Dudley ground his teeth with rage. He was furious with himself for being so nervous, for showing so much fear. Time and again he called himself a coward, a craven, fit only to cook for the men and not to lead them; and then gradually he became calmer. He was a plucky lad at heart, and, if he could only have realized it, there was ample reason for all his fears.
Even a grown man would have had his nerves braced to the highest on this dark night, and why therefore should he be ashamed? His old, gallant spirit returned. He groped his way forward with more energy now, till the inches and feet had grown to yards, till the murmur of the rascals surrounding the little band of comrades near the pampas was lost in the distance. He was clear. The enemy was behind him, and now all that remained was to steal a horse and gallop away.
"I can smell them," he suddenly exclaimed, under his breath. "In a place like this, where there is little wind, and many horses are placed together, it is not by any means impossible. They are over there. I am sure of it."
Lifting his head he stood for a moment or two sniffing the air, and was at length convinced that he was not in error. For, as he had said, in an enclosed place like that, with little wind, and that blowing in his face, a keen-scented man can easily detect the neighborhood of the horse lines. Dudley delayed no longer. He was standing to his full height now, for the forest was not so thick here, and he at once set off for the spot where he imagined the horses to be. And presently a glimmer came to his eyes. Something red was shining between the trunks a hundred yards away, something which, as the distance decreased, proved to be a camp fire, with a kettle suspended over it. The flare from the crackling wood lit up the surroundings, showing the blankets of Antonio's men, tumbled haphazard upon the ground, spare boxes of ammunition, bags of food, and some dozen saddles. Steam, and a savory odor, were issuing from the kettle which sang over the flames, while away to the right the firelight showed a horse, the first of a long line picketed beyond him.
"At last," thought Dudley, his heart beating fast with joy. "There are the horses, and if I creep round to the far side, so as to be well away from the fire, I ought to have no difficulty in cutting one of the picket ropes and slipping away. By Jove! How good that stuff smells boiling in the kettle. I'm hungry and could eat a meal. But there's no time; I have the others to think about."
Skirting the edge of the forest, and just outside the range of the firelight, he came within five minutes to the line of horses. Many were asleep as if they had had a hard day, while some were cropping the grass at their feet. Dudley inspected them carefully, and, having made his choice, boldly severed the picket rope of the finest of the animals.
"A splendid beast," he said to himself, "and one which will require some catching. Now I want a second, and then, once I have led them far enough away, we'll show our heels to these rascals. To-morrow at noon I ought to be at the estancia."
CHAPTER XIX
ANTONIO SARVISTI IS SURPRISED
Dudley was safely through the close ring which the band of robbers had thrown around that small corner of the forest where his gauchos lay. He could hear the reports of their rifles well behind him now, for an occasional shot was fired so as to intimidate the besieged and keep them from moving till the dawn came, when Antonio Sarvisti promised himself and his men that a quick end would be made of the party. Yes, Dudley was through them, right in their rear, and on the outskirts of the clearing occupied by their horses.