One of the troopers came forward and respectfully requested her to turn off into the mine road until a detachment passed, in charge of a gang of desperadoes taken at the Inn of the Hawk and Raven the night before.
Unsuspecting, she rode off into the forest lane for several hundred yards.
It was a trap.

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.