The latter would get up from her loom, go to the window, pray, make vows to the saints, and recite novenas.

The grandfather was at times unable to finish the handle of a broom and talked of returning to the forest--life in that house was unbearable.
At last their fears were realized.

As the fields were some distance from the village, Cabesang Tales, in spite of his ax, fell into the hands of tulisanes who had revolvers and rifles.

They told him that since he had money to pay judges and lawyers he must have some also for the outcasts and the hunted.

They therefore demanded a ransom of five hundred pesos through the medium of a rustic, with the warning that if anything happened to their messenger, the captive would pay for it with his life.