CHAPTER XVII.
“After our bonds were loosened, and we were relieved from our helpless position by being untied from the trees, as may be imagined,” began Piñone, “we thought that we had been delivered by friends. On tearing the bandages from our eyes, however, our horror was deep and intense when we saw ourselves surrounded by quite twenty tall, hairy beings, who, taking us by the hands, made us enter the dreaded forest. At first we tried resistance. We might as well have wrestled with a granite rock, for the Traucos, as at once we knew them to be, were strong as the mountains before us. There was no resisting them, and no hope of escape.
“We spoke to them in our language, but they did not reply, and we noticed that they never addressed each other save in a kind of rumbling sound, like the low rippling of a running stream. It was not speech at all, merely what I have described it to be, and nothing more.
“For hours we travelled through the forest, now coming upon tracks made by wild horses, or wild cattle anon struggling through the dense underwood, whichin parts grew so thick that it was almost impassable. I and Cuastral could not go the pace which our captors adopted, and both giving way to fatigue and despair fell prone upon the earth. We expected rough treatment, probably death, but were surprised when two of the Traucos lifted us into their arms as I would lift a feather, and bore us gently over the rough ground, giving us apples to suck and araucarias to gnaw, with which we allayed our hunger and our thirst, both of which had for some time made themselves uncomfortably felt. And thus we travelled for the greater part of the day. Towards sunset, however, we emerged into a plateau very similar in appearance to Traucos’ Rest, and here we came in sight of a number of huts formed out of stakes stuck in the ground, and fastened in all round with the green boughs and leaves of the araucaria. A great many Traucos were seated in and about these huts, and numberless young Traucos gambolled and played around. Some were climbing trees and pelting their playmates with piñones, others were shooting with tiny bows and arrows at marks made out of broad leaves fastened to the stems of the trees, that everywhere dotted the plateau profusely. Many of the hairy creatures appeared to be busily engaged sewing together skins, and I noticed that they used thick gold-looking needles, which I afterwards made out to be of pure gold, while their thread consisted of the twisted fibre they obtain from a tree, which until I entered these Trauco realms I had never seen before.
“On perceiving us they all jumped up and camerunning to meet us, crowding round us and cooing softly, many showing their white teeth in laughter and apparently pleased surprise. They smoothed us gently with their furry hands, and offered us piñones and araucarias to eat, but I and Cuastral longed for meat, and cast our eyes around to see if we could perceive any. Then we saw that there were large strips of it hanging from the trees, and we pointed to it, and made signs that we would like some. They understood us at once, and one of them, a big powerful female, climbed up one of these trees, and brought us down two goodsized lumps. As there was no sign of a fire in any direction, we concluded that they knew not the art of obtaining light, and we therefore eat the meat raw, washing its somewhat hard substance down with a draught of water from a torrent, which flowed by the huts in close proximity.
“No sooner had the sun sunk behind the green groves of araucarias, than all the Traucos hurried to their huts, and curling themselves up within were soon fast asleep. But before betaking herself off, the big woman who had fetched and given us the meat, led us, like two children, towards a large hut, and motioned to us to enter. We did so, and found the ground strewn with skins of the wild cat, puma, and sundry other kinds, which at any rate made it soft and warm. We were terribly tired, and had no thought of attempting escape that night; indeed, we felt too despairing and hopeless to wish to do so. Yet, as I thought of thee, Aniwee,” and here the young Cacique looked lovingly at the pretty face of the youthful Warrior Queen, “my heartfelt weighted with a heavy load, and I threw myself face downwards and wept. Ay, love of my heart, they were the first tears almost that have fallen from Piñone’s eyes since he played a thoughtless child.
“Then Cuastral upbraided me for showing such weakness, and I strove to be brave; but the parting in spirit with my Aniwee was terrible, and I felt like one that has entered another world, far away from all that his heart loves best. Worn out, however, with fatigue, sleep brought its balm to heal the weary soul, and soon both I and my father had sunk beneath its soothing influence. We must have been strangely wearied, for the sun shone high above our heads when I opened my eyes next day. My father still lay sleeping, and looked so still and worn that I grew alarmed, and sought to arouse him. At my touch he sprang to his feet with a loud cry, his eyes staring wildly before him, but as my voice sounded in his ear, he became calm and composed.
“We looked out of our hut. The Traucos were up, about and busy. Indeed they seemed unusually so, for even the children were hurrying to and fro with lumps of meat in their hands, which they deposited in a common heap on the ground. Just outside our hut lay a small mound of rosy-cheeked apples, and close beside these apples were two lumps of meat. The Traucos had evidently put them there for our use.
“Before eating, we went outside to the stream and washed all over in its cool waters, and then, refreshed, we made a meal on a few of the apples and part of the meat. We saw several of the Traucos watching us,but they did not interfere with our movements until I and my father walked towards the forest, and then several of them followed us hastily, and taking us by the hands led us back to the huts. There could be no longer any doubt that we were closely watched, and that the Traucos did not intend to give us a chance of escape.
