Thus abjured, as may be supposed, Mary and Willie did their best, and beneath their light weights, their game little horses raced across the rough pampa at an amazing pace. They very soon reached the gorge through which Kai Chileno had disappeared, and having crossed it emerged into the other and greater plain which former chapters have described. They could see the fugitive still far ahead of them, urging his horse towards the broad river that flowed eastwards, and which came from a westerly direction.
“We will ride down the wily fox,” gasped Graviel exultingly. “Let the Señors keep pace with me, and assuredly we will gain upon him ere long. Ah! he may gallop, but the rich-blooded baguales of the Warrior Queen can gallop faster.”
Graviel spoke truly. There was both speed and stamina in the horses which he, Mary, and Willie bestrode. The more they galloped the keener they became, and showed no signs of slackening speed or failing “staying powers.”
Imperceptibly almost, yet gradually and by degrees, they lessened the distance between themselves and Kai Chileno. This latter had made for the river at first, but for some reason or other had changed his mind, and wheeling more to the left, had pointed towards the forest, that same forest where Topsie had disappeared, and into which the rescue party had penetrated in search of her. He did not know that ahead of him a small party of Araucanians were bivouacked, awaiting the return of their Queen, and he rode on entirely unsuspecting the trap into which he was fast galloping. Every now and then he would glance back and curse aloud, for the hoofs of his pursuers’ horses were getting nearer and nearer, and he could hear their thunder closer and closer every minute. He dug the spurs savagely into the heaving sides of his fast tiring horse, and strove to urge him to renewed exertion.
Graviel, Mary, and Willie noticed the fast failing movements of the fugitive’s horse, and became highly exultant in consequence. Graviel could ill contain his triumph, and more than once shouted aloud the war cry of his tribe.
Kai Chileno breasted a low hill with difficulty which lay barely half a mile distant from the forest; but what was his horror when his eyes alighted suddenly on the bivouac of Araucanians already referred to.
Turn back he could not. He was unarmed, and his horse was done to a turn. His only chance was to reach the forest and take refuge therein; but Graviel was close behind him shouting his war-whoop, and he could see the Araucanians rushing to their horses, and mounting in hot haste.
The bivouac had been seen by the pursuers as well, and they sought to attract its members’ attention to Kai Chileno by loud shouts and cries. These had decidedly the desired effect, for the Indians thus appealed to began galloping quickly across the path of the hunted man, apparently with the intention of intercepting and arresting him. Then Kai Chileno bethought himself of a last attempt at escape. As the Indians bore down upon him he began shouting his war cry, and pointing towards the forest, as though he would implore them to gallop in that direction to avert some dreaded danger. For a moment the Indians hesitated, as if not knowing what to make of the rival cries and gesticulations, and this gave the fugitive a good chance of escape.
“Stop him!” yelled Graviel in a frenzy of desperation, urging on his horse to its utmost speed, while the sweat sprung out in large beads on his anxious-stricken face. At the same time two shots rang out beside him from Mary’s rifle. The girl had unslung it, and fired twice after the flying Indian.
Then the Araucanians grasped the situation, and with terrific yells set out in pursuit of Kai Chileno. In vain the desperate man spurred his horse, and sought by every means to urge him forward. The poor brute was done to a turn, and could do no more. Staggering forward a few paces, it came with a crash to the ground. But Kai, prepared for the collapse, deftly landed on his feet—only fifty paces from the forest! He strove to reach it. Vainly. In another second a bolas whizzed out and encircled his legs, and he fell to the ground a helpless captive.