Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/20

4 of the rider could not entirely conceal. It was evident that he had been in the saddle for a long time, and his dust-discolored face, streaked as it was where streams of perspiration had rolled down his cheeks, almost concealed the dark eyes and darker hair that under other circumstances would have been the most noticeable of his features. "Never mind now, Nero! We 're almost at the place where we 'll get fodder and a chance to sleep, old fellow!"

Almost as if he understood the words and the gentle patting on the neck which his rider bestowed upon him, the little black horse raised and dropped his head as if he were nodding approval, and once more broke into a run.

"No, no, not that," said his rider soothingly. "You 've covered more than a hundred miles since yesterday morning, and you 're entitled to a rest. Besides, old fellow, we 're not done yet. I wish we were at our journey's end and well back on our way, don't you?"

Again the horse threw his head up into the air as he came to a walk, and nervously lifted his feet as he picked his way over the stony road.

"If we get back into Jersey all right, Nero," resumed the young rider, "maybe that Gen-