It was a daring thing to suggest, and the very mention of it made the gauchos breathe deeply and mutter their astonishment. As for Giono, he looked at Dudley as if he thought he were mad. The task was a most difficult one, and, moreover, required a great deal of practice, and this he had not had. Again, a man ought to be in the pink of health and wonderfully steady to have even a chance of success; and in his case a visit to the river port and a few days idleness had not helped to smooth his nerves. He was a gambler, and the saloons had seen not a little of this surly gaucho. However, the challenge was issued by a gringo, and if he, Giono, failed, so surely would this English boy. He could afford to be amused. He roared with laughter, and tossed his hat into the air, while his eyes closely inspected Dudley's gun.
"Now," interrupted Dudley, "let us carry out the tests. As Pietro is interested in this matter, I suggest that one of his friends acts as umpire for him, while one may care to do the same for me. That fence round the corral ought to suit very well for our mark."
He had been carefully watching the faces of the men up till now, but once the arrangements were made he turned from Giono, looked at the corral, and, noticing the height of the rails, decided that it would do. Then he led the way in that direction, and in a few minutes the whole party were in position, one of the gauchos having detached a pith ball meanwhile and placed it on the rail, while a comrade carefully paced the distance from it. It was time for the contest to begin, and Dudley nodded to his opponent very coolly.
A few minutes before he had been feeling somewhat ruffled and annoyed by the obvious hostility of Giono; but now he had regained his composure and felt steadied. More than that, he was confident, for he knew what the gauchos were ignorant of. He had had abundant practice with a revolver on the voyage out, and had won unstinted praise from Mr. Blunt; for the lad had a quick eye and a happy knack with his hand. He was not quick at drawing his weapon; that was a thing requiring practice, and he had had but very little since he had donned his leggings and had worn the revolver in his hip pocket. But he could hit a small object with unerring accuracy, and he believed that he could strike the ball of the bolas as it flew in the air. At any rate he had done so more than once in the past week when away on the pampas.
"Perhaps you would care for the first shot," he said politely. "Just to encourage a gringo."
"I will shoot first for that reason," came the answer. "You shall shoot at the flying target before I make the attempt, and—and——"
"Yes, I am listening."
"Perhaps the señor would care to have it that three shots are allowed in each case. It will give him a better chance. I am satisfied."
The man's attitude was mending. He had even addressed Dudley as señor. He was not so confident as before. He was weakening, and a grin passed amongst the gauchos.
"If one shot suits you, it suits me also. If you desire three, let there be three."