But Nature will assert itself in the end, and Cuastral, Piñone, and the girl Queen began to feel the power of its will. Fatigue and sleep closed their eyes at last, as, like their white friends, they sought assistance from repose, praying it to rehabilitate their wearied frames, and make them fit and strong for renewed exertion.
Still tightly bound, and coupled to a stake, lay Kai Chileno, around whom guards kept watch and slept by turns. They were determined that he should not escape, and indeed the wretched captive knew that, desperate and determined as he was, his case was hopeless. Like the rest he was weary, and in spite of his fetters sleep wooed him too, and brought him rest.
With daylight the searchers began to drop in one by one. None of them had been able to find any trace of the stolen child, and were proportionately down in their luck, and low-spirited in consequence. Blancha returned looking the ghost of her former self, her eyes swollen with weeping, her face drawn and pinched with mental pain. Her interview with Aniwee was of the most agonising nature, although her young mistress, knowing the truth, through the confession of Kai Chileno, exonerated her from all blame. Then the wonder and astonishment which the sight of Piñone and Cuastral caused to the mourning woman, served for a short time to wean her mind from her great grief. It was all too wonderful and extraordinary.
As the sun rose a number of mounted Indians rode into the camp. They proved to be the advance guard of the company, which Inacayal had led northwards to attack an imaginary foe. No sooner had they learned how they had been hoaxed, than they turned their horses’ heads for the camp again, vowing vengeance on the messenger who had brought the false news; but Inacayal had declared that he would abide where he was for the nonce, in order to watch and see if all was quiet. Cunning fellow! He had no intention for the time being of running into danger, by returning to Aniwee’s camp.
Of course the first news which greeted the returning Warriors was the wonderful and startling intelligence, all in one breath, of the treachery of Kai Chileno, Guaitu, and Inacayal, the disappearance of the baby Cacique, and the marvellous discovery of Cuastral and Piñone amidst the haunts of the Trauco people. Messengers or Chasquis were dispatched to hurry up the warriors in the rear, and to make known the painful and joyous announcements at the same time. They brought them along on the wings of speed, and soon the Araucanian camp was the scene of a noisy, gesticulating band of warriors, all clamouring to look upon their old chief and his son once more.
In the midst of the hubbub Guaitu rode in from his pretended search, and was promptly arrested, bound hand and foot, and tied to the same stake as was Kai Chileno. As he was led into the tolderia where the other captive lay, the two men exchanged significant glances, and tried anxiously to read each other’s faces. Guaitu could not make out whether Kai had confessed or not, and feared to compromise himself by speaking openly before the guards or putting any questions to him.
A loud and long-prolonged shout arrested his attention. It came from hundreds of throats, and terrified him, for he attributed it to a cry for vengeance against himself. He ventured, however, to inquire of his guards whence its cause.
“Is it not the welcome of Warriors to their long-lost Caciques, Cuastral and Piñone, whom the white chiefs discovered and rescued from the Trauco people?” they answered.
Guaitu started and trembled violently.
“Cuastral and Piñone have returned?” he gasped inquiringly. “Great Gualichu of evil, what hast thou done?”