“Fear not,” she said in a weak, faint voice, “Aniwee is well.”
“She said no more, for Piñone had her in his arms, and was pressing her to his heart, while a smothered sob burst from Graviel.
“Now, Piñone, you must not squeeze the little breath she has got left in her, entirely out of her body,” put in Topsie, laughing. “You must give Aniwee to me to look after, while you go and see to your prisoners. You will find the head white Caciques with Gilwinikush, and they will need you. Trust Aniwee to me.”
“I am well, quite well,” exclaimed Aniwee, as Piñone set her down, but there was a dazed look in her eyes, which showed she was not altogether recovered.
Her horse was grazing near, and Topsie directed Piñone to lift her upon it, and then she and Harry mounted, and placed themselves on either side of her to be ready to support her in case of need.
Piñone, seeing he could be of no further use, and implicitly trusting in Topsie’s power to completely cure his treasure, after signing to Graviel to follow him, rode off quickly to rejoin Gilwinikush.
The white prisoners had all surrendered and been disarmed when he rode up, and had likewise had their horses taken from them. When joined by Piñone, Gilwinikush was busy forming them into a column, thirty deep, around which the Araucanian warriors were massed to guard them.
As Las Manzanas was within a few miles of their present position, it was hastily agreed to send on the prisoners to that place, and Gilwinikush, while electing to accompany Piñone and the remaining Araucanians, decided to send back the greater part of his Tehuelche followers to the valley camp, in order to guard against an entry into Patagonia from that side.
It was judged prudent not to send for the baby Cacique while hostilities continued. She was safer in Keoken’s keeping than she could be amongst a lot of warriors, and Aniwee’s heart was quite at rest about her.
Chasquis, in the persons of Chorlo and Coquet, had been sent on by Piñone to the Araucanian camp, whence the rescue party had started in search of La Guardia Chica so many weeks before, and they were charged to fully report all that had happened during that time to Cuastral, as well as the results of the battle, which had just taken place, the death of Inacayal, and the valuable capture of prisoners. Piñone further requested that Cuastral would at once join him at Las Manzanas, there to discuss terms of peace with the Cristiano leader, Sir Francis having offered to act as mediator between the rival people.