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CHAPTER XXIII.
The tedious Journey completed. The Alarm-bell. Skirmish with the Indians. The destruction of the Hut. The Wounded Indian. Jack's Story of his Captivity, and the Account of the Indian Attack.

"AND now, Charles," said Lewis, "we shall be compelled to trouble Niger to carry double. There is nothing else for it and the sooner we leave this puma-haunted wood the better; we shall enjoy our breakfast more at the next station."

Charles and Jack mounted the steady Niger, who evinced as much reluctance as they did to this undignified practice; but the case was urgent; and after obtaining a supply of water, they set out with some abatement of speed. They had not proceeded far when they came in sight of a troop of horses, and Jack begged to be allowed to mount Pampero, and lasso a horse for himself, an exploit he speedily accomplished, taking care to select one with the mane and tail cropped, the marks of servitude which proclaimed that it was broken in, and ready for use; for it is the custom of the Indians, as well as the Guachos, to turn their horses loose when they are fatigued, and lasso others from the troops which are scattered over the Pampas, half wild, and half accustomed to the bridle.

The horse was strong and swift, and Jack felt himself a man once more. The friends now galloped forward cheerfully, and made a full days journey unmolested; but the necessary refreshment of the evening exhausted all their provision, and they had still two days' journey before them. Next morning they set out without breakfast, and travelled, faint and spiritless for some hours, when fortunately an agouti crossed their path, which immediately fell a sacrifice. They were to anxious for food to proceed now, therefore, alighting, and looking carefully round to ascertain that no puma lurked in the bushes, they tethered their horses, and began | | 268 their labor. Charles offered to be groom, and Jack to make the fire and broil the meat, if Lewis who was more accustomed to such bloody tasks than they were, would undertake to skin and cut up the agouti. Indeed, Jack declared he should never like to see raw meat again; he had been so sickened with the disgusting habits of his captors, who never cooked their food.

"I say, Lewis," observed Charles, "these fellow creatures of ours require a strong pull up the ladder of civilization before they reach that step when they attain the grand distinction of man, and are classed as cooking animals."

"Zara was kind enough to permit me," said Jack, "to broil a slice of meat over a fire I made in some corner, while the men were out hunting. She had herself become accustomed to eat raw flesh; but when I had persuaded her to try my cookery, she recovered her former taste, and said she would always eat her meat broiled, for it recalled the memory of home. I taught her to cook; and I hope she will persuade the chief to eat of her cookery."

"And thus, you see, Charles," said Lewis, "the first step up the ladder will be accomplished. The work of civilization is continually progressing; and whatever may be the secondary means, it must be accomplished, for God has ordained it."

As they talked, the agouti was skinned and cut into small pieces, which were spitted on a thin wooden rod and placed before the fire. The party sat round anxiously watching till the meat assumed some appearance of cooked food, and then eat it from the spit in a true savage fashion, without salt, and, unfortunately, without water as they had met with none during the day. After dinner, they carefully collected the fragments and journeyed onwards, and before night they happily arrived at a stream, and refreshed their parched frames with the precious beverage.

Morning saw them spring up with joyful hopes; forgetting their weak and languid state, they ate their breakfast merrily, filed the horns with water, and then set out, careless of providing more food, and all thinking only of home. But a long day's journey completely wore out the horses, which now could only move slowly, even when the riders disuinunted and led them; and Lewis frequently looked anxiously round, for | | 269 now they had no chance of escaping pursuit. How relieved they felt when they caught the first view of the lofty green hills that bounded their sweet valley at the east! But the shades of evening had come on before they reached the banks of their own beloved river.

As they paused a moment to refresh themselves at the stream, Jack suddenly started, and with a pale and anxious countenance cried out, "Lewis see here the recent traces of many horsemen. Let us on! the Indians have been here! Oh, my dear, dear friends, shall I never see you more!"

It was terrible to see Jack desponding; his buoyant spirits usually rose above every care and sorrow; but the fearful sight entirely overcame him. No more words were spoken; the wearied horses were urged on; the rifles were examined all was made ready for the expected conflict. At that moment the sound of the bell reached their ears they knew their friends were still safe, but calling on them for assistance, and this thought restored even Jack to hope. Then they heard the well-known, ever-dreaded shriek of the Indians, mingled with confused cries.

