CHAPTER XV.
Gloom reigned over the camp of the Araucanians. The gay and happy scenes of a few days back had disappeared, and all looked lonely and deserted. Here and there a few old crones sat and howled their lamentations, but there was no one to heed them, save children and beasts. Every man and woman whom Inacayal had left in camp, were away searching for the young Cacique.
In this state Aniwee found it, when she rode into it as night was falling, in the company of our white friends, Cuastral, Piñone, Graviel, and her followers, who guarded in their midst the still bound form of Kai Chileno. It was a dismal homecoming, a sad reception indeed for the two chiefs, after their captivity amongst the Traucos.
When Kai Chileno confessed the fate of the baby Queen, we have seen how Graviel sprang upon him, and youth though he was, had borne the big powerful Indian to the ground. Over and over they had rolled, fought, struggled, and hit, until the former had been forcibly torn away, and a safe distance been placed between himself and the captive. Then a council ofwar had been held, and the position anxiously discussed, and Sir Francis Vane had spoken as follows:—
“If Aniwee the Queen, the Caciques Cuastral and Piñone will believe me, I tell them that we are the true friends of the Araucanians, and wish them well. We have heard with deep concern of the wicked plot whereby the young Cacique has been stolen, and made over to the hairy tribe, and we unhesitatingly declare that every effort must be made to trace and release her. But it would be rash to embark on such an expedition unprepared, and my counsel is, that we return to the camp, lay in a stock of ammunition, and secure volunteers to take part in the search which must be instituted. I and the white Caciques with me, place our services at the disposal of Aniwee and Piñone. Have I spoken well?”
“Yes, well,” they had answered with one voice, and then as the sun sunk low, the whole party had mounted and turned their horses’ heads towards the Araucanian camp. Both Cuastral and Piñone had sought to cheer the young Queen with the assurance that the child would receive no ill-treatment at Trauco hands, their experience having established the fact very clearly, that amongst these strange, wild people, gentleness and kindness to the weak were pronounced characteristics, and that both male and females evinced great tenderness for the young.
But while they howled their lamentations, the old crones had not forgotten to keep alight the sacred fires which burned within and without the chief tolderia of the Queen, so that when the party arrived, the membersthereof, at least, had the comfort of a warm blaze. The horses were unsaddled and turned loose, a huge tripod and iron bowl, with meat in the latter, were set over the fire, and the grateful maté cup soon went round to cheer the weary travellers.
Poor Aniwee strove hard to suppress her feelings, as she looked at the couch whereon she had last seen her chubby baby, kicking its little fat legs and clapping its tiny hands. Some one had tidied up the tolderia, and removed the other baby which had been introduced as a substitute—a fortunate act, as the sight of it would have overcome the young mother altogether.
After sharing the contents of the iron bowl, and indulging in various sucks at the maté bowl, our white friends retired to their tolderias, thoroughly worn out, and greatly in need of a night’s rest and refreshing sleep. But for more than an hour Aniwee busied herself in clipping, combing, and dressing the long, unkempt, and matted hair of Piñone and Cuastral, and in looking out and arranging for the morrow suitable warrior attires, befitting the rank and position of those for whom they were intended. She did not forget that the rightful lord of the great Warrior tribe, over whom she had been lately reigning, on behalf of her child, was once more represented in the person of Cuastral, who, previous to his captivity amongst the Trauco people, had ruled over it for fifteen years, doing more than any other chief before him, to make the tribe great, united, and powerful.
But Nature will assert itself in the end, and Cuastral, Piñone, and the girl Queen began to feel the power of its will. Fatigue and sleep closed their eyes at last, as,like their white friends, they sought assistance from repose, praying it to rehabilitate their wearied frames, and make them fit and strong for renewed exertion.
Still tightly bound, and coupled to a stake, lay Kai Chileno, around whom guards kept watch and slept by turns. They were determined that he should not escape, and indeed the wretched captive knew that, desperate and determined as he was, his case was hopeless. Like the rest he was weary, and in spite of his fetters sleep wooed him too, and brought him rest.
With daylight the searchers began to drop in one by one. None of them had been able to find any trace of the stolen child, and were proportionately down in their luck, and low-spirited in consequence. Blancha returned looking the ghost of her former self, her eyes swollen with weeping, her face drawn and pinched with mental pain. Her interview with Aniwee was of the most agonising nature, although her young mistress, knowing the truth, through the confession of Kai Chileno, exonerated her from all blame. Then the wonder and astonishment which the sight of Piñone and Cuastral caused to the mourning woman, served for a short time to wean her mind from her great grief. It was all too wonderful and extraordinary.
As the sun rose a number of mounted Indians rode into the camp. They proved to be the advance guard of the company, which Inacayal had led northwards to attack an imaginary foe. No sooner had they learned how they had been hoaxed, than they turned their horses’ heads for the camp again, vowing vengeance on the messenger who had brought the false news; butInacayal had declared that he would abide where he was for the nonce, in order to watch and see if all was quiet. Cunning fellow! He had no intention for the time being of running into danger, by returning to Aniwee’s camp.