“A few minutes after this occurrence I saw several of these hairy beings select each a piece of meat from the aforementioned heap, and start off in the direction of the forest. In small groups the whole encampment did likewise, and we were led along by the same Traucos who had superintended our movements the day before. And thus another sun went on its course, while the long cavalcade travelled swiftly through the forest, the men and the women carrying the children when they tired, as our guards did likewise by us. That night we encamped in a pleasant valley, through which ran a gurgling stream, which made its way towards the distant mountains. There were no huts, and we lay in the open under the shelter of a great tree. All the children cuddled together, and around them lay their parents in a similar manner. As for ourselves, we were put next the children, doubtless with a view to prevent any attempt at escape.
“With dawn every one arose and trooped down to the stream, and every member of the party washed therein. Then we ate piñones, apples, and meat, after which we started on our journey once again. We made a very long march that day, and it was getting dark when we entered a wooded plain, heavy with the scentof flowers, and crossing it arrived on the banks of a broad river which flowed northwards. Several large rafts were moored to the land, and on them lay a pile of apples, araucarias, and piñones. There were several Trauco huts standing along the banks, and when we arrived two or three strange figures came out of them leaning on sticks. They were exactly like the Traucos in build and make, save that their fur was pure white all over instead of brown as the others were, and their eyes, instead of being dark, and languishing, were pink.”
“Albinos!” exclaimed Topsie quickly. “Trauco Albinos.”
“At first we took them for very old people of the Trauco species,” continued Piñone gravely, “but we soon saw that they were young enough. Yet the brown-haired Traucos appeared to regard them with respect, for they all prostrated themselves, and raised their hands above their heads.
“Suddenly, and apparently from amidst the snow crags that towered far above, a clear bell-like note rang forth. At once the strange white figures raised the staves which they carried and pointed to the sky, and then the Traucos fell flat again, and made obeisance to the unseen Gualichu.
“Both I and my father were seized with a great awe, and we raised our hands to our foreheads, and saluted the spirit that apparently reigned over these scenes and these people, in order to propitiate him and shield ourselves against evil.
“Then the white Traucos retired to their huts. Weformed a circle, and after we had eaten retired to rest in exactly the same manner as we had done the night before. When morning came, every Trauco arose as usual, and going down to the river’s edge plunged in. They swam with long powerful strokes, and kept their chests high out of the water as they did so. Both I and Cuastral followed their example, and the swim greatly refreshed us.
“I noticed that the white Traucos did not enter the water. Yet, as their fur was extremely white, I have no doubt but that they bathed at other times. When we had bathed we ate, and then every one began to crowd upon the rafts. The children all seated themselves in the centre, their elders round them, leaving a free space on either side for the Traucos, whose duty it was to propel the rafts forward.
“This they did by means of long poles, tipped at the end with gold. On each side of the raft a male and female Trauco took their stand, and dipping their poles into the water, pressed them to the bottom, and then walking along the raft pushed her up against the stream. The strength of these Traucos must have been very evenly balanced, for they kept the head of the raft as straight as an arrow flies.
“As we left the banks the white Traucos stood thereon with their staves raised and cooing like doves. It was thus I saw them standing as we glided from their midst, with the forest trees sweeping the dark, cool river on either side.
“We saw several strange sights that day. A large black-headed swan was sighted up the stream, and twoTraucos were landed to stalk it along the banks, while the rafts were kept close to the shore. A Trauco on either side, stealing like snakes through the long grass, was a curious vision; and in spite of our downcast thoughts, both I and Cuastral could not but watch it with interest.
“Suddenly, and at the same moment, the creeping, hairy beings uprose themselves, startling the great white bird, who spread his wings and began to soar aloft. The next moment two golden-headed arrows winged their flight, and the lordly king of the watery-feathered tribe fell dead to rise no more. His great white body floated down the stream towards the rafts, and was drawn on board one of them. Then the hunters retook their places thereon, and the journey was continued.
“We travelled on for many miles after this. The heat was terrific, and the Traucos, perceiving that I and Cuastral were overcome by it, gave us some branches of green leaves with which to shield ourselves from the sun’s rays. Beneath their grateful shelter we both lay down and fell asleep.
“I was awakened by loud and blood-curdling yells, and springing to my feet beheld a scene of weird and fantastic horror. Dancing along the banks, and springing from tree to tree, were a crowd of dark hairy creatures bearing the shape of men. Like the Traucos, they were furry all over, but that was all. They lacked the fine, powerful build, the shapely body, the well-formed head, the large dark eyes and splendid teeth of this people. Unlike them, they wore no chiripas offur around the loins, their faces were black and skinny, their teeth sharp and pointed, their eyes small and gleaming. Their noses were merely two holes in a slight bridge, and in their hands they carried thick clubs, which they brandished above their heads.”