tched, just the same, for those left to
guard her could not help noticing that she was not afraid.

"Well, miss," said Snivel, apologetically, "I'm mighty sorry ter see you
in such a fix as this. What did yer want ter come through Forbidden Pass
fur, anyhow? Didn't yer read ther sign?"

"I wanted to come through, so I could pay the toll, and I will do it
when the proper time comes," was the reply in a steady voice.

"You pay ther toll! Why, have yer got a big pile of money?"

"Not here. But I think I can pay it, though."

"Where is your money, gal?"

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 ca