But it belongs to my uncle; you have no claim upon it, and, what's more, you sha'n't touch it." "Is that your final answer ?" asked the Ranchero, bracing himself for a strong pull.

"You had better ponder the matter well before you decide.
What do you suppose your uncle will think, when he comes home and finds you hanging to this hook?
He had rather lose the money a thousand times over than to part with you." Frank shuddered as the Ranchero said this, and, for the first time, he felt his firmness giving away.

But he was possessed of no ordinary degree of fortitude, and, after a momentary thrill of terror, his courage returned, and he looked at Pierre as bravely as ever.
The Ranchero paused for a moment or two, to give his last words time to have their full effect, and then said: "Once more--yes or no." "No, I tell you," was the firm reply.

Scarcely were the words out of his mouth, when the Ranchero began to pull down upon the lasso, and Frank, in spite of his desperate struggles, was drawn up until he almost swung clear of the floor.

Pierre held him in this position for a few seconds--it seemed an age to Frank, who retained his consciousness all the while--and then gradually slackened up on the lasso, until his prisoner's feet once more rested firmly on the floor.