"Seek the shelter of the wood," said Lewis; "from thence we way surprise them, and they way not discover the weakness of our force, but let no one fire till I speak."

They arrived in sight of their fortress; and, heart-rending sight! they beheld the fence which they had trusted in as perfectly secure, blazing furiously, and by the light they saw the dark countenances of a horde of mounted savages, who were continually flinging fresh torches on the fence to complete the work of destruction.

Lewis whispered a few words of instruction to his friends, then gave the word they immediately set up three loud cheers, and at the same moment fired their three rifles at the back of the enemy. They had neither time nor necessity to discharge their second barrel, for the dismayed Indians, believing they were attacked by a numerous force, fled with precipitation, leaving one of their number lying wounded on the ground, still holding the bridle of his horse.

The shouts of the friends and the report of their fire-arms were music to the ears of the half-distracted family; and Maria, from her old station on the observatory, having pro- | | 270 claimed the retreat of the enemy, the gate was speedily unbarred to admit the welcome guests. But there was no time for explanation or rejoicing; the fire was rapidly spreading; and though the water and pipes were ready, there were no hands to work. The attack had been so sudden that, except Almagro, no one had possessed power to act. The cool presence of mind of Lewis, and the activity of his two assistants, were invaluable, they soon poured a torrent of water and extinguished the flames of the fence, but not before the roof of Mr. Merton's house had caught fire.

Every one was now employed, for even the females hastened to remove their valuable possessions from the endangered hut. Mr. Merton brought out all his books and papers. Nanny saved her churn, corn-null, and pans. They brought away the chests of linen, clothes and crockery, and at last anything they first caught up; but much was lost, for the old hut was burnt to the ground before the conflagration was finally arrested; and it was only the joy of seeing dear Jack again that consoled the bereaved family for this misfortune.

After the fire was extinguished, Jack's first thought was of the poor Indian left lying on the field of battle. Charles and Tom brought the senseless form of the stranger to Almagro's hut, Jack following them, leading the horse. The Indian was a youth shout sixteen years of age, dark complexioned, with long black hair, which was bound with a fillet of silver, indicating that he was a chief, or the son of a chief.

A scarlet poncho bound round his waist, and boots formed from the skin of the colt's leg, were all the clothes he wore. A long knife was stuck n his girdle, and his lance was lying by his side on the ground where he was found. Lewis found that his arm was shattered by a shot; the wound had bled profusely, and caused him to faint; but strong applications were used, and he recovered his senses, opened his large and peircing eyes, and looked round with a glance of bewilderment. Lewis held a cup to his lips, and induced him to swallow some cordial, the youth gazing on him with wonder and awe. "Do not be alarmed," said Lewis, in Spanish, "you are with friends." The lad seemed to comprehend him, for he made an effort to speak, but could not utter a word from his weakened state. But Lewis, still concluding that he understood the Spanish language, which many of the chiefs

| | 271 acquire from trading, in their wanderings, with the towns of La Plata, told him, in a few plain words, that his life was in danger from his wounds and fractured arm; but that, if he patient and obedient, he hoped that he might be enabled to cure him.

The young man evidently understood what was said, for he shook his head, and closing his eyes, stretched out his body to indicate death. Lewis examined the arm, and with the assistance of his young friends, reduced the fracture, bound up the wounds, and inclosed the limb in a frame of bark; he then enjoined the youth to swallow a cup of medicine, which he presented to him, for the purpose of composing him to sleep. The patient, who had never shrunk during the painful operation, received the draught passively, and in a short time was in a profound sleep, on Almagro's bed of skins.

Lewis assuring them the youth might be safely left, as would not wake for some hours, the family all united under the roof that was still left for them,--the house built for the departed friends. Almagro took the precaution to place the kennel of Wallace near the breach the fire had left in the fence, and then they all sat down to hear the tale of Jack. Nanny placed before them the unusual luxury of tea, which was particularly grateful to Jack, after his long confinement to flesh diet; and gathered cheerfully remind the tea-table, in the pleasant hall, the united family forgot for a time their late terrors, their losses, and the peril to which they were still exposed.

"Now, Almagmo," said Jack, "look at me, and tell me it you can find out the good news I have for you?"

Almargo was much agitated; he was scarcely able to utter in a tremulous voice the words,--"My child!"

