Page:Iracéma, the honey-lips (1886).djvu/50

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IRAÇÉMA.

"To seek Poty."

"The guest of Araken may not leave this wigwam, for the warriors of Irapúam will kill him."

"A warrior owes his life to God and to his weapons only. He will not be protected by old men and women!"

"What is one brave against a thousand? The Tamanduá[1] is brave and strong, yet the cats of the mountains kill and eat him because they are so many. The arms of the white warrior only reach as far as the shadow of his body—those of the Tabajáras fly high and straight as the Anajê."[2]

"Every warrior has his day."

"The stranger would not see Iraçéma die, yet he would make her behold his death."

Martim hesitated, perplexed.

"Iraçéma will go and meet the Pytiguára Chief, and will bring to her guest the words of his warrior friend."

The Pagé finally awoke from his reverie. The Maracá rattled in his right hand; the bells rang in time to his stiff slow step.

He called his daughter apart.

"If the braves of Trapúam fall upon the wigwam, lift up the stone and hide the stranger in the bosom of the earth."

"The guest must not be left alone. Wait till Iraçéma returns. The inhuma has not yet sung."

The old man again sat upon his hammock. The maiden went forth after fastening the door of the wigwam.

  1. ↑ Tamanduá, ant-eater.
  2. ↑ Anajê, a powerful hawk, the local eagle.
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