“Rather,” answered all the children eagerly; and then Topsie added gravely, “We shall never forget it. It will be a very bright spot through life.”
CONCLUSION.
So ends my tale, though there are one or two points my young readers may yet like to know. Well, I can tell them this. About a week after the great peace had been signed our white friends took leave of the Indians, and retraced their steps towards the Rio Negro. The pain of parting was softened by a promise, which both Aniwee and Piñone made to the children, and that was, that they would join them at Patagones some nine months later, and accompany them on a visit to the great free land of Great Britain, where a woman Cacique reigns. It was indeed a pleasure to look forward to. After they were gone the baby Cacique was sent for, and conducted, amidst much pomp and rejoicing, back to the peaceful valley whence she had been so rudely stolen. As for Guaitu and Kai Chileno, they were liberated and magnanimously forgiven by Cuastral, who did so at the earnest request of Sir Francis Vane. And a few months later a gay Araucanian wedding was celebrated when Blancha became the wife of Graviel, whom she had loved so faithfully and well.
And often after this Traucos would be seen hovering on the borders of the great forests which girt the Araucanian plains. But Piñone would permit no war to be made upon them, and had strictly ordered that no attack should ever be made against them. No doubt he had in his mind the memory of the brave, unselfish act of the large-eyed Trauco queen, who had given her wild, free life so that his might be spared.
Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.