When Arthur said this, he was gazing into the fire, and consequently did not see the significant glances which the robber chief exchanged with his men.  It might have astonished him to know that he was not free to go and come when he pleased; and that Pierre, in spite of all his promises to the contrary, intended to demand twenty thousand dollars for him, as well as for the others.

When Frank and his friends had eaten their supper, they began to make preparations for the night, by collecting a pile of dried leaves and grass, over which they spread their blankets, placing the saddles at the head of the bed, to serve as pillows.  When the couch was completed, it was very inviting, and, had it not been for the knowledge of the fact that they were to be bound hand and foot, they would have been sure of a good night’s rest.

Frank could not go to bed without visiting Roderick.  He found the horse standing quietly by the spring, and when he saw his master approaching, he raised his head and welcomed him with a shrill neigh.

“O, if we could only get half a minute’s start of these robbers!” said Frank, patting the animal’s glossy neck, “wouldn’t we show them a clean pair of heels?  They’d never have us prisoners again, I bet.”

Frank emphasized the last word by punching Roderick in the ribs with his thumb—­an action which caused the animal to lay back his ears, and kick viciously, with both feet, at some imaginary object behind him.

When our hero returned to the place where he had left Archie and Johnny, he saw them lying on their beds securely bound.  Pierre stood close by, with a lasso in his hand, and, when Frank came up, he greeted him with a fierce scowl, and, in a savage tone of voice, commanded him to cross his arms behind his back.  Frank obeyed, and the Ranchero, while he was busy confining him, inquired: 

“Do you remember what I said to you at noon?”

“About what?” asked Frank.

“About making scare-crows of you and your friends, if my messenger does not return at daylight.”

“I believe I do remember something about it.”

“Then why did you advise your uncle to detain him?  You must be tired of life.  You told Mr. Winters to send those rascally trappers up here, with a party of men, to capture us.”

“Now, see here, Pierre,” exclaimed Frank, angrily, “Dick and Bob are not rascals.  They are honest men, and what they own, they have worked hard for.  They will be up here—­you may depend upon that—­and, if Dick once gets his hands on you”—­

“O, won’t he shake him up, though!” cried Archie, from his blanket.  “I wouldn’t be in Pierre’s shoes then for all the money he will ever get for us.”

“You may make up your minds to one thing,” said the chief; “and that is, if so much as a hair of that messenger’s head is harmed, you will be swinging from some of these trees at sunrise.”

“That is a soothing story to tell to a person who is trying to go to sleep,” observed Johnny.