A moment afterward, a horse was heard going at full speed through the grove, indicating that the robber was leaving the ranch as fast as possible.
All this while, Frank has been almost overwhelmed with astonishment.

The ease with which the desperado had vanquished his uncle and the strange behavior of the hitherto infallible Marmion, were things beyond his comprehension.

He stood gazing, in stupid wonder, toward the trees among which Pierre had disappeared, while the sound of the horse's hoofs grew fainter and fainter, and finally died away altogether.

Then he seemed to wake up, and to realize the fact that the Ranchero had made good his escape, in spite of all their efforts to capture him.
"Let's follow him, uncle!" he exclaimed, in an excited voice.

"I can soon overtake him on Roderick." "I could not ride a hundred yards to save my life!" replied Mr.Winters, seating himself on the porch, and resting his head on his hands.