CHAPTER XXX.
The fact may perhaps be forgiven that our five young friends considerably overslept themselves, and did not awake next morning until long after the Indians had arisen and were about. After many weeks on the hard ground at night, the luxury of the Indian skin couches was a novel change to every one, the consequence being little sleep to begin with, followed by slumber, heavy, fatigued, and prolonged.
When, therefore, the two girls and three lads arose, they found life in the Indian camp both awake and in full swing. Not only that, but unusual activity appeared to reign therein.
“Something’s up,” said Harry knowingly, as the five stood together watching the busy scene. “I wonder where Aniwee is. She would tell us?”
“Why, there she is, Harry,” put in Mary eagerly, and pointing towards several mounted figures at the far end of the toldos riding their way.
These proved to be Piñone, Aniwee, Graviel, Chorlo, and Coquet; and our young friends at once walked to meet them.
“What’s up, Aniwee?” inquired Topsie, as the Indians reined up on reaching them and she noted a disturbed look in Aniwee’s face.
“A Chasqui has just arrived,” answered the Indian Queen, “with a message from Cuastral. The Cristianos are raiding our country in force, and some are entering it by way of Patagonia. Cuastral warns Gilwinikush of the approach of a large body of Cristianos, and has begged him to advance at once and attack them by Las Manzanas, while he himself encounters them from the other side. Seven days ago the Chasqui left Cuastral’s camp, and lo! he is only here to-day, though he has ridden hard.”
“This is serious news, Aniwee. And what is going to happen?” again inquired Topsie.
“What else, but a forward march at once, and an attack on the Cristianos,” answered the Indian girl quickly. “Is it not enough to make our blood burn angrily, to feel that we are as yet so far away from our hated foe?”
In effect, what Aniwee had foretold was soon verified, for toldos were struck, and hasty preparations were made for an immediate departure. Large troupiglias of horses were driven up, and in less than two hours from the statement of the young Queen, the whole of the immense cavalcade was on the march in Indian file. Gilwinikush calculated that it would take him quite three days to reach the borders of Patagonian and Araucanian land, but he had decided to camp finally north-westward of Geylum, a spot situated some forty miles south of the frontier, where there was waterand game in abundance, and where, leaving the bulk of the camp in charge of three hundred of his warriors, he could advance with some seven hundred to co-operate with Cuastral against the common enemy.
The young people enjoyed the march over the plains tremendously. The Patagonian Cacique had placed plenty of horses at their disposal, and permitted them to accompany the severally detached bands of hunters whose business it was to provide food for the multitude.
Freddy, Willie, and Mary became quite versed in the art of throwing the bolas and lasso, and many was the spin which they had after fleet ostriches, and still fleeter guanacos, generally ending in the triumph of the latter, and the intense fatigue of Shag.
The sun was setting low, when one evening the whole cavalcade rode into the valley which girt the plain of Geylum. This valley extended for several miles, abruptly terminating in a long narrow lake, fringed in with shady trees and fallen rocks. Westward, rough hills rose up, jagged and precipitous, forming a capital barrier against attack, the lake serving the same purpose in front and on the right, while the narrow rear alone required protection.
It was here that the Tehuelche Cacique had determined to pitch the toldos, as being an unexceptionally safe position for them, and one easily defended.
And it was from here that the following morning a column of seven hundred warriors rode forth, headed by Gilwinikush, Piñone, and Aniwee, and bound for Las Manzanas.
Accompanying this force were Sir Francis, and LadyVane and their children, as well as Harry and Topsie, besides whom were Graviel, Blancha, Chorlo, Coquet, and the Araucanian following. The baby Cacique was left in the charge of Keoken, Aniwee’s mother, to be cared for by her until the war was over.
Scouts sent out had reported the existence of a white force encamped between the border line and Las Manzanas, and Gilwinikush, after holding a council of war, had determined to try and surprise them, for the Cristianos, intent on taking their Araucanian foes by stratagem, knew nothing of the approaching force of Tehuelche allies in their rear.
A forced march of thirty-five miles brought these latter within ten miles or so of the Cristianos’ camp. Here they bivouacked in a low valley with a running stream, wherein the abundance of grass ensured good feeding for the horses; and it was decided that with the break of day an advance should be made upon the white foe, and a determined effort made to drive them from their position once and for all. After a hurried meal, therefore, of dried meat, every one lay down to rest, intent on obtaining as much repose as possible, in view of the hard work before them.
“Quite understand, young people, that although we accompany the Indians, we take no part in the fight to-morrow if there is one,” said Sir Francis, as the children bade him good-night.
“For,” put in Lady Vane, “though our sympathies are entirely with the Indians, we cannot engage in bloodshed on their account, nor would it be of the slightest assistance to them. I fear a fight is inevitable,however, and I only hope it will be a decisive one, and result in driving the enemy pell-mell from these brave people’s land.”
It was very dusky and dark when every one arose the following morning, but the horses were rapidly driven up, singled out, and saddled by their respective owners, who all preserved the strictest silence, and went through their work in a business-like manner, which showed them to be no novices at such performances.
Our white friends found their horses all ready saddled for them, prepared by the willing hands of the Araucanians at the command of Aniwee.
The young Queen’s heart beat high with hope and expectation as she thought of the coming struggle, and she prayed to the good Gualichu to bring triumph to her people, and rout and disaster to the invaders of her adopted country.
Truly she felt that a blow must be struck once and for all of a character so decisive, as to put an end to the incessant guerilla warfare which the Cristianos kept up, in the hope of stealing the red man’s land; for peace could never be established between the two people until one or the other obtained the upper hand.
