At once the idea was joyfully adopted, and Harry duly shouted directions to his sister, who replied with the same low whistle, to show that she understood. Then every one took up as convenient a position as possible in sight of the cave, and waited with rifle cocked, ready to shoot, the moment the Trauco showed himself, Shag being made to down charge flat at Harry’s feet.
They had a long time to wait. More than two hours sped by, and no sign was visible of the Trauco. A sharp, warning whistle, however, suddenly brought them to attention, and as they strained their eyes, glazed by long and minute watching, the form of the hairy man showed itself on the ledge above. He was sniffing the air like a dog, and peering curiously below.
In a moment the ping of five rifles rang forth. Far and wide the reports echoed and re-echoed. They started an avalanche high above, which was trembling in the balance, and brought it roaring and dashing down the mountain’s sides. At the same time the Trauco uttered a hoarse cry, the first human sound which Topsie had heard him utter. Throwing up his arms, he fell forward over the steep side, and came crashing into the crevassed rock below.
In a moment Topsie sprung to her feet, and rushing to the cave’s mouth, cast down the supple stem which her captor had drawn up on to the ledge. Hand over hand she descended, and the next moment stood beside her brother, uncle, aunt, cousin, and Aniwee, with Shag—brave dog!—fawning upon her, and uttering loud, joyous barks of delight.
Harry burst into tears, and threw his arms around his sister. The pent-up heart of the poor lad gave vent to the full measure of the suffering it had endured, and sought relief in tears. It is rare that we shed them in joy, but when we do so they bring comfort, and rest, and relief to the over-taxed brain.
In the excitement of the moment the Trauco was forgotten, when a groan of anguish made Topsie start violently, and look in the direction whence it came. She at once perceived her late captor doubled up and writhing in agony not ten paces away.
“Poor thing!” she exclaimed pitifully. The sufferings of this strange wild creature stirred her curiously. Unlike Sir Francis, Lady Vane, Harry, and Freddy, she had come to regard him in the light of a human being, and far removed from the ape; and after all, though he had captured her, and had thereby caused her intense suffering, his manner and behaviour to her had always been thoughtful and gentle.
“Stop, Aniwee! Do not shoot him,” she cried hastily, as she saw the Indian girl raise her rifle as if to fire at the wounded creature. “Uncle Francis, Harry, that is no ape. It is assuredly a human being. I fear, however, he is mortally wounded.”
As she spoke she went over to the Trauco, and laid her hand on his shoulder. No sooner did the poor creature feel her touch, than he rolled over on to his back, and gazed at her with a piteous expression in his large gazelle-like eyes. There were two bullet wounds in his chest, and from these blood was oosing. His breathing came thick and fast, and there could be little doubt that life was rapidly ebbing to a close.
“Poor Trauco, poor, poor Trauco!” exclaimed the girl, as she drew out her handkerchief and laid it against the wounds. It was strange how cruelly the sight affected her.