Their horses, therefore, could travel as fast and as far as
those of their pursuers. The sheep would, it is true, be an
encumbrance; the cattle could scarcely be termed so; and it was
probable that the first day they would make a journey of fifty or
sixty miles, traveling at a moderate pace only, as they would know
that no instant pursuit could take place. Indeed their strength,
which the peon had estimated at five hundred men, would render them
to a certain extent careless, as upon an open plain the charge of
this number of men would sweep away any force which could be
collected short of obtaining a strong body of troops from Rosario.
For the next two days it was probable that they would make as long
and speedy journeys as the animals could accomplish. After that,
being well in their own country, they would cease to travel
rapidly, as no pursuit had ever been attempted in former instances.
There was no difficulty in following the track. Mr. Mercer had
possessed nearly a thousand cattle and five thousand sheep, and the
ground was trampled, in a broad, unmistakable line. Once or twice
Mr. Hardy consulted his compass. The trail ran southwest by west.
There was not much talking. The whole party were too impressed with
the terrible scene they had witnessed, and the tremendously
hazardous nature of the enterprise they had undertaken, to indulge
in general conversation.
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