The lieutenant of the outlaw band became interested right away. "I don't know as I have got to tell you where my money is," replied Arietta, coolly. "You don't suppose it is anywhere near here, do you? I wouldn't be wise if I carried a big pile of money around with me, would I?" "Well, I don't know about that part of it. But it would be all ther better fur us, I reckon," and the man grinned, as though he thought he had got off a pretty good joke. "But jest tell me how yer expect ter pay ther toll?" "I'll show you that when the time comes," was the reply. "But can't yer tell me now?" "No, because I don't just know how I am going to pay it. But I am going to do it, just the same." "I s'pose yer mean that you're goin' ter pay somethin' ter be let go free," observed the villain, after thinking a minute or two. "Well, it will depend on what ther captain says about you gittin' away. I don't hardly think he'll be in favor of lettin' you go, no matter how much yer agree ter pay." "Oh, I will get away as soon as Young Wild West gets out of here. He won't be long in finding a way to release me." "Miss, if you're dependin' on anything like that ter happen jest git it off your mind. Young Wild West ain't never goin' ter git out of here alive. I've swore that I'll kill him; an' ther boss of our gang wouldn't think of lettin' him live, nohow. Jest make up your mind that ther boys has got ter die, an' that you're likely ter go ther same way yourself. There's nothin' like resignin' yourself to your fate, yer know." "Oh, is that so?" Arietta looked at him with flashing eyes. Her defiant way struck Snivel as something wonderful, coming from a defenseless girl, as it did. He did not know that she had a six-shooter in the bosom of her dress, which had been overlooked when she was disarmed. But Arietta always carried the weapon there. It was of smaller calibre than the one she always carried at her belt, but it was deadly enough at short range. The revolver had been given her by Young Wild West on her sixteenth birthday, and several times it had stood her in good stead. At the very minute that Snivel was talking to her she was thinking of bringing the weapon into use. Arietta had heard enough to make her believe that her dashing young lover was not to be harmed for a while, for she had been listening when the men were talking about Cap Roche, and she had not failed to make note of it when they said that he was not due at the cave until some time after the hour of noon. Before Snivel came in from the rear entrance she had been carefully studying the cave, and she knew just the way to get out. She thought that the quicker she did it the better it would be for both herself and Wild. She determined that she would act right now. "Can I have a drink of water?" she asked, as Snivel was about to pull up a stool near her. "Sartin," was the reply. "I'll go an' fetch yer one right from ther spring."