed a circle. The brave Cauby, his eye flashing with anger and his weapons grasped in his muscular arm, stood up before them all.

Irapúam had demanded the stranger, and the guide had answered him simply—

"Slay Cauby first."

The daughter of the Pagé flew like an arrow. Behold her graceful form shielding Martim from the blows of the braves. Irapúam roared with rage, as roars the ounce attacked in its lair.

"Daughter of Araken," said Cauby in a whisper, "lead the stranger to the wigwam. Araken alone can save him."

Iraçéma turned towards the white warrior.

"Come!"

He remained immovable.

"If the stranger will not come, Iraçéma will die with him."

Martim arose; but far from following the maiden, he walked straight towards Irapúam. His sword flashed in the air.

"Chief! the Braves of my race have never refused combat. If he whom thou beholdest did not seek it, it was because his fathers have forbidden him to shed blood in the land of hospitality."

The Tabajára chief yelled with joy; his powerful arm wielded the tomahawk. But the two champions