"Is it possible?
What in God's name would they want of her, unless--" "Unless she was alive," added Philip.

"Unless one or more of the scoundrels searching for valuables in there during the excitement, saw her and carried her off with their other booty.

It's up to us, Billinger!" Billinger had reached inside his shirt, and now he drew forth a small paper parcel.
"I don't know why--but I kept the tress of hair," he said.

"See--" From between his fingers, as he turned toward Philip, there streamed out a long silken tress that shone a marvelous gold in the sun, and in that same instant there fell from Philip's lips a cry such as Billinger had not heard, even from the lips of the wounded; and before he could recover from his astonishment, he had leaned over and snatched the golden tress from him, and sat in his saddle staring at it like a madman..