Topsie was amazed at the dexterity with which the bow had been handled and the arrow aimed. Truly the skill of these wild denizens of the Andes was marvellous! But she was still full of curiosity to learn how they would skin and cut up the deer, having perceived no knife of any description about them.
But she quickly learnt that such implements were not lacking amongst the possessions of her captors. Diving their hands into a slit in front of the fur kilt or short skirt which each wore, both man and woman produced knives, the blades of which were made of pure gold, and set strongly in thick wooden handles, black as ivory. With these they proceeded to skilfully skin and cut up the deer, reserving only the choicest portions for consumption, and leaving the remainder for the condors to feast upon, numbers of which were already beginning to hover like specks far up in the sky. But the deer’s skin was carefully preserved, rolled up, and tied round with a thin strip of hide, cut from around the neck, doubtless to serve as clothing on some future occasion.
At this juncture the sound of a distant bell, apparently tolling far up the mountain side, came floating into the valley beneath, striking Topsie dumb with astonishment. But her surprise increased when the three hairy beings threw themselves flat on the ground, and bowed their faces in the long grass with both hands flat, outstretched, and held just above the back of their heads. What could they be doing, and what on earth were the mysterious sounds which had, as it were, so suddenly bound them by its spell, and prostrated them in this attitude of humble obeisance and apparent adoration?
As abruptly as they had begun the bell sounds ceased, and then the hairy beings arose from the ground, and went on as unconcernedly as before with their work. The meat was divided into three bundles, the two heaviest being set aside as the portions for the grown-up beings, while a lighter consignment was awarded to the child as its fair share in the labour.
Topsie, wishing to gain the confidence of her hairy companions, at once stooped down and selected some of the meat from each of the bundles, making signs to the man that she would undertake the porterage thereof herself. A diplomatic act assuredly, for it evidently ingratiated her in the good opinion of Madame Hairy Being, who smiled and showed her white teeth, and cooed approvingly. Then a start was made, and for the first time since her capture, Topsie was allowed liberty to walk alone, without being held by the hand.
They entered the forest not far from the spot where the herd of deer had first filed out into the valley plain, and then the ascent of the hillside was begun. After about half-an-hour’s climb they emerged into a natural clearing, and thereon Topsie perceived several huts made of poles and green boughs standing. Uttering a shrill whistle, the hairy man threw down his meat burden, an act in which he was imitated by his wife and child, and Topsie was not slow to follow their example, for she was not a little blown after the climb. At the same time several beings emerged from the huts, three of which, hairy like her captors, came running to meet them grinning and laughing, and clapping their hands.
But it was not upon these creatures that Topsie’s eyes were fixed, nor were they the cause of their dilated surprise. She was staring at two other figures, tall copper-coloured ones, not hairy like the others, but perfectly human in appearance, who had come out of the huts, and were standing side by side watching the arrival of Topsie and her companions.
For a few seconds the girl stood as one turned to stone. Then she recovered from her surprise. With a low cry she sprung forward, and in another moment her hands were grasping those of Piñone and Cuastral, the former the husband of Aniwee, whom the Warrior Queen accounted dead, and the latter his father, the great Cuastral, Lord of the Araucanians, both of whom Inacayal had sworn to seeing lifeless in the hands of the Cristianos. Topsie could not be mistaken. Her intimate acquaintance with both, a circumstance with which readers of “The Young Castaways” will be acquainted, ensured a certain recognition.
“Piñone,” she cried, “how came you here? Aniwee thinks you and Cuastral dead. Did not Inacayal, Quintuhual’s son, swear it?”
“Aniwee, is she well?” burst from the Cacique’s lips; but even as he spoke Topsie’s captor was by her side, and seizing her hand drew her hastily away from the two Araucanian chiefs. The girl knew it was useless to resist, and with great presence of mind appeared to obey willingly, stroking the hairy being’s hand with her free one, and testifying by every means in her power her friendliness and good will.