CHAPTER XIX

ANTONIO SARVISTI IS SURPRISED

Dudley was safely through the close ring which the band of robbers had thrown around that small corner of the forest where his gauchos lay. He could hear the reports of their rifles well behind him now, for an occasional shot was fired so as to intimidate the besieged and keep them from moving till the dawn came, when Antonio Sarvisti promised himself and his men that a quick end would be made of the party. Yes, Dudley was through them, right in their rear, and on the outskirts of the clearing occupied by their horses.

"This fellow should carry me across to the estancia at a fast gallop," he said, as he inspected the horse he had chosen, looking critically at his legs, and helped in his examination by the few flickering rays which came from the dancing flames of the fire. "A good, strong horse, with not too much bone. The fellow to carry my weight fast and far. Now for a second, and then away. They all seem to have bridles on, so that I shall have nothing to wait for, for I don't want a saddle. Ah, this is a likely-looking animal!"

Even now, when escape seemed so certain, he would not allow his eagerness to be away, out of the clutches of the rascals, to cause him to make a hasty choice. Life and liberty, after all, might depend more on the animals he chose than on his own courage and discretion. He might be followed. The pursuit might be kept up right to the borders of Mr. Blunt's estancia; and even if that were not the case, the lives of his comrades depended entirely on the swiftness with which he could reach friends.

"This is the fellow for my second," he said with decision, passing slowly down the line till he came to a fine roan, a shapely animal, which turned its handsome head to look at the stranger, and, as if it recognized a friend in him, whinnied gently.

"Whoa! Silence, boy! Sleep, for you will not be wanted till morning."

A voice rang out in the stillness, causing Dudley to drop instantly on hands and knees and shelter behind the heels of the long line of picketed horses. A man was crossing the firelit clearing, a fellow dressed like a gaucho, but of darker color. He wore a handkerchief of brilliant color about his head, and a belt of the same material round his waist, a belt which protruded at one point, where a revolver was thrust under it.

"An Indian," thought Dudley, watching the man as he sauntered across to the horses. "Probably a slave, or a general servant, or perhaps the cook. Yes, that is what he is."

There seemed to be no doubt about that matter, for the man who had called out, and who had so unexpectedly made his appearance, sauntered to the fire and stirred the contents of the kettle with a big wooden spoon. Dudley saw him lift the spoon to his lips and taste the contents, evidently with appreciation. Then he threw a stick or two on to the fire, prodded the ashes with another, and having assured himself that all was well there, strolled across to the horses.

"Sleep, my beauties," he said, patting the one which had whinnied, and talking to him in soothing tones. "Sleep and be happy. You will be undisturbed."

He suspected nothing. The good-natured fellow, for that he seemed to be, had not the faintest idea that within a couple of yards of him, stretched at the heels of the very horse he was caressing, lay one of the party his masters were attacking. The cook had wonderfully sharp eyes, for he had been brought up on the Indian pampas, and had, indeed, lived a wild life till this Antonio persuaded him to act as cook to the band under his command. But even sharp eyes cannot penetrate inky darkness, for, where Dudley lay, the long line of picketed horses cast a dense shadow. The man patted another horse, which had turned an inquisitive head and had looked at the intruder with sleepy eyes. Then he sauntered away again and stood by the fire, till a shot in the forest caught his attention.

"At it again," he said aloud. "Perhaps that means that the end is coming, and our fellows are about to wipe the rascals out. Not that I don't think that they are plucky. They are quick, to be sure, and that trick they played would even have beaten our Indians. It was smart to dismount suddenly and take the very cover which our men had. I'll go and look on. I would not miss the end for anything."

He cast a glance at the fire, stirred the contents of his steaming kettle again, and then sauntered off into the forest in the direction from which the report of the rifle had come.

"Evidently he is the only man out of the firing line," thought Dudley, "so that I can now expect to be alone till he comes back. By then I shall be gone. Quiet, boy! It's I. Don't you remember?"

He rose to his feet noiselessly and passed between the horses. The one on his left was asleep, his head dangling till his nose was not far from the ground. But the one he had selected was wide awake, and again turned and whinnied. Dudley slipped his hand along the neck and down the chin till he came to the picketing rope. A slash from his knife severed it, and then, having already made sure that there were no heel ropes, he backed the fine animal out of the horse lines by gently pulling on his bridle.

Hush! There was someone entering the clearing again, and for the moment operations must be suspended. If it was the black cook, no doubt his curiosity would take him away again, and then would be Dudley's opportunity. But movement now was certain to be detected, and though he would have a start he still remembered that he had to pass through the forest to reach the pampas, and that once there he might find his escape cut off by gauchos posted on the plains and provided with horses. He stood still, peering between the horses, while with a gentle pull at the bridle he urged the one he held into its place again.

