Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/266

250 "Will you give up the letter, then?"

"I told you I wouldn't."

"Burn up his old trap!" shouted Claudius Brown.

At his bidding one of his men ran quickly into the tavern, and it was evident that the command of the leader was about to be obeyed. As if by some prearranged signal both Robert and Jacob strove to throw off the men that held them, but Robert's hands had been securely bound and he was well-nigh helpless, and even the sturdy landlord was powerless in the grasp of the powerful men that held him in the barn.

In a brief time a curl of smoke could be seen issuing from the front door, and within a few minutes it was followed by flames that seemed all at once to envelop the entire building. Robert could see that Jacob's face was deathly pale and that his eyes almost seemed to reflect the blazing fires that were consuming his home, but he did not speak, and to all appearances was not minded to make any further resistance. It was difficult, however, for Robert to follow his example, though he realized that he, too, was as helpless as the landlord. For a moment he was tempted to declare where the letter was, but a brief