José laughed and patted him on the back. "True, Don Francisco. But let me tell you our plan, or part of it. I have reason to believe that these two horsetail thieves are taking shelter with some charcoal burners over near the river. These charcoal burners are rough men, who live almost like savages. They injure no one, however, and it is only when they quarrel among themselves that they do any harm. They may not know who these men are, and are allowing them to tarry with them, believing them to be beggars, or _gauchos_ hunting employment.
"I feel sure they are too loyal to the _estancia_ to harbour them if they knew who they were. Now be ready immediately after breakfast, for we must start in time to reach the charcoal kilns before dusk."
It was twelve o'clock, when José, Manuel and Francisco galloped off in the direction of the river, and it was just _mate_ time when they came in sight of the charcoal kilns and adobe huts near the river's bank.
Gathered about the fires, over which hung boiling water for making the _máte_, were several clusters of these uncouth appearing men. Dirty looking women sat in groups apart, with dozens of dirtier children rolling about on the hard earth at their feet. A pack of dogs ran out to greet them, yelping in front of their horses, until they were called off by their respective owners.
José and Manuel approached one group, and after greeting and being greeted, asked for boiling water with which to make _mate_. This was given willingly, and with Francisco they sat down on the ground among the men and began leisurely to sip _mate_ from the gourd that Manuel always carried in his saddle bags.
They talked in friendly fashion with the dirty _carboneros_, who were as black as the fuel they made. Francisco noticed two men, who were less grimy in appearance and who sat quietly side by side, taking no part in the conversation.
They glanced occasionally at José and Manuel in a hostile manner, and suspicion seemed to lurk in their attitude towards them. Francisco felt sure these were the thieves, but José and Manuel took no notice whatever of them and Francisco feared his friends had not seen them.
After _mate_ Francisco asked to see the kilns and José and Manuel took him over to examine them and explain to him how the willow was made into charcoal. It was quite dark when they returned to the huts and proposed that they return to the _casa_.