“You can’t make us believe that you would throw away sixty thousand dollars,” said Frank.  “Be careful,” he added, as Pierre, after confining his arms with one end of the lasso, began to wind the other around his ankles; “make those knots secure, or I may get away from you again.”

“I’ll risk that.  Now, good-night, and pleasant dreams to you.”

The robber lifted Frank in his arms, and laid him upon his blanket, as if he had been a sack of flour, and then walked off, leaving his prisoners to their meditations.  Scarcely had he disappeared, when Arthur, who had stood at a little distance, watching the operations of the chief, came up, and, after regarding the three boys a moment with a smile of triumph, inquired: 

“How do you feel now?  I hope you will enjoy a good night’s rest.  You see I am at liberty.”  And he stretched out his arms, to show that they were not confined.

“Of course,” said Frank.  “You ought to be; you are one of Pierre’s band.  We are under obligations to you for what you have done for us.”

“How did you find it out?” asked Arthur.

“Why, one of those Arabs you used to know in Patagonia, came up here, and told us how you acted while you were in that country, and we thought it best to keep an eye on you,” answered Archie.

“See here, Benedict,” said Johnny.  “Have you forgotten that we told you to keep your distance?”

“No; but I generally go where I please,” replied Arthur.

“You have done something worth boasting of, haven’t you?”

“Well—­yes; but I am not done with you yet.  If I have any influence with Pierre—­and I think I have—­you’ll not see home for a year—­perhaps longer.”

“Pierre!  Pierre!” shouted Archie, suddenly.  “I say, Pierre!”

“Well, what’s the row?” asked that worthy, from his bed by the fire.

“I’ll make you a present of my horse, if you will give me my liberty for just two minutes.  Will you do it?”

“I guess not,” replied the robber.

“I promise you that I will not attempt any tricks,” pleaded Archie.  “I only want to show Benedict something.  Come, Pierre, that’s a good fellow.”

The Ranchero laughed, and turned over on his blanket, without making any answer, and Archie, being satisfied that it was useless to urge the matter, laid his head upon his hard pillow, and looked indignantly at the traitor.

“Never mind,” said he.  “I’ll be unbound to-morrow morning, and I’ll know how to get up an appetite for breakfast.”

Arthur understood what the prisoner meant by getting up an appetite for breakfast, and it made him angry.  He was very brave, now.  His three enemies were lying before him unable to defend themselves, and it was a fine opportunity to execute vengeance upon them.  He suddenly took it into his head that it would be a nice thing to punish them all, beginning with the one who had first excited his animosity.