Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/208

192 in Jacob's ear a suggestion that instantly caused the landlord to open the door of a wood-box that had been built into the side of the room, so that wood might be thrown into it from a wagon driven close to the outside of the house. Then lifting Russell bodily in his arms, he threw him into the wood-box and hastily closed the door upon him. Robert quickly took his position again behind the door where he before had been concealed, and the angry Jacob had barely pushed back the stone into its place when the huge Josh reëntered the room.

"Where's Russell?" demanded the giant, as he stared blankly about the room.

"He found the man he was looking for," replied the landlord tartly.

"He did? Well, I thought he'd prevail on ye t' make him show up," and, throwing back his head, Josh laughed loudly. "Where is he now?' he demanded.

"The last I saw o' him, he 'd started toward the woods." "Who? Russell?"

"Yes. He was movin' fast, too."

"Did the young chap get away from him?"

"They were n't far apart when I last see 'em."