Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/272

256 Without waiting to see that his order was obeyed he departed from the barn.

Slowly the cowboy drew forth his flint and tinder and apparently prepared to obey the command of the leader. Not even yet was Robert able to believe that Claudius Brown's words would be literally carried out, but he was nevertheless watching every movement of the man, who had scraped together a pile of loose hay near the side of the barn.

"You 're not going to set fire to that!" said Robert in low tones.

The man nodded his head but did not speak, and continued his preparations.

"Now, look here!" said Robert more sharply. "You understand what this is you 're doing, don't you? Suppose you do burn me up, what good will it do you? You 'll be found out, for when I don't report they 'll know something has happened to me, and they 'll look it up, too."

The man was kneeling before the pile now, but he hesitated a moment, glanced up at the helpless prisoner, and then without a word took up his flint and tinder from the floor beside him.

It was evident to Robert now that it was no idle threat which Claudius Brown had made,