CHAPTER XXIII.
All that night the rescue party paddled and punted, and worked its way up the lonely river, so that when morning began to dawn Piñone advised a halt. The raft was made safe under a dark, overhanging tree, whose branches swept the water, and concealed their charge from any outside observation. Then the occupants of the craft spread their skins under the shade of this tree, and gave themselves up to the soothing influence of sleep, those who had slept during the night being deputed to watch while the others rested.
As evening came on the journey was resumed, and Piñone assured every one that about midnight they would reach the vicinity of the Trauco village. Though silence and caution were necessary, he averred that he had little fear of detection, no watch being kept at night by these hairy people.
In effect, about the hour named, the moon disclosed the village to view. Silence reigned over it as quiet as death, and Aniwee’s heart beat loud and excitedly, as she pictured her darling sleeping therein.
Thus they passed it undetected and unobserved,reaching the tiny branch river or affluent of the parent stream as morning dawned.
This affluent, some seventy yards broad, plunged at right angles into the forest on the same side of the big river as was the Trauco village. It was, therefore, decided to take the raft up about a quarter of a mile, and after making it fast to the right bank, start off on another reconnoitring expedition to discover and makeallsearch for the whereabouts of La Guardia Chica.
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 difficultieshas 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 therôleof 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 LaGuardia 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!”
Keeping still under cover, the whole party hurried forward towards the river, prepared at any moment to use their rifles if necessary. They could see the Trauco woman was gaining on Aniwee, who, fleet as a deer as she was, was of course hampered by the weight of the child. As she reached the river’s bank she lookedback, and perceived her pursuer close behind her, but could make nothing of the reconnoitring party. What should she do? The river was her only refuge.
There was not a moment for hesitation. Grasping her child’s hair in her mouth, she sprung in and struck out for the opposite bank; at the same time she heard a rifle shot ping forth, and knew by that, that her comrades were endeavouring to protect her retreat. Aniwee was a magnificent swimmer, and she was also strong and active. She sent herself along through the water with quick powerful strokes, and would have proceeded at a faster rate than she did, only the baby would struggle and cry, which impeded her movements greatly. She could hear sharp firing now, and a movement of rushing water behind her. A big, powerful Trauco was following in her wake. As she reached the opposite bank, she heard a bullet strike the water, and looking back perceived that her pursuer was close behind. Fear gave lightning speed to her limbs, and she flew along the side of the river at an amazing pace. She could see her companions on the opposite side retiring in good order, and she determined to make an effort to rejoin them. Springing once more into the river, she again struck out for the opposite shore, holding her child in a similar manner to that before adopted. But even as she plunged in she could hear the splash of the Trauco behind her, and she groaned with anguish as she felt that he must overtake her.
“Try hard, try hard, Aniwee!” she heard Topsie call out; and she clenched her teeth, and summonedall her energies for a final effort. As she did so her white friend fired, the rushing sound behind her ceased, and she knew that the progress of her pursuer had been stayed. Six more strokes, and she was on the side of the bank once more, and clambering up its sides.
The Traucos were gathering fast, and their gold-headed arrows were beginning to do execution. One had struck Topsie’s leg, and another pierced Piñone’s shoulder. It was clear that they must take refuge in the forest, and beat as hasty a retreat as possible, or more serious injury might be done. Indeed, matters looked black and ugly enough, and Sir Francis found himself earnestly wishing for the reinforcements, which Lady Vane would at once bring up, as soon as she heard the firing.
As they dived into the jungle they could hear loud trumpetings in the distance, which warned them of the approach of another body of assailants. Up till then the order had been to endeavour to wound without killing these hairy beings, but now self-preservation held uppermost sway, and several Traucos bit the dust, to rise no more.
As they fell, their comrades surrounded them, wonder dilating their eyes. The ping and noise of the rifle had not alarmed them, for they apparently ascribed it to human agencies; but when they saw their species stretched out dead, and no sign of the missile which had inflicted death visible, the effect was extremely subduing. Indeed, they loitered so long round their fallen brothers, that the refugees were able to put a good distance between the pursuers and themselves.
But the Traucos had no idea of giving up the chase, and being joined by those in their rear, they again advanced, headed this time by their chief or king. Piñone at once recognised him as the Trauco who had assumed authority after the Trauco queen’s death, and he rightly judged, that the loss of this leader would signally discomfit the hairy tribe.
Nevertheless shooting these brave and mysterious people was extremely antagonistic to Sir Francis’ feelings, as well as to Topsie’s, and it was with a heavy heart that the former issued orders for a fresh fusillade so soon as the Traucos came within reach once more.
An unexpected diversion made this unnecessary, and interfered to protect their retreat. Loud yells of a most ghastly and ferocious nature suddenly broke forth on their left, and looking in that direction, they beheld advancing some thirty hairy forms, armed with large and formidable-looking clubs.
“Good God!” burst from Sir Francis, “we are surrounded. Fire all, and quickly.”
“Stay!” shouted Piñone, raising his hands imploringly; “do not fire, but retreat hastily. These are not Traucos; they are those big apes whom the young Caciques call demons; they are the fiends I told you of. They will attack the Traucos, and while they do so we must retreat at the run, along the river’s banks. They are our saviours; it is the white Gualichu of good, that has sent them to aid our escape. All hail to the Gualichu!”
As he spoke he handed his rifle to Aniwee, and seizing the child started off as hard as he could go,followed by the remainder of the party. At the same time loud yells arose from the Andes demons as they beheld the Traucos advancing, and the next moment the hairy men and their hideous counterparts, were engaged in mortal combat.
Hot and breathless with exertion, the runaways halted after they had proceeded about two miles, and listened anxiously for any sound of pursuit, but only the distant yells of the demons came back to their ears, telling them that the fight still raged.
At this juncture they were joined by Lady Vane, who had come to meet them, and who uttered an exclamation of thankfulness as she beheld the child. But there was no time for explanations, and the retreat was resumed at the same pace as before. On reaching the raft every one hastily embarked, and its head was put up stream as soon as it had been punted down and out of the affluent, and heartily, as may be imagined, did Sir Francis, his wife, children, nephew, and niece, thank God for their most wonderful luck and escape from death, at the hands of the Traucos and their arrows. Both Topsie and Piñone had their wounds dressed at once, and very sore and painful they proved for a time, but fortunately the arrows were not poisoned, so that no evil results followed.
All that day, and the remainder of that night, and the next day, the raft was kept going, the Indians taking it by turns to sleep and manœuvre the craft. It had been finally decided not to attempt a return past the Trauco village, but to proceed to Araucanian territory through Patagonia. Previously, however, itwas agreed to by all that the great gold mine of Or must be visited, and Harry and Topsie’s hearts bounded at the thought of seeing that wonderful cave once more, and revisiting the grave of their old hermit uncle, Sir Harry Vane.