"Yes, my dear Almagro," replied Jack, "I have seen Zara; she is living, and well; and as happy as she can be, separated from her father."

Almagro covered his face with his hands; he did not speak for many minutes, and all respected his silence; then he said, "It is well, my dear boy; you have restored me to happiness. Now tell your story, that I may learn how this wonderful discovery occurred."

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"When I left dear Maria in the wood," said Jack, "my great anxiety was to gain time, that she might escape. I walked up to the chief, and addressing him in Spanish, I said, 'Great chief, I am not your enemy, therefore pray pass on, and leave me to gather pinones on these wide plains that God has given to all the world.' He smiled, and I do believe he would have let me go, but his people surrounded me, bound my arms, and one ugly fellow dragged me up, and placed me before him on his horse.

"You may be sure I was angry and a little frightened, especially about Maria, and I called out in English some words of comfort to her; the Indians, I believe, thought I was imploring their pity, for they laughed contemptuously. The chief did not seem half-pleased with his men; but the Indians are not slaves to their chief, and he has less of his own way than you would fancy. However, he rode up to me and said, in very indifferent Spanish, 'Fear not, Christian, you are my property, and I never slay but in battle."

"We rode on for some days, sleeping on the bare ground at night; and once in the day we rested, when an ox or a mare was killed for the occasion, and pieces were cut off, and eaten by the Indians on the spot, without ceremony, cookery, or seasoning. For my part, I had luckily preserved my bag of pinones, which was hung over my shoulder, and which nobody seemed to covet. On these I breakfasted, dined, and supped, to the great amusement of my captors, who doubtless considered me in the light of a two-legged hog.

"It was dull work, that long journey; the tears often rose to my eyes, but I kept them down; I did not want the rogues to fancy I was faint-hearted. Then I ruminated on plans of escape; and on the schemes going forward at Esperanza, for I was sure of you, my good fellows. I knew you would find me, even if I was carried to Cape Horn. The Indians in the mean time killed lots of bullocks and mares, which were tied to the saddles and dragged after them ; and at last the journey did come to an end, and in the midst of the imposing procession, I made my first appearance at the huts.

"The first sounds I heard were the tongues of women chattering loudly, children crying, and dogs harking; and in the midst of the strange multitude I was put down, to be | | 273 stared at by the women, yelped at by the dogs, and tormented by the children, who pulled my hair, tore away my clothes, picked my pockets, and took my pinones for playthings. Then began the disgusting work of the shambles, and while all were engaged, the chief, after speaking in a tone of authority to the man who had been my guard, cut my bonds, and waving me to follow him, entered the principal hut of the group. He was met by a female, whose complexion and features were not Indian, and whose dress had a grace and neatness beyond that of the furies I had encountered at my arrival at the toldos."

"Do tell me what her dress was?" demanded Matilda.

"I will tell you as well as I can," answered Jack. "She wore a bright scarlet poncho, thrown over one shoulder, brought under the other arm, and fastened round her with a long sash made of twisted wool, of very gay colors. Her feet and arms were uncovered but she had bracelets of silver, and a silver band, or diadem, round her beautiful black hair, from which hung a plume of ostrich feathers. She held by the hand a pretty boy, who was dressed much in the same manner as his father,--for he was the son of the chief, and the lady was his wife, his only wife; some of the men had two or three wives. And this really lovely girl, the wife of the chief, was, as I see Almagro has guessed, his daughter, Zara.

"The chief spoke to his wife long and kindly in the language of his tribe, pointing to me occasionally. She looked on me with interest, and after the chief had left the tent, she addressed me in Spanish, asked if my father was a Guacho, and where his hut was. I told her in as few words as possible our tale of misfortunes; then I described our happy little home in the wilderness, and the misery ray dear parents would feel at my fate.

She appeared greatly moved, and said, 'Yet such was my early history; I, too, was torn from my parents, and brought among strangers; but they were kind to me, and I learnt to love them, and to accommodate myself to their habits. Still I have never forgotten my dear home, my noble father, and my gentle mother, who would never, I fear. survive the loss of her Zara.'

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"I was not at all surprised when she said this, for I was quite sure at first she would turn out to be Zara; but I said very quietly, 'Was the name of your father Almagro di Valdivia?'

"She shrieked out, 'Do you know my father, boy; and is he living?'

