No sooner did these reserves of warriors make their appearance than a
sudden wavering was seen in the ranks of the white men, who had hitherto
kept well together and fought desperately. It seemed now as though they
must be all cut to pieces and destroyed, surrounded as they were by
three hundred of picked braves from the Warrior tribe. Aniwee was
fighting like a young demon, and Harry and Topsie, as they sought
shelter with the others of their party in the rear of the Queen’s toldo,
could hear her war cry distinctly above the fierce shouts of the
combatants. The colonists were all armed with guns and rifles, but they
were at too close quarters with their assailants to make it possible to
use them. They had therefore only their swords to depend on, and when
these, in some instances, fell shivered from their grasp by the powerful
stroke of some Araucanian’s axe, they had only a short stabbing knife, a
revolver, and a small hatchet slung at their sides, to fall back upon.
The Araucanians, as we have seen, were all armed with long lances. They
were stout, powerful, and ugly customers to encounter when, in serried
array and with their lances well set, they swept down upon an enemy. But
on this occasion lances were at a disadvantage, hemmed in as the
combatants were by rocks, trees, and steep hillsides, where only hand to
hand fighting was possible, and the warriors were obliged to have
recourse to their short axes and stabbing knives. Already some twenty
white men had fallen. Quarter was not asked for, because the Cristianos
knew that it would not be given. Had they not been themselves the
aggressors, and had they not themselves alone to thank for their present
plight? They had come slinking as a fox does at night when he thinks the
coast is clear, intent on a brutal and cruel act, and behold their
reward!
Suddenly loud cries and shouts resounded through the valley down which
Aniwee had charged so furiously, and amidst the din of the combat a few
talismanic words brought the Queen and her warriors to attention.
“Help, help! To the rescue of the child Cacique; to the rescue of
Guardia!”
An icy chill ran through Aniwee’s heart. Then the baby Queen for whom
she was risking her life, the beloved child of her lost Piñone, was a
prisoner after all? The thought was maddening; it thrilled her to the
quick; it almost unnerved her; it certainly made her lose her presence
of mind; it was the means of saving many a white man’s life.
“Hark!” she cried, reining up her horse. “Warriors, the Cacique is in
danger. Forward to the rescue!”
Like lightning she had taken her animal by the head, turned it in the
direction whence the cries had proceeded, and the next moment she and
her warriors were streaming up the valley once more, leaving the
Cristianos struck dumb with astonishment. But they soon aroused
themselves to the situation as the voice of Inacayal rung out—
“Fools, would ye wait to be slain when the Gualichu gives you this
chance of escape?”
In a moment they had understood, and leaving their dead to the mercy of
Indians and condors, had paid attention to discretion, which is the
better part of valour, by taking to flight.
When Aniwee, furious and crestfallen, returned at the head of her
warriors, she found them gone.
Her first impulse was to start in pursuit, but her next evinced greater
caution. It was quite possible that an ambush might have been laid to
entrap her. She had been deceived by the false cry of danger to her
child. She would not be befooled twice.
For there was the little Guardia safe and well in the arms of her nurse
Blancha, with Graviel, her faithful attendant, covered with blood,
standing near. The warriors presented a grim sight. Many of them were
suffering from sword thrusts and hatchet cuts, and the gay ponchos, in
which they had decked themselves to do honour to Aniwee’s guests, were
in many instances torn and dishevelled and covered with blood. In a few
brief, dignified words the Queen thanked them for their support, and
bade them seek their toldos to dress their wounds; “but,” she added,
“rest your spears against the sides of your tents, and be on the alert,
for treachery may still lurk around. The Cristianos creep like snakes
and slink like the pampa foxes. Be therefore on the watch.”
“But, Aniwee, you are wounded!” exclaimed Topsie, as she noticed blood
coming from the young Queen’s arm.
“A ball from one of the Cristiano’s medicine engines did it,” she
replied, with a laugh; “but it is nothing. Aniwee will wash it, and
drive the traces away. Let us enter and prepare for the feast.”
On either side of the chief tolderia two others, nearly as large, were
erected. These had been prepared for the use of Sir Francis and Lady
Vane and their children, as well as for Harry and Topsie. Large fires,
fed by huge billets of wood, blazed in front of these snug abodes, which
were lighted up within by stone lamps filled with oil, and in which moss
served the place of wick.
“Will the Queen allow me to dress her arm for her?” inquired Sir Francis
Vane gallantly. “I am something of a medicine man.”
“The great white Cacique is kind,” answered the girl gratefully, “but I
dare not let him. If I fell ill, or suffered from the wound, the tribe
would blame you for it, therefore it must not be; but the Cacique knows
that Aniwee is grateful.”
As she spoke the evil-featured Inacayal stood by her side.
“The Queen is hurt?” he inquired with affected solicitude. “Shall
Inacayal call hither the medicine man?”
“No, Inacayal,” she answered quietly, “but bid him use his arts against
the evil Gualichu. By whose black arts think you the Cristianos obtained
an entrance here?”
The chief shrugged his shoulders, but glanced meaningly at the youth
Graviel, who, still bloody and covered with wounds, stood near.
“You know well, cousin, that I like not the presence of Graviel, and
that I have ever warned you that the boy is haunted by an evil spirit.
It is Inacayal’s firm belief, that the approach of the Cristianos was
not unknown to him.”
The Queen turned sharply round. “Graviel,” she commanded imperiously,
“come here.”
The youth at once obeyed. Not till he had done so did Aniwee realise how
grievously he was wounded. A nasty sword cut had slashed his cheek, his
left arm hung powerless by his side, and one of his potro boots was
saturated with blood, and cut clean through in one part.
“The Cristianos have made you weak as a child, Graviel,” exclaimed
Aniwee. “How was it you became wounded thus? Did you take part in the
fight?”
