"Hah!" he remarked with an air of triumph. And I took that to mean that in his judgment Jimgrim could find use for Ali Higg's seal.
But of course she heard him, and she took it to mean that she had guessed rightly. She turned to Narayan Singh; and because in that land, as an almost invariable rule, no business with a chief can be accomplished without bribing his minions, she worked off a little spite and offered largesse with the same hand.
"Arrange good terms for me and you shall have Ayisha."
"But I have her," said Narayan Singh with a great laugh.
"Maybe. But you haven't settled yet with Ali Higg. Arrange good terms for my ransom, and I will see that Ali Higg wipes off Ayisha's score."
"We shall see about that; we shall see," he answered.
"Yes, yes! You go and see! Go to him now!"
"When we halt," the Sikh answered.
"In an hour it may be too late," she insisted. "If Ali Higg is prowling and should swoop down on you who would bargain then?"
By that time it was light enough to see clearly at close range, and Narayan Singh caught my eye behind her back. I nodded. If there were any likelihood of Ali Higg being on the prowl why should she be in such a hurry to make terms?