isoners, that
I am going to take you where no one will ever think of looking for you,
and that when I am paid eighty thousand dollars in gold, I will set you
at liberty, and not before. Tell him, further, that I shall send this
note to him by one of my men; and that if he does not return in safety
by sunrise to-morrow morning, I will make scare-crows of you."

Frank picked up his saddle-bags, which he used as a desk, and, after
borrowing the robber's bowie-knife to sharpen his pencil, he began the
letter, and wrote down what Pierre had dictated, using as nearly as
possible the chief's own words.

"That's all right," said the latter, when his prisoner had read the
letter aloud.

"Now," said Frank, "may I not add a postscript, telling Uncle James that
we are well and hearty, and that we have been kindly treated, and so
on."

"Certainly; only be careful that you do not advise him to capture my
messenger."

Frank again picked up his pencil, and wrote as follows:

"The above was written by Pierre's command, and I have his
permission to say a word for ourselves. You need not pay out any
money for Archie and me; and I know that if I was allowed an
opportunity to talk to Johnny, he would send the same message to
his father. We are now in Pass Christian--a difficult place to
escape from, but we intend to make the attempt this very night.
Detain Pierre's messenger, by all means; then send Dick and Bob
with a party of men up here by daylight, and they can capture
every one of these villains."

That was what Frank added to the letter, but, when Pierre ordered him to
read it, he made up a postscript as he went along; for he knew that if
the chief were made acquainted with the real contents of the note, he
would not send it. The Ranchero did not know one letter from another,
and he was obliged to rely entirely upon Frank, who read:

"We're all hunky-dory thus far. Pierre don't seem to be so bad a fellow,
after all; in fact, he's a brick. He treats us like gentlemen; but, of
course, we'd rather be at home, so please send on the money for Archie
and me, and see that Mr. Harris and Mr. Vane do the same for Johnny and
Arthur."

"You're sure, now," said Pierre, as Frank handed him the letter, after
addressing it to Mr. Winters, "that you haven't told your uncle where we
are, or advised him to try to rescue you?"

"There's the note," replied the prisoner, "and if you think I have be