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Soon after the trio of trackers have re-entered the algarobia grove, a frizzling, sputtering noise is heard therein; while an appetising odour spreads all around, borne afar on the balmy breeze of the morning. Both the sound and the smell proceed from some choice tit-bits which Gaspar has taken from the body of the great bird chiefly slices from the thigh bone and breast.
They all feel a certain lethargy, which calls for repose; and for a while all three lie without speaking a word, their heads resting on their recados the only sound heard being the "crump-crump" of their horses' teeth grinding the algarobia pods into pulp. The silence of the camp is not of long continuance; Gaspar being the first to break it.
With a parting glance at the place of bivouac, and each leading his own horse, they move out of the algarobia grove, and on down to the edge of the riacho, stopping at the spot where they came across. But not a moment spend they there, in the search for hoof-marks other than those of their own horses.
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.
This fact suggesting itself to Gaspar as he lies watching the horses plucking off the long siliques, and greedily devouring them he says: "We can make a meal on the algarobia beans, if nothing better's to be had. And for me, it wouldn't be the first time by scores. In some parts where I've travelled, they grind them like maize, and bake a very fair sort of bread out of their meal."
There are the algarobia beans; but their skillet has been lost along with the kettle, and there is left them no utensil in which these legumes might be boiled. True, they can roast them in the ashes; but Gaspar still clings to the hope that something more toothful may turn up.
Cypriano, too, appears to take an interest in the subject of discourse; and to encourage it the gaucho rejoins, in gleeful tones: "Well, Senor Ludwig; I don't know much about those far-away countries you speak of, for I've not had any great deal of schooling. But I do know, that algarobia beans are not such bad eating; that is if properly prepared for it.
But, for my part, I believe the beans of the `locust tree' are meant; which, like this, is a species of acacia that the Arabs call carob; evidently the root from which we take our word algarobia." Gaspar listens, both patiently and pleased, to this learned dissertation.
Dismounting, they too make halt by the algarobia grove partly to breathe their horses, which have been all the morning kept at top speed, through their anxiety to overtake the Indians but more for the sake of giving examination to the abandoned camp, in the hope that something left there may lead to further elucidation of the crime and its causes; possibly enable them to determine, beyond doubt, who have been its perpetrators.
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