CHAPTER XVIII.
CONCLUSION.
Archie had been so fully occupied with the traitor that he had not thought of his other enemies, and for a moment he lay upon the ground beside his antagonist, gazing at Antoine in speechless amazement.
Resistance, of course, was not to be thought of, and it also seemed useless to make any attempts at escape; for he had been so nearly exhausted by his struggle with Arthur, that he scarcely possessed the power to rise from the ground.

"I am caught easy enough," thought he, "and I might as well give up first as last." "I see before me twenty thousand dollars," said Antoine, hastily coiling up his lasso as he approached.
These words acted like a spur upon Archie's flagging spirits.

He no longer thought of surrender: on the contrary, almost before he knew it, he found himself on his feet and going down the mountain like the wind.
"_Carrajo!_" yelled the Ranchero, swinging his lasso around his head.
Archie was afraid of that lasso, for he knew that he was in danger as long as he was within reach of it; but fortunately he had been too quick for Antoine.

He heard the lariat whistle through the air behind him, and snap like a whip close to his ear, and then he knew that his enemy had missed his mark.
"Santa Maria!" shouted the robber.

"Stop, you young vagabond, or I'll shoot you." The fugitive was not frightened by this threat.