Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/218

202 the unexpected sight to move from the place where he himself was standing, but quickly he recovered and stepped hastily back among the trees, still peering at the man. His first impulse to run to the place where the other two horses had been left he restrained, as he was convinced that his better course was to remain where he then was. If there was an- other member of the party, as apparently there was, then doubtless the man would come to the place where his companion was awaiting him.

Robert speedily discovered that his conjecture was correct, for in a brief time he perceived a man approaching leading both horses and holding each by the bit as he walked between their heads.

As he drew near Robert could hear him as he said, "I 've got 'em both, Joe."

"Did the fellow stir?" inquired the man who had been addressed as "Joe."

"I don't know; I did n't look this time. He was making noise enough when I looked into the hut before. Come on now."

"I don't just like it. We don't know who the fellow is. He may be a good friend to us for all that we know, and if he should turn out to be, why, we might be doing the very