He told what he had done with the twelve thousand dollars, where he had hidden the keys, how he had detected Pierre watching him through the window, and how the Ranchero had told him that Marmion was off hunting rabbits, when he was lying bound and muzzled in some out-of-the-way place.

Then he explained how the robber had overpowered him while he was reading, how he had searched his pockets for the keys, and pulled him up by the neck because he refused to tell where he had hidden them, and how he was on the very point of hanging him in earnest when the arrival of Uncle James alarmed him.

Mr.Winters was astonished, and so was the doctor, who patted Frank on the head, and said: "You're a chip of the old block.

And did you not tell him where you had put the key ?" "No, sir;" was the answer.

"He choked me pretty hard, though, and my throat feels funny yet." The boy having finished his story, Mr.Winters took it up where he left off, and told the doctor how Frank had rescued him from the robber, and how hard he had worked to effect his capture, and all who heard it declared that he was a hero..