The fire, which was still burning brightly, lighted up every corner of the glade, and, from the new position in which he lay, Johnny could see how Archie’s arms were bound.  They were crossed behind his back, and the lasso was wrapped twice around them, and tied in a square knot—­a single glance at which drove all thoughts of sleep out of Johnny’s mind, and suggested to him the idea of an attempt to liberate his friend.  The knot, on account of the stiffness of the lasso, had not been drawn very tight, and Johnny thought he had hit upon a plan to untie it.

“Archie,” he whispered, excitedly.

“Hallo!” was the response.

“Are you asleep?”

“No; nor am I likely to be to-night,” growled Archie.  “This lasso hurts me dreadfully.  Pierre drew it as tight as he could.”

“Don’t talk so loud,” whispered Johnny.  “Keep your eyes on that sentinel, and, if he moves, shake your arms.”

“What for?” demanded Archie.  “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know that I can do any thing; but I am going to try.”

“All right; go ahead.”

Johnny took a long look at the Ranchero, to make sure that he was sound asleep, and then, rolling up close to Archie, he went to work with his teeth to untie the lasso, with which the latter’s arms were bound.  This was not so easy a task as he had imagined it would be; but the knot yielded a little with every pull he made upon it, and, after ten minutes hard work, Johnny rolled back upon his blanket with an expression of great satisfaction upon his countenance, and watched his friend as he unwound the lariat with which his feet were confined.

“Hurrah for you, Johnny!” whispered Archie, a moment afterward.  “We’ll out-wit these greasers yet.  Hold easy, now, and I’ll soon give you the free use of your hands and feet.”

Archie’s fingers made quick work with Johnny’s bonds, and, when he had untied his arms, he left him to do the rest, and turned to release his cousin.  This he soon accomplished, and then the three boys, astonished at their success, crept up closer together, to hold a consultation.

“Lead on Frank, and we’ll follow,” said Johnny.

“I will do the best I can,” replied Frank.  “Let’s stick together as long as possible; but, if we are discovered, we must separate, and let each man take of himself.  Remember, now, the one that reaches home must not sleep soundly until the others are rescued.”

As Frank said this, he threw himself flat upon the ground, and crawled slowly and noiselessly through the grass, toward the ledge by which they had entered the glade in the morning.  They passed the sentinel without arousing him, and approached the fire around which lay the stalwart forms of the Rancheros, who snored lustily, in blissful ignorance of what was going on close by them.

The boys’ hearts beat high with hope as they neared the ledge, and Johnny was in the very act of reaching over to give Frank an approving slap on the back, when the movement was arrested by a loud yawn behind him.  This was followed by an ejaculation of astonishment, and, an instant afterward, the report of a pistol rang through the glade.  The sentinel had just awakened from his sleep, and discovered that the prisoners’ blankets were empty.