Two days of grace were allowed.
This news threw the poor family into the wildest terror, which was augmented when they learned that the Civil Guard was going out in pursuit of the bandits.

In case of an encounter, the first victim would be the captive--this they all knew.

The old man was paralyzed, while the pale and frightened daughter tried often to talk but could not.

Still, another thought more terrible, an idea more cruel, roused them from their stupor.

The rustic sent by the tulisanes said that the band would probably have to move on, and if they were slow in sending the ransom the two days would elapse and Cabesang Tales would have his throat cut.
This drove those two beings to madness, weak and powerless as they were.