"Not the cook this time," he said, feeling as if all his plans would be ruined. "There are three of them, and--yes--the cook is there too. That is a piece of very bad luck; the fellows are going to sup."

Three gauchos had indeed come into the clearing, and stood in the firelight, silhouetted sharply, and with their backs turned to Dudley. The fourth figure was that of the native cook, and he at once produced some tin platters and pannikins, and provided each of the gauchos with a meal. Then he brought a stone bottle of big proportions and filled the pannikins from its contents.

The delay was exasperating, and for a time Dudley fidgeted and fretted, fearful that discovery might come at any instant, and well knowing that every minute of the remaining darkness was of the utmost importance to him. The minutes dragged painfully along, while the four robbers chatted at their ease. It seemed that they would never go. However, a fifth individual now entered, and at his coming the three gauchos promptly drank up the contents of their pannikins and disappeared. The newcomer was Antonio Sarvisti, the leader, who never took his eyes off his following if he could help it, for he was suspicious of everyone. He scowled at his gauchos now, pointed to the forest, and bade them return.

"Time you were back," he said curtly. "You have been away too long already, and seem to forget that there are comrades to be fed. Now, boy, something to eat and drink. Then a cigar, and I will see whether I cannot rouse the fellows to attack again. Food and drink do wonders. Matters brighten when a man is comfortable, and maybe we shall capture those rascals before the dawn comes. Up to the top, boy, and stand ready to refill it."

He gripped the tin pannikin, swung his head back, and gulped the contents down at a draught, holding the pannikin out to be refilled, while he gasped for breath.

"That is good," he said. "The stew smells excellent, and reminds a man that he has not had a bite for many hours. Now, get along to the men and order the next batch to come and feed."

The squat figure seated on the top of an upturned saddle seemed bigger than usual. The flickering light cast by the flames magnified the leader of the brigands, till in Dudley's eyes he seemed to be of vast dimensions. But it was not that which frightened him; it was the words which he had heard, the order which had been given, and which he had been able to understand. More men were to come to the clearing. For an hour or more the place would be tenanted, and by then the dawn would be dangerously near. He must move now. He must risk it.

"Yes, I must risk it," he repeated to himself. "And as I am sure to be followed at once I will take only one of the horses. The other would perhaps delay me, for I have to pass through the forest."

But still he watched the ruffian seated by the fire, while he slid one hand along to the bridle of the fine animal he had selected. The horse moved, turned its shapely head, and whinnied again, as if impatient to get away. As for Antonio, he was in the act of draining his pannikin, but stopped abruptly and swung round on his seat. Then, as if he were suspicious, he came running across to the horses and passed swiftly along the front of the line, examining each picket rope as he passed.

"Ah! Loose!" he exclaimed, as he found one dangling from the headstall. "And this has been cut with some sharp instrument."

There was a note of alarm in his voice now, for he stood opposite the very animal which Dudley was about to remove, and held the severed end of the picket rope towards the light. Someone was meddling with the horses, he was sure, and at once, without hesitation, he slipped between the animals as if he were already certain that the marauder, whoever he might be, lay at their heels. Nor was he disappointed. In the shadow cast by the fine beast Dudley had selected, Antonio's eyes detected a dark figure, erect and motionless. He stared at the man, called to him as if to make sure that he was not one of his: own gauchos, and then slid one hand down to his revolver. But he never drew the weapon, for our hero was too quick for him. Discovery was certain now, he knew, and in the few seconds which passed while the leader of the brigands was coming towards him he had formed his plans. He had drawn his revolver, and held it by the muzzle at arm's length. Then he saw Antonio, slip between the horses, and heard him call. It was time to act, and as it happened this rascally Italian helped the plans which Dudley had made, for he stood so that a flickering ray from the fire fell on his face. The mark was a good one, and within easy distance. In an instant the revolver swung back a foot, and then, launched with all the force of which Dudley was capable, it flew forward, struck the forehead of the rascal who had called, and knocked him senseless to the ground.

"My turn this time," said Dudley, as he ran forward to regain his weapon. "Now I fancy there is nothing to prevent my getting away. Whoa, lad! Stand there a moment while I fetch your comrade. Ah! here's a bolas rope which will make you fast to a tree."

He had hit upon a coil of rope attached to the blanket strap which the horse wore, and in a twinkling had secured the animal to a tree close by. Then he ran off for the second, which he found standing drowsily where he had left it, and unmindful of the fact that its picket rope was gone. It was a fine, big beast, and Dudley decided to ride it at first in preference to the other.

"He is strong and will carry me fast. The other fellow is a stayer," he thought, "and if he has no weight to carry till I want him will take me away from anything the enemy possess. Now to mount and slip out of the forest."

