id they? I'd like to
catch that Archie Winters by himself. He's little, and I am sure that I
could whip him. I'll pay them all for what they have done to me, and
before I get through with them, they will learn, that it is always best
to treat a gentleman with respect."

As Arthur said this, he looked contemptuously at his slumbering
companions, and then turned his back to them, and went to sleep.

CHAPTER XV.

MORE TREACHERY.

When Frank awoke, it was nearly dark. The glade was lighted up by a
fire, that one of the Rancheros had kindled, and beside which he stood,
superintending the cooking of the supper. Archie and Johnny were still
sleeping soundly, but Arthur Vane's blanket was empty, and that young
gentleman was nowhere to be seen.

Frank raised himself to a sitting posture, rubbed his eyes, and yawned;
and then, seeing that the cook was rummaging in the pack-saddle after
more luxuries, and judging by that that supper was nearly ready, he
shook his companions, and arose to his feet. He went to the spring, and
was preparing to wash his hands and face in the little brook that ran
across the glade, when his attention was attracted by the sound of
voices close by. He found that they came from behind the bowlder; and,
after listening a moment, he recognized the voices as those of Pierre
Costello, and Arthur Vane. At first, Frank thought nothing of this
circumstance. He bent over the brook, and plunged his hands into the
water, when the thought occurred to him that this was a strange
proceeding on the part of Arthur Vane. If the latter had any thing to
say to the chief, why did he not talk to him in the camp? Frank's
suspicions were aroused. He stood, for a moment, undecided how to act,
and then, dropping on his hands and knees, he crept cautiously around
the end of the bowlder, and presently came in sight of Pierre and his
companion. They were sitting on the ground, facing each other--the chief
calmly smoking a cigarette, while Arthur was amusing himself by cutting
the grass around him with the Ranchero's bowie-knife.

"This is very odd," thought Frank. "Arthur acts more like a confidential
friend than a prisoner."

Our hero drew back, and listened to the conversation that followed,
during which he gained some insight into the character of his new
acquaintance.

"I do not admire your way of doing business," he heard Arthur say, at
length. "You treat me no better than you treat them. You told me that
yo