CHAPTER XXXIII.
FIRST HOURS OF CAPTIVITY.
Trangoil-Lanec had not been deceived, it was really Don Tadeo whomhe had seen galloping by the side of the Toqui. The King of Darknesswas not dead, he was not even wounded, but he was the prisoner ofAntinahuel.
After Don Tadeo saw his faithful followers fall one after the otherby his side, and he was left alone, he still continued fighting. Itwas then that he heard the cries of encouragement from Valentine andthe count. Antinahuel had also heard the shouts of the Frenchmen, andon seeing the incredible efforts they made to succour their friend,he perceived that if he delayed the capture, his prey would escapehim; hence he tore off his poncho and threw it skilfully over the headof Don Tadeo, who, blinded and embarrassed in the folds of the amplewoollen vestment, was disarmed.
Antinahuel, whilst flying with the swiftness of an arrow, contrived torally around him a good number of horsemen, so that at the end of abouttwenty minutes, he found himself at the head of five hundred warriors.The Toqui formed of these warriors a compact squadron, and turninground several times, like a tiger pursued by the hunters, he chargedthe Chilian horse vigorously. When arrived at a certain distance, andthe conquerors had renounced the pursuit, he stopped to look after hisprisoner, and allow his troop to take breath.
Since his capture Don Tadeo had given no signs of life, and Antinahuelfeared with reason that, deprived of air, and shaken by the rapidityand roughness of the course, he should find him in a dangerous state.He hastened to untie the lasso, the numerous twists of which cut theprisoner in all parts of his body, and then took off the poncho whichcovered him--Don Tadeo had fainted. Want of air alone caused thisresult, so that as soon as he breathed freely he opened his eyes. Atthis happy result a smile of indefinable meaning lighted the featuresof the Toqui for a second.
Don Tadeo cast around a look of astonishment, and appeared to sink intodeep reflection; memory, however, returned by degrees, he recollectedwhat had taken place, and how he came into the hands of the chief. Herose crossed his arms upon his breast, and looking steadfastly at thegreat chief--waited.
"Does my father feel himself better?"
"Yes," Don Tadeo replied laconically.
"Can we then set on again?"
"Is it for me to give you orders?"
"If my father were not sufficiently recovered to sit on horseback wewould wait a little."
"Oh, oh!" said Don Tadeo.
"I should be very sorry if any inconvenience befell my father."
Don Tadeo shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, and Antinahuel resumed--
"We are about to depart; will my father give me his word of honour notto attempt to escape? If he do so, I will allow him to be free amongstus."
"Will you have faith in my word?"
"I am but a poor Indian, my father is a caballero."
"Before I reply, tell me whither you are taking me."
"I am taking my father to the country of the Puelches, my brothers."
A feeling of joy rushed into the prisoner's heart, he should see hisdaughter.
"How long is this journey likely to last?"
"Only three days."
"I give you my word of honour not to attempt to escape for three days."
"Good," the chief replied, in a solemn voice.
"When my father is ready, we will depart," Antinahuel said.
Don Tadeo mounted, the Toqui followed his example, and the troop setoff at a smart pace.
The sun had sunk low in the horizon when the chief commanded a halt.The spot was admirably chosen; it was a narrow valley, situated onthe not very high summit of a hill, the position of which rendered asurprise almost impossible.
Antinahuel seemed to have forgotten his hatred for Don Tadeo; he spoketo him with the greatest deference. Confiding in his word of honour,he left him entirely free. As soon as the repast was terminated,sentinels were placed, and everyone sought repose. Don Tadeo in vaincourted sleep, for a too powerful anxiety devoured him to allow him toclose his eyes. Seated at the foot of a tree, his head reclining on hisbreast, he passed the whole night in reflecting upon the strange eventswhich for some months passed had assailed him.
The rising sun found him plunged in these sad thoughts, and sleep hadnot for an instant closed his weary eyelids. But everybody was inmotion in the camp; the horses were saddled, and after a hasty repastthe march was continued. The day passed away without any incidentworthy of being recorded. In the evening they encamped, as they haddone the night before, on the summit of a hill; the sole difference wasthat, as the Araucanos now knew themselves to be beyond the danger of asurprise, they did not take such great precautions as on the precedingoccasion; but still they raised entrenchments.
Don Tadeo, overcome by fatigue, sank into a leaden sleep, from which hewas not roused till the moment for departure.