Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/363

Rh and the young express instantly decided that his own safety would more likely be secured if he could rid himself of the savage brute. In a moment the huge dog bounded forward, and as it perceived Robert it growled savagely, but did not stop. The brute leaped forward, and Robert, exerting all his strength, brought his club down upon the animal's head. Without a sound the dog dropped to the ground and lay motionless. Again in his desperation Robert struck the animal, and then, flinging the club far from him, resumed his flight. Not a sound had been heard from the pursuing men, but that they were in swift pursuit he had no question.

Suddenly and to his consternation he perceived that he was once more upon the border of the clearing. Before him were the heaps of brush, the charred stumps, and the little house in the distance upon the knoll. His first impulse had been to turn back, and then it occurred to him that greater safety might be found in the clearing than within the borders of the forest. Glancing quickly about him, he ran swiftly forward past the first pile of brush, and then on to the second. With frantic haste he tore apart the branches heaped together there, crawled beneath the pile, and pulled back the branches over him and lay still.