Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/365

Rh that the dog had discovered him, for it stood with bristling hair growling and gazing straight at him. The crisis must be met, Robert instantly decided, and, drawing his knife from his pocket, he grasped it in his hand, thrust aside the brushes, and, exposing himself, prepared for the attack.

With a snarl the savage beast rushed upon him, but Robert, who had not risen from the ground, with all the strength he could muster drove the blade into the animal's side. The dog had already seized upon the sleeve of Robert's coat, but instantly relaxed its grasp, a low whine escaped it, and, trembling for a moment, it fell forward upon the ground and did not rise. With a sigh of relief Robert realized that one peril had been removed, but still without rising, and to make assurance doubly sure, he drew the dead body of the dog under the brush, once more covered himself with the protecting branches and resumed his former place.

As soon as he was convinced that his pursuers had not been closely following the dog, and that they apparently were not near, the sense of his former suffering returned with redoubled force. The pain in his shoulder was becoming almost more than he felt he could