A keen breeze was blowing up there on the ridge. A bank of cloud was
rising in the southwest horizon, and, at that season, when the months
of rain were normally at an end, the mere presence of clouds heralded
another spell of broken weather, though the preceding gale had probably
marked the worst of it. Indeed, valuable auxiliary as the moon had
proved during the march across rough country, it would be no ill hap if
her bright face were veiled later. The mere prospect of such an
occurrence was a cheering augury, and it was in the highest spirits
that the little band set out resolutely for the Curral.
Here they encountered no difficulty whatever. Perhaps the prevalent
excitement had drawn its custodians to the town, since they found no
one in charge save a couple of barking dogs, while, if there were
people in the cattle-keepers' huts, they gave no sign of their
presence. A few stakes were pulled up; they even came upon a couple of
axes and a heavy hammer. Equipped with these weapons, eked out by
three revolvers owned by the Brazilians and the dapper captain's sword,
they hurried on, quitting the road instantly, and following a cow-path
that wound about the base of a steep hill.
They met their first surprise when they tried to cross the road to the
fort.
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