Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/326

310 neath him. Suddenly he glanced at the table where the pistols had been placed, and discovered that both were gone.

Leaping to his feet, his rage evident in the expression upon his face, he shouted, "Here now, wench! That 'll never do! None o' yer tricks here! Put those pistols back or it 'll be the worse for you."

"I have n't your pistols," replied Hannah, as she backed toward the door.

"Give me my pistol!" shouted Josh, now thoroughly enraged, and seizing his chair he started toward her.

"Better look at the windows," retorted Hannah, as she darted from the room and hastily closed the door behind her.

Instantly both Josh and Robert glanced at the two open windows behind them, for both men had risen in the excitement and Robert had grasped his chair ready to follow the giant if he should pursue Hannah. At each window two men were standing with rifles at their shoulders, and all four guns were aimed directly at the three men in the room.

"Don't stir!" said one of the outsiders in a low voice. "Keep perfectly quiet and you 'll not suffer any harm."

Robert was too dazed to refuse, but he was