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When we're crossing back over that riacho where you left your saddle-bags, if you're tired of riding double, you can drop her down among the lightning-eels, and let them play their batteries upon her old bones till every joint of them cracks asunder." Were it not for the gravity of the situation, Gaspar's young companions would be greatly amused at his quaint rhodomontade.
Rejoining the gaucho, all three mount into their saddles; and, without further dallying, ride off down the riacho, to make back for the main river. But, again upon the latter's bank, they find the trail blind as before, with nothing to guide them, save the stream itself. To the gaucho, however, this seems sufficient, and turning his horses's head upward, he cries out
A regular Indian road, crosses the riacho there, and has worn a rut running down to the channel on both sides." His hearers are pleased at this intelligence; Cypriano signifying so by the laconic rejoinder "Esta bueno." Then follows an interval of silence; after which Gaspar, as if some new thought had occurred to him, suddenly exclaims "Santos Dios! I'd forgotten that."
"Whether it be by wading or swimming," Gaspar remarks in continuance, "we'll get over the riacho up yonder, not far from that tree. So, let's on to it, senoritos!" Without another word, they all wheel their horses about, and move off in the direction of the quebracha.
For they are out upon the open ground, striding to and fro, now and then pausing to pick up some morsel of food, or it may be but a pebble to aid in the digestion of what they have already eaten. While thus engaged, they are gradually drawing nearer to the bank of the riacho, as also the edge of the algarobia grove in which the trackers are encamped.
"Look there!" he adds as they get beside him, "You see that these tracks have the toes all turned down stream; which tells me the horses did the same, and, I should say, also their riders. Yes! Soon as out of the water they turned down; proof good as positive that they've gone along the riacho this side, and back again to the big river.
But, unfortunately, this particular riacho is of a kind which forbids even their swimming it; as almost at the same glance, the gaucho observes, with a grunt expressing his discontent.
For by this the rheas have pretty well recovered from their scare, and are again tranquilly striding about. Moreover, they have moved somewhat nearer to the bank of the riacho, where a bordering of leafy evergreens offers to the stalker cover of the best kind. Taking advantage of it, he, in the guise of a garzon, steps briskly on, and steals in among the bushes.
But in another instant, all, as if by one impulse, give out a simultaneous scream; then, rising together, spread their broad, sail-like wings, and go flapping away. No, not all. One stays in the riacho; no longer to look after fish, but with both wings outspread over the surface of the stream, beating the water into froth as it does so, all the while drawing nearer and nearer to the nether bank!
We've been going by guesswork long enough; but, if I don't greatly mistake we'll there see something to tell us whether our guesses have been good or bad. If the redskins have come up the river at all, it's pretty sure they also have crossed the riacho at this very ford, and we should there see some traces of them. Sure to find them on the sloping banks, as we did by the arroyo.
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