In the silence that ensued the woman did some hard thinking.  That a man could ever tire of her without some other woman coming into his life never once entered into her mind.  Something told her, nevertheless, that the woman with whom he had been conversing was not the woman that she sought; and at a loss to discover the person to whom he had transferred his affections, her mind reverted to his avowed purpose of withdrawing from the proposed Cloudy Mountain expedition.  The more Nina reflected on that subject the more convinced she became that, for some reason or other, Ramerrez had been deceiving her.  It was made all the more clear to her when she recalled that when Ramerrez’ messenger had brought his master’s message that she was to meet him, she had asked where the band’s next rendezvous was to be, and that he, knowing full well that his countrywoman had ever been cognizant of his master’s plans, had freely given the desired information.  Like a flash it came to her now that no such meeting-place would have been selected for any undertaking other than a descent upon Cloudy Mountain Camp.  Nor was her intuition or reasoning at fault:  Ramerrez had not given up his intention of getting the miners’ gold that he knew from her to be packed away somewhere in The Polka Saloon; but what she did not suspect, despite his peculiar behaviour, was that he had taken advantage of the proximity of the two camps to sever his relation, business and otherwise, with her.  And yet, did he but know it, she was destined to play no small part in his life for the next few weeks!

Nina Micheltorena had now decided upon her future course of action:  She would let him think that his desire to break off all relations with her would not be opposed.  Ever a keen judge of men and their ways, she was well aware that any effort to reclaim him to-night would meet with disaster.  And so when Ramerrez, surprised at her long silence, looked up, he was met with a smiling face and the words: 

“So be it, Ramerrez.  But if anything happens, remember you have only yourself to blame.”

Ramerrez was astounded at her cool dismissal of the subject.  To judge by the expression on his face he had indeed obtained his release far easier than he had deemed it possible.  As a matter of fact, her indifference so piqued him that before he was conscious of his words he had asked somewhat lamely: 

“You wish me well?  We part as friends?”

Nina regarded him with well-simulated surprise, and replied: 

“Why, of course—­the best of friends.  Good luck, amigo!” And with that she rose and left him.

And so it was that later that evening after assuring herself that neither Ramerrez nor any of his band remained in the dance-hall, Nina, her face set and pale, exchanged a few whispered words with that same big man towards whom, earlier in the evening, she had shown such animosity.

The effect of these words was magical; the man could not suppress a grunt of intense satisfaction.