"Heard the tale, and thanks his faithful and gallant gauchos," exclaimed Mr. Blunt, striding up to the swarthy foreman and gripping his hand. "My young manager has told me how well you all behaved, and I can assure you that I am highly pleased. Never before have the Indians had such a lesson. I am proud of my gauchos."
"And they of their master and his manager," came the answer, as Pietro shuffled his feet and flushed under his dusky skin, while he struck at the doorposts with the tail of his riding whip. For the tall owner of the rancho had a peculiar effect on his gauchos. They held him in great respect, always listened to what he had to say and straightway obeyed. It was seldom that they exchanged words with him.
"You sent for me, master," said Pietro at length; "what do you desire?"
"That you should conduct the work of the rancho while we are absent. Listen, Pietro! My young manager, the gringo who so lately joined us and showed an old hand how to shoot, has done a great deal for us."
"That is true, master," eagerly assented Pietro. "Did he not lead us yesterday? Is not our success due to him?"
"To him and to those who supported him," was the answer. "But he has done more. He has asked me why it is that I as well as other owners of estancias on the pampas are content to put up with Indian raids, to suffer the loss of cattle and men."
The gaucho's dark eyebrows were elevated, while he flicked with his whip at the doorpost.
"It is not a question of why, master," he said. "Up till yesterday we have followed one plan, and one only. The señor gave us another, and well it worked. But I fear we shall have to go on as before. Who can say when these Indians will come again? I think it may be a year or more, for they have been soundly beaten. But they are fierce fighters, and they must hate us very sorely. If they think that there is a chance of success they will raid us again, and then it will not be cattle alone for which they will come."
"I agree. They will endeavor to wipe us all out, so as to satisfy their thirst for revenge."
"That is so, master. They will kill every man here, and torture as many as possible."