“I think, young people, that I will remain behind,” remarked Lady Vane a little later on. “I have got a bit of a headache, and am somewhat tired. I think I shall rest for an hour, and then unpack the baggage panniers, get out the trinkets, and put everything straight in the toldos against your return. Topsie, dear, you can explain it to the Queen.”
“All right, Aunt Ruby. I see her coming now,” answered Topsie, and as she spoke Aniwee and her hunters rode up.
There were twenty men and five women amongst these hunters, all mounted on wiry-looking horses, and provided with stout lassoes and bolases. They each carried, in addition, a revolver and a short sharp knife, but no other arms, about half-a-dozen powerful-looking hounds accompanying them.
Our young friends, as well as Sir Francis, decided on taking their rifles; there was no knowing that they might not come in useful, they declared. And when they had mounted their well-bred, strong little steeds, they found that to each of their saddles was attached, not only a light lasso, but a pair of bolas as well.
“Oh, what fun!” exclaimed Willie in a delighted voice, as he found himself fully equipped for the fray. “I feel every inch an Araucanian hunter, don’t you, Mary?”
“I mean to have a good try to catch a horse to-day,” answered the girl, with a laugh; “though I can’t say I feel the adept that you profess to do, brother mine. However, have a care. Pride cometh before a fall. You know that, I suppose?”
They started, a gay party. The sun was shining brightly, the apple groves looked green, cool, and inviting. Far away wooded heights arose. These were the forests of araucarias, wherein abounded the luscious piñones so esteemed by the Indians; and high above these shady retreats dazzled the snowy Andes, resplendent in their robes of untrodden virgin snow. The spirits of our young friends were at their highest. They laughed and jabbered away at their fastest, Harry bubbling over with fun and mischief unquenchable. In vain his cousins and sister strove to suppress him. The happy young midshipman refused to be repressed.
They must have been riding for quite an hour, and had entered a large circular plain some five or six miles in circumference, when Aniwee and Sir Francis, who were riding about a hundred yards ahead, suddenly halted, and the former held up her hand warningly, as though to enjoin silence. Then indeed Harry became serious, and his mirth was at once checked.
No sooner had Aniwee made the sign described, than she lay flat along her horse’s neck, an attitude which was immediately imitated by all the hunters following in the rear of the children, and these latter and Sir Francis, perceiving their movements, were quick to imitate their dusky friends. As for Shag, who had been bounding along beside his mistress’s horse, he at once lowered his tail, and came quietly to heel in the rear of her steed, no doubt noticing the like action on the part of the Indian hounds.
“Baguales,” murmured the Indians half audibly as they rode slowly forward to join the Queen; yet look as hard as ever they could, our young friends could make out no sign of the wild horses, about which the Indians appeared so confident.