"Our look-out station," said Mr. Blunt, sliding from his saddle and leaving the beast to graze. "If I have sighted one herd of horses from here I have sighted a dozen. Creep to the top and look over. One does not require to be so careful nor so cunning as if one were dealing with Indians. They would spot a head instantly, and then——"
"We should have a crowd down upon us," burst in Dudley. "I'll practise going carefully, as if there were real danger."
He too slid to the ground, and soon the two were close to the top. They went on their faces, and, crouching close to the ground, slowly made their way to the extreme summit. Then, as if by common impulse, they ducked, looked at each other, and gave low whistles of surprise. Lucky it was for them, too, that they had had the caution to advance so warily, for otherwise they would have been in a precarious situation. They were out in search of horses, and as they topped the rise their eyes fell upon what they sought—a fine collection of some twenty beasts, with flowing manes, and with such freedom of action as they ran that Dudley was enchanted. But there was something else besides. Not thirty paces away sat four men who were half-naked. Their backs were turned to the top of the hill, and they were watching the horses attentively. The beasts were trotting towards them, but when Dudley looked again they had halted, and stood with heads in air, their ears pricked up, listening attentively, and now and again breaking into a startled trot. Mr. Blunt saw something more, for he took Dudley by the sleeve and pulled the fringe of his coat. Then he pointed, and, following the direction, the young Englishman beside him saw a number of specks in the distance. They were mounted men, slowly stealing up behind the horses.
"Come away. Slip back again and mount."
Mr. Blunt hardly whispered the words, and promptly crawled away, worming his long, lanky figure towards his horse. Dudley followed suit, rose to his feet, and vaulted into the saddle.
"Walk!" whispered his employer. "Hush! Not a sound."
They took their horses at a slow pace for some three hundred yards, casting a glance behind them every few seconds. Then Mr. Blunt turned to Dudley.
"Are you ready for a fast ride?" he asked shortly.
Our hero shook his reins. "Certainly, sir!" he said. "Where to?"
"Back to the gauchos. Gallop all you can, and bring them back. I don't want to attack the Indians, but I want to let them see that I have plenty of men. And more than that, they stole some two hundred horses from me eight months ago. I must have that herd down below, and so retaliate. It does not do to let the Indian have it all his own way. Off you go!"