He placed the animals side by side, and made ready to mount, no easy matter when a horse is big and has no saddle. He stepped back a pace so as to obtain a run, and in doing so kicked an object lying on the ground. It was Antonio Sarvisti, alive and breathing without a doubt, but stunned and unconscious. Dudley had almost forgotten his existence, once his lucky shot had disposed of his interference. But now, as he accidentally came upon him again, a sudden thought caused him to delay his departure.

"Supposing he comes to and gives the alarm," he said. "That would be bad in every way, for even if they did not catch me, they would know that someone had ridden for help, and might decamp before the gauchos could surround them. Now, if I can get rid of this ugly fellow, his own men will hardly miss him for an hour or two, for who is to say that he is not in the forest? Then there is just a chance, a small one it is true, that the men from our estancia might be able to reach this place in time. His following will be uncertain how to act. That means delay, and with a little luck on our side--yes, I'll take him."

Once his mind was made up he did not hesitate. In a twinkling he had disarmed the unconscious man, and then, working as swiftly as possible, he bound his hands tightly together. Now came the most difficult portion of the task. He bent over Antonio, gripped him beneath the arms, and lifted him.

"Hurrah! Not nearly so heavy as I thought he would be," he said. "Up you go, and there you stay till we reach the estancia!"

With a heave he pushed the form of the Italian on to one of the horses, placing his legs astride the beast. Then the rope came into service again. The feet were secured together, and a length of the rope passed round horse and man, so as to keep Antonio from slipping.

"If I go slowly and carefully I think he will stay in the position in which I have placed him," said Dudley, looking critically at his work, for where he and the horses stood an occasional flicker of firelight reached, just sufficient to help him. "Now to get out of the forest, and by then I hope this ugly fellow will have recovered from the blow my revolver gave him. It was a nasty one, and has cut his forehead badly. However, he is merely stunned, and when he comes to I shall have to frighten him. Up we go!"

He was in the very best of spirits, for during the last quarter of an hour fortune had favored him in such a remarkable manner that it seemed to him that even the future was brightened and looked more promising. But still he did not forget that the enemy were close at hand, and that every minute might see the Indian cook and another batch of men come to the fireside for a meal. He scrambled on to the back of the spare horse, taking a little run before he sprang, for he had selected a big animal. Then, having gathered up the reins, and taken those of the other horse in his hands, he sat quietly listening. Now and again he heard a call from the forest, and on two occasions a sharp report rang out, to which, almost instantly, there came an answering shot from the farthest edge of the forest, evidently sent from the little fort which he had so lately left.

"Good! The boys are well and safe. Now for the last part of the adventure."

He shortened the reins, dug his heels into the horse he bestrode, and guided the animals into a narrow track which passed in between the trees. In a moment he had passed out of the firelight, beyond the circle of the clearing in which the enemy's camp lay, and was surrounded by the forest. The darkness became intense again, though here and there he caught sight of a flickering patch of light where the rays of the moon penetrated through some gap in the leaves overhead. As he looked at them his mind returned to that other patch in which he had so suddenly discovered one of the gaucho enemy, and to which Antonio and his lieutenant had been called. He remembered how breathlessly he had watched them, with what feelings of relief he had realized that they had no suspicion of his presence. How they had discussed the matter, and how, with tragical suddenness, a shot had rung out from the trenches behind, bringing the sulky lieutenant to the ground.

"Ah, a bigger patch!" he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes falling upon a long streak. "That looks as if there were a track of some sort, and if so it will suit me well. After all, if this ruffian has used the forest as cover for his white and Indian raiders, there must be tracks here and there, as well as clearings in which the stolen cattle are herded. I'll try this one, and see where it leads me."

He guided the horses into the patch he had observed, and was delighted to find that he had gained a narrow patch, almost overgrown here and there by the brambles and underwood, which were swift to invade every open space. It led away to the right, parallel with the edge of the forest, and would therefore take him at every step farther from the enemy. But swift progress was impossible. It was necessary to be careful, for any unusual noise would certainly bring the gang of robbers about him. Restraining his impatience, therefore, he walked his horses on for a mile, when the track became even narrower. Then suddenly it emerged into a tiny clearing, into which the rays of the moon streamed brightly, showing two other tracks, one leading to the right and the other turning off abruptly to the left.

"The first returns to Antonio's house, no doubt," said Dudley, halting to look at them. "The other is the one for me. It leads to the pampas. In half an hour I shall be there. Ah, you are coming round, I think! Well, I must hurry, for just here a shout from you would be dangerous, while out on the pampas you can call till you are tired."