"I told her you were living, and were my very best friend,--one of our happy little community. She was greatly excited; she clasped her hands, and uttered rapidly many words of Spanish and Indian intermingled. I understood that she was asking me, in a distracted manner, many questions about you and her mother; and I thought the best answer would be to tell her your whole story, how we became acquainted, and all your anxiety about her, till you were visited by a gleam of hope on recognising her work in the embroidered trappings of the wounded Indian horse.

"Her eyes glistened as she said, 'Was it not a happy thought that I should embroider my cipher, as dear mamma had taught me to work it, on the saddle-cloth? And I sympathized with Cangapol, when he regretted the loss of it so much, little suspecting that it had happily fallen into the hands of my own beloved father.'

"She wept much at the death of her mother, and wished to see her father, but could not bear to abandon her husband. 'He is so kind to me,' she said, 'and would take no other wife, because the daughter of a Guacho must have her hut to herself. Besides that, my boy, my Cacique Chico forms another link to bind me to a strange people.'

"This irresolution appeared very strange to me, yet at first I was afraid to tell her what I thought; but after some days, when I got used to her, and saw she was kind and gentle, and liked to talk with me, I took courage and said, 'Zara, it is your duty to abandon the dark errors of this heathen people, and to return to your God. Your husband and your people abhor Christians, and you cannot worship God among these savages.'

She wept at my words, and said, 'I have not forgotten the prayers my mother taught me; I repeat them daily, and have tried to prevail on Cangapol to join me; but he tells me kindly to pray in my own way; his God is a God of battles and slaughter, and loves only the brave, who, after their | | 275 death, are happy in wide hunting fields, with plenty of food to eat. And I fear I had learned to wish that I might join that hunting field of the brave dead, and had almost forgotten the faith of my childhood, till your words reminded me that Christians worship a God of peace, who forbids them to shed blood; is it not so, boy?'

"I spoke to her with my best ability of the beautiful history of the Son of God, who walked on earth, enduring the hardships, the sorrows, and the sufferings of the world, that be might save the world. She listened with attention, and wished she could toll it all to Cangapol, who would not, she feared, condescend to listen to me. One day she asked me to speak of these wonderful things to Sausimian, the uncle of the chief, who was sick and infirm; and whom, she told me, the young Indians wished to strangle, because, when the toldos were removed, it would add to their labor to have to carry a man who was so aged that he was wholly useless, 'I induced Cangapol,' added she, 'to insist on the life of the aged sufferer being spared. He has no wife or child, and I have visited him daily to take him charqui and cool water. He lies on his couch of death, seeing death before him, and recoiling from it in his old and feeble state he does not believe that hunting-grounds can be a scene of happiness. Talk to him, good English boy, he understands the Spanish language, and tell him of the blessed rest promised by our God to them that believe in him.'

"I went with Zara to visit the wretched Sausimian, whom age and painful disease had bent nearly double; yet his mind was clear and keen he had been in cities where he had seen civilization, and could speak and understand Spanish. He evidently doubted the existence of the Indian paradise. 'I desire no longer,' said he, 'to slay the puma, or to drink the blood of the wild cattle. I cannot dart over the Pampas on my fleet steed, seeking to burn the hut of the sleeping Christian. I desire only the sleep of the weary. Can death be this sleep? Tell me, young Christian what is death?'

"Then, papa, I tried to remember some of your discourses and to repeat them to poor old Sausimian. I told him that, to the Christian, death was but the passage to a heaven of peace, and love, and happiness and that the gate of this | | 276 heaven was still, by God's mercy, open to him. I had in my pocket when I was taken, the little Spanish New Testament dear Mr. Carruthers had given me, and Zara had rescued it for me from the thievish boys, for she had not quite forgotten how to read, and was glad to see a book once more. I now read from this book many passages of the life and doctrines of our Lord to the afflicted man; he seemed satisfied to hear me, and I visited him continually, till the night when I hoped to escape; then I left my precious book to Zara, who will, I am convinced, daily read to Sausimian."

"May the book be alike precious to both of them, my son!" said Mr. Merton; "and now I am fully repaid for all my sufferings during your captivity."

"Only think," said Matilda, "that Jack, who was always considered the dunce of the family, should actually have become the first missionary amongst us." "Jack was a careless boy, Matilda," said Mr. Merton, "but was not a dunce, and you must now be satisfied that he had not neglected the best knowledge, and that he had the rectitude to make his knowledge useful. God grant that his one talent may gain many talents."

