“Very likely they would.  You must allow yourself to be captured with the others.”

“Well, I sha’n’t mind that, for, I believe, I can enjoy myself among the mountains for a month or two.  But, Pierre, when you get them you must hold fast to them.”

“I am not the man to let sixty thousand dollars slip through my fingers,” said the Ranchero, with a laugh.

“And there are three other things I want you to remember,” continued Arthur, earnestly.  “The first is, you must not demand any ransom for me.”

“Oh no; of course not.”

“The second is, I shall expect to be treated at all times like a visitor.  I am a gentleman, and a gentleman’s son.”

“I am well aware of that fact.  I knew it the moment I put my eyes on you.”

“The third thing I want you to bear in mind, is, that I shall not be captured without a struggle; and that every chance I get I shall try to escape.  I am going to show those fellows that I have some spunk.  I want you to act natural, and to prevent me from getting away from you; but you must not abuse me.  You can treat the others as roughly as you please.  Do you agree to all this?”

“I do, and there’s my hand on it,” said Pierre.  “I fully understand your plans now, and know just what you want me to do; and, what’s more, I’ll do it.  If you have got through with what you have to say, you had better be off.  I have a good many enemies, and I am in danger as long as you are here.  Watch those boys closely, and keep Joaquin posted.  I can find out every thing I want to know from him.”

“My plans are working nicely,” chuckled Arthur, as he rode homeward.  “I’ll teach these backwoodsmen manners, before I am done with them.”

“Eighty thousand dollars!” said Pierre, gazing after the retreating horseman.  “That’s a nice little sum to be divided among six of us.”

This remark will show whether or not the robber intended to abide by the promises he had just made to Arthur Vane; and, while we are on this subject, it may not be amiss to say, that the scheme Arthur had proposed, was one on which the robber had been meditating for many days.  During the time he had lived in the mountains, he had kept his brain busy, and had been allowed ample opportunity to decide upon his future operations.  He had been astonished and enraged at his failure to secure the twelve thousand dollars, and to make Frank Nelson a prisoner, and he had resolved to make amends for his defeat by capturing Frank and all his companions, including Arthur Vane.  Pierre had plenty of friends to assist him, but there was one question that troubled him, and presented an obstacle that he could see no way to overcome; and that was, how to capture all the boys at once.  That must be done, or his plan would fail.  He could get his hands upon Arthur Vane at any time; but the others were like birds on the wing—­here to-day, and miles away to-morrow—­and Pierre did not know where to find them.  Now, however, the difficulty was removed.  Frank and his friends were going on a hunting expedition, Arthur would ascertain when they were going to start, and what road they intended to take, and when the day arrived, the robber could call in his men, who were employed on the neighboring ranchos, and capture the boys without the least trouble.  Pierre was very glad that Arthur had got angry at Frank.