“If we’d only found this thing before. Some of the search-parties may discover them and bring about a catastrophe.”
Varley nodded.
“Come with me,” he said.
They climbed the hill behind the hut, Varley gathering some pine branches as he went along. When they had gained the summit, he piled the branches in a heap and set fire to them.
“What are you doing?” asked Norman.
“Calling the men back,” he said. “Fire your revolver.”
Both men fired as the flames shot up in the darkness. Presently they heard a muffled shout; it was followed by several others from various directions, and a little later they could hear the men galloping toward the signal-fire, and were presently surrounded by the excited search-parties.
“Esmeralda! Have you found her? Is she here?” came the sharp questions, as the men flung themselves from their horses.
“No; but we have heard of her,” said Varley, standing beside the fire, and he read Simon’s note. The men stood silent for a minute in that intense reaction from a terrible suspense.
“Two ’undred pounds,” said Taffy. “The darned fool; he should ’ave said two thousand!”