The boy walked with leisurely precision as though on an ordinary errand for the regent. Barbara waited until he resumed his position on guard at the door and quickly reached his side. He pressed a note into her hand, whispering: "The jailer held me up at first--but I found him!" Barbara glanced down the corridor with a quick look threw her arms around the boy's neck and kissed him tenderly. He smiled, drew a deep breath, and said: "Now, I'm ready to die!" "No. To live and fight," she cried. "Fight our way back to freedom. You must help me!" She turned and flew to her room. The note in her hand was burning the soft flesh. She locked her door and read: "HEART OF MY HEART: "Iron bars have held my body but my soul has been with you! I've seen you walking among the flowers a hundred times and tried to force my message through the walls. I enclose a telegram to my father and one to the Governor of California. Send Saka to Santa Barbara with them. The troops should arrive in forty-eight hours. All I ask of God now is the chance to fight. I love you! "Always yours, NORMAN." She kissed the note, tore it into fragments, and burned the pieces. When night had fallen, Jimmy safely passed the patrol lines, delivered his message to Saka, helped him launch the skiff, watched the little sail spread before a fair wind, and returned to his post. CHAPTER XXXVI THE SHINING EMBLEM When Wolf's patrol telephoned two days later that a company of troops had suddenly landed on the other side of the island, he called the captain of the guard: "A detail of men to move the gold aboard the ship. Order the steam up. I'll divide with you. We must beat those soldiers back until we can sail. Fight them at every possible stand as they cross the hills. I'll join you if the guard is driven in." The captain hurried to execute Wolf's orders, while the regent began with feverish haste to transfer the treasures of the colony to the ship. * * * * * Norman sat on his cot in prison, awaiting anxiously the first sound of the troops. He suddenly leaped to his feet. "They are coming!" Listening a moment intently, he cried: "There it is again--the scream of fifes from the hills!--now, they are driving in the pickets--hear the crack of those rifles!--God in heaven, isn't it music!" He sank back on the cot with a sob of joy. In a rush the troops surrounded the jail. The sheriff lifted his hand and shouted: "In the name of the peace and dignity of the State of California----" Wolf answered with a defiant wave and charged at the head of his guard. The soldiers poured into their ranks a deadly fire. At the first volley the leader fell. The charging column hesitated, halted, threw down their arms, and surrendered.