Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/183

Rh at least for the present, more if his true position was not generally known.

Relying upon General Clinton's assurance, Robert at last decided to push on to Jacob's tavern and intrust to him the letter he had taken, and instruct him to see to it that the message should speedily be sent to those who were most threatened by the plot.

Relieved somewhat when at last this decision had been made, Robert Dorlon strove to banish all other things from his mind save that of arriving at the tavern in the speediest possible time. Nero appeared to realize that he was homeward bound, and required no urging to make him maintain a swift and steady pace. Occasionally when he drew near to some lonely farmhouse Robert's carefulness increased, and he maintained a keen outlook until he had left the place far behind him. Several times he stopped at the springs by the roadside to enable his horse to take a brief rest, and to rest himself; but every time he soon resumed his journey and found but little difficulty in following the directions which he had received at the fort. Only once did he meet any men, and that was when he had mounted Nero after a halt in a secluded spot where he had eaten the food which he had brought