he does, that's all the good it will do him, as far as
handling any of my uncle's money is concerned. It's lucky that we have
found him out."

"It's unfortunate that we didn't find him out long ago," said Archie,
who had by this time recovered his usual good nature.

"Our plans for escape are all knocked in the head for this night,"
continued Frank; "but we will hold ourselves in readiness to seize the
first opportunity that is offered. Dick and Bob will be on our trail in
a few hours."

At this moment, Pierre entered the glade from the side opposite the
spring, and stopped to say a few words to the sentinel, who immediately
approached the prisoners, and took his stand within a few paces of them.

"These villains must be afraid of us," said Frank, with a laugh.

"They'd better be," returned Johnny. "I wouldn't like to have sixty
thousand dollars wrapped up in such slippery customers as we are."

"I wonder if Pierre thinks we can fly?" said Archie. "That's the only
way I can see for getting out of here, while these robbers are all
around us. I say, old fellow," he added, turning to the sentinel, "are
you a good shot on the wing?"

The Ranchero shrugged his shoulders, and tapped his revolvers
significantly.

"I judge from that you are a good shot on the wing," continued Archie.
"Let me advise you to keep both eyes open; for the first thing you know,
you'll see us disappearing over the tops of these mountains. Each of us
has a patent, duplex, double-back-action flying-machine in his pocket."

Archie was going on to explain to the Ranchero the principles on which
his imaginary flying-machine operated, when the call to supper
interrupted him.

During the meal, the robbers were quite as polite as they had been at
dinner. They gobbled up every thing within their reach, devouring it
greedily, as though they feared that somebody might get more than his
share, and the boys, having learned by experience, that, when one
sojourns among Romans, it is a good plan to do as Romans do, snatched
what they liked best, and ran back to their blankets.

"Look at Benedict," said Johnny, speaking as plainly as a mouthful of
cracker would permit. "He's hot about something."

Arthur was sitting on the ground beside the robber chief, to whom he was
talking earnestly, and even angrily, judging by the frantic manner in
which he flourished his arms about his head, and struck with his fists
at the empty air. Pierre was listening attenti