Frank and Johnny on his back. One of Frank's hands was
twisted in the horse's mane, and his body was tightly clasped in the
arms of Johnny, who sat behind him. Archie had never seen the mustang
run so swiftly before, and he made up his mind that, if any of the
Rancheros were pursuing him, they might as well give up the chase. He
also thought that Frank and Johnny would enjoy a long ride before they
got a chance to put their feet on the ground again; for Roderick was
plainly stampeded. It was fortunate that Dick had sent them into the
bushes; for, had the party been in the path then, some of them would
have been run down, and, perhaps, trampled to death.

"Out of the way there, Greaser!" shouted Frank, when he discovered the
trapper standing in the path.

Dick was not a Greaser; but he thought it best to get out of the way;
and Frank would have gone by him, had not Carlo and Marmion recognized
their masters, and set up a howl of welcome.

"Whoa!" shouted Johnny and Frank, in concert, and Roderick stopped so
suddenly that both his riders were thrown forward on his neck.

"Come here, you boy that fit that ar' Greaser, an' tell me all about it,
to onct," exclaimed Dick. "Be they follerin' you?"

"Not that we know of. We haven't seen any of them since daylight. Lend
me your lasso, Carlos, and we'll go back and hunt up Archie."

But Archie was already found, and when he rode out of the bushes, Frank
was relieved of a great deal of anxiety. He had not seen his cousin
since he left the glade, and he feared that he had been re-captured; or,
what was worse, had slipped off the ledge into the gorge.

A consultation was now held, and, after Uncle James and Mr. Harris had
listened to the boys' story, they decided that it would be a waste of
time to search for Arthur Vane. The latter's conduct had induced the
belief that he was a friend of the robbers, and could go and come when
he pleased. No doubt, when he got tired of life in the mountains, he
would return home of his own free will. The party would keep on to the
glade, however, and recover Sleepy Sam, and the boys' weapons. When this
had been decided upon, Dick's horse, which he had hidden in the bushes,
was brought out for Johnny, a lasso was twisted around Roderick's lower
jaw, to serve as a bridle, and then the trapper shouldered his long
rifle, and gave another exhibition of his "travelin' qualities." He kept
the horses in a steady gallop, sometimes "letting out" a litt