Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/274

258 held firmly, though he pulled upon them till his wrists were bleeding. Apparently the man gave him no thought, for he remained kneeling until he was positive that the fire was well started, and then he arose and walking to the doorway stood peering out as if he was waiting for some signal or the return of the leader.

The blaze was beginning to crackle and the smoke was carried all about the barn now, and Robert could see that the fire was beginning to creep up the side and spread out on the floor toward him. For a moment he ceased struggling and watched the creeping flames almost as if he had no direct interest in them.

The man now turned and, glancing first at the spreading fire and then at his helpless prisoner, placed his finger in his mouth and whistled shrilly.

In response to his call Claudius Brown himself came running swiftly to the barn, but before he entered he stopped abruptly, for there was a sudden shout from the man whom he had left, and a moment later a band of a dozen or more men ran swiftly toward the burning barn. The leader glanced keenly at them, and then, darting into the barn and drawing his knife, quickly severed the straps that bound Robert's hands, and said savagely, "Not a