"Are all loaded?" asked our hero quickly. "Then let them hold their fire till I call. Yes, it looks as if we were about to be attacked, and in that case our defences are likely to prove useful. Tell the men to lie at full length and keep absolutely silent. We will give these rascals a lesson if we have the chance."
But now the swish of leaves and the noise of many men approaching was plainly to be heard, and every second proved to the defenders that a forward move was being attempted by the enemy. Dudley's little following lay as still as rocks, each man with his rifle at his shoulder and his eyes close behind the screen of brambles thrown up in front of him.
"Repeat the order," whispered Dudley. "No one is to fire till I call, and then only at the flashes made by the weapons of the enemy. If they rush us, lie still in the hollow. That will puzzle them badly."
A minute later a shrill whistle sounded through the forest, and then came a call from Antonio Sarvisti.
"On them!" he shouted. "Pour in a volley and then charge."
From every quarter, from the forest in front and to right and left, and from the pampas in the rear, came the splutter of musketry, while flashes broke out here and there, lighting up the darkness for an instant and then disappearing, only to be succeeded by others. And the light which they gave showed the leader of the band of robbers and his men charging down upon the small party enclosed within their lines. The gaucho following of Antonio Sarvisti were undertaking a task which few appreciated. They were attacking men fully prepared to receive them, and men, moreover, whose exact whereabouts was unknown. They had crept as close as possible, and now, despite the danger of wounding comrades, poured in an irregular and harmless volley, which ripped the trees and sped away in all directions. Then they charged, only to come quickly to a halt and commence to reload their pieces. For not a shot answered them; not a voice was heard. The sensation was uncanny. They began even to think that the birds had flown.
"Charge!" shouted Antonio again, placing himself at the head of some of the men and advancing, revolver in hand. "Now, another volley!"
"Fire!" cried Dudley, hearing and understanding his order. "Fire at the flashes!"
There was silence for one brief instant, and then once more, from every quarter, but on this occasion from a closer range, numbers of weapons were discharged, while from the dark hole in which the defenders hovered a stinging reply came, each one of the gauchos waiting his time, and aiming at the flashes made by the weapons of the enemy. A minute later the attack had been abandoned. Antonio Sarvisti and his men had slunk back to their old positions, while the defenders still lay in their primitive fort, confident and brimful of enthusiasm.
"Just the time for me to move," whispered Dudley. "Harold, I leave the men to you. Whatever happens, hang on to this place and hold these rascals round you. If I get through, and can take a horse, I shall be at the estancia by noon, and might even be back soon after dark. If all is well, fire an occasional shot through the night. I shall then know that you can last till morning, and will make arrangements to attack these fellows. Now, good-by! Don't forget. Hang out, whatever happens. We have to think not of ourselves but of the man whose bread and butter we eat. Good-by!"