Chapter II: Introduction

I was once a child myself, and dearly loved those books of adventure which told of strange lands and strange people I had never seen. Yet, when I read about the North American Indians and their wild ways, I would often wonder why there were so few books which told us about the Indians of South America and the beautiful countries contained therein; and I determined some day to visit those lands if I lived, and tell the generation of girls and boys following me all about them. Well, my young friends, I have told you a good deal in “The Young Castaways,” and now I am going to tell you still more in the following pages. I am going to tell you about a splendid unexplored country, and several adventures that happened therein, and I hope some day that some of you will go and see those countries, and penetrate even further into their mysteries, than did the girls and boys who figure in this book. Those amongst you who have read “The Young Castaways” will renew acquaintance with old friends, which, no doubt, will give you pleasure.

I remain, my dear girls and boys,
Your sincere friend,
THE AUTHORESS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGES
The youthful Warrior Queen—Joyful
News—Expectation—Inacayal—Tolderias—La Guardia Chica—Every
Inch a Queen—The Whites’ Approach 1–11

CHAPTER II.

A Ceremony—Aniwee’s Welcome—A Happy Meeting—Midshipman
Harry—The Girl Cacique—The Cristianos’
Attack—Treachery—Foiled 12–20

CHAPTER III.

Aniwee Fighting—A False Alarm—Wounded—Inacayal’s
Charge—Graviel’s Tale—A Great Feast—The young Queen speaks 21–29

CHAPTER IV.

Harry and Topsie—Jest and Earnest—Lazies!—A Sport Programme—The
great Gold Mine—Hospitality—The Start—A Fairy Scene 30–38

CHAPTER V.

Welcome—A Hunt proposed—The Hunting Party—Baguales—Wild Horses
sighted—The Indian Charge—The Stallion’s Charge—The Grey
Mare—“I say, where’s Topsie?” 39–47

CHAPTER VI.

Hunter and Hunted—A Race for Life—A risky Alternative—A
terrible Crash—Topsie’s Captor—The Trauco Being—A painful
Position—A silent Conversation—Thirst 48–56

CHAPTER VII.

Missing—Anxiety—The Haunted Forest—Traces of Topsie—The wounded
Labrador—Shag’s Impatience—Shag under the Surgeon’s
Knife—Preparing for Action—To the Rescue—“It is God’s Will” 57–66

CHAPTER VIII.

Plans made—Shag to the Fore—Shag takes the Field—At Fault—The
Sun shines—A tedious March—Demons of the Andes—The Mystic
Bell—“Topsie, dear old Topsie” 67–76

CHAPTER IX.

Retrospect—The Wild young Lady of the Forest—An alarming
Situation—Strange Tactics—A skilful Shot—Again the Mystic
Bell—A mysterious Incident—Piñone—A Discovery 77–85

CHAPTER X.

“The Trauco People!”—Piñone and Topsie—Plans of Escape—Caught
in a Trap—A Tale—A chance of Escape—A desperate
Enterprise—Recapture 86–95

CHAPTER XI.

A Traitor—Hostilities—A cunning Device—Drugged—A Thief in the
Night—“Treason!”—Graviel Disconsolate—Search 96–104

CHAPTER XII.

Anguish—The Trauco’s Retreat—A successful Ruse—Topsie saved—A
piteous Sight—The Trauco’s Death—Aniwee startled—The Face of
the Dead—A joyful Meeting 105–113

CHAPTER XIII.

The Search begun—Regrets—A suspicious Movement—Pursuit—A Ride
for Life—Capture 114–122

CHAPTER XIV.

Once more—The Hand of Time—Forebodings—Terrible News—Stolen—A
sullen Captive—“Speak or Die”—“Where is La Guardia Chica?” 123–131

CHAPTER XV.

