Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/216

200 for some one who probably had been about to clear the land and build a home on the spot, but like so many others had been compelled to abandon the project when the war had broken out.

With a lighter heart Robert hastened back to the spot where he had left the horses, and soon returned with them to the building. It was but the work of a minute to remove the saddles and tether the animals, and as soon as this had been accomplished he entered the hut and threw himself into one of the bunks and in a brief time was sleeping soundly.

How long he had been asleep he did not know, but he was aroused by a whinny of one of the horses. The call was repeated, but in lower tones, and to Robert it seemed as if it was an evidence that the animal had recognized the approach of some one he knew. Springing from his bunk and thoroughly awake by this time, Robert grasped his pistol and peered out into the night. The whinny had not been repeated and silence was over all. The moon had long since disappeared and the gloom of the woods was unbroken even by any flickering shadows.

For several minutes Robert stood near the doorway listening intently and peering out