noon
The men were not troopers , but brigands gotten up in the uniform of the guard . Once away from the main highway , they made prisoners of her and the two grooms . Then followed a long ride through roads new to her . At noon they came to a halt while the rascals changed their clothing , appearing in their true garb , that of the mountaineer . Half dead with dread , she heard them discussing their plans ; they spoke quite freely in the presence of the well-beaten grooms , who were led to expect death before many hours . It was the design of the bandits to make their way to the almost impregnable fastnesses in the hills of Dawsbergen , the wild principality to the south . There they could hold her against all hope of rescue , until an immense sum of money was paid over in ransom by her dispairing friends .