THE ESCAPE.
Had the huge bowlder in the middle of the glade suddenly burst into a
thousand fragments, it could scarcely have created greater consternation
than that which filled our three heroes, when they stretched themselves
on their blankets, to discuss the treachery of their companion. Of
course, the first question that arose was, What object could he have in
view? A dozen different opinions were advanced, but none of them were
correct. The boys were all satisfied now, that no ransom was to be
demanded for Arthur, and they were quite willing to believe that he
expected to share in the sixty thousand dollars which Pierre hoped to
receive for them. They never imagined that the traitor had been
instigated by a desire to be revenged upon them, and that all that had
happened to them during the day was the result of the incidents that
had transpired during their ride to the old fur-trader's ranch.
"I really believe that Benedict Arnold belongs to this band of outlaws,"
said Frank. "If 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 attentively, and so were all the
other members of the band, who appeared to be deeply interested in what
he was saying. Arthur had told the chief that his secret was discovered,
and Pierre had urged him to use every exertion to allay the suspicions
of the boys.
"You don't know them as well as I do," said the Ranchero; "and, if you
will take my advice, you will try to make friends with them again."
"That's something I'll never do," said Arthur, decidedly. "Shall a
gentleman's son stoop to beg the good-will of a lot of young Arabs? Not
if he knows himself; and he thinks he does. They have found me out,
somehow, and I don't care if they have. I may as well throw off the mask
entirely. I'll let them see that, while they are prisoners, and bound
hand and foot, I am at liberty to go and come when I please."
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.
"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.
"Hold on, you little Yankee," said he. "I'll attend to you in a minute.
Johnny Harris, what was that name you applied to me?"
"It was a new one we have given you," answered Johnny. "We have called
you after the meanest man that ever lived--Benedict Arnold. Do you know
him? Did you ever meet him while you were hunting lions and tigers in
Europe?"
Frank and his cousin laughed loudly, which so enraged Arthur that he
caught up a stick, that happened to be lying near him, and struck Johnny
a severe blow with it.
"O, you coward!" shouted Archie, struggling frantically to free his
arms. "What do you mean by hitting a man when he is down, and can't move
hand or foot?"
The traitor turned fiercely upon Archie, and was about to use the stick
upon him, when the gruff voice of the sentinel arrested his hand. The
Ranchero pointed toward the fire, and Arthur, understanding the motion,
threw down the stick, and walked away, shaking his head, and muttering
to himself.
"He had better keep close to his friends to-morrow," said Johnny, his
face all wrinkled up with pain.
The other boys thought so too. Each one of them had rather that Arthur
had struck him instead of Johnny; for the latter, although
high-spirited, and inclined to be belligerent under provocation, was a
good-natured, accommodating fellow, who gained hosts of friends wherever
he went, and who never hesitated to make any sacrifice for the benefit
of others. Frank had never before witnessed such an exhibition of
cowardly vindictiveness, and he was almost sorry that he had protected
Arthur.
The traitor, well satisfied with what he had done, and only regretting
that he had been interrupted before his revenge was complete, spread his
blanket beside the chief; and, after that, nothing happened for a long
time to disturb the silence of the camp. The Rancheros were soon in a
sound sleep, even including Antoine Mercedes, the sentinel, who sat with
his back against a tree, his head hung down upon his breast and his
right hand, which rested on the ground beside him, grasping a revolver.
He had been placed there by his chief to watch the prisoners; but,
believing that there was little danger of their escape, and being
unwilling to be deprived of his usual rest, he had gone to sleep as soon
as the others. The boys, however, were wide awake. The exciting events
of the day, and the pain occasioned by their bonds, effectually banished
sleep from their eyes, and they passed the long hours in pondering upon
what Arthur had done, and trying in vain to find a comfortable position
on their blankets. Johnny, especially, was very restless. He lay for a
long time watching the sentinel, and thinking how easily he and his
companions could effect their escape, if their hands and feet were free;
then he wondered if Pierre was in earnest, when he said that he would
make "scare-crows" of them if his messenger did not return by daylight;
and, finally, he turned over, and tried, for the hundredth time, to go
to sleep.
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.
"Help! help!" he shouted, in stentorian tones, discharging another
barrel of his revolver, to arouse his companions. "Pierre, your birds
have flown!"
"Run now, fellows!" whispered Frank, and, suiting the action to the
word, he jumped up, and took to his heels.