Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/370

354 tempted to run, so great was his fear of discovery. His own weakness and his eagerness to learn what they were about to do, however, caused him to delay, and in a moment he perceived that the men were departing by another door in the rear of the little house. He heard the door close behind them, but he still remained in his position, his eyes fixed upon the woman, evidently the wife of one of the men, who remained in the room, and her attitude betrayed the fear or dejection that seemed to possess her.

Suddenly the door was opened again, and one of the men entered. "Martha," he said, "we may not be back till morning, and it may be that we shall be gone several days. Don't look for me till I come."

"Oh, Tom!" she said hastily, "what makes you go? It's nothing to you, anyway!"

"I must, Martha. I don't like to leave you alone, but I hope the dog 'll show up pretty soon. If anything happens, you 'll know what to do."

"Yes, Tom."

In a moment the door was again closed, and the man was gone. Robert waited where he was, feeling himself almost unable to