"Very good, for a start!" he chuckled. "But we want more--that diamond at your throat, and those precious drops in your ears. And, mayhap, my lady has a gold watch in her breast." "And the horse is what we need," put in another of the rascals. "We have but three, while there are four of us." "Take all I have with me, but leave the horse," cried Estella, bitterly; but they would not listen to her words. While two of the men watched her, and prevented her from leaping to the ground, a third led the horse down a side trail to the camp-fire in the valley. "You are rich," said the leader. "Mayhap it would be well to hold you for a ransom," and he winked wickedly at his companions. "Ay! Ay! hold her, by all means!" exclaimed the other men. "She will be worth a fortune to us!" "Where shall we take her?" "To the cave. That is the safest place hereabouts," was the reply. "Very well--the cave it is. Put out the fire, and make haste." The men held a hasty consultation among themselves, and in such low tones that Estella could not hear what was said. Then the camp-fire was scattered and trampled upon, and the camp equipments taken up. "Now we are off!" cried the leader, and with a nimble leap he sprang up behind Estella on the horse, and clasped the frightened girl around the waist. CHAPTER XIV. A DASH FOR LIBERTY. Aching in every joint, and too worn out to either move or speak, Howard Sherwood threw himself down on the hard bench in his narrow stone cell in the Marambo prison, and was soon fast asleep. When he awoke, there were faint streaks of dawn in the east, and presently a single ray of sunshine shone in at the narrow window high over his head. The glad light shone but a few minutes, then it passed on, not to return until the next day, for the window was scarcely four inches wide, and would admit the sun only when that luminary occupied a position directly opposite. A tramping in the prison yard beyond had aroused Howard--the tramp of a number of other unfortunates who were taking their daily exercise. Howard hoped that he, too, would be given an opportunity to fill his lungs with fresh air, but this boon was denied him. He was kept in solitary confinement until almost the noon hour, the only one to visit him being a jailer, who brought a bowl of cooked meal and a piece of black bread. "How long am I to remain here?" questioned Howard, but the jailer merely shook his head. "Cannot talk to you, señor," he said. "Against Captain Nocolo's orders." "Is the captain around?" "No, he went off to battle." Howard placed his hand in his bosom, where he had a number of gold pieces concealed. He drew out one of the pieces, and held it before the jailer's eyes. "Why not be friendly, and talk to me a little," he said, suggestively.