CHAPTER XI.
We must return to the Indian camp, where Lady Vane and Freddy had left Mary and Willie when starting to join Sir Francis and Harry on the borders of the forest. As may be imagined, the two younger children were not over-pleased at being left behind. They were, to begin with, very unhappy about their cousin, and longed to take part in the search for her, and the suspense which they suffered, and which they felt they would continue to suffer, was very great. However, as Lady Vane pointed out to them, some one must remain in camp to look after the things; and this giving our young friends somewhat of an air of importance, they resigned themselves to the position, wisely resolving to make the best of it, and do their duty under the circumstances. They had made friends with Blancha and Graviel, both of whom could speak Spanish, and this latter had returned to the head toldo on receiving from Aniwee the guardianship of the baby Cacique, Inacayal, as we have already seen, being placed in command during the Queen-Regent’s absence.
But Aniwee had hardly departed, when a warmessenger rode into camp, to announce that hostilities had broken out some twenty miles north, and that he had been sent to implore immediate help.
In the natural course of events, if Aniwee had been in camp, she would have proceeded at once to the relief of her people, and therefore it was not thought strange when Inacayal gave orders that every warrior, save those who had been wounded in the fray of the previous night, should get ready in haste, and be prepared to accompany him at short notice on his northward march against the foe.
As may be imagined, therefore, the Indian camp was denuded of its warriors, and left practically defenceless. No one thought anything of this, as the only foes they had to dread were the Cristianos, and these never attempted to penetrate deeply into Araucanian territory, always attacking its frontier or border line, with the object of driving back the tribes into the forest recesses.
But before taking his departure, Inacayal in the privacy of his toldo held the following strange conversation with one Guaitu, an Araucanian Caciquillo, whom he had appointed to command the camp during his absence, and in that of the Queen’s.
“The baby is safe in your keeping, Guaitu?” he inquired anxiously.
“Safe as though a Trauco held it,” answered the Caciquillo.
“The exchange must be effected to-night,” continued Inacayal in a low voice. “Never will the Gualichu give us such a chance again. Be wary, Guaitu; all depends on thy cunning and address.”
“Guaitu will not fail,” answered the Indian, with a leer. “Ere the sun comes back again, La Guardia Chica will be far away.”
“It is well, Guaitu. Inacayal can put his faith in thee,” exclaimed the Cacique joyfully, as he turned to leave the toldo.
Outside, his war-horse stood ready, and the chief, mounting hastily, departed, followed by over five hundred warriors, many of whose homes lay in the threatened north, and who were therefore anxious to set forth to its rescue or defence, as the case might be.
It wanted several hours to sunset, and Mary and Willie employed the time in wandering about the camp, making friends with the women, children, and animals, which appeared to abound in every direction, picking out here and there one of the former who could speak Spanish, and with whom, in consequence, conversation was possible. Meanwhile Guaitu, in his position of commander, was going the rounds of the camp, looking into the toldos, and assuring himself that all was snug and in order for the night. He was followed by an Indian lad carrying a large skin of spirits, out of which Guaitu was pleased to give to every man and woman whom he visited a small draught, telling them that Inacayal had left it, that they might drink to the health and success of the warriors, whom he was leading against the foe.
Unsuspectingly, every one accepted the proffered draught. The Indians are fond of, and will rarely refuse an offer of spirits. How could they know that the traitor Guaitu had previously drugged this liquor,so that soon after taking it they would sleep heavily and without danger of awakening? They could not know it, of course; yet such had been done by Inacayal’s scheming tool. When the conspirator arrived at the chief tolderia he paused and listened. Blancha was singing in a low voice to the baby Queen, and he could hear the measured breathing of poor Graviel, whom the woman had bidden sleep while she watched beside his little charge. Lifting the skin flap which covered the opening to the tolderia, Guaitu entered with a soft smile, and an air of interested solicitude on his face.
“Is all well with the young Cacique?” he inquired softly; yet quietly as he spoke the sound aroused Graviel, who started up from the skin couch on which he lay and stared at the intruder, at the same time grasping his spear.
“Ah! no fear, Graviel,” said Guaitu soothingly. “There is no harm intended;” and he proceeded to explain to the youth how Inacayal had departed with all the warriors, leaving the camp in his charge.
“And he bade me bring to you and Blancha a draught of war cordial, and bid you drink to the health and success of the Queen’s warriors and the defeat of her foes,” continued Guaitu cunningly. Now, neither Blancha nor Graviel desired the draught, but to have refused it would have been to lay themselves open to the charge of desiring evil to the warriors of their tribe, therefore they accepted it as had done the others, and drank, as they had been requested to do, to the health and success of the warriors and to the defeat of the Queen’s foes. This was exactly what Guaitu desired;and as he watched the cordial go down, he chuckled to himself ominously, and muttered the words, “All goes well.” Then he bent over the baby Cacique, who had sunk into a peaceful sleep. “How quietly she lies,” he said a little anxiously. “You are sure, Blancha, that all is well with her?”
“Ay, all is well,” answered the girl curtly. She did not love Guaitu, and he knew it.
“Then watch her carefully, girl,” he continued as he turned to go. “If evil befel the little Cacique in the absence of the Warrior Queen and Inacayal, heavy would be the blame that Guaitu would have to bear.”
