Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/106

90 Dorlon aware of his own desperate plight, and instantly he threw himself into the opening in the heap which Hannah had made with her shovel. Well-nigh frantic with fear, the girl quickly began to shovel the ashes back over his prostrate body. At any moment now the men might break into the house, and if she was detected in her present occupation her own peril, as well as that of Robert, would be vastly increased. Still she was sufficiently collected to try to make as slight a cloud as possible as she plied her shovel, and Robert was soon hidden from sight. He had followed her directions implicitly, and tightly closed his eyes and mouth, still retaining the precious goose-quill between his teeth.

At last her task was accomplished, and nothing could be seen of the young soldier or his belongings, save the tip of the goose-quill, which only slightly protruded above the surface. Satisfied that her work was done, Hannah turned back into the house just as Claud Brown and one of his companions entered by the other door. He was known to both women, who looked quietly at him as he entered, though the heart of each was trembling with a fear that was born of experience in dealing with the treacherous cowboy.