CHAPTER IX

FIGHTING THE ENEMY

It was a clear, starlight night when Dudley and Pepito stole out from the little camp in which the gauchos lay, and sought for their horses. They found them sleeping some few yards from the ring of men, and soon had tightened girths and adjusted the bits. Then they swung themselves into their saddles and rode away over the pampas, making not a sound as they went.

"How far will the señor ride?" asked Pepito, when they had trotted forward for a couple of miles. "I do not fear that the Indians will hear us at this distance, but we must not forget that if the greater number are eating or sleeping, there are still men guarding the cattle; for they know as well as we that without men to watch them the beasts would stray. They will keep them together, and make away early in the morning."

"That is if we do not interfere before, and send them galloping about their business," laughed Dudley. "I judge that we should be able to see their fires long before we come up with them. In fact, I fancy I can distinguish a glare in the sky already."

"It is there, señor. When we top the next roll we shall see the glare of their fires. They make no secret of their presence. Why should they, indeed, when there are so many of them?"

A little later a low cry burst from Dudley, and he pulled in his horse, for his eye had suddenly detected a fire. A few paces farther on he was able to sight as many as twenty, some flaring high, and some dull and smouldering. A few were showing merely an occasional flash of light.

"They are surrounded by natives, and we can tell from that that they are not all asleep," said Pepito. "They have camped within thirty yards of the cattle, and no doubt have been busy."

"Well, we cannot make sure of that from here," answered Dudley. "We will leave our horses hobbled and push on on foot. When we are close enough to see them distinctly we will lie down and watch for a time, and get some idea of their position, and make up our minds from which direction to attack them. There are the cattle to be reckoned with, and their horses."

They slipped silently out of their saddles, and very soon had hobbled the horses.

"They will stand where they are," said Pepito with conviction. "They have had a good day's work, and were sleepy and tired when we took them out. I expect they were not very pleased, and will be glad to fall asleep again. Pietro and his men will find them here and will keep them for us."

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.

"Come off cattle guard, I expect," said Dudley, "and now making the most of the provisions stolen from my master. That's another man."

He heard a step somewhere behind him, and instantly crouched still lower in the grass, and pressed his body close to the ground. The step came nearer, and he heard some metal instrument jingle. Then, not ten paces from him, a figure came dimly into view. It was an Indian, who was armed with a gun which swung from his shoulder, and carried in his hand the bit and the reins which he had just taken from his horse. It was a buckle on these reins which Dudley had heard tinkling, and presently he saw the animal from which they had been taken following his master like a dog. The Indian whistled and stepped on at a faster pace, for he had suddenly obtained a full view of his two companions. Then he waited for the horse to come level with him, took it by the mane, and led it to the centre of the camp, going himself immediately to the fire side.

"Where, no doubt, he will have his share of the food," thought Dudley. "It was lucky for me that he did not come a yard or so nearer this way, or he would have seen me for certain. Hallo!"

"Señor!"

"Here!" whispered Dudley. They came close together and lay down with their heads touching.

"All asleep on the far side, señor," Pepito reported. "Not a sentry or guard of any sort. They have been eating their fill."

"On this side all is clear also, Pepito. Now we will see what they have done with the cattle. Go to the right again, while I make to the left. We will meet on the far side, and then we will return to our comrades."

It was not a time for talking, for even a whisper might be heard. They crept away together for some few yards, and then rose to their hands and knees, and separated at once. Ten minutes later they met on the opposite side of the herd, and compared notes.

"I passed fourteen of their guards, all mounted, señor," said Pepito. "They had guns slung to their shoulders, and had whips in their hands. The cattle were asleep and perfectly quiet."

"I saw ten men, mounted like yours," reported Dudley. "The herd seemed to be as quiet as are those fellows in the camp. Let us get back to Pietro and the men as soon as possible."

It took some little while for them to make their way back to the horses which they had left away on the pampas, for a flat grass plain gives little idea of direction, and a dark but fine night does not help a man out of the difficulty if he happen to have spent all his days in one of our British towns. But Pepito could read the heavens as easily as Dudley could absorb a book, and he quickly decided where the horses lay. They strode on for a long while in silence, and then the gaucho gave an exclamation of satisfaction.

