CHAPTER XIII.
PIERRE AND HIS BAND.
"Halt, I say!" repeated Pierre, riding up beside Frank, and seizing his horse by the bridle.

"Disarm them, men, and shoot down the first one that resists," he added, as the band closed up around the boys.
Frank, seeing, at a glance, that it was useless to think of escape, sat quietly in his saddle, and allowed Pierre to take possession of his rifle, pistols, and lasso.
Johnny and Archie also surrendered at discretion; but Arthur, believing that the time had come to retrieve the reputation he had lost so ingloriously a few days before, determined that he would not surrender without a fight.

It was a part of his contract with the robber chief, that he should be allowed to resist as desperately as he pleased, and he took advantage of it.

He gazed at the Rancheros for a moment with well-assumed astonishment, and then, appearing to comprehend the situation, he shouted: "Stick together, fellows, and fight for your liberties! Don't give up, like a pack of cowards! Knock 'em down! Shoot 'em! Take your hand off that bridle, you villain!" As Arthur spoke, he dashed his spurs into the flanks of his horse, which bounded forward so suddenly, that he jerked the bridle from the grasp of the Ranchero who was holding him.
"Hurrah! I'm free, boys!" he shouted, clubbing his gun, and swinging it around his head.

"Follow me, and I'll show you how we used to clean out the Indians." Arthur's triumph was of short duration.