about ten to fifteen
I bridled my horse so as to be ready to run , then drew him into a close thicket of dark-foliaged bushes and fastened him there . The silence that had fallen on the wood continued , and at last , unable to bear the suspense longer , I began to make my way cautiously , revolver in hand , towards the point the sounds had proceeded from . Stealing softly through the bushes and trees where they grew near together , I came at length in sight of an open piece of ground , about two or three hundred yards wide , and overgrown with grass . Near its border on one side I was amazed to see a group of about a dozen boys , their ages ranging from about ten to fifteen , all standing perfectly motionless . One of them held a trumpet in his hand , and they all wore red handkerchiefs or rags tied round their heads . Suddenly , while I crouched amongst the leafage watching them , a shrill note sounded from the opposite side of the open space , and another troop of boys wearing white on their heads burst from the trees and advanced with loud shouts of _ vivas _ and _ mueras _ towards the middle of the ground . Again the red heads sounded their trumpet , and went out boldly to meet the new-comers .