She could not have been asleep, for in a moment her eyes unclosed, and she sprang to her feet. The next instant she was rushing to meet them. As she did so, however, three or four tall, dark, hairy figures rushed forth from the huts, and all made for the forest except one. This one, bigger than the rest, strode after the running girl. In a moment he had snatched her in his arms, and before any one could unsling their rifles had dashed away into the forest, and as he disappeared a despairing voice, the voice of Topsie, was heard piteously calling for help.
CHAPTER IX.
Our last glimpse of poor Topsie previous to the episode related in the chapter just terminated, was when she and her hairy companion had been suddenly joined by two other hairy beings.
Though her first feeling had been one of horror at seeing them, her second had been one of relief. After all, it was better to be in the company of three beings, however strange, than in that of one; and in spite of the miserable position in which she was situated, the girl eyed the new arrivals with curiosity. One of them was nearly as tall as her companion, but of slighter and more delicate build, while the other was quite a wee creature, not anything like so big as Topsie herself. This latter at once concluded that the three apes, baboons, or wild human beings, whatever they were, must be husband, wife, and child, as in reality they were.
Though the wife took good stock of Topsie, she did not appear to be overwhelmed by any great surprise at seeing her, but the joy of the child was excessive. A little female one, she danced round Topsie uttering strange cries of delight, sounds in which reigned a mixture of laughter and a peculiar cooing noise, something between the purring of a cat and the cooing of a dove. Both she and her mother possessed beautiful eyes, large and languishing, like those of a guanaco or gazelle, and with the same gentle look in them as had the father’s.
For a short time, the wild young lady of the forest did not venture too near to the strange being whom her father had brought captive to his stronghold; but gradually taking heart, she approached nearer and nearer to Topsie, at length venturing to touch her sleeve. Then she sprang back, frightened, no doubt, at her own temerity, and still overcome with awe and wonder at the figure before her. But taking courage again, she soon approached once more, intent on a farther examination. As there was nothing repulsive in the little creature, and as Topsie judged it to be good policy to appear friendly, she tried to smile through her tears, and held out her hand to the curious child. This latter appeared to appreciate and understand Topsie’s attitude, for with a low cry she sprang forward, seized the proffered hand, and began to kiss it gently, purring and cooing loudly all the time. Next she stroked it, as also the arm belonging to it, and finally ventured to touch Topsie’s face. After this she was altogether friendly, and every fear became quickly dispelled.
Pleased, no doubt, by the conciliatory attitude of the girl, the mother advanced and stroked her face and hands, examined the texture of her clothes, and appeared full of wonder at the cartridge belt; but the man remained silent and motionless in his apparently favourite attitude, with his arm round a tree and his large dark eyes fixed upon his captive, whom he had evidently no intention of losing sight of.