Gloom—Good Advice—Aniwee Busy—A fruitless Search—Kai Chileno’s
Treachery—Led Forth to Judgment—A Speech—“If the Men fear,
the Women do not”—Piqued 132–140

CHAPTER XVI.

Volunteers chosen—In for a Lark—Harry again—Entering the
Forest—“A Black Jaguar!”—Piñone’s Attack—Death of the
Jaguar—A Bivouac—A Story asked for 141–149

CHAPTER XVII.

Piñone’s Tale—A strange Scene—A heavy Sleep—Departure—The
Mystic Bell—White Traucos—The terrible Demons 150–158

CHAPTER XVIII.

“The Demons of the Andes!”—A fierce Fight—The great Trauco
Village—The Queen’s Welcome—A mysterious Fire—Equal
Occupations—A Gold Forge—A Black-ringed Jaguar—Liberty 159–167

CHAPTER XIX.

Preparations—A kindly Queen—Escape—Flight—Pursuit—A heavy
Sleep—A Welcome—Food Supply—The great Gold Mine of Or 168–175

CHAPTER XX.

Wonderful!—Exploring the Mine—A terrible Catastrophe—Agony and
Joy—Suspense—Splendid Self-sacrifice—The Wild Queen’s
Heroism—Under Guard 176–183

CHAPTER XXI.

Sleepless—A restless Night—Through the Forest—A Gallop to the
River—Aniwee Moody—Mary in Jeopardy—A Monster—“A diabolical
Serpent” 184–191

CHAPTER XXII.

The Search Party—Caution—Reconnoitring—The Baby
Prisoner—Departure—Consultation—In Council—A Critical Moment 192–199

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Trauco Village—Reconnoitring—The Prisoner sighted again—A
noble Impulse—The only Refuge—The Virtue of Powder and Shot—A
formidable Array—Retreat 200–208

CHAPTER XXIV.

The Old Man’s Grave—Provisions—A Hunt Party—The Start—A monster
Bull—“El lazo, el lazo!”—An indiscreet Shot—A narrow Squeak
for Life 209–216

CHAPTER XXV.

Topsie remonstrates—Shag the Hero—A Rest and a Feast—Startled—A
perilous Encounter—Just in Time—The Demons again—Sir
Francis’s Tale—The Raft 217–225

CHAPTER XXVI.

Travelling—Memories of the Past—Excitement—The great Gold Mine
of Or—Blocked—Gold, Gold, Gold everywhere—Earthquake—A
terrible Calamity—Buried Alive! 226–234

CHAPTER XXVII.

British Pluck—A Chance—Topsie’s noble Resolve—The Girl
Volunteer—Steadfast in Hope—The Sandstone
Vein—Suspense—Excelsior—Victory 235–243

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Communication—The Ascent begun—Shag goes Aloft—“Aniwee will
leave the Last”—Piñone troubled—Graviel’s Devotion—The
Avalanche—A brave young Queen—Gratitude—A great
Landslip—Buried 244–254

CHAPTER XXIX.

Old Scenes—Last Day in the Mountains—A Bird’s
Paradise—Preparations—Good News—Horses in Plenty—Gilwinikush
and Aniwee—A Joyful Meeting 255–262

CHAPTER XXX.

“Something’s up”—Serious News—An entrenched Position—A forced
March—Preparations for the Fight—Before the Battle—The
Charge—Aniwee transformed—A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing—Struck
down 263–272

CHAPTER XXXI.

The War-whoop—“It is Graviel!”—A personal Encounter—An anxious
Moment—“Aniwee is Well”—White Prisoners—A Calm—Safe 273–280

CHAPTER XXXII.

Terms of Peace—The Return of the Baguales—A great Peace—Freedom 281–284

CONCLUSION.

What followed—For the Sake of the Trauco Queen 285–286

ANIWEE;

OR,

_THE WARRIOR QUEEN_.

A TALE OF THE ARAUCANIAN INDIANS AND THE MYTHICAL TRAUCO PEOPLE.