Dripping with silver and fantastic fingers

Reached to caress him from the amorous trees.

Hither and forth he paced; Uhila's eyes

Ached with his hatred of the sight; at length

"Taka," Malua cried, and stretched his arms

Rigid in air, his face against the sky.

The goad was in Uhila's soul, he leapt

Into the moonlight and upon his foe.

Fixed to the ground, they strove as giant trees

Tossing fierce branches in a storm; their wrath

Smote on them like a tempest, hot with hate.

Malua knew a curse was in the hands

48

That sought his throat, and in the blazing eyes

Close to his own. Life would defend fair life

As chief and Taka's lover. Round the shoulders

Dark and strong, straining to his heaving breast,

He threw his arms, and locked in that embrace

They stood a moment, breathing with the quick

Sharp catch of weary runners. Then a turn—

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