Frank at Don Carlos' Rancho

“That can also be easily explained,” replied the settler. “The current in the creek is so strong that one man can’t scull the boat straight across. It makes no difference where he lands on this side, because he brings his canvas with him, and can put it out any where; but the canvas on the other side is stationary, you know, and the boat must be stopped at one particular place, so that the horsemen can get out on it.”

“Oh, I see,” said Frank.

“Thar’s another thing that mebbe the comp’ny would like to know something about,” said Dick. “Arter we come back from that bar hunt this mornin’, I went out to tend to some cattle, an’ seed these yere two keerless fellers go into Don Carlos’ rancho. I hung round watchin’ the house, ’cause I kind o’ thought that mebbe something was agoin’ to happen, an’ that’s the way I come to be in the woods when Frank an’ them Greasers had that race. An’ fellers,” added Dick, turning to the settlers, “I seed the hul of that ar runnin’ match, an’ I never in my life seed a boy pick up his feet quicker’n Frank did. I’ll match him agin any hoss in Californy. I was goin’ to say, that arter I got licked by them Greasers, an’ seed that Frank was ketched an’ tuk to the rancho – ”

Frank, at this point, begged pardon for interrupting Dick, and told him that he had not then been taken to the rancho, but was carried to the mountains by Pierre Costello. This announcement created great excitement among the settlers, and it was increased wonderfully, when Archie said that they had left Pierre in the woods, a prisoner.

“Who tuk him pris’ner?” demanded the trapper.

“Archie and I, and Marmion,” replied Frank.

“Fellers!” exclaimed Dick, who seemed to be utterly confounded, “don’t this yere night’s work beat any thing you ever hearn tell on? If any of you know of two boys that can lay over them ar youngsters of mine, jest trot ’em out; I’d like mighty well to see ’em. But they haint been born yet, an’ never will be.”

The trapper pounded the ground with the butt of his rifle, gazed proudly at the boys, and went on with his explanation.

“I seed that Frank was ketched agin,” said he, “an’ knowin’ that I couldn’t do nothing more by myself, I rid hum an’ told ole Bob what had been goin’ on; an’ him an’ Carlos, an’ a few other herdsmen whom we knowed we could trust, set out to bring the settlers together, while I come back to watch the rancho. In an hour’s time we had a hundred men here in the bushes.

“The fust thing to be done was to study up a plan to get into the rancho. We knowed we couldn’t whip the Greasers while they were inside the house, an’ we outside – we must get inside too; an’ that could only be done by takin’ them by surprise. While we were talkin’ the matter over, up come two Mexikins b’longin’ to the band, who had been out somewhere stealin’ hosses. They run right among us afore they knowed it, an’ it was the easiest thing in the world fur us to captur’ ’em, an’ make ’em tell us all we wanted to know. Arter a leetle talk it was decided that me an’ ole Bob should take the place of the Mexikins, an’ go into the rancho; an’, that while we were goin’ in, the settlers should swim the creek, an’ get ready to make the attack. Me an’ Bob were to give ’em time to get clost up under the walls, an’ then open the door, an’ the settlers would rush in an’ make pris’ners of the robbers afore they knowed it.

“Wal, we swapped clothes with them ar two dirty Greasers – me an’ ole Bob did – mounted Roderick an’ King Jeemes, tuk the two stolen hosses by the bridle, crossed the creek on the flatboat, went up that ar canvas thing that Bob called the bridge of clouds, an’ rid straight into the rancho – just as though we had a right thar – an’ nobody didn’t suspect that we wasn’t real Greasers. We seed a few men arter we got into the house, but none on ’em had a word to say, or even looked at us. The fellers who hauled up the bridge shut the door an’ went off about their business, leavin’ me an’ Bob to ’tend to our’n; which we did, I reckon. We jumped off our hosses, an’ opened the door agin; an’ the settlers come pourin’ in. Every thing worked jest as we had planned it.”

There was one mystery that remained to be explained, and that was the signal made by the flag. The boys, afterward found out all about it from one of the prisoners. The robbers, knowing that they were not suspected, had become very bold; and horses which had been stolen at a distance, were not unfrequently brought into the rancho in broad daylight. The flag flying at the mast-head, signified that the coast was clear, and that the animals could be safely brought in. When the flag was not to be seen, it was understood that there were strangers about; and, in that case, the horses were concealed in the woods until dark, when they were brought in through the secret door.

During the next three hours the boys, in company with the trappers, explored every nook and corner of the rancho. Archie first led them to the stable, to show them his prisoner; but, when they got there, they found that Beppo was gone. He had been discovered and released by some of the band, and in the confusion attending the attack, had made good his escape. From the stable they went to the Don’s reception-room; and while they were examining the painting of the Indian warrior, Archie entertained them with a glowing account of his discovery of the spring, and the adventures which had resulted from it. After that they went to the secret room, from which they had made their escape through the scuttle, and spent an hour in trying to find the place where the Don had got out. But their efforts were unsuccessful; and being particularly desirous to have the mystery solved, they went in search of the chief, whom they found lying in one corner of the court securely bound. To their request that he would explain the matter, he replied that it was “one grand swindle,” and that was all they could get out of him. The manner of his escape from that room was a secret that never was revealed.

While the boys were thus engaged, the settlers and their herdsmen were busying themselves in removing various articles of value from the building, such as provisions, weapons, ammunition, and bales of goods; and at daylight a long string of wagons, and a longer string of mounted men, crossed the creek, and slowly wended their way toward the settlement. Just as the cavalcade entered the woods, huge volumes of flames burst from the doors and windows of the rancho, and in a few hours nothing but blackened and crumbling ruins remained to mark the spot whereon had stood the robbers’ stronghold.

It was breakfast time when Frank and Archie reached home, but they went to bed immediately, and slept until long after midnight. When they awoke, they felt very sensibly the effects of the rough treatment they had received; and when Uncle James arrived two days afterward, he found them with their heads tied up, Frank with his arm in a sling, and Archie hobbling around with a cane. But then they had covered themselves with glory. They had shot Old Davy, and assisted in breaking up the robber band, and no general ever felt prouder of his victories than the boys did over these exploits. The story of their adventures is, however, not yet complete. According to arrangement, they accompanied Captain Porter on his trading expedition; and what they saw, and what they did while they were gone, shall be told in “Frank in the Mountains.”