"But why, my dear brother," asked Maria, "did you not attempt to convince and convert the chief of the unmusical name?"

"Because, Maria," said Jack, "I fear I am not half a missionary, I lacked zeal and courage; for though Cangapol gave his brief orders to me with mildness, he was reserved, taciturn, and haughty. No one conversed with him but Zara, and I left him in her hands, feeling sure that God would help her; nor do I despair, papa, of your being called upon to teach and convince the Indian chief."

"It will be a happy day to me, my son," replied Mr. Merton, "if God permits me the duty; I have been useless for same time, and am anxious for labor."

"Now go on, Jack," said Mary; "did you tell Zara your plan of escape?"

"Certainly not," answered he. "It would have been madness. She would have immediately told it to Cangapol, as her duty commanded and he would have called a council of his warriors as his duty commanded. But I tore a leaf from my pocket-book, and wrote upon it in Span- | | 277 ish:--'I fly to my father and to your father. Come to us, Zara, bring Cangapol and the Cacique Chico, but no warriors. I leave with you the book of God's law, read it to Sausimian, and we will pray for you all.' I put this leaf in the Testament, and placed it where she must find it, the moment before I stole out, with a beating heart, to join dear Lewis; who is such a clever fellow that I do believe he could have won the battle of Warterloo as well as Wellington did."

"As my chief exploits have either been in ambuscade or in retreat," said Lewis, laughing, "you can scarcely judge, Jack, what sort of a general I should make if it came to a regular battle."

"What furniture had the Indians in their toldos?" asked Mary.

"Nothing in the world," replied Jack, "but some heaps of ill-dried skins, which served for beds, and some rush mats for seats. Across the poles which supported the roof were the long dry slips of meat which we call charqui. The water was brought from the stream in birch-bark buckets, made by the women, and the drinking-cup was the small end of the guanaco's horn. Lances, bolas, lassoes, and a few knives, obtained in exchange for skins, completed their possessions. The toldos are very dirty, and the smell intolerable to a civilized nose; but I suppose custom obliterates the delicacy of smelling, for Zara did not seem offended with these revolting circumstances; though she preserved some of the early habits of cleanliness, and daily washed herself and her child in the stream."

Almagro was deeply affected by the recital, and thanked his friend Jack warmly for his attempt to recall his daughter to the true faith. Lewis, wishing to turn the thoughts of the father front his anxiety, begged him to tell how the savages had surprised them.

"We had separated early, and I was sitting alone in my dwelling," said Almagro, "musing on my own sorrow, and the sorrow of lily friends, and beseeching God's mercy for us all, when was roused by the furious barking of Wallace. I knew at once it was no wild beast that had excited him, for there was no fear in the tone. It was a war cry, summoning us to battle. I ran to the hall and got the guns and ammunition in readiness. Maria, unbidden, ascended to her watch, | | 278 and immediately cried out, 'Send up some buckets of water, the casks are nearly empty, and I see many torches approaching.' It was indeed an unpardonable neglect that in our false security we had not looked to the water-casks. We got out the buckets and set to work, even Mrs. Merton assisting; but by the time the casks were filled, the enemy were upon us; and I charged Tom to fix the pipes, and make all ready in ease of fire, whilst I defended the gate, which they were approaching with their usual discordant cries.

"They attempted several times, like our former assailants, to force the door, but, from its fortunate position in the niche, they could not succeed; and a single discharge of my rifle prevented them from repeating the attempt; but, as we feared, they only retired to bring all their torches forward at once, and cast there upon the fence. I expected the water to descend immediately, and waited a few moments; it was too long; before I could mount the roof, the flames sprung up and were raging along the fence, and the wind being east, drove them towards the house. I found that Tom, in his agitation, had not succeeded in attaching the pipes. I assisted him, and we had just finished, when your shouts and attack on the foe revived our hopes. It was Nanny who remembered to ring the bell; but I had little hope that you would be within hearing of it. We are, at all events, once more together, safe and well, though we have suffered some loss. Let the God who saved us be blessed.

It was too late to talk more. They did not forget in their evening devotions a special thanksgiving for their deliverance, then, Almagro undertaking the care of the wounded Indian, they retired to rest.