"Not a bit, sir," came the ready answer. "My word, that fellow must have spotted me as I came over the top!"
"You may be sure of that. He could have fired at one of the gauchos. An Indian likes better to kill a white man. But look at them running. They have seen the other parties."
The approach had been well timed, in fact, for hardly had the party appeared on the crest when the others rode from either side of the wood. The Indians looked at first as if they would resist the approach of the strangers, but, seeing their numbers, and having a huge dislike to warfare in the open, they put spurs to their animals, and, even as Dudley wiped the blood from his ear and chin, they went galloping for their lives across the pampas. Mr. Blunt at once waved his hat over his head, and instantly the two parties below set their horses at a fast gallop, and before the herd of frightened animals below could disperse they had surrounded them.
"Better than I had hoped for," exclaimed Mr. Blunt. "We will drive the beasts back to the corral, and then you shall see some fun. It looks cruel, and in fact it is cruel, to break in these wild animals; but we must have horses. To-morrow we shall turn out the stallions and mares, and select the best of the young horses."
An hour later the whole party was returning, the men spread widely across the pampas, and enclosing in their circle the twenty or more wild animals which the Indians had rounded up. As dusk was falling they rode over the boundary line of the rancho, and with dexterous use of their whips, and by dint of much shouting and spurring, managed to drive their catch into a huge corral, several of which had been built at different parts of the estate.
"They will be secure there for the night, and we can leave them," said Mr. Blunt. "Let us get our supper and turn in. I don't think we need fear another charge from the cattle, but if you are looking for excitement to-morrow I fancy I can supply it. Come along, lad! We have had a grand day, one which you will not forget in a hurry, for you have smelled powder, and tasted the bullet of one of our Indians."
He laughed heartily as he slid to the ground, while Dudley carried the fingers of one hand to his chin and ear. The wounds smarted a little, but nothing more, and very soon he had forgotten them as he bustled about the fire. In addition, his thoughts were distracted by the recollection of the horses which they had captured, and by his friend's promise of excitement on the morrow.
CHAPTER VII
AN INDIAN INVASION
The sun was shining brightly on the following morning as Dudley stamped out the remains of the fire, for the gauchos and Mr. Blunt had impressed upon him the need of great care in that respect.