“I’d have been fair wild if I had known it,” said John. “We have been to that hut, but there was not a sign of any one there.”
“Oh, dear.” Alison was disappointed.
“However,” John went on, “this is worth following up. I’ll not say a word of your share in the matter, and you were perfectly right to tell no one but me. If we can find that old woman we may be able to get something from her that will help us.”
“To find Steve?”
“I was thinking of finding Pike. Why do you say Steve?”
“I was wondering if Steve might not have been taken there at some time. I suppose you will say that is a wild kind of guess, and that it is like a silly girl to suggest such a thing, but it just came into my head.”
“There might be a clue worth following there,” said John. “You women folks often jump at a conclusion that turns out to be the right one, while we men will beat around the bush and never guess the right thing. Our best plan now is to hunt up that old woman. What did she look like?”
“She was old, very old, and I remember her name; it was Brigida.”
“Good! That’s something gained. You’re a smart little coot, Alison, and if you think of anything more you’d better come tell me.”
“I wonder if Pedro would know anything of the woman.”