“Tremblingly I turned, dreading to look on what I felt had taken place. It was even so. The Trauco queen had used the last physical power which she possessed to save my life, but in doing so had succumbed to her brave, unselfish act. Crushed beneath the huge lump of rock, she lay motionless, the piercing, heart-rending cry having been her last.
“The sight unnerved me, and I burst into tears. In that moment, much as I loved thee, Aniwee, I would have given my life to have restored hers to the Trauco queen. Unavailing. She was dead, and her last act had been one of magnificent heroism.
“The other Traucos seemed overcome with terror, staring vacantly at the crushed and motionless body of their great queen. No sooner had they recovered, than they seized us, and led us hastily from the cave. They put us on the raft, and we paddled down stream to where the other one was moored, exchanging on to it, but taking the smaller one in tow. And thence we drifted on, until several days later we reached the caves, whence we had effected our escape. From there we proceeded on our journey to the Trauco village, and were at once hurried up to our hut and kept in strict confinement. After this we were never allowed to go out at large, save under the strict guard of several Traucos, and the inhabitants seemed to regard us with horror. We could only divine that in their thoughts, they attributed to us the death of the queen.
“A new chief had evidently been chosen in her place, for he dwelt in her hut, and carried out all the duties which she had formerly undertaken. And many days later, several of the Traucos took us on a raft, and we floated down the river, passing the White Traucos, and travelling on day after day. At length we quitted the raft, and journeyed on foot through the forest, until we arrived at the spot whence we made our last escape.”
CHAPTER XXI.
It must have been midnight when Piñone’s solemn, chanting voice ceased, and the strange story of his own and his father’s wonderful adventures amongst the Trauco people came to an end. Then he arose from his seat by the fire, and aroused half a dozen of the Indians, bidding them take their turn at watching, and keeping up the fires, after which both he and Aniwee, rolling themselves up in their fur capas, gave themselves up to sleep.
“Now, boys and girls, down you lie, and try and get some rest, if indeed the startling story you have heard does not drive sleep from your eyes,” exclaimed Lady Vane, as she prepared to follow the Indians’ example. And the boys and girls obeyed her at once, for fatigue was already beginning to make itself felt on their young frames.