“Because I never have had a chance to do it without being seen by the others.  If you know when you are well off, you will take every precaution to keep those boys from finding out how treacherous you have been.  You must not expect any signs of friendship from me.  I shall stick to my promise, and see that no serious injury is done you; but, if you will insist in showing your courage by fighting us, you must make up your mind to be roughly handled.  You say that Frank didn’t read to me what he wrote in that letter?”

“No, he did not.  He never said a word to his uncle about sending the money.  He told him not to do it.  He advised him to capture your messenger, by all means, and to send those trappers up here, with a party of men, by daylight to-morrow morning.”

“Well, they’ll not find us,” said the chief, who seemed to take the matter very coolly.  “By daylight we shall be miles from here.  We’ll start as soon as the moon rises, so that we can see to travel through the pass.  After supper, I shall have those fellows bound hand and foot—­that will prevent their escape, I think—­and, of course, I must tie you, also.”

“I don’t like the idea of lying all night with my hands fastened behind my back,” objected Arthur.

“I can’t help that.  Those boys must be confined; for I am not going to lose sixty thousand dollars, if I can help it; and, if you wish to avoid suspicion, you must be tied with the rest.”

“I shall resist.  I want to make those fellows believe that they are a pack of cowards.  Don’t let your men handle me too roughly.”

“I’ll look out for that,” said Pierre.  “Now, let us go back to the camp.  You have been away too long already.”

“O, you outrageous villain!” thought Frank, who was so astonished and bewildered by what he had heard, that he scarcely knew what he was about.  “Won’t you suffer for this day’s work if we ever get back to the settlement?”

The movements of the traitor, who just then arose to his feet, brought Frank to himself again.  He retreated precipitately, and, when Arthur came out from behind the bowlder, he was sitting on his blanket, talking to Archie and Johnny.

“Fellows,” said he, in an excited voice, “we’re ruined!  That rascal has blabbed the whole thing!”

“Who?  What rascal? what thing?” asked both the prisoners in a breath.  “What’s the matter with you?” added Archie, in some alarm, seeing that his cousin wore an exceedingly long face.

“Arthur Vane has just told Pierre that we had made up our minds to escape to-night,” replied Frank.

“No!” exclaimed the boys, almost paralyzed by the information.

“It’s a fact.  After supper, we are to be bound hand and foot; and Arthur, to show how brave he is, and how cowardly we are, is going to resist, and Pierre has promised that his men shall not handle him roughly.  O, you’ll find out!” he continued, seeing that his friends looked incredulous.  “I crept up behind that bowlder, and heard all about it.  I did not understand all the conversation; but I know that Arthur is a traitor, and that we are indebted to him for our capture.”