Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/372

356 within the house, and he had decided to ask her help even if he should be compelled to declare who and what he was.

His first low rap was unheeded, but when he had repeated his summons the door was suddenly opened and he beheld the woman before him, holding a candle in her hand. Even the expression of alarm visible upon her face was unheeded by the desperate young express, and he said hurriedly, "Will you please give me a drink of water?"

"Who are you?" demanded the woman as she held her candle higher until its light fell full upon his face. "Are you ill?" she inquired in a lower tone.

"Yes, I think I am. I am wounded."

"Come in," she said quickly.

Robert could not have explained even to himself why it was that he obeyed, but he at once entered the room and sank heavily into one of the chairs. His appearance seemed to touch the heart of his hostess, for she instantly took a dipper, and, filling it with water from a bucket that was in the room, handed it to him without a word. It was not returned until Robert had drunk all it contained, and as he looked up he perceived that the woman was gazing intently into his face.