"Now, Mr. Deputy," she said to him, when he went up to her; "you know I
won't sleep on the bars. You might as well lock me up first as last, if
you are going to punish me. But you ought to tell me what it's for. I
haven't done anything but speak in the walk, and all of 'em do that."
The Deputy made no reply; but I saw that he had buttoned up his coat as
though he expected violence. She went peaceably to her solitary cell,
however; but all of the way she begged the Deputy to tell her what he
was locking her up for.
When she saw me standing by the Deputy, she asked me where Hardhack and
Thingsly were.
"I don't know; they haven't been in the prison to-night."
"They're afraid to come; but I wouldn't hurt the poor little lambs. They
know they're guilty, and they know I'm locked up for nothing."
"Shall I give her her bread and water to-night?" I asked the Deputy, as
he turned to leave.
"Yes."