“For hours we travelled through the forest, now coming upon tracks made by wild horses, or wild cattle anon struggling through the dense underwood, which in parts grew so thick that it was almost impassable. I and Cuastral could not go the pace which our captors adopted, and both giving way to fatigue and despair fell prone upon the earth. We expected rough treatment, probably death, but were surprised when two of the Traucos lifted us into their arms as I would lift a feather, and bore us gently over the rough ground, giving us apples to suck and araucarias to gnaw, with which we allayed our hunger and our thirst, both of which had for some time made themselves uncomfortably felt. And thus we travelled for the greater part of the day. Towards sunset, however, we emerged into a plateau very similar in appearance to Traucos’ Rest, and here we came in sight of a number of huts formed out of stakes stuck in the ground, and fastened in all round with the green boughs and leaves of the araucaria. A great many Traucos were seated in and about these huts, and numberless young Traucos gambolled and played around. Some were climbing trees and pelting their playmates with piñones, others were shooting with tiny bows and arrows at marks made out of broad leaves fastened to the stems of the trees, that everywhere dotted the plateau profusely. Many of the hairy creatures appeared to be busily engaged sewing together skins, and I noticed that they used thick gold-looking needles, which I afterwards made out to be of pure gold, while their thread consisted of the twisted fibre they obtain from a tree, which until I entered these Trauco realms I had never seen before.
“On perceiving us they all jumped up and came running to meet us, crowding round us and cooing softly, many showing their white teeth in laughter and apparently pleased surprise. They smoothed us gently with their furry hands, and offered us piñones and araucarias to eat, but I and Cuastral longed for meat, and cast our eyes around to see if we could perceive any. Then we saw that there were large strips of it hanging from the trees, and we pointed to it, and made signs that we would like some. They understood us at once, and one of them, a big powerful female, climbed up one of these trees, and brought us down two goodsized lumps. As there was no sign of a fire in any direction, we concluded that they knew not the art of obtaining light, and we therefore eat the meat raw, washing its somewhat hard substance down with a draught of water from a torrent, which flowed by the huts in close proximity.
“No sooner had the sun sunk behind the green groves of araucarias, than all the Traucos hurried to their huts, and curling themselves up within were soon fast asleep. But before betaking herself off, the big woman who had fetched and given us the meat, led us, like two children, towards a large hut, and motioned to us to enter. We did so, and found the ground strewn with skins of the wild cat, puma, and sundry other kinds, which at any rate made it soft and warm. We were terribly tired, and had no thought of attempting escape that night; indeed, we felt too despairing and hopeless to wish to do so. Yet, as I thought of thee, Aniwee,” and here the young Cacique looked lovingly at the pretty face of the youthful Warrior Queen, “my heart felt weighted with a heavy load, and I threw myself face downwards and wept. Ay, love of my heart, they were the first tears almost that have fallen from Piñone’s eyes since he played a thoughtless child.
“Then Cuastral upbraided me for showing such weakness, and I strove to be brave; but the parting in spirit with my Aniwee was terrible, and I felt like one that has entered another world, far away from all that his heart loves best. Worn out, however, with fatigue, sleep brought its balm to heal the weary soul, and soon both I and my father had sunk beneath its soothing influence. We must have been strangely wearied, for the sun shone high above our heads when I opened my eyes next day. My father still lay sleeping, and looked so still and worn that I grew alarmed, and sought to arouse him. At my touch he sprang to his feet with a loud cry, his eyes staring wildly before him, but as my voice sounded in his ear, he became calm and composed.
“We looked out of our hut. The Traucos were up, about and busy. Indeed they seemed unusually so, for even the children were hurrying to and fro with lumps of meat in their hands, which they deposited in a common heap on the ground. Just outside our hut lay a small mound of rosy-cheeked apples, and close beside these apples were two lumps of meat. The Traucos had evidently put them there for our use.
“Before eating, we went outside to the stream and washed all over in its cool waters, and then, refreshed, we made a meal on a few of the apples and part of the meat. We saw several of the Traucos watching us, but they did not interfere with our movements until I and my father walked towards the forest, and then several of them followed us hastily, and taking us by the hands led us back to the huts. There could be no longer any doubt that we were closely watched, and that the Traucos did not intend to give us a chance of escape.
“A few minutes after this occurrence I saw several of these hairy beings select each a piece of meat from the aforementioned heap, and start off in the direction of the forest. In small groups the whole encampment did likewise, and we were led along by the same Traucos who had superintended our movements the day before. And thus another sun went on its course, while the long cavalcade travelled swiftly through the forest, the men and the women carrying the children when they tired, as our guards did likewise by us. That night we encamped in a pleasant valley, through which ran a gurgling stream, which made its way towards the distant mountains. There were no huts, and we lay in the open under the shelter of a great tree. All the children cuddled together, and around them lay their parents in a similar manner. As for ourselves, we were put next the children, doubtless with a view to prevent any attempt at escape.
“With dawn every one arose and trooped down to the stream, and every member of the party washed therein. Then we ate piñones, apples, and meat, after which we started on our journey once again. We made a very long march that day, and it was getting dark when we entered a wooded plain, heavy with the scent of flowers, and crossing it arrived on the banks of a broad river which flowed northwards. Several large rafts were moored to the land, and on them lay a pile of apples, araucarias, and piñones. There were several Trauco huts standing along the banks, and when we arrived two or three strange figures came out of them leaning on sticks. They were exactly like the Traucos in build and make, save that their fur was pure white all over instead of brown as the others were, and their eyes, instead of being dark, and languishing, were pink.”
“Albinos!” exclaimed Topsie quickly. “Trauco Albinos.”
“At first we took them for very old people of the Trauco species,” continued Piñone gravely, “but we soon saw that they were young enough. Yet the brown-haired Traucos appeared to regard them with respect, for they all prostrated themselves, and raised their hands above their heads.