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. "Bring
me some water, Frank."

These words alarmed the boy, who now, for the first time, saw that his
uncle's face was deadly pale, and that his hair was matted with blood,
which was trickling down over his collar.

"O, uncle!" cried Frank, in dismay.

"Don't be uneasy," said Mr. Winters, quietly. "Bring me some water."

Without stopping to make any inquiries, Frank ran into the kitchen and
aroused the housekeeper, giving her a very hasty and disconnected
account of what had happened, and then he hurried to the quarters to
awaken Felix.