A deep sigh, a long, indrawn breath, had come from the prostrate figure secured to the second horse, and Antonio's ugly head turned just a trifle. But the man did not regain consciousness. His breathing was still shallow and hardly perceptible, while beneath the ghostly rays of the moon his face looked deathly pale against the black beard which clothed it. Dudley stared at the man with the utmost aversion. He had disliked him before, when for the space of a few hours he was his guest. There was even then something indefinable about the ruffian which had repelled him. And now that something was even more pronounced. If ever there were a villain, it was this Antonio; and again and again did our hero thank his good fortune that he had the man secure and disarmed. However, it was neither the time nor the place for soliloquizing, and promptly he kicked his mount with his heels, and set off down the track he had selected at a gentle amble, which soon brought him to the confines of the forest, where he could look out at the pampas, the smooth, grass-grown plain shimmering in the white moonlight and seeming almost to welcome him. He could hear the whisper of the long grass as the wind swept across it, while the rustle and shake of the leaves overhead seemed to mingle harmoniously with the sound. But though he strained his ears, there was nothing else to be heard, not a call, not even one of those sharp reports which had echoed through the forest at frequent intervals.

"And no one in sight," he said, his spirits rising higher as the seconds flew. "I must be a couple of miles to the right of our men, and, I think, well clear of the enemy. Here goes for a smart canter."

He halted a few moments longer to make sure that his prisoner was secure in the position he had placed him in, and then, so that there should be no doubt as to his remaining there, he pulled the led horse in still closer, till its flank was jammed against his knee, and his free hand gripped Antonio's shoulder.

"I'll warrant he will not slip now," he said, "and when he comes to he'll be so close that I shall be able to deal with him. Come along, boys! We've a fine gallop before us."

He shook his reins and touched his mount with his heels. The two fine horses set off at a trot on to the pampas, and then at a call from Dudley broke into a canter, which soon became a gallop, not one of those headlong rushes which fire the blood of men and horses too, but a strong, fast gallop, which a pampas horse can keep up for many a mile, and which demands little if any exertion from the rider. In this way five miles were rapidly covered, Dudley keeping his horses well in hand, while he gripped Antonio firmly and held him in the position in which he had placed him. But a groan came from the unconscious man now, and within a minute there was a movement of the shoulder which Dudley was gripping. Pulling firmly on his reins, he slowly brought the animals to a standstill and turned to look at his prisoner. Antonio was conscious once more. As Dudley stared at him the ruffian's wicked little eyes scintillated under the moon's rays. The brows were puckered and drawn down, while the whole expression of his face denoted wonder, dawning consciousness, and increasing knowledge of his position. His teeth grated together, his breath came a little faster, and then, as Dudley released his hold, the prisoner sat up suddenly, opened his mouth, and shouted with all the vigor of his lungs:

"Help, help! To the rescue!"

He struggled to free himself from the rope which secured him to the horse, and tugged at the lashings which secured his hands. He was desperate. Consciousness had returned fully to Antonio, and with it had come all his old ferocity. If it were not for his bonds he would tear this rascal to pieces; he would shoot him again and again, he would----

Suddenly he realized the futility of struggling. In a flash he guessed that nothing but a knife could sever the lashings which held him. But he still had his voice, and once more he bellowed aloud. Then he looked again at his captor, and, noting the smile on his lips, ground his teeth with rage.

"If you are ready, we will ride on," said Dudley slowly. "And as we are to be companions, it will be as well to understand each other. Now, if I were you, and our positions were reversed, I have little doubt that you would shoot me. In fact, if I had shot you just now when you shouted, I should have been perfectly justified. But, you see, there is no one to hear on the pampas. We are alone, _amigo_, and you are now miles from your friends. When you are ready we will gallop on again, but I warn you any attempt on your part to break away will be met by a bullet. You understand? I know the class of man I have captured. I mean to keep you safely till I can hand you over to our men, and then----"

Even to a ruffian like this he did not like to be harsh, and stopped in the middle of his sentence. For Dudley knew, as well as the ruffian beside him, that capture meant one thing alone. On the pampas a horse thief met with scanty mercy, while a robber had but short shrift. Antonio Sarvisti was certain to be hanged at the first opportunity, and it was more than likely that he would then be riddled with bullets, that being the summary justice of the pampas.

No need, indeed, to tell this ruffian what would happen. At that moment the thought of what was in store for him was uppermost in his brain. His teeth grated again in a manner which made Dudley's blood run cold. He strove frantically to free his hands, and then, as if determined to make one more effort, he gave vent to a third shout, his voice rolling across the pampas. Almost instantly there came an answering call, one of those long hallos so common with the gauchos. It was repeated again and again, and then, as Dudley turned pale and swung round to face the direction from which the calls came, some twenty horsemen came into view, galloping madly towards them across the pampas.

It was Antonio's turn to grin and smile. His lips curled back from his fine white teeth, and he glared away at the oncoming horsemen and then at his captor with such a malevolent expression that Dudley shivered. He was caught. The tables had been suddenly turned, it seemed, and already flight was almost out of the question. Still, while there was life there was hope, and at once, gathering up the reins again, he set the horses in motion, and, swinging them round, set off at a rapid gallop, determined to escape himself if it were possible, and to carry his prisoner with him.