The woman shook her head.
“I don’t know anything about it; I don’t think so.”
Esmeralda dropped back with a sigh.
Simon had really made a very great mistake. Instead of applying to Varley Howard for ransom, he should have obtained a written promise for a sum of money from Esmeralda; but he had either not thought of this, or deemed it better to obtain cash on the nail.
“If it is money they want,” said Esmeralda, “I would give them what they asked. I am not anxious or afraid about myself, but I know what trouble they will be in at Three Star.” Her voice faltered for the first time, and she turned her head aside. “Go and tell them what I say.”
The woman hesitated for a moment or two, then she went to the door and spoke to the man on guard there.
“It ain’t for me to say,” Esmeralda heard him answer. “Simon’s gone away for a bit; she can speak to him when he comes back.”
The woman continued talking for a minute or two, and during that time Esmeralda looked round the hut. She saw a man’s coat hanging on a nail, and her quick eyes caught the glint of a revolver stock protruding from the pocket. She darted from the bed noiselessly, snatched the revolver from the pocket, and concealed it in the folds of her dress as she lay down again in her former attitude. The woman came back to the table and stolidly took up a plate.
“It can’t be done now,” she said; “you’ll have to wait.”
“Very well,” said Esmeralda, with a sigh.