“His ride?”
“Yes. When we found the note we made a collection, and could only scrape up about fifty pounds. Unfortunately, the bank agent had taken all the gold from the camp the day previously. So Varley started off for Wally-Wally to get the balance, and he was to take the two hundred to a place called the Raven Claim to-night. It’s a tremendous ride, and some of the boys are in deadly fear that he won’t do it; but I’ll back Varley. They wanted to surround the place in a body, but I dissuaded them from that course. I felt sure that Simon would take precautions. I was afraid that any attempt to rescue you might place you in danger.”
“Varley! Raven Claim! To-night!” she murmured. “Then he’s going there now?”
Norman nodded, and laughed.
“Yes; and they’ll be sold! You’ll be safe in camp by that time.”
But Esmeralda did not laugh. Instead, she uttered a cry, and pulled up her horse.
“What’s the matter?” asked Norman, whose masculine brain did not move as quickly as Esmeralda’s.
“Don’t you see!” she almost wailed. “He will go there with the money—they will be waiting for him—he will not believe that I have escaped, and think that they mean to trick him. They will set on him for the money! He will be killed! Oh, Varley, Varley!” she panted in broken sentences.
“My God!” said Norman. “I never thought of that! What is to be done?”
“There is only one thing to do,” said Esmeralda. “We must ride for the claim. We must get there before Varley. We must! we must!”