“Nary a hair,” said Toby Sam. “But you seem to have struck suthin’. We heerd a racket up there, and some of ther boys was fer goin’ ter see what it meant; but I told ’em to stay here. Orders is orders, and that’s what you tole us ter do.”
Clayton, who had been held in a hollow to the rear, was brought out, and Lena could not repress a cry when she beheld her lover. She marked his haggard face, but most she noted his bearing of courage and reliance. She would have rushed to him, but one of the bandits held her.
“Oh, Bruce! Bruce!” she cried.
“Cough up them em’rulds!” said one of the outlaws, “and then both o’ ye can go free.”
“Oh, do you mean it?” she cried, in a manner to make the bandits think she intended their instant surrender.
Black John opened his eyes, wondering if there were other emeralds of which he had no knowledge, and he listened for her further statement.
“I haven’t them,” she said, “as I’ve already told you; but I know where they are; and if you will really release us, I’ll gladly show you where they are. I’ll guide you to them. Oh, can I trust you? Will you let us go?”
She clasped her hands in agitation, and looked round on the masked faces.
“Can I trust you? Would you let us go, after getting those emeralds?”
“Young lady,” said Black John, “we would. Show us where they aire, and as soon as we git our fingers on ’em we’ll turn you loose.”