Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/133

Rh Hannah opened the door and the dog with a fierce growl darted before her. On the floor she saw two men who were engaged in a desperate conflict, and one glance was sufficient to show her that the contestants were Robert and the leader of the Thirteen. Over and over upon the floor they were twisting and turning, but before she could speak the dog flew at them. Growling, snarling, he seized one of the men by the leg, and instantly the man relaxed his hold upon the other and shouted for help.

"Let him get up, Robert," said Hannah quickly. "I 've my gun. He can't get away. Stop it, Lion! Get away! Get away!" she added sharply, as she seized the dog and tore him away from his hold. The dog, still growling and with every hair on his back on end, slunk into a corner of the room, where he lay watching the men and evidently eager to spring at them again.

"Let go of him, Robert," she said again.

"Make him stay where he is, then," said Robert breathlessly, glancing up at the girl as he spoke, but making no movement to comply. Claudius Brown was no longer struggling, for the words and actions of Hannah were not to be disregarded. "He 'll stay right where he is, Robert,"