"Then you won't do anything?" asked Conrad, in evident disappointment.
"I will lock them in. I will see, at any rate, that they don't escape from the room. In the morning I will consider what is best to be done."
The woman breathed a sigh of relief. She was honest at heart, and felt no sympathy with her outlaw husband.
It was perhaps by way of consoling themselves for their disappointment that the two men resumed their drinking, and drank heavily.
"Go and get some more whisky, Sarah," said Ralph, for the pitcher was about empty.
The woman did so, but an idea had occurred to her. She was resolved to prevent the robbery of her guests, and to afford them a chance to escape.
She turned the tables upon her husband, and dropped into the whisky some of the same sleeping potion which had been intended for the two travelers.
Red Ralph and his accomplice were too much affected already to notice any peculiar taste in the whisky. They drank deep, getting more and more drowsy, until at last Ralph slipped from his chair to the floor, where he lay without sense or motion.
"Good-night, old fellow!" hiccoughed Conrad. "I'm with you," and he was soon lying beside his friend.
Sarah looked at the twain half remorsefully.