The Indians who had descended from the ridge made every effort to cut them off, but weight will tell. A mounted horse is no match for an unmounted one; and although the herd had a circle to perform, where the Indians had nothing but straight riding before them, the wild horses won. Heading them was a magnificent black stallion, whose long mane and tail swept grandly in the breeze.
But, lo! as he was about to enter the gorge, followed pell-mell by the troop behind him, he suddenly halted, gave a loud warning neigh, and stamped the ground furiously with his right forefoot. Immediately every one of the baguales came to a standstill, and huddled together behind their leader.
On came the Indians upon their racing steeds. The stallion raised his head and looked all round him, but wherever he looked he saw danger, and beheld the figures of his foes. The gorge was guarded, and behind him a long line of mounted horsemen were bearing rapidly upon the herd.
In a moment the monarch of the plains had made up his mind. There was but one chance of escape, one road to freedom. It was a dangerous attempt, yet was there no other; for it was now a question of making a supreme effort to be free, or surrendering at discretion. The game beast chose the former.
With a defiant neigh he wheeled round and trotted towards the steep ridge down which he and his troop had so lately descended, then breaking into a gallop, he charged straight at the left wing of the advancing Indians.
No sooner did Aniwee perceive his tactics, than she shouted her orders to close into the left wing’s assistance, and putting spurs to her horse made him literally fly along. Then our young friends perceived that the Indians, dropping their lassoes on their saddles, were each whirling a bolas round their heads. It was evident that they meant first to entangle their prey, and to use the lasso afterwards.
Both Harry and Topsie were experts with the bolas, and by no means bad lasso throwers. They therefore singled out their separate victims, and bore down upon them.
If the whole herd had been as plucky as their leader, and had charged as furiously against their attackers as the brave old veteran did, they would probably have broken through the Indians and got away scot free; but many of them became dazed and frightened by the terrific yells in which the Araucanians indulged, and breaking away from the others, began galloping madly about.
In a moment a score of bolases whizzed forth, and several horses and mares became hopelessly entangled in their meshes. As they reared and struggled to get free, the lassoes were cast about them, and the nooses being drawn tight, the poor animals were entirely overcome.
One of these, in falling, uttered a loud scream. It was a beautiful grey mare, and must evidently have been a favourite of the black stallion, for the moment he heard her scream he halted, and wheeling round charged back to her rescue.