They left the horses attached to one another by means of the reins, and almost before they themselves had moved away the poor beasts were asleep. Their heads hung down, and neither of them made the slightest movement. Dudley and his companion took the precaution of discarding their spurs, which they slung to their saddles. Then they stepped out for the distant fires, and after a little while found themselves within easy distance of them, and within sound of the Indian camp. It was time, in fact, to use the utmost caution, and at once they threw themselves on their faces and crawled forward, Dudley in advance, and Pepito close beside him. In this way it was some little time before they had arrived within pistol shot of the enemy. They found the three or four hundred of which the party consisted camped close together in one big circle, in the centre of which were their horses. All round the circle were fires, some of them already cold, while others were fast dying out. A few still flared brightly, and round these sat numbers of dusky figures swathed in coarse blankets. Some were smoking and chatting in low tones, while the majority were fast asleep, having eaten till they could eat no more. Pietro, indeed, knew the Indian customs to a nicety. They had a great fondness for meat, a commodity which was often very scarce with them; and hence they went to much fatigue to obtain fresh supplies, raiding the various ranches, and too often making a fine haul.
"They are pleased with the herd I should say, señor," whispered Pepito. "They have not stinted themselves, if one can guess from the carcasses. At least thirty beasts have been slain, and the meat is all lying about the camp."
"I see," Dudley answered, for he had caught sight of more than one of the carcasses. "Have they any guards out round the camp. I have been watching carefully, but have not been able to detect them."
"None on this side, señor. I cannot say what they have over yonder till I have been to see. But I think that there will be none. What have four hundred to fear from a bare forty or fifty?"
"As a general rule, nothing. But we must make quite sure of those sentries. If there are none, all the better. I will crawl round their camp to the left, while you make in the opposite direction. We shall come together over there and can compare notes. Then we shall have to see what arrangements they have made to guard the cattle."
They exchanged hand-grips, and moved away from each other promptly, crawling through the grass like a couple of snakes. It was a dangerous business upon which they were engaged, and Dudley felt more than a little excited. He knew very well that if he or Pepito were discovered, his end would be swift and cruel. And he was equally well aware of the fact that each one of the enemy was a savage, used to work out in the open, and possessed of wonderful acuteness and of the keenest hearing and vision. Supposing an Indian happened to see him as he crawled!
"It would be all up," he thought, with something approaching a shiver. "But I'm not going to cry out till I'm hurt, and as Mr. Blunt has made me under-manager of the rancho, I am not going to have a lot of robbers like these fellows make into the place and sweep it clean of cattle. Not if I know it."
He gave a little grim chuckle, and crawled on, keeping his eyes well about him. From the line he took he was able to look into the Indian camp and see everything plainly, for, while he was shrouded in darkness, the enemy's camp was partially illuminated by the fires which still flared. He grew a little bolder, and approached nearer still, till he could tell for certain that the greater number of the men were fast asleep, doubled up beside the embers and swathed in their blankets. Some sat up, covered from head to foot in the same warm cloaking, and swaying at times somewhat dangerously. Thirty or more were awake, and sat huddled close to the fire, smoking quietly, and talking in low and drowsy tones.
"Ready for bed!" he thought. "Well, there are no sentries over here, so I'll push on. There are a couple of the ruffians round that fire yonder."
He crawled along beside the camp till he was opposite the fire which had attracted his attention, and there he lay hidden in the grass for a little while, watching two of the Indians eating voraciously.