Before the lurid flash died away, Jaquelina saw a second masked figure emerge from behind a tree with a bull's-eye lantern. She heard a voice exclaim in profound surprise: "By Jove, it's a woman!" "Yes," cried the girl, bravely, "and if you are men you will suffer me to pass. Only cowards would molest a woman!" The second man flashed the light of the lantern into the pale, yet spirited face. "By Jove," he said again, "what a pretty girl! Well, miss, we suffer neither man nor woman to pass without taking toll." Jaquelina's heart sank. Would they take Black Bess, her uncle's favorite? These were the horse thieves, of course. She could not repress the quiver in her voice as she asked faintly: "What toll do you demand?" "We usually take a horse, miss," said the last speaker, coolly, "but seeing that you're such an uncommon pretty girl, we'll take the mare, and you shall give us a kiss apiece, besides." The man had reckoned without his host. The words were scarcely out of his mouth before a shower of keen and stinging blows rained down upon his head and face from the little riding-whip the girl carried in her clenched hand. "You infamous coward," she cried, indignantly, "take that, and that, and that! For shame! To insult a helpless woman who is in your power!" "Yes, you're in my power, and I'll make you pay dearly for those blows," cried the ruffian, plucking her from the saddle like a feather, and in an instant she was struggling on the ground beside him. But the man who had held the mare's bridle-rein all the while now interfered sternly. "Come, come, Bowles, you're transgressing orders. The captain's order is to allow no violence. But of course we'll take the mare." "And the girl, too," said Bowles, shortly and sharply, still smarting under the indignity of the stinging blows the brave girl had rained upon him so furiously. "We've no call to take the girl," said the other. "Orders are for animals, not persons. Turn her loose, and let her walk home." "No," said Bowles, with an oath, "I'll give her a scare, anyway. I'll take her to the captain, and he shall say what punishment she merits. I'll not let her go! My head and face are burning with the jade's blows!" "I will not go with you!" Jaquelina cried out, trying to break from his tight clasp. "You have no right to detain me! Let me go at once!" But her struggles and cries were silenced effectually by a stout handkerchief the man bound over her mouth. Then he sprang to the mare's back, and, lifting Jaquelina before him, galloped quickly away through the increasing darkness and the rain, which now began to pour down in large, heavy drops, that speedily wet the girl's thin garments through and through. Jaquelina was beside herself with terror and fear of the ruffian who held her in that rough, tight clasp. A thousand conflicting thoughts rushed over her mind.