inted toward the fire, and Arthur, understanding the motion,
threw down the stick, and walked away, shaking his head, and muttering
to himself.

"He had better keep close to his friends to-morrow," said Johnny, his
face all wrinkled up with pain.

The other boys thought so too. Each one of them had rather that Arthur
had struck him instead of Johnny; for the latter, although
high-spirited, and inclined to be belligerent under provocation, was a
good-natured, accommodating fellow, who gained hosts of friends wherever
he went, and who never hesitated to make any sacrifice for the benefit
of others. Frank had never before witnessed such an exhibition of
cowardly vindictiveness, and he was almost sorry that he had protected
Arthur.

The traitor, well satisfied with what he had done, and only regretting
that he had been interrupted before his revenge was complete, spread his
blanket beside the chief; and, after that, nothing happened for a long
time to disturb the silence of the camp. The Rancheros were soon in a
sound sleep, even including Antoine Mercedes, the sentinel, who sat with
his back against a tree, his head hung down upon his breast and his
right hand, which rested on the ground beside him, grasping a revolver.
He had been placed there by his chief to watch the prisoners; but,
believing that there was little danger of their escape, and being
unwilling to be deprived of his usual rest, he had gone to sleep as soon
as the others. The boys, however, were wide awake. The exciting events
of the day, and the pain occasioned by their bonds, effectually banished
sleep from their eyes, and they passed the long hours in pondering upon
what Arthur had done, and trying in vain to find a comfortable position
on their blankets. Johnny, especially, was very restless. He lay for a
long time watching the sentinel, and thinking how easily he and his
companions could effect their escape, if their hands and feet were free;
then he wondered if Pierre was in earnest, when he said that he would
make "scare-crows" of them if his messenger did not return by daylight;
and, finally, he turned over, and tried, for the hundredth time, to go
to sleep.

The fire, which was still burning brightly, lighted up every corner of
the glade, and, from the new position in which he lay, Johnny could see
how Archie's arms were bound. They were crossed behind his back, and the
lasso was wrapped twice around them, and tied in a square knot--a single
gl