“Have no fear,” answered the Indian girl coldly. “In our care the Guardia Chica is safe.”
Alas! Blancha could not look into the future and see what was coming. She was haughty and confident in her own powers and those of Graviel to protect and guard their precious charge.
The sun went down, and everything became hushed in the Indian camp. Sleep held its reign over all.
After Guaitu had quitted the tolderia, Blancha had made up the fire that burnt therein, and again importuned Graviel to snatch a few hours’ sleep. She was not tired, she affirmed, and would hold the first watch, awaking him later on to take up the second. In her heart, however, the Indian girl had resolved to take the whole watch upon herself, and thus afford the wounded youth the rest he so sorely needed; and Graviel, yielding to her entreaties, had consented to her proposal, and the drugged draught quickly taking effect, he was soon plunged in a profound and heavy slumber. Andas she sat and watched beside the baby Queen, a strange drowsiness crept over the Indian girl Blancha. It came upon her so suddenly, that she yielded to its influence without being aware of doing so. Her eyes closed, her head fell forward on her chest, and, like Graviel, her slumber was heavy and profound.
Then a creeping figure stole noiselessly into the tolderia, carrying something in its arms. The figure was Guaitu’s. In a moment he made his way to the little Queen’s couch, laid amongst the warm skins a tiny baby of the same age as the Guardia Chica, and dressed in every respect in the same manner. Then he seized hold of the baby Cacique, stifled the piteous cry to which she tried to give vent, and like lightning vanished from the tolderia. It was all the work of a few seconds. The exchange had been deftly and quickly made, and no one had witnessed the deed.
Daylight had begun to glimmer in the heavens when Blancha awoke with a start. The child by her side was crying, and she sprung towards it with a terrible foreboding of evil. Her head ached, and she felt dull and heavy; but she shook herself, and tried to free herself from the stupor, which still seemed to cling to her brain. On his couch Graviel lay sleeping. The child’s cries appeared to make no impression upon him, which seemed to her to be a most unusual thing. She bent over the baby and took it in her arms. The poor little thing felt cold, and she bitterly reproached herself for her neglect. The fire, though it had burnt low, was not out, and she stirred the embers and put on some dry logs, and fanned the former until theyignited with the fresh fuel and burst out into flame. Then she sat down by the fire and laid the baby on her lap, and strove tardily to repair for her neglect of the child.
Suddenly, however, a loud cry echoed throughout the tolderia, arousing even the dulled senses of poor Graviel. Springing towards Blancha, who had fallen on her knees, and was moaning bitterly with her head bowed in her clasped hands, he excitedly inquired of her what was the matter. A child’s whining lament sounded from one of the corners of the toldo, and looking that way, he perceived what appeared to him to be the baby person of the child Cacique.
With an exclamation of anger he rushed towards it, but as he did so, he heard Blancha call out to him in a voice of anguish not to touch it.
“It is not La Guardia Chica, Graviel,” she wailed in heart-broken accents. “The Cacique is not here; she has been stolen, and that child of a viper has been put in her place.”
“Treason!” shouted Graviel, rushing from the tent, and he commenced to call aloud for assistance. His cries attracted Mary and Willie, who hurried to his side, and a few minutes later Guaitu came running up.
“What ails Graviel?” he inquired angrily; “and why these wild cries outside the tolderia of the head Cacique? Art thou mad, boy?”
Graviel turned fiercely towards him. “Where is the head Cacique?” he demanded furiously. “She has been stolen, and a child of a creeping viper put in her place. Where is everybody? Why is all silent anddead in the camp? Why do children only show themselves? Where are the women, the warriors, and the rest?”
“Thy brain is troubled, Graviel. Dost thou not recall last night’s events, when Inacayal and his warriors departed to fight the hated Cristianos on the northern borders? All are gone save the women, children, and the wounded men. So this is how thou hast safeguarded thy charge; and how will Aniwee greet thee on her return?”
A low wail of intense anguish burst from the young Indian, and he covered his face with his hand. But here Mary interposed, and questioned Graviel in Spanish as to what had happened.
No sooner had the miserable youth explained the situation, than the quick-witted girl made up her mind as to the course to be adopted.
“Graviel,” she exclaimed, “we must mount and scour the country all around. Maybe we shall obtain traces of the lost child. At least, let us try. Both I and my brother will accompany you, and do all we can to help you in this moment of fearful trial. Will you see to the horses being saddled? And meanwhile we will get ready our guns and ammunition. But haste, Graviel; let us not waste a moment.”
Still dazed and suffering from the drug which had been administered to him overnight, Graviel hurried off, and summoning several boys to his assistance, sent them to drive up the troupiglia of horses that grazed not far off. Quickly three of them were caught and saddled, and led round to the chief tolderia,where Mary and Willie stood ready equipped for the expedition.
Inside the moans of Blancha could still be heard, mingled with the feeble cries of the poor little substituted baby, who had been made the innocent tool of the wicked Inacayal’s ambition. Guaitu was hurrying to and fro, arousing the still sleeping camp, and making a great show of grief and consternation, which he was far from feeling, and endeavouring to collect volunteers to accompany him in a search expedition, which he knew perfectly well beforehand would prove futile.
In the midst of the confusion caused by his announcement, Graviel, Willie, and Mary rode out of the camp, bent on a search which had all the appearance of a forlorn hope.