Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/284

268 Assured now that he was to be taken with the redcoats, Robert attempted to move nearer Jacob. He was eager to speak to him of his horse, which he had left in the woods in the rear of the barn, but the lieutenant, perceiving his action, said hastily,—

"No, I cannot permit that." Robert stopped obediently, convinced that he would only increase the suspicions of his captors if he persisted, and, besides, he was confident that if Jacob was left undisturbed he would look to the safety of Nero. Accordingly he turned and quickly took his place in the midst of the band that now prepared to depart, and at the word of the officer the men started on their march.

Robert found himself in the centre, with a double line of men in advance of him and the remainder in his rear, where Claudius Brown and his followers took their places. Not a word was spoken now; the lieutenant, who was in front of the first line, was moving swiftly, and the men were compelled to exert themselves to maintain the rapid pace at which he was advancing.

The sombre shadows of the great trees were almost ghostlike as the force proceeded over the rough way that led through the woods.