by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.
A COUNTERFEIT CRANE.
Gaspar allows no time to be lost, but instantly commences takingmeasures for the _garzoneando_--whatever that may be. As yet neither ofhis young companions has been told what it is, though they soon begin tohave a guess.
While they stand watching, they see him once more plunge his hand intothose capacious saddle-bags, where for a time it rummages about. Whendrawn out again, it is seen to grasp a folded bundle of soft goods,which, on being shaken open, shows to be a shirt. No common cottonthing, however, but an affair of the finest linen, snow-white, with anembroidered bosom and ruffles; in short, his gala shirt, such as areworn by gauchos when they appear at _fiestas_ and _fandangoes_.
"A pity to use my best _camisa_ for such a purpose," he observes, whilein the act of unfolding it. "Still it won't likely get much damage; anda wash, with a bit of starch, will set it all right again."
Then turning to Cypriano, he adds, "Now, senorito; be good enough tostrip off everything, and draw this over your shoulders."
Without a word of protest, or objection, the young Paraguayan does asrequested, and is soon inside the holiday shirt; his own having beenlaid aside, as also his _jaqueta, calzoneras_, and every other articleof dress worn by him.
Meanwhile, Gaspar has been engaged getting ready several other thingsfor the change of costume intended; one of these being a silkhandkerchief of a bright scarlet colour, also taken out of theinexhaustible _alparejas_. This he ties about Cypriano's neck, not asan ordinary cravat, but loosely folded, so as to expose a breadth ofseveral inches all round.
The gaucho's next move is to snatch from off the fire one of the faggotsstill only half consumed; from which with his knife he scrapes the redcoal, leaving the surface black, at the same time paring the stick to asharp point. With some wet gunpowder he further blackens it; thenplacing the thick end against Cypriano's forehead, he binds it fast witha piece of raw-hide thong, the last carried around and firmly knotted atthe back of the neck.
A few more touches and the toilet is complete; transforming Cyprianointo what, at a distance, might be supposed a soldier-crane! At allevents, the ostriches will so suppose him, as Gaspar knows; for he isbut copying a scheme often practised by South American Indians for thecapture of these shy birds.
"_Muy bien_!" he exclaims, as he stands contemplating his finished task."By my word, _muchacho mio_, you look the character to perfection. Andif you act it cleverly, as I know you can and will, we'll make breakfaston something better than beans. Now, senorito; you're in costume to go_garzoneando_."
Long ere this, Cypriano has come to comprehend what is required of him,and is quite eager to have a try at the ruse so cunningly contrived.Declaring himself ready to start out, it but remains to be decided whatweapon he ought to take with him. For they have the three kinds--gun,_bolas_, and _lazo_; and in the use of the two last he is almost asskilled as the gaucho himself.
"The gun might be the readiest and surest," remarks Gaspar; "and it willbe as well to have one with you, in case of your not getting a goodchance to cast either of the others. But just now the less noise that'smade the better. Who knows, but that some of these traitorous redskinsmay be still straggling about? Hearing shots they'd be sure to come upto us; which we don't want, though ever so much wishing to come up withthem. Therefore, I say, use either the balls or the rope."
"All the same to me," observes the young Paraguayan. "Which do youthink the better?"
"The _bolas_, decidedly. I've known the _lazo_ slip over an ostrich'shead, after the noose had been round its neck. But once the cord of the_bolas_ gets a turn round the creature's shanks, it'll go to grasswithout making another stride. Take this set of mine. As you see,they're best _boliadores_, and you can throw them with surer aim."
The weapon which the gaucho hands to him differs from the ordinary_bolas_, in having a longer stretch of cord between the balls; butCypriano is himself as well acquainted with this kind as with the other,and can cast them as skilfully. Taking hold of the weapon, along withhis double-barrelled gun, and concealing both as he best can under thegaucho's shirt, he starts off upon the stalk; for he now knows what hehas to do, without any further instruction from Gaspar. It is simply aquestion of getting near enough to one of the birds to make capture ofit with the _boliadores_; or, failing this, bring it down with abullet--one barrel of his gun being loaded with ball.
As he goes off, Caspar and Ludwig looking after him can see that hischances of success are good. For by this the _rheas_ have pretty wellrecovered 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 thebest kind. Taking advantage of it, he, in the guise of a _garzon_,steps briskly on, and steals in among the bushes. There he is for atime unseen, either by those watching him from the summit of the knoll,or the creatures being stalked. The latter have already noticed thecounterfeit, but without showing any signs of fear; no doubt supposingit to be what it pretends--a bird as themselves, with neck and legs aslong as their own. But no enemy; for often have they passed over thatsame plain, and fed in a friendly way alongside soldier-cranes--scoresof them. Even when this solitary specimen again appears by the skirtingof the scrub within less than twenty paces of them, they do not seem atall alarmed, though possibly a little surprised at its being there allalone.
Nor do they make any attempt to stir from the spot, till a movement onthe part of the _garzon_, with some gestures that seem odd to them,excite their suspicions afresh; then raising their heads, and craningout their long necks, they regard it with wondering glances. Only foran instant; when seeming at last to apprehend danger, the birds utter ahiss, as if about to beat a retreat.
For one of them it is too late, the cock, which chances to be nearestthe bushes, and who before he can lift a leg feels both embraced bysomething which lashes them tightly together; while at the same timesomething else hits him a hard heavy blow, bowling him over upon thegrass, where he lies stunned and senseless.
"_Bueno! Bravo_!" simultaneously shout Gaspar and Ludwig, the twotogether rushing down from the hillock, and on for the prostrate _rhea_;while the counterfeit crane comes forth from the bushes to meet them, ashe draws near, saying:--
"I could have shot the hen, but for what you said, Gaspar, about makinga noise."
"No matter for the hen," rejoins the gaucho. "We don't want her justnow. This beauty will not only give us enough meat for breakfast, butprovide dinners and suppers for at least a couple of days to come."
So saying, he draws his knife across the _rhea's_ throat, to make surebefore releasing its legs from the thong. After which the _boliadores_are detached; and the huge carcase, almost as heavy as that of a fattedcalf, is carried in triumph to the camp.