The reconnoitring party this time consisted of Piñone, Aniwee, Sir Francis, Freddy, Harry, Topsie, Coquet, Chorlo, Graviel, and five other Indians, all armed with rifles. Lady Vane, Willie, Mary, and Blancha stayed behind to superintend the remainder of the party, and to take action if they heard firing break out. Piñone calculated that a rescue would be very possible that day if they could approach near enough to the child, inasmuch as the greater part of the inhabitants of the Trauco village would be absent on their different duties.
So off they set, full of hope and excitement, the expedition being one of no small difficulty and risk. Good travelling, they calculated, would bring them to their destination in about three hours. As long as they dared, they hugged the banks of the river, travelling being more easy along this line than through the forest itself.
But when they got within a mile or so of the village, Piñone and Sir Francis deemed it wise to enter the forest, so that the last part of their journey was toilsome and wearisome enough. But the worst of difficulties has its end at last, and in due course they arrived on the outskirts of their destination.
It was situated in a long wide glen, and had rows of huts facing each other. These all appeared to have been newly thatched, and as the spy party peered through the dense underwood behind which they lay concealed, they could see here and there a Trauco walking about, some entering, some coming out of the huts before mentioned.
Not far from where they stood, a group of children were playing. It was a novel enough game. Seated pickaback on the shoulders of the biggest, several tiny little Traucos charged each other with reed lances, and whoever broke the other’s lance first, was considered the victor, and the unfortunate one, and his or her steed, led off into captivity, and deposited in a palisaded square, which no doubt occupied the rôle of a prison fortress. Close by, another group of younger children were sleeping peaceably under the shade of a drooping tree, and not fifty feet away from where the watchers stood. Suddenly Aniwee’s heart gave a great jump and throb, as she perceived her child amongst them.
Grasping Piñone’s hand, she pointed towards the spot, whispering excitedly, “See, see; she is there!”
“Keep calm, Carita; she shall be ours ere long,” answered the young chief in a low voice. “The Mamita shall have her child again.”
But even as he spoke a Trauco woman was observed making towards the sleeping group. In a moment it flashed through Aniwee’s brain that she was approaching for the purpose of picking up and carrying off La Guardia Chica. If this were so, never again might such a chance arise, never again might it be possible to come into such close proximity to the baby Cacique. In an instant the Indian girl’s resolve was taken. Come what might, she would clasp her baby to her heart once more.
Ere any one divined her intention, or could prevent her, she had glided from Piñone’s side, bounded through the brushwood which concealed her party, and rushed straightway towards the sleeping group. Like lightning she traversed the short distance which separated her therefrom, seized the child in her arms, and turned to fly. But as she did so, she perceived that the Trauco woman had sprung forward to intercept her return to the jungle. There was only one way of escape left, and that was the river; and thither she at once turned her fleeing footsteps. Of course the child set up a loud cry, and this was followed by an ominous trumpet note of anger from the Trauco, who followed swiftly in pursuit. At the same time several hairy forms came running out of the huts, and at once joined therein.
“Forward!” exclaimed Piñone in an agonised voice. “They will gain upon her, and her capture is assured unless we can cut off her pursuers. Ah, Aniwee! rash hast thou been, my beautiful!”