The saddles these horses wore were like every thing else about themselves and masters, of the Mexican pattern.  They were made of beautifully-stamped leather, with high pommels in front, the tops of which were flat, and as large around as the crown of Frank’s sombrero.  A pair of saddle-bags was fastened across the seat of each, in which the boys carried several handy articles, such as flint, steel, and tinder for lighting a fire; ammunition for their revolvers, which were safely stowed away in bearskin holsters strapped in front of the saddles, and large clasp-knives, that were useful in skinning squirrels when the boys went hunting.  Behind the saddles, neatly rolled up, and held in their places by straps, were a couple of pouches, which they used in rainy weather.  They were pieces of India-rubber cloth, with holes in the center for the wearers’ heads.  They were large enough to afford complete protection from the rain, and could also be used as tents in case the boys found it necessary to camp all night on the prairie.

We have spoken of Frank’s dog; but were we to let the matter drop here, it would be slighting an animal which had played a somewhat important part in the history of Frank’s life in California.  His name was Marmion, and he had been presented to Frank by Captain Porter—­an old fur-trader, who lived a few miles distant from the rancho, and with whom the cousins were great favorites.  Archie did not like the dog, and, if the truth must be told, the dog had not the smallest particle of affection for Archie.  In fact, he cared for no one except his master, and that was the reason the fur-trader had given him to Frank.  He was as large as two ordinary dogs—­very courageous, and so savage that no one cared to trouble him.  He had seen some stirring times during his life, and his body was covered with wounds, some of which were not entirely healed.  Frank was quite as fond of him as he was of Brave, and with good reason, too.  Marmion had received those wounds while fighting for his master, and it was through his interference that Frank had been saved from a long captivity.  It happened before the commencement of our story, and how it came to pass shall be told in the following chapters.

The house in which Frank and Archie lived stood in a grove of stately oak-trees, and, externally, was in perfect keeping with its surroundings.  It was built of massive logs, in the form of a hollow square, with an open court in the center, which was paved with stone.  The windows, which extended down to the floor, and which were used for ingress and egress quite as often as the doors, were protected by shutters made of heavy planks, and there were four loop-holes on each side of the house, showing that it had been intended to serve as a defense as well as a shelter.  Indeed, it looked more like a fortification than a dwelling.