“Every morning these Traucos assembled together, and stood in long straight rows awaiting the queen’s approach. Then she would issue from her hut, make signs to some of them, who at once formed into a party and disappeared into the forest, others would go forth to the open plain with strange tools made out of pure gold, others would start away with their bows and arrows, while some would take to the rafts and propel them up stream. A few would remain in camp, and busy themselves with skin sewing, skin curing, arrow and bow fashioning, and other occupations. But I noticed that in all things the men and women shared alike, fought side by side, enjoyed their simple pleasures in each other’s company, as well as their daily toil. Then I thought of thee, Aniwee, and all that thou hadst striven to teach thy Piñone, as to the rights of the Indian women to share alike in all things with the men, and I saw how wisely thou hadst spoken; for the Traucos are a happy people, and I rarely saw disagreement amongst them.
“When the sun had made many strides through the heavens the Traucos would return, some carrying large bundles and blocks of wood, others green branches, those with the strange implements brought them back covered with earth, and washed them in the river, and I afterwards learnt that they used them for turning over the soil of the plain, in which they planted the shrub that produced the great bunches of ball-like fruit. Then the Traucos who had gone forth with the bows and arrows would return, bringing dead birds, sometimes foxes and a puma, at other times vicuña or deer, and also, but this rarely, a jaguar. As for the rafts, they always remained away a day or two, but when they returned they brought large stores of gold-quartz, sometimes lumps of pure gold. These the children unloaded from the rafts, washed in the river, and carried to a big heap piled up upon the bank, beside which a large fire was often lit, and around which men and women busied themselves in heating the gold, and beating it, when red hot, into various shapes, such as knives, arrow and spear heads, implements to till the ground with, and other strange devices.
“On several occasions the queen accompanied the rafts up stream, and took us with her. On the first occasion, after a journey of two days, we emerged from the thick forest, and came suddenly in view of several caves running earthwards from some high cliffs. Up these the rafts were guided, until we could go no further, and then the Traucos landed, and soon began hammering away at the rocks inside, detaching large masses, and breaking them up into smaller lumps, which they piled upon the rafts. Thus we learnt how these people came by their gold, and no longer wondered why they used it for everything. There seemed to be no end to the rich store which they possessed.
“It was when returning from our first expedition to these caves, that I and Cuastral first learned and witnessed the manner in which the Traucos attacked and slew the jaguar. We were floating lazily downstream with our cargo of gold, and lying at ease in the sun, when the queen Trauco suddenly clapped her hands, and pointed towards the forest. Looking in that direction, neither I nor Cuastral could make out anything, but we noticed that the Traucos were visibly excited. In a moment the queen had possessed herself of her bow and arrows, and had signed to the raftsmen to push the raft inland. They obeyed, and she at once sprang on shore, the Traucos again pushing out into mid-stream. Then the queen bent herself double, and began moaning in a strange way, as if she were wounded and suffered pain, all the time keeping her head turned towards the forest. Suddenly she reared herself from her stooping attitude, and fixing an arrow in her bow shot into the thickest portion thereof. A roar followed her act, and a great crashing sounded loudly amongst the undergrowth. But quick as lightning another arrow winged its fatal shaft, and the next moment a splendid jaguar sprung into the open, with both arrows sticking in his eyes. He staggered about, gnashing his teeth and lashing his tail, but while doing so, his assailant, protected by his lost vision, stole up to his side, and aiming an arrow at the region of the heart, drew the bow. Bearing straight up on end, in the same manner as did the one I lately killed, the great beast fell back with a crash, and stretched out his limbs with a quiver, to stir no more. It was a black-ringed jaguar.
“Thus our life sped on amidst these strange people. The queen took us on hunting expeditions, and was our constant companion. But Cuastral and I yearned for our beautiful land, and we had made up our minds to try and escape. With the account of how we sought to regain our liberty, of our flight, the chase, recapture, and subsequent sufferings, I will close this tale of mine, for the night is drawing on. See how the ghostly Andes gleam in the moonlight, inviting man to rest.”
CHAPTER XIX.
“Talking over the question of escape, I and Cuastral had decided that we should make the attempt the very next time that the Trauco queen took us with her to the gold caves.