Amidst a profound silence the Tehuelche warriors set forth, our white friends bringing up the rear, and rode smartly across the undulating plains which led from one valley into another. The Indians were divided into three companies, respectively commanded by Gilwinikush, Piñone, and Aniwee, the former leading two hundred and thirty-four, and the two latter two hundred and thirty-three followers each. It was agreedto try and encircle the Cristianos’ camp, and fall upon it with the three companies simultaneously.
At length they sighted the enemy’s position, and every one halted. Here Gilwinikush took his dispositions and bearings, and deputed to Aniwee the task of circumventing the camp, and attacking it from the far end, Piñone being ordered westward, and the chief himself electing to begin his attack from the east. It was pointed out by Sir Francis that the Indians would gain a great advantage if they could take as many of the Cristianos prisoners as possible, and he strongly urged the chief to abstain from unnecessary slaughter, impressing upon him the importance of hostages, if a peace of any value was to be obtained; and Gilwinikush, recognising this wise advice, promised a horse in return for every white prisoner that was brought to him.
Aniwee shook hands with her white friends before setting off with her company. Though disinclined to look forward to anything but triumph and victory, yet nevertheless, as she observed, death might come, and then she would not be able to say good-bye.
And as she rode away in the grey dusk of early morning at the head of her warriors, the children felt lumps rising in their throats, as they thought to themselves that perchance in life they might not meet again.
Piñone tacked westward at the same time as Aniwee set forth, and our friends remained with Gilwinikush.
This latter moved his men slowly towards the east, and then threaded a narrow defile which he averred led forth into the plain where the Cristianos were encamped,and here taking his stand, he awaited the first sign of attack, which was to come from Aniwee’s side.
Grey dawn had passed away, and the sun was fast shooting forward into light. The clouds were glowing with crimson tints, and here and there a yellow streak of light sped across the sky, heralding the advent of the God of day. As the golden orb rose slowly into life, and glimmered in the eyes of the watching and silent Indians, the first note of war came echoing across the quiet plain.
It came from Aniwee’s company, who, having made a widedétour, had crept round under cover of a thick wood almost exactly facing the spot where Gilwinikush stood, and then, without losing a second of time, the young girl leader, standing up in her stirrups, had given the order to charge, as she dashed forward herself at the head of her men. They streamed across the plain towards the white invaders’ camp, and as they did so, dusky forms charged from the west and south-east as well. The Cristianos, rushing from their tents, at the loud warning cry uttered by their sentinels, beheld the angry and pitiless Indians, whom they had done their best to make their foes, bearing in this manner down upon them.
They rushed to their arms and to their horses. These latter had been kept picketed, as luck would have it, otherwise there would have been no time to collect them. Many of the white men mounted saddleless, so great was their haste.
With a succession of fierce, wild cries the Tehuelche warriors came on. Our white friends, watching fromsome heights above, shivered as they beheld the first crash of meeting. Aniwee seemed transformed. She was standing up in her stirrups cheering her followers on, and waving her small, but strong and sharp axe around her head. This was the principal weapon of her tribe, for, unlike the Araucanians, they did not carry spears.
The charging Indians were met by a steady fusilade from the Cristianos, and many saddles were emptied. Mary closed her eyes and shuddered, as she pictured Aniwee one of the victims. But no, Freddy’s voice reassured her on that point, and she looked again. A Cristiano had tackled the young Queen, for the Indians under her command had swept on in spite of the fusilade, and had come hand to hand in combat with their foes. The Cristiano had clubbed his rifle, and was on the point of bringing the butt-end on to her head, when by a movement of her knee she made the horse she was riding swerve aside, and the rifle hit nothing but the air. At the same time she turned her wrist sharply, giving a back stroke at his shoulder, and the axe, well directed by a practised hand, cut clean into the shoulder blade, completely disabling her assailant. The rifle dropped from his grasp, and the next moment he was her prisoner.
Shouts, cries, yells, resounded over the plain. All three companies of Indians were now at work, fiercely contending for victory with their enemies. They fought for their country, for peace, for freedom, did these children of the breezy plain, and therefore they fought bravely and unflinchingly. The Cristianosresisted as doggedly, for it was for life they were struggling; and amidst the confusion of this ghastly fight could they not see the pictures of their homes across the border line, which they had foolishly quitted in order to rob, annoy, pillage, and maltreat the red man?
Amidst this scene of carnage loomed the huge figure of Gilwinikush. Wherever he turned the Cristianos gave way before him. Piñone, too, was fighting savagely, and the Araucanians of his following could be easily distinguished from the Tehuelches in different parts of the field, by the difference in their apparel. All these were following their Cacique’s example, and helping to keep up the renown of their name.
A tall figure, riding a barebacked horse, suddenly confronted Aniwee, and made a thrust at her with a short spear. She parried the thrust, and pulling up her horse with a movement of anger, stood up in her stirrups, and waved her axe round her head defiantly. But the weapon almost fell from her grasp as, beneath his Cristiano’s apparel, she recognised Inacayal, and became aware with whom she was dealing.
“Creeping serpent!” she cried, as she struck her spurs into her horse and charged straight at him. “Dare you attack your Queen? Even so, she will leave her mark upon you,” and as she spoke she made a blow at him with her axe. The sharp weapon struck into his cheek, laying it clean open. But Inacayal was not to be conquered so easily. Uttering a cry of rage, he wheeled round, and brought the butt-end of his revolver down on Aniwee’s skull as she flashed pasthim. The next moment she had thrown up her hands, and her white friends, watching her from afar, saw her fall back from her horse and roll to the ground. As she did so the war-whoop of hundreds of voices broke in upon the already noisy tumult of battle.