and, before Frank knew what was going on, he had cut
the lasso with his knife--an action which caused our hero, who was
pulling back on the lariat with all his strength, to toss up his heels,
and sit down upon the rough stones of the court, very suddenly, while
Pierre, finding himself at liberty, jumped up, and ran for his life.

Mr. Winters had by this time regained his feet, and, catching up Frank's
rifle, which lay beside him on the pavement, he took a flying shot at
the robber just as he was running through the archway. Pierre's escape
was a very narrow one; for the bullet went through the brim of his
sombrero, and cut off a lock of his hair.

CHAPTER VI.

THE MYSTERIES SOLVED.

Pierre, finding himself uninjured by Mr. Winters's shot, suddenly became
very courageous, and stopped to say a parting word to that gentleman.

"Try it again," said he, with a taunting laugh. "You are a poor shot for
an old frontiersman! I will bid you good-by, now," he added, shaking his
knife at Uncle James, "but you have not seen the last of me. You will
have reason to remember"--

The Ranchero did not say what Mr. Winters would have reason to remember,
for he happened to look toward the opposite side of the court, and saw
something that brought from him an ejaculation of alarm, and caused him
to turn and take to his heels. An instant afterward, a dark object
bounded through the court, and, before the robber had taken half a dozen
steps, Marmion sprang upon his back, and threw him to the ground.

"Hurrah!" shouted Frank. "You are not gone yet, it seems. You're caught
now, easy enough; for that dog never lets go, if he once gets a good
hold. Hang on to him, old fellow!"

But Marmion seemed to be utterly unable to manage the Ranchero. He had
placed his fore-feet upon Pierre's breast, and appeared to be holding
him by the throat; but the latter, with one blow of his arm, knocked him
off, and, regaining his feet, fled through the grove with the speed of
the wind--the piece of the lasso, which was still around his neck,
streaming straight out behind him.

"Take him, Marmion!" yelled Frank, astonished to see his dog so easily
defeated. "Take him! Hi! hi!"

The animal evidently did his best to obey; but there seemed to be
something the matter with him. He ran as if he were dragging a heavy
weight behind him, or as if his feet were tied together, and it was all
he could do to keep up with the robber; and, when he tried to seiz