Merry knew on the instant that he had been trapped. He realized that he had been decoyed into the snare by the Mexican girl. He might have struggled and broken her hold, but he realized the folly of such an attempt.
"Be vera steel, señor!" hissed the voice of Gonchita in his ear. "Eet be bet-are."
"You have betrayed me," said Frank reproachfully. "I did not think it of you. And I was ready to do you a service."
He said no more to her.
Out from the rocks stepped Cimarron Bill.
"So we meet again, my gay young galoot," said the chief of the ruffians. "An' I reckon you'll not slip me so easy this time. That old Injun o' yours is food fer buzzards, an' so he won't give ye no assistance whatever."
"Old Joe——" muttered Merry, in dismay.
"Oh, we finished him!" declared Bill. "That's why you ain't seen him fer some time. Set stiddy, now, an' don't make no ruction.
"Gonchita, toss down his guns."
The Mexican girl obeyed, slipping to the ground with a laugh when she had disarmed Frank.