“Have I not told the Caciques?” answered Aniwee in a low voice. “The Señors laugh; they call those sounds the thunder of falling snow. But if they will know the truth, it is the Cesares people and their enchantments.”
Our friends may be excused for feeling a little uncomfortable. These strange sounds, and above all, the melancholy notes of the distant bell,[[2]] had decidedly impressed them. Aniwee’s superstitious explanations did not tend to make matters any better; and then the vague, uncertain feeling pervading every one as to Topsie’s fate, accentuated the uncomfortable experiences of this handful of white beings, struggling through a densely wooded, unexplored region.
[2]. Bell-like chimes are often to be heard in the Cordilleras, and the Indians attribute them to a white people, whom they call “Los Cesares,” and who they believe dwell in La Ciudad Encantada, or Enchanted City.
“Let us start on again,” exclaimed Sir Francis.
Judging rightly, that action was the best cure for the low spirits which seemed to pervade every one; and in obedience to Harry’s order Shag sprang forward once more.
Now he led them down the slope of the forest towards the valley beneath, and kept straight on his way until he had reached it. Then he struck across the valley, and crossed the shallow river which ran through it, and began to breast the hillside opposite to the one he had just descended. On this side the trees were wider apart, and there was little undergrowth, while the grass was soft and mossy. High above them towered the snowy Andes, piercing the skies with their glittering peaks.
It was hard going, and Shag moved too quickly, so much so that Harry was forced to put a leash upon him. They had been toiling upwards for over half an hour, when the dog halted as abruptly as before, sniffed the air again, and then, with a low whine, endeavoured to spring forward.
Every one hurried on, but in another moment all halted, as though turned to stone. In a large circular clearing stood three roughly built huts, covered over with green boughs, and lying under one of these, apparently asleep, was Topsie. She was not fifty yards away from where the relief party stood. Her face was very pale, and her eyes looked red and swollen, as though she had been weeping.
Harry was the first to recover from the surprise which the sudden apparition of his sister had taken possession of all.
“Topsie, dear old Topsie!” he cried.