CHAPTER II.
It may be naturally surmised that Sir Francis and Lady Vane and their children, who had never before witnessed a South American Indian “Ceremony of Welcome,” were not a little startled on beholding Aniwee and her warriors charging to meet them in apparently so warlike a fashion. But to Harry and Topsie, it was neither an unusual nor a terrifying sight, accustomed as they had been during their sojourn amongst the Patagonians to scenes and occurrences of a like nature. Knowing, however, the punctilious etiquette of both Patagonians and Araucanians, in the matter of going religiously through the whole ceremony, our two young friends drew rein, and with a few reassuring words to their uncle, aunt, and cousins, awaited the Araucanian charge.
“It’s all right, Uncle Francis,” volunteered the young midshipman (for Harry had long overstepped the important boundary which separates the naval cadet from the midshipman); “they are not going to hurt us. But I say, watch them closely and all they do; for directly they form up quiet into line, we must go through exactly the same form of antics as they. Oh, Topsie! do look,” he continued somewhat eagerly; “there’s Aniwee, dear little Aniwee, as I live.”
“Little indeed,” laughed his sister slyly as she criticised the tall, graceful figure of the young Amazon on the rapidly approaching white horse. “If I’m not very much mistaken, Harry, old boy, she’s bigger than you. My word, she has grown since we saw her last!”
Ere Harry could reply, Aniwee and her warriors were upon them. Halting suddenly when within fifty paces of the new-comers, the warriors formed rapidly into columns of three abreast, and began galloping madly around the small party, firing off their guns and revolvers, shouting and yelling, and waving their bolas around their heads. This having been continued for several minutes, ranks were suddenly opened, and each man charged forward shouting, “Koue,” and thrusting at an imaginary foe. The supposed enemy having been dislodged, a halt was sounded, the Indians formed quickly into several long lines, and remained motionless as statues, conspicuous at their head being Aniwee, Inacayal, and other Caciques and Caciquillos.
“Now, aunt, now, uncle, come on, Freddy, Willie, and Mary, it’s our turn,” cried Topsie, as she brought her horse alongside her brother’s, and beckoned to Willie to fall in on the other side of her. The Araucanian escort, which had been sent forward by Aniwee to meet them, quickly formed into threes, and in another moment the little party were galloping as madly as the others had done, around the long lines of solemn Araucanians. Joining in the scrimmage, with loud barks of glee, was Topsie’s dog Shag, our dear old friend Shag of Castaway renown.
The shouting, firing, and galloping having come to an end, Harry and Topsie at once rode up to Aniwee with loud cries of welcome. It is not easy to describe the joy of the Indian girl at seeing her old friends again; for the Indian character is phlegmatic, and by no means demonstrative in its affections; and although Aniwee was an exception to this rule, she had a part to play before her warriors, and was bound to look dignified, as befitted a great Cacique.
But Harry and Topsie could see tears in her great dark eyes as she clasped their hands, and bade them welcome to Araucanian soil. They had heard all about the deaths of Cuastral and Piñone, and therefore avoided touching on delicate and painful ground by alluding to them.
“How big you have grown, Aniwee!” exclaimed Topsie, after the first greetings were over, and the Queen, with her guests, was riding along the valley towards the tolderias, followed by her warriors. “We left you a child, but you look like a woman now.”