Piñone tacked westward at the same time as Aniwee set forth, and our friends remained with Gilwinikush.
This latter moved his men slowly towards the east, and then threaded a narrow defile which he averred led forth into the plain where the Cristianos were encamped, and here taking his stand, he awaited the first sign of attack, which was to come from Aniwee’s side.
Grey dawn had passed away, and the sun was fast shooting forward into light. The clouds were glowing with crimson tints, and here and there a yellow streak of light sped across the sky, heralding the advent of the God of day. As the golden orb rose slowly into life, and glimmered in the eyes of the watching and silent Indians, the first note of war came echoing across the quiet plain.
It came from Aniwee’s company, who, having made a wide détour, had crept round under cover of a thick wood almost exactly facing the spot where Gilwinikush stood, and then, without losing a second of time, the young girl leader, standing up in her stirrups, had given the order to charge, as she dashed forward herself at the head of her men. They streamed across the plain towards the white invaders’ camp, and as they did so, dusky forms charged from the west and south-east as well. The Cristianos, rushing from their tents, at the loud warning cry uttered by their sentinels, beheld the angry and pitiless Indians, whom they had done their best to make their foes, bearing in this manner down upon them.
They rushed to their arms and to their horses. These latter had been kept picketed, as luck would have it, otherwise there would have been no time to collect them. Many of the white men mounted saddleless, so great was their haste.
With a succession of fierce, wild cries the Tehuelche warriors came on. Our white friends, watching from some heights above, shivered as they beheld the first crash of meeting. Aniwee seemed transformed. She was standing up in her stirrups cheering her followers on, and waving her small, but strong and sharp axe around her head. This was the principal weapon of her tribe, for, unlike the Araucanians, they did not carry spears.
The charging Indians were met by a steady fusilade from the Cristianos, and many saddles were emptied. Mary closed her eyes and shuddered, as she pictured Aniwee one of the victims. But no, Freddy’s voice reassured her on that point, and she looked again. A Cristiano had tackled the young Queen, for the Indians under her command had swept on in spite of the fusilade, and had come hand to hand in combat with their foes. The Cristiano had clubbed his rifle, and was on the point of bringing the butt-end on to her head, when by a movement of her knee she made the horse she was riding swerve aside, and the rifle hit nothing but the air. At the same time she turned her wrist sharply, giving a back stroke at his shoulder, and the axe, well directed by a practised hand, cut clean into the shoulder blade, completely disabling her assailant. The rifle dropped from his grasp, and the next moment he was her prisoner.
Shouts, cries, yells, resounded over the plain. All three companies of Indians were now at work, fiercely contending for victory with their enemies. They fought for their country, for peace, for freedom, did these children of the breezy plain, and therefore they fought bravely and unflinchingly. The Cristianos resisted as doggedly, for it was for life they were struggling; and amidst the confusion of this ghastly fight could they not see the pictures of their homes across the border line, which they had foolishly quitted in order to rob, annoy, pillage, and maltreat the red man?
Amidst this scene of carnage loomed the huge figure of Gilwinikush. Wherever he turned the Cristianos gave way before him. Piñone, too, was fighting savagely, and the Araucanians of his following could be easily distinguished from the Tehuelches in different parts of the field, by the difference in their apparel. All these were following their Cacique’s example, and helping to keep up the renown of their name.
A tall figure, riding a barebacked horse, suddenly confronted Aniwee, and made a thrust at her with a short spear. She parried the thrust, and pulling up her horse with a movement of anger, stood up in her stirrups, and waved her axe round her head defiantly. But the weapon almost fell from her grasp as, beneath his Cristiano’s apparel, she recognised Inacayal, and became aware with whom she was dealing.