the animal approached, came to their ears, and presently Roderick appeared in sight.  The first thing Archie noticed was, that he wore neither saddle nor bridle; the second, that he carried Frank and Johnny on his back.  One of Frank’s hands was twisted in the horse’s mane, and his body was tightly clasped in the arms of Johnny, who sat behind him.  Archie had never seen the mustang run so swiftly before, and he made up his mind that, if any of the Rancheros were pursuing him, they might as well give up the chase.  He also thought that Frank and Johnny would enjoy a long ride before they got a chance to put their feet on the ground again; for Roderick was plainly stampeded.  It was fortunate that Dick had sent them into the bushes; for, had the party been in the path then, some of them would have been run down, and, perhaps, trampled to death.

“Out of the way there, Greaser!” shouted Frank, when he discovered the trapper standing in the path.

Dick was not a Greaser; but he thought it best to get out of the way; and Frank would have gone by him, had not Carlo and Marmion recognized their masters, and set up a howl of welcome.

“Whoa!” shouted Johnny and Frank, in concert, and Roderick stopped so suddenly that both his riders were thrown forward on his neck.

“Come here, you boy that fit that ar’ Greaser, an’ tell me all about it, to onct,” exclaimed Dick.  “Be they follerin’ you?”

“Not that we know of.  We haven’t seen any of them since daylight.  Lend me your lasso, Carlos, and we’ll go back and hunt up Archie.”

But Archie was already found, and when he rode out of the bushes, Frank was relieved of a great deal of anxiety.  He had not seen his cousin since he left the glade, and he feared that he had been re-captured; or, what was worse, had slipped off the ledge into the gorge.

A consultation was now held, and, after Uncle James and Mr. Harris had listened to the boys’ story, they decided that it would be a waste of time to search for Arthur Vane.  The latter’s conduct had induced the belief that he was a friend of the robbers, and could go and come when he pleased.  No doubt, when he got tired of life in the mountains, he would return home of his own free will.  The party would keep on to the glade, however, and recover Sleepy Sam, and the boys’ weapons.  When this had been decided upon, Dick’s horse, which he had hidden in the bushes, was brought out for Johnny, a lasso was twisted around Roderick’s lower jaw, to serve as a bridle, and then the trapper shouldered his long rifle, and gave another exhibition of his “travelin’ qualities.”  He kept the horses in a steady gallop, sometimes “letting out” a little on getting far in advance of them, and, when he stopped at the entrance to the pass, he seemed as fresh as ever.

The boys had expressed the hope that they would surprise some of the robbers in the glade, but were disappointed.  They found their saddles, bridles, blankets, and weapons, however, and Archie recovered his horse, which was standing contentedly beside the spring, half asleep, as usual.  Every thing was gathered up, including a few articles the robbers had left behind, and, as they rode toward the settlement, the boys told each other that the next time they went hunting, after Pierre’s band had all been captured, they would camp in the glade.