Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/192

176 Claudius Brown, and by mistake given the letter which the treacherous Tory was to have received.

In a moment Jacob Gunning appeared, coming from the barn at the boisterous summons, and, almost fascinated by what he saw, Robert still peered forth from behind the door and listened intently to what was being said.

"Well, Jake, got a bite for us?" roared Josh.

"I never turned ye away empty yet, did I?" replied the landlord.

"Jake, we 're looking for a man," broke in Russell. "Have you seen him?"

"Well now, that's a little too much. Course I 've seen men, but how'd I know it might be the p'tic'lar man you was wantin'?"

"Tell us who has been here," suggested Russell.

"To-day?" "Yes."

"Let me see, there was two men 'long here 'bout noon. One o' 'em was not named Nott"—

"Have you heard about the Notts?" interrupted Russell.

"Course I have. Ye don't s'pose there's