"As I thought," he said. "Pietro and the boys are there, and have taken charge of our beasts. We shall soon be with them."

He gave a low whistle when they arrived within a shorter distance of the dark group which suddenly appeared, dull and ill-defined, against the starlit sky, and at once the signal was answered. Pietro rode forward, leading their two horses.

"What news?" he asked. "The men here are full of excitement, and are eager to attack. How do the enemy lie?"

Dudley explained the situation in a few short sentences, while the gauchos gathered round and drank in his words.

"Everything seems to be in favor of this attack, señor," said Pietro at length. "There remains now only the necessary orders. We are here to obey, as I have already intimated. We wait for the señor's commands. He has seen this Indian camp, he knows how the enemy is placed, and no doubt he has already made his plans."

"I have," came the short answer, "and I want all to listen. The enemy are to the right of the cattle from where we lie now, and that is, of course, the position in which we shall attack them. I think you will all agree with me that when this attack is made it must be fierce and sudden, and must be carried through."

There was a grunt of approval from the listening gauchos, who edged a little closer.

"That is agreed. We have to press this attack home. Now, I think there are about fifty of us."

"Forty-eight, señor," came the swift correction from Pietro.

"There are forty-eight, and I am going to divide that number into three little parties for reasons you will soon understand. The duty assigned to thirty of the men will be hazardous. It will require dash and daring, and a heap of what we British call 'go.' I wish to ask for volunteers from amongst you for that party. Those who are willing to act, please ride forward a pace or so."

There was silence for the space of a few seconds, while the men drank in his words, and ninety-four shining and eager eyes stared at the white youth in the centre. Then there was a sudden movement and bustle, spurs tickled the flanks of the horses, and to a man the gauchos pressed forward, disputing the right of way with one another. Dudley grinned, an excited sort of grin.

"I see," he laughed, "all are volunteers. Then we must settle the matter quickly. The twenty-nine men to the right will ride away five feet from their fellows. Now, please. Don't hesitate."

There was a ring of authority in his voice, and at once the men trailed away, while the gauchos left behind scowled at their fortunate comrades.

"Now, the next ten ride forward a little. That is good. We are left with seven, and now I can give you all orders. The big party of twenty-nine will follow me into the Indian camp from this end, and will gallop through it, using their revolvers. They will not enter, however, till the party of ten have taken up their position and fired twice into the camp. That party will start from here at once. They will ride to the right, and when they are beyond the camp will steal up to it till well within range. When I fire a shot, they will open with their rifles, and remember, two shots only, please. Once we have charged through, they will also dash at them and cut right across the path we have taken, doing their best to scatter the horses, and when they are clear, they will turn to the right and join us. We will then all have another turn at them. Pepito is to command. Take your men, my lad."

He sat his horse in silence while the astonished gaucho jogged up to his own particular band, placed himself at their head, and went off with his following at a swinging trot.

"The remaining seven ride with us till we are nearly in position. They wait for us to charge, and then attack the cattle guards, and do their best to shoot down any Indian who attempts to break away. Remember, boys, we want to make this a lesson, and the sterner it is the better for all of you and for your master."

The good fellows would have cheered him had not silence been absolutely necessary. They were bold and courageous, as Dudley had already learned, but they had little initiative, and were content as a rule to act on the defensive. This attack was an entirely new idea, and the novelty and daring of it took their breath away. Then there was this plan.

"Whoever heard the like?" exclaimed Pietro, his mouth wide open. "Who could have thought of splitting us up into three parties? At the first it seemed madness, for surely we are stronger when fighting shoulder to shoulder. But this youth has thought the thing out, and I follow his reasoning. When we attack from different quarters we seem to be of bigger proportions than we really are. _Bueno_! I hope we shall beat these ruffians. If not, it will have been a fine fight, and we shall have enjoyed it. Boys, see that your shooters are loaded."

All were armed with revolvers, for these men earned good wages, and could afford the best of weapons. They sat their horses in silence now, staring after Pepito's party, and then at Dudley, who chatted with Pietro. The fine fellows were beginning to fret at the inaction. They fidgeted in their saddles, and reined their horses back sharply whenever the beasts attempted to move. But Dudley sat motionless, his watch in his hand, and the tip of one finger on the dial.

