"Then tell me this, Pietro. Will they return towards their own country to-night, supposing they do not attack the house?"
"Surely not, señor. It would be madness to attempt to control so many beasts in the darkness, they would stampede. They will camp for the night, and I myself believe that, now that Giono is killed, they will not attempt an attack on the farm. They will surround the cattle, just as we do, and those who are not on guard will build a fire, kill a beast, and gorge themselves with the meat. I know them well; they are gluttons to a man."
"Then they will play into our hands. Listen to this. Send a messenger to each of our herds, and give them orders to call away all the gauchos who can be spared. They are to meet us five miles beyond the place for which we are now about to make. They are to ride silently, and are not to smoke or to attract the attention of the Indians. You follow me? Then let us ride."
The buzzing noise in his head was forgotten. He no longer felt the crick in his neck which had troubled him so much a few minutes before. He was all keenness to be moving, to perfect his scheme, and to do something to save his employer. For Dudley had often considered these Indian raids, and time and again had asked why it was that resistance was not better organized, and why the gauchos and their leaders did not combine rapidly, having some prearranged signal, and fall upon the enemy before they had retired too far. That was the only time when a blow could be struck, for to follow the Indians into their own country was out of the question, unless a large force were taken, and then there would be the added difficulties of transport of ammunition and food, besides the chance of failing to find water, always a danger in this pampas country, where streams were not abundant. Here was an opportunity to strike a blow, for, thanks to the late arrival of the Indians, it was already getting dusk, and would be dark before they could reach the nearest herd of cattle.
"You are sure that they will bivouac when they come up with the beasts?" he asked anxiously.
"I am certain, señor. Indians do not love moving about at night in any case, and it is more than likely that they have ridden far to-day. Their raids are usually successful because they arrive when least expected. They ride fast from their own country in the hope of falling upon the settlements before news of their coming can be sent. If they meet a stray gaucho they ride him down and shoot him lest he should carry the alarm. That is why the señor was chased, and why Giono was so intent on killing him. Their beasts have had a big day's work, and they will rest them as soon as possible, knowing that they have a bigger day before them on the morrow."
"Then we will mount and ride," said Dudley. "Pietro, take command of twenty of the gauchos, and stay here till the main body of the enemy appear, then retire before they can come within range. Let them think that you are terrified, and when once you get going, gallop back beyond the herd as fast as you can. By then it will be dark."
"Surely it will, señor; the sun is sinking fast, and twilight is never long with us. We wait, and retire when the time comes. We shall find you and our comrades beyond?"
"We shall be six miles or rather less on the far side of the herd. Be careful, and good luck to you and your friends."
There was a calm businesslike air about the young gringo which impressed the gauchos, the air of modest self-assurance which had impressed them when this lad had joined them for the first time and had won his match against Giono. Already they had become accustomed to receiving orders from him, and, more than that, he had always been so tactful in giving them, was so friendly with them one and all, and so ready to accept advice from these honest and experienced men of the pampas, that there was not one who did not swear by him.