Each man had soon caught the horse which he wanted, and proceeded to harness it.
There remained eighty or one hundred horses in the inclosure.
"We must not leave these horses here," said the Montonero; "our enemies would make use of them to pursue us."
"It is easy to avoid that," observed Tyro; "there is a yegua madrina, we will put a bell on her; the horses will follow her; ten of our companions will set out in advance with them."
"Pardieu! You are a valuable comrade," replied the Montonero, joyously; "nothing is more easy."
The order was immediately given by him, and the spare horses were soon out of sight, in the direction of the mountains, under the escort of some horsemen.
The horses, thus at liberty, could make long tracks without fatiguing themselves. This mode of relay is generally adopted in America, where it is almost impossible otherwise to procure fresh horses.
"Now," resumed the Montonero, "I think we shall do well to mount horse again."
"Yes, and to set out again," added Emile, extending his arm towards the plain.
In the first rays of the sun, which glittered on their arms, a numerous troop of horsemen was perceived coming towards them at full speed.