"I am giving them five minutes," he said. "When that time has gone, we will walk forward."

Snap! He closed his watch with a sharp click, and replaced it in his pocket.

"March!" he said shortly, and at once they were off, the men leaning forward expectantly, and all longing for the moment for attack to arrive. Ah! They mounted to the top of the long roll of the pampas, and there were the fires, duller now it seemed, and twinkling in the distance. They pressed on again, and very soon were within striking distance. Dudley pulled in his horse and rode round to the flank of the men.

"Party of seven move away now under Pietro," he said in low tones. "Halt till we shout, once you have gained your position. Now, boys, we will steal forward."

He placed himself at the head of the attacking party, and together they walked their horses still closer to the enemy's camp. Not a sound came from it at present, though from the herd of cattle a little to the right there came the gentle lowing of beasts and the occasional crack of a whip.

"They hear us, señor," whispered one of the gauchos. "The cattle hear sounds which we could not detect. They can tell that horses and men are about, and it makes them restless. The alarm will be sounded very soon if you do not fire your pistol. There!"

It came as he spoke. One of the figures huddled near one of the fires rose to his feet, for the lowing among the cattle had made him suspicious. He was a light sleeper, and it happened that he was suffering from an injury to his hand, which kept him awake. He peered about him, looked again at the dull patch of black where the gauchos rode, and then startled the air with his shouts.

"Awake! Rise!" he bellowed. "There are enemies close to us. The gauchos have returned. Get up and fire at them. We will kill every man who waits till we are mounted."

He dashed towards the horses, shouting as he ran. And at once some twenty figures followed him, for these Indians, from their long training to danger, were ever alert and quick to defend themselves. But numbers had eaten not only enough, but a good deal more than sufficient, and were correspondingly drowsy. Dudley's pistol shook the air before they had quite gripped the fact that there was an alarm, and they were just throwing off their blankets and rising to their feet when Pepito's party sent a withering volley into their midst.

At once there were howls of anguish and shouts of astonishment. The sluggards awakened with a vengeance, and dashed madly towards their horses, while the herd of cattle close alongside sent out many a bellow and began to sway from side to side.

Crash! The second volley ripped through the camp, and hardly had the Indians replied to it with yells of rage and fear when Dudley shouted to his men. They were spread in a line across the end of the camp, the gauchos being close together. They watched their leader as well as the light and so many counter attractions would admit, and as he set his horse in motion they came close on his heels. They were galloping now, and their leader was waving them on. He gave a yell, and at once the chorus took it up. The gauchos shrieked as loud as any Indian, touched their horses with the spur, and in a moment the little band was plunging through the camp. Fleeing Indians went down under their heels, guns exploded in their faces, and of a sudden the dark mass of swaying horses blocked their path. Dudley's revolver snapped sharply, while the men behind poured a hail into the men attempting to mount. Then the confusion became indescribable, for the horses belonging to the Indians became maddened with fear. They dashed this way and that, colliding with one another and overthrowing the men who attempted to mount. A second later a number of them bolted, while Dudley and his party dashed through after them, shot down some of the enemy, rode others into the grass, and then disappeared in the darkness. They were through. The men pulled in their horses and faced about, each one proud of the achievement, and making ready for the next attempt by cramming cartridges into his weapon.

"Charge!" Amidst all the babel, the frightened whinny of horses, the hammering of hoofs, and the shrieks of the startled Indians, Pepito's voice came clear to his comrades. They heard the report of his revolver, and then the confusion in the camp became even worse. For the gauchos placed under the young man's command were not going to allow themselves to be beaten by their comrades. The light from the fires had allowed them to see how the charge of Dudley's men had succeeded, and they raced after their leader with the firm determination to gallop through the enemy and come clear on the far side. Very gallantly, too, did they carry out that determination. They burst like a small wave on the savages, dashed them aside, and then rode on, emptying their weapons as they rode. A few minutes later they joined the larger party, dishevelled after their exertions, and grinning with excitement.

