“Son of a serpent!” hissed the young Indian between his teeth; “and they have elected him Cacique in Cuastral’s place!”
“Not so, Piñone,” answered Topsie quickly. “The Araucanians have made your little daughter, ‘La Guardia Chica,’ Queen, and Aniwee reigns as Queen-Regent. They call her the Warrior Queen, and there is hardly an Araucanian who would not die for her and for the child of Piñone, whose name as well as his father’s is still sung and remembered by them. But how did you and Cuastral get here?”
“It is a story which will occupy some time in telling,” replied the young Cacique; “but first tell me how you have had the ill-luck to become a Trauco’s prisoner.”
“Well, Piñone, it is just this. I and my brother, whom you remember, as well as the tallest of the three Caciques who found us in Patagonia, together with his wife and three children, formed a party to visit Aniwee. In due course we arrived at Las Manzanas, where she welcomed us at the head of three hundred warriors. But even while she was in the act of receiving us the camp was attacked by a body of Cristianos, who endeavoured to carry off the baby Cacique. The child was, however, saved by Graviel, and defended by the few men and women left in camp, till the Queen came to the rescue. A fierce fight ensued. Many of the Cristianos were killed, and the remainder put to flight. Aniwee fought as befitted a Warrior Queen.
“This morning at an early hour we struck tolderias, and marched inland to a beautiful camping ground, which Aniwee said she loved best, because it had been your favourite resting spot. A troupiglia of baguales having been reported, we set forth to try and capture some. During the confusion of a general mêlée, I managed to lasso the leader of the troop, who gave me a terrible long gallop, and at length entered a big forest which bounded the plain across which we had raced. I must have been knocked from my horse and stunned, for I remember no more until I came to and found myself in the power of a Trauco. Since then we have travelled far, and here I am, as you perceive, Piñone. But I do not despair, for my dog Shag is missing, and I firmly believe that he has gone for help, and will pilot my brother and the others to the rescue.”
Piñone smiled bitterly. “You do not know the Trauco people,” he replied; “they have caves and inaccessible retreats far and near. An attempt made to rescue you would simply result in your being carried off and confined in one of these caves, where no mortal power could reach you. No; escape is the only hope. If we can steal away in the dark, and secrete ourselves, we might manage to obtain our freedom; and it is strange that both Cuastral and myself had made up our minds to attempt flight this very night—and lo! you come upon us.”
“What, Piñone! You are going to try and escape from these people in a strange country without arms, and without a knowledge of your whereabouts?” inquired the girl anxiously. “Surely you will fail, be tracked, and again taken prisoners. Have you tried it before? If so, being still here, you must have learnt the hopelessness of the attempt.”
“We tried to escape once, and once only, and we were recaptured and taken far from the spot,” answered the young chief. “I will tell all to you if you like to hear the story. The sun is not yet set, and the feeding hour is still some time distant. Would the Señorita like to hear?”
“Yes, Piñone, indeed I would,” exclaimed Topsie eagerly. “Speak quickly, and tell me all.”
“Many suns have come and gone,” began the Araucanian, “since my father Cuastral, accompanied by myself and five hundred warriors, set out for the frontier, across which the Cristianos dwell. As you know well, we were at war with them because they wished to steal not only the Indian’s land, but the Indian himself. We swept the frontier in a succession of raids, and, loaded with booty, had encamped on Patagonian territory, secure, as we thought, from reprisal or surprise. Yet treachery lurked around us. News was brought to me that not far away a small party of Cristianos were dogging and watching our movements. Both Cuastral and myself thought well to fall upon them and drive them from our path. Inacayal, who had brought the information, offered to act as spy, and he was entrusted with the task of watching and reporting. One day he came riding into camp, with the information that the Cristianos had retired across the frontier, and were engaged in drinking and gaming in the Bahia settlement, which consists of a few huts erected amidst a dark wood. We at once arranged to surprise them, and for that purpose selected sixty of our most skilled warriors, amongst whom was Inacayal. To be brief, we fell upon them, as we believed, unawares, but at once perceived that we had been caught in a trap, for we were surrounded by some four or five hundred Cristianos, who lay concealed in the wood, and the greater number of our brave warriors were slain. Cuastral and myself were overwhelmed and taken prisoners. We were carried away to the settlements, where we were kept closely confined. At the expiration of four or five days we were blindfolded, had our hands tied behind us, and were placed on horses, being securely guarded all the time. We journeyed for several days in this manner, arriving at last on the outskirts of a great forest, where, still blindfolded, we were removed from our horses and securely lashed to some trees. For several hours we remained thus, helpless and confined, when suddenly we felt ourselves being released, and the handkerchiefs removed from our eyes. Terrible was our anguish when we found ourselves surrounded by five or six tall hairy men, who, having released us, took us by the hands, and compelled us to accompany them. These men were Traucos, and with them and others of their tribe we have dwelt and wandered through many a long and weary day amidst the haunted mountains and gloomy woods, sighing for the bright plains and lovely valleys where the Araucanian dwells in plenty and happiness. Once only we attempted escape, but were recaptured, conveyed up a dark flowing river, and confined for many days in a dreary cavern. But hist! close your eyes, and feign sleep, for the Trauco is approaching, with suspicion in his eyes.”