“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, which in 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 came running 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 heart felt 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 scent of 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. We formed 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 two Traucos 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 of fur 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.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]