But the other arrow had gone deeply in towards the last rib, and it took quite a quarter of an hour of careful manipulation before it could be removed. Fortunately the points were smooth and not barbed, which made the operation less dangerous and difficult than it would have been had they been turned up.
Poor Shag lay very patient and still under the surgeon’s knife, but his eyes turned restlessly in the direction of the forest, and his honest heart was evidently far away with his lost mistress, and beating for her alone. If he could only have spoken he might have told them a strange and startling tale. As it was, he could only plead with his honest brown eyes, and hold a conversation with them, as far as he was able.
From a small case which he always kept slung across his shoulders, Sir Francis took out some lint, a linen bandage, and two or three safety pins. Then he opened a little bottle, and poured some of its contents on the lint, which he applied to the most serious of the two wounds, and bound it up with the bandage firmly and securely. Having thus done all he could for the dog he turned to consult the Queen.
He found her attentively examining the two arrows which had been drawn from Shag’s side. They were deftly fashioned and deeply tipped with solid gold.
“They are undoubtedly the arrows of the Trauco,” she observed in a troubled voice. “It is the Trauco who fired those, and who has made captive my white friend.”
“But who and what are the Traucos, Aniwee?” inquired Sir Francis eagerly. “Are they a tribe that you have seen and which you know?”
Aniwee smiled. “Seen them? Oh no!” she answered quickly; “but they live in the traditions of both the Patagonians and Araucanians. A Trauco is a man covered all over with hair, a man of giant strength, and haunted with the medicine which makes him invisible.”
“Well, Aniwee, Trauco or no Trauco, I am determined to try and track the white Cacique now that her dog has returned. Will you help me?”
The young Queen regarded him sadly.
“What can I do?” she asked, somewhat bitterly. “Absolute as my power is, not an Araucanian would obey me if I ordered one or any of them to enter yon forest, but Aniwee is not afraid. If the Caciques decide on going, she will go with them. However, they must eat and rest first, and prepare for action, for the forest is full of unknown and terrible dangers.”