"Listen to our other friends!" said Pepito, suddenly jogging up to Dudley's side as he was about to give the order for the charge to be repeated. "Listen, señor. The seven are firing, and I think they are calling to us. There is a great disturbance over there."

They sat for a few seconds wondering what was happening, for the noise from the camp, which was now as intense as before, and which had spread on either side, was suddenly taken up on the far side of the herd of cattle. The gauchos were shouting, calling to their comrades, it seemed, while the bellowing from the cattle was almost deafening. Then a flying figure came from behind them, and one of the gauchos dashed up to Dudley.

"Lead the men this way, señor," he shouted eagerly. "The herd is moving. It is out of hand. The leaders are already running through the camp. Ride for your lives!"

He swung his beast round and made off, leaving Dudley wondering. But he had seen cattle stampede before, and knew well that fifty horsemen would not stop their frantic rush. It was news to hear that the herd was in motion, but if true he must needs take notice of the warning. Turning, he gave an order, and led his men at a gallop well to the right.

"It was well that you came at once, señor," said Pietro, riding up to him when the party had come to a halt. "We attacked the guards who looked to the cattle, and no doubt some of our shots hit the beasts. They were already excited and suspicious, and suddenly they were off. There was no stopping them, nor any need to do so, for they made direct for the Indian camp, and at least half are galloping across it now. The only danger was lest you and our comrades should be caught. I sent a messenger."

"Who found us, Pietro. But what shall we do now? These cattle have upset my arrangements."

"They have changed a great defeat into a huge disaster, señor," answered the gaucho seriously. "I told you that there were four hundred of the Indians, and they knew that there were not more than fifty of us, and also that we could not fetch reinforcements before to-morrow. You took them utterly by surprise, and no doubt cut them up badly when you galloped through; but they would have rallied. They were forced to do so, for their horses had stampeded as these cattle are doing. I say that they would have recovered from the fright, and then our work would have been before us. But now----"

"The cattle have removed that danger."

"The herd has stamped the Indian camp out of existence. Many men are being killed as we talk. It is a disaster for them; for us it is a magnificent victory the news of which will spread three hundred and more miles on all sides, and will fill the settlers with delight and courage. The Indians will be long before they recover their courage. I know that I am speaking the truth, my master. The morning will show you that these men are gone. Some will be mounted, and every horse will carry two, or even three; but the camp will tell its tale. The señor has but to listen to the shouting."

Above the bellows of the stampeding oxen came the shrieks of men in distress, while in all directions the Indians could be heard calling to one another.

"We could read them an even more severe lesson," said Dudley. "If, as you say, they have lost many of their horses, we could catch them up with ease and harry every foot of their retirement. Indeed I think it would be as well to follow and let them see how completely we command the situation. Perhaps it would do good in the future if we captured some, and explained that such an attempt again would meet with even worse punishment."

"I advise that we rest satisfied," was Pietro's answer, after some moments' consideration. "It is true that we might easily cut them up again; but then they might be able to offer some resistance and kill some of our number. Better let them see us drawn up together and watching their flight than interfere further. Besides, we have the cattle to think about. They must be collected. You may depend upon it that not one of the Indians here to-day will wish to pay us another visit unless helped by large numbers of comrades. They may raid other ranchos when they have got over their fright, but they will hardly come back here, señor, unless they are helped as I have said, and are burning for revenge."

Dudley and his men slipped from their horses when there was no longer any fear of the cattle turning their way, and they squatted on the pampas, and discussed the recent engagement. The gauchos were filled to the brim with excitement and pride. They had never been in such a fight before, and the memory of their charge made their pulses stir still, and brought a flush to their dusky cheeks. Then they reflected that this Indian defeat would be the talk of the province, and their conduct would be praised by one and all. It was worth the risk they had run, and if their young leader had asked them to try again, they would have fallen in with his request willingly.

