Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/369

Rh open and whistled shrilly. Robert crouched close to the side of the house, fearful lest his presence should be discovered, and watched the man whom he could plainly see waiting for a call to be answered.

In a brief time the man returned to his seat by the table, and the young express breathed more freely. His escape had been a narrow one, but his eagerness to hear what was said prevented him even then from fleeing.

"Strange," said the man. "The dog never did that before."

"We ought to have kept him close to us and followed him," said one.

"We did n't, and we 've lost our game," retorted the first speaker. "The question for us to decide now is what we shall do."

"We'd better go down the river and report," suggested the one who had taken but a little part in the conversation.

"Fine report we 'll have to make," said one bitterly.

"It 'll have to be made." "Yes, Jack's right. We'd better go, and the sooner the better."

His suggestion was approved, and the three men at once arose. For a moment Robert was