entinel, for allowing the prisoners to escape, and then
he set about making preparations for pursuit. He sent two of the band on
foot down the path that led toward the settlement, another he ordered to
saddle the horses, and the rest he commanded to search every nook and
corner of the glade.

As long as the noise continued, Archie worked industriously; and, being
a very active fellow, he got up the mountain at an astonishing rate. But
as soon as the chief had succeeded in restoring order, he sat down to
recover his breath, and to wait until the Rancheros left the glade: for
he was fearful that the noise he necessarily made, in working his way
through the thick bushes, might direct his enemies in their search.

Although it was pitch dark on the mountainside, Archie could tell
exactly what was going on below him. He knew when the two men left the
glade, chuckled to himself when he heard the Ranchero, who had been
ordered to saddle the horses, growl at the restive animals, and noted
the movements of the party who were searching the bushes. He distinctly
heard their voices, and he knew that Arthur Vane was with them.

"Do you think they will get away, Joaquin?" he heard the traitor ask.

"That's hard to tell," was the reply. "It depends a good deal upon how
long they have been gone. If they get back to the settlement, you had
better keep away from there."

"That's so," said Archie, to himself.

"They'll never reach the settlement if I can help it," declared Arthur.
"If I get my eyes on one of them, I bet he don't escape. I'll take him
prisoner."

Perhaps we shall find that Arthur did "get his eyes on one of them," and
we shall see how he kept his promise.

The party went entirely around the glade, passing directly beneath
Archie, who held himself in readiness to continue his flight, should
they begin to ascend the cliff, and finally one of them called out:

"They're not here, Pierre."

"Mount, then, every one of you," exclaimed the chief. "When you reach
the end of the pass, scatter out and search the mountains, thoroughly.
Antoine, we have to thank you for the loss of a fortune, you idiot."

Archie heard the Ranchero mutter an angry reply, and then came the
tramping of horses as the band rode from the glade. In a few seconds the
sound died away in the pass, and the fugitive was left alone. His first
impulse was to descend into the glade, mount Sleepy Sam, and follow the
robbers. Archie could ride the animal wit