When day dawned, and the rolling pampas was disclosed to view, the sweeping nature of the defeat from which the enemy had suffered became more apparent. Fortune had backed up the dash of the gauchos, and the stampeding cattle had completed the work commenced by Dudley and his men. The camp, with its numerous fires, was trodden and stamped out of existence. There was a dull trail of bruised and crushed grass running right over it and overlapping it far on either side, a trail which went on into the distance, where the scattered herd could now be seen, grazing peacefully. And along the length of that dark line were numbers of huddled figures, the Indians who had fallen, some to the bullets of the gauchos, some ridden down by their horses, but the greater number overwhelmed by the mad rush of the herd. Five miles away a sad gang of fugitives were riding fast from the rancho, and as Pietro had said, the Indians had but few horses amongst them.

"Mount!" shouted Dudley. "Now we will follow those fellows, and just let them see that we are still fresh and ready. But we will not touch them unless they attempt to retaliate. I want them to see us and learn the numbers of those who attacked them."

They galloped after the fleeing Indians, and very soon were within three hundred yards of the unfortunate wretches. There they pulled rein and watched as the disconsolate warriors made off. Some were on foot, and limped along at the tails of the horses, while numbers sat huddled on the beasts which they had managed to capture during the conflict. Some of the horses staggered under the weight of three men, while there was not one that did not carry at least two.

"They would surrender to a man if we were to follow," said Dudley, noticing the frantic efforts made by the Indians to increase their distance, and their appearance of fatigue. "Give them a shout, lads. Now," he went on, when the gauchos had sent the enemy on their way with a shout of defiance, "we will see to the cattle, and then report to Mr. Blunt. He went down to the port the day before yesterday, promising to be back this evening."

When Dudley reached the house at dusk he found his employer waiting for him, and he promptly made him acquainted with the events of the past few hours.

"It is a fine tale, and makes my blood warm towards these gallant gauchos," said Mr. Blunt when he had finished. "They have done magnificently, and you too, Dudley. Yes, I have no doubt who led them. Answer me. Was the plan not yours?"

Dudley admitted the fact with heightened color.

"I said as much. Then my neighbors and I have to thank you for a very fine victory, which will bring peace and security perhaps for many a long day. But we must not be over sanguine. The man who believes that he has shaken the courage of a treacherous foe such as these Indians, and does not count on their spirit of revenge, lays himself open to an unexpected attack and to annihilation. We must not forget that we are a buffer rancho as it were. That we lie between the Indians and our fellow ranchers, and that we must nearly always bear the brunt of the attack."

"Then why not organize, sir?" demanded Dudley. "As far as I can gather, each grazier out on the pampas looks to himself for protection. Too often they are content to lose beasts, taking such losses as a matter of course. Now if you and the others were to organize. If you had some signal which would draw the attention of all, some system of messengers, then you would be able to laugh at the Indians. Why not also build forts close to each corral?"

Mr. Blunt looked up sharply. He was a man not altogether lacking in original ideas, but was often content to take things as he found them. He had put up with Indian raids in the past as a matter of course, as an evil to which all ranchers were liable. He was always ready to go to the help of others, and, indeed, would not have hesitated to call in the succor of his friends. But then he owned an outlying estancia, peculiarly open to attack, and there had never been time to call in help. Dudley's late effort was the most brilliant performance of which he had heard. And now the lad proposed an alliance with others, and the building of forts.

"What else?" demanded Mr. Blunt.

"I should arrange to muster two or three hundred men at the first sign of an Indian invasion, and then I should not be content to beat them off; I should follow them into their own country."

"And then?"

"I should wipe them out. I should follow them a hundred miles, and even more, burn their villages, sweep in their cattle, and, in short, teach them such a lesson as they would hardly ever forget."

It was a bold suggestion, but none the less a sensible one. It was high time the ranchers on the pampas put a summary end to such persecution from the Indians. Their raids sometimes meant a very considerable loss of cattle, and very often many men were killed. It was high time indeed that a bolder policy was decided on.

"Done!" cried Mr. Blunt, bringing one of his brawny fists down on to the table. "We will do it, Dudley, and you shall organize the movement. We will go fully into the matter to-morrow, and on the following day will ride for Buenos Ayres, there to order the fittings for our forts. When they arrive, and the men are set to work, you shall ride round and see all the estancia owners within a hundred miles."

It was a bargain. The two friends--for that they were, though one was master and the other employé--gripped hands, and, having thus shown their faith in each other, went off to their couches to sleep and to prepare for the morrow.