The robbers began to argue as to the division, and from arguing they went on to disputing, and from disputing they came to fighting, in the midst of which the lady and her boy took an opportunity to escape unobserved into the thicket, and hasten as best they might from the reach of their plunderers.
Thus they fled, robbed and penniless, exposed to the cold evening air, famishing for lack of food, smarting under insult and wrong, and not knowing where next to turn for shelter or safety.
The courage of the lady, hitherto so conspicuous, now fairly gave way.
She sat down on the ground, and taking her boy to her arms, abandoned herself to a flood of tears.

"My son," she cried, "better if we had died by the sword of our enemies, than die a shameful death in these woods! Alas! was ever woman so miserable as I ?" "But, mother," said the boy, who now in turn took upon him the office of comforter, "the robbers left us with our lives, and we shall surely find some food here.

Cheer up, mother; did you not tell me God would take care of us when no one else could ?" The mother's only answer was to take her boy in a closer embrace and kiss him passionately.
Suddenly there appeared before them a man of fierce aspect, holding in his hand a drawn sword.
Escape was impossible; robbed as they already were, they had nothing but their lives to offer to this wild ruffian.

And would he scruple to murder where he could not rob?
The courage of the lady, in this desperate case, returned as quickly as it had lately deserted her.
A sudden resolution gleamed in her face; then, rising majestically to her feet, and taking by the hand her trembling boy, she advanced proud and stately towards the robber.

The man halted wonderingly.