Of course the first news which greeted the returning Warriors was the wonderful and startling intelligence, all in one breath, of the treachery of Kai Chileno, Guaitu, and Inacayal, the disappearance of the baby Cacique, and the marvellous discovery of Cuastral and Piñone amidst the haunts of the Trauco people. Messengers or Chasquis were dispatched to hurry up the warriors in the rear, and to make known the painful and joyous announcements at the same time. They brought them along on the wings of speed, and soon the Araucanian camp was the scene of a noisy, gesticulating band of warriors, all clamouring to look upon their old chief and his son once more.
In the midst of the hubbub Guaitu rode in from his pretended search, and was promptly arrested, bound hand and foot, and tied to the same stake as was Kai Chileno. As he was led into the tolderia where the other captive lay, the two men exchanged significant glances, and tried anxiously to read each other’s faces. Guaitu could not make out whether Kai had confessed or not, and feared to compromise himself by speaking openly before the guards or putting any questions to him.
A loud and long-prolonged shout arrested his attention. It came from hundreds of throats, and terrified him, for he attributed it to a cry for vengeance againsthimself. He ventured, however, to inquire of his guards whence its cause.
“Is it not the welcome of Warriors to their long-lost Caciques, Cuastral and Piñone, whom the white chiefs discovered and rescued from the Trauco people?” they answered.
Guaitu started and trembled violently.
“Cuastral and Piñone have returned?” he gasped inquiringly. “Great Gualichu of evil, what hast thou done?”
“Ah! then thou knewest that they were not dead?” asked one of the guards sharply; and at once Guaitu perceived the mistake he had made.
“I never said it,” he retorted angrily. “I was struck with wonder, that is all.”
“It is so much,” answered the Warrior guard who had previously spoken, “that I shall report it to the Caciques.”
Guaitu ground his teeth and remained silent, as he caught a warning glance directed at him by his fellow-captive. The shout which had so startled the guilty wretch increased in volume, and was repeated again and again. At length the flaps of the tolderia were drawn aside, and a messenger entered, bearing an order to the guards from Cuastral that the prisoners were to be conducted before him.
On being led forth from the tolderia, Kai Chileno found time to whisper to Guaitu:
“They forced confession from me on the threat of slow torture. All is therefore known.”
His confederate looked at him angrily, but could notreply, for the guards hustled him roughly forward. A huge ring, many files deep, surrounded Cuastral, Piñone, Aniwee, and our white friends as the captives were led forward. A savage shout greeted their appearance, and many an angry look was bent upon the offenders, who nevertheless assumed a defiant air.
Cuastral and Piñone, arrayed in snow-white drawers, neat potro boots adorned with silver spurs, and magnificent ponchos, looked very different to the wild beings whose appearance had so startled Graviel the day before. This latter, who had recovered from his wild frenzy, occupied his old position at Piñone’s side, Aniwee being next to Cuastral.
“Guaitu and Kai Chileno,” began the chief as the two prisoners were brought to a halt opposite him, “you are prisoners on a charge of having joined in a vile and wicked conspiracy, whereby was sought to destroy the reigning chiefs of the Araucanians, and substitute in their places Inacayal and his wicked assistants. Your plots have failed. Everywhere I have despatched messengers to warn the Warrior tribe against Inacayal, to slay him if they can. A hunted wanderer in any case he will become. Thou, Kai Chileno, hast confessed to stealing the little Cacique. Dost thou still assert as true that thou didst place her on Traucos’ Rest, and didst thence see her borne away by Traucos?”
“Cuastral,” replied the Indian addressed, “it is even so. What I confessed yesterday is the truth. I can say no more. Yet was not my life promised me on condition that I disclosed the secret of her whereabouts?”
“Thou speakest like the son of a coward, as thou art, Kai Chileno,” burst out the Cacique angrily. “Thy life was not promised on the conditions named; only I said that thou shouldst die by slow torture unless thou didst confess. And now I tell thee, and Guaitu likewise, that on the discovery and rescue of La Guardia Chica depends both your lives. If she be not recovered, you die. Guards, remove the prisoners, and see well they do not escape.”
Loud shouts of approval greeted the great Cacique’s decision, which was regarded by the assembled Warriors as both wise and just. Then Aniwee stepped forward and raised her hand to command attention, silence being at once restored.
“Warriors,” she exclaimed, “though I am no longer your Queen, am I not the wife of Piñone, and therefore the daughter of Cuastral? The child of our heart has been taken from us, and we fly to its search and rescue. The great white Caciques have promised to accompany and aid us, but we should have quite twenty more to make the party strong. Who amongst you will cast aside the dread of the Trauco-haunted forest, and aid Piñone and Aniwee to recover their child?”
For a moment there was silence after she ceased speaking. The superstitious dread of the Indian is hard to overcome. Suddenly two beautiful girls pushed their way through the crowd and stood before the ex-Queen.
“If the men fear, the women do not,” they exclaimed eagerly. “We two will follow you to the death.”
At this there arose a shout, and forty Warriors or more sprang forward, indignant at being thus gibed by two mere girls.
But as Aniwee and Piñone made their selections from the volunteers who had presented themselves, they took care to include therein the two Indian girls, whose upright example had overcome the fears of superstition.