“Great Queen,” answered the youth proudly, “my duty was to be beside the
young Cacique. I fought on her behalf till I could no more. Then you
came to the rescue. It was well, for Graviel was well-nigh overpowered.”
“And how came the Cristianos to fall upon a peaceful camp like condors
on the dead?” again inquired the Queen.
“How know I that?” answered the youth. “Graviel is not in the confidence
of the evil one. But shall I tell the great Queen all that which I
witnessed after her departure to meet the great white chiefs?”
Aniwee bowed her head. “Speak,” was all she said.
“It was thus, great Queen,” proceeded the youth excitedly. “I had
surrendered the young Cacique to Blancha’s care according to the Queen’s
command, and had gone outside the tolderia to keep my customary watch
over the safety of the Pride of Piñone’s heart. I had watched the Queen
and warriors up the valley out of sight, and having nothing else to do,
strolled round the tolderias. Then it was that I thought I heard a
rustling sound not far away. I halted, and stood still. Suddenly I saw
gliding through the forest, like snakes crawl, the forms of several
white-faced men. I ground my teeth as I recognised the hated Cristianos.
There might have been six of them, though of their number I took no
note; for, like the wailing of a sad blast at night, a despairing cry
arose within the tolderia of the Queen. Next moment I saw a man spring
forth through a rent in the hide, carrying something in his arms. Then
arose once more the despairing cry, and I recognised the voice of
Blancha. If I had doubted, my doubt was at once dispelled, for behold
she came springing through the rent in the tolderia, her face distorted
with fear and passion. At once the good Gualichu opened my eyes. I
divined the cause. The Cristiano, whom I had seen spring forth from the
toldo, had robbed the Araucanians of their brightest jewel. Guardia,
under my especial care, had been stolen! As the lightning shoots from
heaven, thus did Graviel spring to the rescue. With a cry of fury I
rushed upon the loathsome creature, and before he was aware of my
intention had torn the young Cacique from his grasp. Blancha rushed
forward. I gave her the babe, then turned to face as best I could the
men that pressed upon me. I fought desperately. Was not the treasure of
Aniwee’s heart in peril? I would die, I resolved, ere harm again befel
the young Cacique. My shouts brought around me the few men left in camp
and the women as well. But the Cristianos seemed to swell in numbers.
They came over the hill and pressed us sorely, and though we fought
desperately we were driven back. I felt the cold steel of a Cristiano’s
blade strike into my cheek, then my arm fell powerless by my side under
a furious blow, and next the same cold steel struck into my leg. My eyes
grew dizzy, pain made my brain reel, and I thought that death hovered
above me. Then, my Queen, I heard thy war cry, I heard the thunder of
thy warriors’ steeds, and Graviel knew that Guardia was saved.”
“Brave Graviel! Aniwee thanks thee deeply,” answered the young Queen
with much emotion. “Inacayal, thou hast judged him wrongly.”
“Aniwee, thou art too trustful. I bid thee beware,” exclaimed the
Cacique addressed. “Thou art nursing a snake in thy bosom.”
But the Queen waved him angrily on one side.
“Go, Graviel,” she commanded, turning to the young warrior; “go, wash
thy wounds; Blancha will aid thee. Then lay thee on the couch which is
next to that of the young Cacique, and Aniwee will, with her own hands,
bring thee a draught of soothing medicine water. Aniwee will never
forget how thou hast saved to her the child of her heart. Brave Graviel,
thou hast thy Queen’s gratitude.”
Graviel’s eyes sparkled with pleasure as he raised his hand to his
forehead in humble obeisance, and then turned to obey the will of his
Queen; but the eyes of Inacayal shone with a malignant hatred which he
could ill conceal. As Aniwee entered the toldo of her child he cast
after her a meaning look, muttering as he strode away:
“The vicuña may strive to protect its young, but the power of the condor
is greater. Yet shall Inacayal triumph.”
An hour later a great feast was held in the Queen’s tolderia, where
Aniwee right royally entertained her guests. A cow had been killed, and
some sheep as well, and these were roasted whole around a monster fire,
where the braves of Aniwee were congregated. Loud was the rejoicing over
the defeat of the hated Cristianos, and dire were the threats of
vengeance which the Warriors promised to wreak in their next frontier
raid. High and mighty were the speeches delivered and stories recounted
of the deeds of valour performed by the speaker’s ancestors; yet when
Aniwee stepped forth from the chief toldo and stood quietly in the gleam
of the great fire, one long loud shout went up, and then silence fell.
“Warriors,” exclaimed the girl Queen, advancing a few steps forward and
raising her hand above her head, “to-day has the evil Gualichu been
defeated. Treachery sought to steal from you all the little Cacique, the
child of Piñone, to carry her away as the puma does its prey. But she
was saved—saved by the devotion of the youthful warrior Graviel, and
protected by the few brave women and men of the Warrior tribe left
within the camp. From her heart, Aniwee your Queen thanks them. Their
deeds will be sung by the great tribe, and their children will tell
their children, how a youth and a few brave women and men saved the baby
Cacique, the child of Piñone.”
“And of Aniwee,” broke from hundreds of throats, “child of our Warrior
Queen.”
“What a splendid sight!” exclaimed Lady Vane enthusiastically.
“Children, I have never seen a scene more impressive.”
As in effect it was. Freddy, Willie, and Mary dreamt of it that night,
as they lay comfortably curled up on their beds of warm skins. Full well
they understood now how much Harry and Topsie had enjoyed themselves,
when as young Castaways they had lived their free, exciting lives
amongst the Patagonian Indians, and congratulated themselves in being
where they were.
But all night long Aniwee watched by the fevered couch of the youth
Graviel, who had preserved to her the child of her heart.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]