prisoners' arms with
their own lassos, Archie gave him a rapid account of all that had
happened during his captivity, dwelling with a good deal of emphasis on
the treachery of Arthur Vane. Dick opened his eyes in astonishment, and,
when Archie had finished his story, declared that they would be serving
Arthur right if they were to leave him among the robbers.

"Why, he doesn't want to get away from them," said Archie. "He is with
them now, hunting for us. He and I had a fight not half an hour ago,
and, if Antoine had only stayed away a few minutes longer, Arthur would
have been a prisoner too."

At this moment, a party of Rancheros galloped up, led by Uncle James and
Mr. Harris, and accompanied by the dogs, which the boys--who had
intended to devote the most of their time to stalking the elks, which
were abundant in the mountains--had left at home. Marmion and Carlo made
every demonstration of joy at seeing Archie once more, and Mr. Winters
greeted him as though he had not met him for years.

Without any unnecessary delay, a trusty herdsman was dismounted, and
sent back to the ranch with the prisoners, and Archie mounted his horse.

"You had better go home," said Mr. Winters, looking at his nephew's rags
and bruises.

"Oh no, uncle," said Archie, quickly. "I promised Frank and Johnny that,
if I succeeded in getting away, I wouldn't sleep until they were safe
among friends. I want to go with you."

Uncle James did not urge the matter, and Dick, although he shook his
head at Archie, and called him a "keerless feller," was proud of his
pluck.

The trapper, who was the acknowledged leader of the party, set out at a
rapid trot toward the pass, but had not gone far, when he stopped, and
turned his head on one side to listen. "Spread out, fellers," said he,
waving his hand toward the bushes on each side of him. "Thar's something
comin'."

The horsemen separated, and took up their positions on each side of the
path. They could hear nothing but the chirping of the birds, and the
sighing of the wind through the branches above their heads; but they had
not been long in their concealments before they found that Dick had not
been deceived. The clatter of a horse's hoofs on the hard path, faint
and far off at first, but growing louder as the animal approached, came
to their ears, and presently Roderick appeared in sight. The first thing
Archie noticed was, that he wore neither saddle nor bridle; the second,
that he carried