“Quite understand, young people, that although we accompany the Indians, we take no part in the fight to-morrow if there is one,” said Sir Francis, as the children bade him good-night.
“For,” put in Lady Vane, “though our sympathies are entirely with the Indians, we cannot engage in bloodshed on their account, nor would it be of the slightest assistance to them. I fear a fight is inevitable, however, and I only hope it will be a decisive one, and result in driving the enemy pell-mell from these brave people’s land.”
It was very dusky and dark when every one arose the following morning, but the horses were rapidly driven up, singled out, and saddled by their respective owners, who all preserved the strictest silence, and went through their work in a business-like manner, which showed them to be no novices at such performances.
Our white friends found their horses all ready saddled for them, prepared by the willing hands of the Araucanians at the command of Aniwee.
The young Queen’s heart beat high with hope and expectation as she thought of the coming struggle, and she prayed to the good Gualichu to bring triumph to her people, and rout and disaster to the invaders of her adopted country.
Truly she felt that a blow must be struck once and for all of a character so decisive, as to put an end to the incessant guerilla warfare which the Cristianos kept up, in the hope of stealing the red man’s land; for peace could never be established between the two people until one or the other obtained the upper hand.
Amidst a profound silence the Tehuelche warriors set forth, our white friends bringing up the rear, and rode smartly across the undulating plains which led from one valley into another. The Indians were divided into three companies, respectively commanded by Gilwinikush, Piñone, and Aniwee, the former leading two hundred and thirty-four, and the two latter two hundred and thirty-three followers each. It was agreed to try and encircle the Cristianos’ camp, and fall upon it with the three companies simultaneously.
At length they sighted the enemy’s position, and every one halted. Here Gilwinikush took his dispositions and bearings, and deputed to Aniwee the task of circumventing the camp, and attacking it from the far end, Piñone being ordered westward, and the chief himself electing to begin his attack from the east. It was pointed out by Sir Francis that the Indians would gain a great advantage if they could take as many of the Cristianos prisoners as possible, and he strongly urged the chief to abstain from unnecessary slaughter, impressing upon him the importance of hostages, if a peace of any value was to be obtained; and Gilwinikush, recognising this wise advice, promised a horse in return for every white prisoner that was brought to him.
Aniwee shook hands with her white friends before setting off with her company. Though disinclined to look forward to anything but triumph and victory, yet nevertheless, as she observed, death might come, and then she would not be able to say good-bye.
And as she rode away in the grey dusk of early morning at the head of her warriors, the children felt lumps rising in their throats, as they thought to themselves that perchance in life they might not meet again.