CHAPTER IX
FIGHTING THE ENEMY
It was a clear, starlight night when Dudley and Pepito stole out from the little camp in which the gauchos lay, and sought for their horses. They found them sleeping some few yards from the ring of men, and soon had tightened girths and adjusted the bits. Then they swung themselves into their saddles and rode away over the pampas, making not a sound as they went.
"How far will the señor ride?" asked Pepito, when they had trotted forward for a couple of miles. "I do not fear that the Indians will hear us at this distance, but we must not forget that if the greater number are eating or sleeping, there are still men guarding the cattle; for they know as well as we that without men to watch them the beasts would stray. They will keep them together, and make away early in the morning."
"That is if we do not interfere before, and send them galloping about their business," laughed Dudley. "I judge that we should be able to see their fires long before we come up with them. In fact, I fancy I can distinguish a glare in the sky already."
"It is there, señor. When we top the next roll we shall see the glare of their fires. They make no secret of their presence. Why should they, indeed, when there are so many of them?"
A little later a low cry burst from Dudley, and he pulled in his horse, for his eye had suddenly detected a fire. A few paces farther on he was able to sight as many as twenty, some flaring high, and some dull and smouldering. A few were showing merely an occasional flash of light.
"They are surrounded by natives, and we can tell from that that they are not all asleep," said Pepito. "They have camped within thirty yards of the cattle, and no doubt have been busy."
"Well, we cannot make sure of that from here," answered Dudley. "We will leave our horses hobbled and push on on foot. When we are close enough to see them distinctly we will lie down and watch for a time, and get some idea of their position, and make up our minds from which direction to attack them. There are the cattle to be reckoned with, and their horses."
They slipped silently out of their saddles, and very soon had hobbled the horses.
"They will stand where they are," said Pepito with conviction. "They have had a good day's work, and were sleepy and tired when we took them out. I expect they were not very pleased, and will be glad to fall asleep again. Pietro and his men will find them here and will keep them for us."