Once his mind was made up he did not hesitate. In a twinkling he had disarmed the unconscious man, and then, working as swiftly as possible, he bound his hands tightly together. Now came the most difficult portion of the task. He bent over Antonio, gripped him beneath the arms, and lifted him.
"Hurrah! Not nearly so heavy as I thought he would be," he said. "Up you go, and there you stay till we reach the estancia!"
With a heave he pushed the form of the Italian on to one of the horses, placing his legs astride the beast. Then the rope came into service again. The feet were secured together, and a length of the rope passed round horse and man, so as to keep Antonio from slipping.
"If I go slowly and carefully I think he will stay in the position in which I have placed him," said Dudley, looking critically at his work, for where he and the horses stood an occasional flicker of firelight reached, just sufficient to help him. "Now to get out of the forest, and by then I hope this ugly fellow will have recovered from the blow my revolver gave him. It was a nasty one, and has cut his forehead badly. However, he is merely stunned, and when he comes to I shall have to frighten him. Up we go!"
He was in the very best of spirits, for during the last quarter of an hour fortune had favored him in such a remarkable manner that it seemed to him that even the future was brightened and looked more promising. But still he did not forget that the enemy were close at hand, and that every minute might see the Indian cook and another batch of men come to the fireside for a meal. He scrambled on to the back of the spare horse, taking a little run before he sprang, for he had selected a big animal. Then, having gathered up the reins, and taken those of the other horse in his hands, he sat quietly listening. Now and again he heard a call from the forest, and on two occasions a sharp report rang out, to which, almost instantly, there came an answering shot from the farthest edge of the forest, evidently sent from the little fort which he had so lately left.
"Good! The boys are well and safe. Now for the last part of the adventure."
He shortened the reins, dug his heels into the horse he bestrode, and guided the animals into a narrow track which passed in between the trees. In a moment he had passed out of the firelight, beyond the circle of the clearing in which the enemy's camp lay, and was surrounded by the forest. The darkness became intense again, though here and there he caught sight of a flickering patch of light where the rays of the moon penetrated through some gap in the leaves overhead. As he looked at them his mind returned to that other patch in which he had so suddenly discovered one of the gaucho enemy, and to which Antonio and his lieutenant had been called. He remembered how breathlessly he had watched them, with what feelings of relief he had realized that they had no suspicion of his presence. How they had discussed the matter, and how, with tragical suddenness, a shot had rung out from the trenches behind, bringing the sulky lieutenant to the ground.
"Ah, a bigger patch!" he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes falling upon a long streak. "That looks as if there were a track of some sort, and if so it will suit me well. After all, if this ruffian has used the forest as cover for his white and Indian raiders, there must be tracks here and there, as well as clearings in which the stolen cattle are herded. I'll try this one, and see where it leads me."
He guided the horses into the patch he had observed, and was delighted to find that he had gained a narrow patch, almost overgrown here and there by the brambles and underwood, which were swift to invade every open space. It led away to the right, parallel with the edge of the forest, and would therefore take him at every step farther from the enemy. But swift progress was impossible. It was necessary to be careful, for any unusual noise would certainly bring the gang of robbers about him. Restraining his impatience, therefore, he walked his horses on for a mile, when the track became even narrower. Then suddenly it emerged into a tiny clearing, into which the rays of the moon streamed brightly, showing two other tracks, one leading to the right and the other turning off abruptly to the left.
"The first returns to Antonio's house, no doubt," said Dudley, halting to look at them. "The other is the one for me. It leads to the pampas. In half an hour I shall be there. Ah, you are coming round, I think! Well, I must hurry, for just here a shout from you would be dangerous, while out on the pampas you can call till you are tired."