Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/31



in the pathway before him, Robert saw a young man a few years older than himself, dressed in the ordinary garb of the country people. The light was too dim to enable him to see the face and its expression clearly, but there was something in the bearing of the man that at once impressed him strongly. That the stranger possessed great physical strength was evident, and as soon as he spoke Robert Dorlon shared in Dirck's suspicions, although he would have found it difficult to explain even to himself why it was that he distrusted him.

"Why did n't you let me know what you were doing?" said the stranger lightly. "I'd have been only too glad to join you."

"It is n't too late now. The water is all here," replied Robert.

"Too late. It's always my luck—just too late for everything." "Not too late for supper it was," said Dirck soberly.